Running Head: THE JOURNEY OF A SMALL TOWN GIRL 1

The Journey of a small town girl

EDUC 526 Capstone Experience in Digital Teaching and Learning
Azusa Pacific Main Campus
Professor Courduff
Nancy Cruz













THE JOURNEY OF A SMALL TOWN GIRL
Nancy Cruz EDUC 526 Growth Assessment Page
APU Main Campus Spring May/2014
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Introduction

The reason I decided to enroll in the maters in digital teaching and learning
program is because I enjoy using technology. It has become a part of our every day lives.
The second reason I joined was because schools are incorporating technology in the
classroom. I believe the future classes will have one computer per student. Technology
gives me the liberty to be creative with my lesson plans. It allows me teach students with
different multiple intelligence. When I began the masters program my responsibilities
and my environment were complicated. I am a full time students, mom, and wife. I have
three children they are 11,12, 15, and two dogs. I am always busy with my childrens
school events and my classwork. My responsibilities have not changed from when I
started the program. I live in a small two-bedroom home because my husband is the only
one who works at the moment. Trying to find a quiet place to do my work can be a
mission. We know that our situation will get better but we have to sacrifices a little. My
goal for pursuing my masters in digital teaching and learning was to learn how to
incorporate technology in my lesson plans. I also wanted to learn how technology helps
students with different learning abilities. My last goal was to get familiar with the
different type of technology devises, software programs, and apps.

Personal Growth

It has been an amazing journey in the masters in digital learning and teaching
program because I feel I have learned a little about myself in very class. I was the student
that did not talk and would not give presentation. I had and still have a fear of public
speaking. In the program I have given presentation with groups and individually. My
professors and classmates have been encouraged and given me tools that help me
presenting. I still get nervous before a presentation but I am confident in myself. I have
made personal connections with classmates, professors and God. In the masters program
I have made great friends. I believe we will be life long friends even after we are done
with the masters program. I have also made connections with some of my professors.
They have been encouraging and most importantly they believe in all of their students.
There have been times when we all feel stressed out and before we start the class the
professor will gives us words of encouragement. It seems that they know the right words
to say to the class. I have also made a connection with God. Before I started this class I
was distant from God. I truly feel in my heart that he lead me to Azusa Pacific University
because he knew I need of him and I would find the answers I was looking for. I have
added to my spiritual time line. I am glad to say it has all been positive. When I first
made the timeline it was hard on me to look back and write complete it but I know my
past is part of what made me who I am today. I have added my graduation date.

Completing the masters degree means the world to me. I started this journey back
in 2005. I will start in 1999, I had dropped out of high school at the age of 15 and had
my first child at the age of 16. By the time I was 22 I was divorced and had three children
with no education. I found out my husband at the time started doing drugs and I decided
to sell our home. I did not want my children to grown up in that environment. It was the
THE JOURNEY OF A SMALL TOWN GIRL
Nancy Cruz EDUC 526 Growth Assessment Page
APU Main Campus Spring May/2014
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hardest decision I had to make in my life. I knew in order to give my children a better life
I had to start new and go back to school. Moving back to my parents house was hard.
They gave me all the support I needed. I do not know what I would have done without
them. I needed to go back to school to get my G.E.D, than my A.A. degree. While at
Delta College I meet a professor who believed in me and encouraged me to transfer to a
state university. I thought I was not good enough to transfer but that little seed he planted
in my head keep growing. When I received my A.A. degree I decided to leave my family
and support system to attend Cal State Los Angeles University. My children and I packed
up our bags and moved to West Covina. I met the love of my life and is my rock through
this journey. When I first moved I had to take a few classes at Citrus College. I would
pass by Azusa Pacific University and daydream about one day going to APU. I thought I
was not good enough or smart enough for the school. When I finished my Bachelors
degree I applied to different schools but Azusa Pacific accepted me into the program.
When I was told I was in the program, I felt like it was God telling me, Your good
enough and I have never left your side. Now looking back in my life I have been truly
blessed.

Now that you know a little bit of my history I can say that graduating from this
program means the world to me. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would finish
the masters program. I will be the first person in my family to get a masters degree. It
means that I was able to overcome all the odds I had against me. My children will one
day go to college. I can help other students who face similar situations that I did. I can
give students the power to believe that they too can get a higher education. I now have
the knowledge to transform history into fun, creative and educational lesson for all my
students.

Professional Growth

I have grown so much as an educator at APU. I am prepared to teach students
with different needs. I understand students who have different multiple intelligences. I am
able to create lesson plans for students that learn differently. I also incorporate
technology in the lesson plan. In the APU program I have learned how technology can
help students with different learning abilities. APU has helped me understand the
different needs of students. As educators we need to understand not all students learn the
same. APU has given me the tools and strategies to incorporate into my lesson plans. In
my class Digital in the Classroom with professor Bill, I learned how to create videos
using iMovie as well as using different apps to incorporate in my videos. In my learning
in the 21
st
century course, I learned how to incorporate technology, apps, multiple
intelligences and blooms taxonomy into my lesson plans. My action research study is on
how can technology help students with autism express their emotions. My son is autistic
and he has a hard time communicating his emotions. I thought this would a perfect action
research project it will help son, future students and me.

Technical Growth

THE JOURNEY OF A SMALL TOWN GIRL
Nancy Cruz EDUC 526 Growth Assessment Page
APU Main Campus Spring May/2014
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When I first started the program I was not to familiar with technology devices,
software, or apps. I was pretty good with using my iPhone. I start using a computer when
I started community college in 2005. I was a little behind with technology than most
people my age. Now that I am at the end of the masters digital teaching and learning, I
have learned how to use technology devices, apps, different software, and social media.
For example, in the class Instructional applications of productive software and evolving
education technology course, I learned how to use blogger to communicate and give my
opinion on different topics. In the Instructional application of productivity software
course with professor Kristi Hernandez, I also leaned how to use the numbers app to keep
track of grades. I can also how to teach my students to use it for future projects.



Life Long Learning plan

My life long plan is to never stop learning. I believe in order to be a great
educator I have to stay on top of the new educational theories and new technology. I also
believe it is important to evaluate myself as an educator. As I continue my journey I hope
to encourage students who like me had all the odd against them to succeed. I would like
to help students enroll to college and discover their talent. All through my elementary
and the little time I spent in high school, I was never told college was an option. I want to
change that for my students and encourage them to think of their future. I see myself in
five to ten years doing a few things. First I hope to be a motivational speaker for teen
mothers, teen fathers and young adults who are at risk. I would like to write a book on my
life and my struggles to give young adults that face similar situations, the power to
believe in themselves. I would like to go back to school to get my administrative
credential and be an assistant principle. I still have a few skills I would like to develop. I
would like to continue working on developing lesson plans with technology. I would like
to continue learning how different technological systems help different intelligences. I
will always continue working on myself.

Section Two:

History of Coursework and Course Evaluation

Name:

Term:


LiveBind
er
URL:

Course
Course Title &
Instructor
Name
Term
Completed
Key Skills
Acquired
Comments/Suggestions
EDUC
511

Foundations in
Digital Teaching
and Learning

INSTRUCTOR:
Fall 2013
The skills I
learned were
how to use a
live binder.
How to
This class was an online
class. I was a little nervous in
the beginning because I
havent really taken online
courses but Professor
THE JOURNEY OF A SMALL TOWN GIRL
Nancy Cruz EDUC 526 Growth Assessment Page
APU Main Campus Spring May/2014
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Joanne Gilbreath

download
pictures and
add website.
How to keep
my
classwork in
order and
how to use it
for my future
classes.
How to
create a
Google+
account.
Gilbreath was there to help
with any questions.
EDUC
512

Instructional
Applications
Productivity
Software

INSTRUCTOR:
Kristin Hernandez

Fall 2013
I learned
how to use
the app
numbers,
keynote and
pages.
She taught us
short cuts
when using
Microsoft
word.
I now know
how to use
Google doc
and blogger.
I had no idea there were
these short cuts we can use
on word document and I
have been using word for
years. This will help me keep
my class organized.
EDUC
514

Digital Video in
the Classroom

INSTRUCTOR: Bill
Selak

Fall 2013
In Bills class
I learned
how to use
images and
movie clips
in the iMovie
app.
I created a
short
introduction
video using
iMovie.
He also
taught us
how to
convert
This class I felt like we were
learning but it was fun. We
were able to be creative with
our topics. I had never made
a short film before and after
taking this class I had so
many ideas that I could use
for my lesson plans.
THE JOURNEY OF A SMALL TOWN GIRL
Nancy Cruz EDUC 526 Growth Assessment Page
APU Main Campus Spring May/2014
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movie clips
to use in our
iMovie or
YouTube
videos.
I also
learned how
to use
GargaBand
and add
music to my
short films.
Also how to
always make
sure to credit
others work.
EDUC
515

Evolving
Educational
Technologies

INSTRUCTOR:
Jeffrey Lee

Spring
2014
In this class I
learned how
technology
has changed
over the
years and
how
technology is
changing our
classrooms.
I also
learned
about digital
citizenship.
In this class I
also created
my first class
website.
Before this class I did not
know about Digital
citizenship. Now after this
class I will make sure that
when my students have
technology projects that they
know the importance of
being respectful of others
work.
EDUC
522

Learning in the
21st Century

INSTRUCTOR:
Jennifer Courduff


Fall 2013
In this class I
learned what
my multiple
intelligences
are and the
different
between all
of them.
The theory
of multiple
intelligences.
Knowing my multiple
intelligences help me
understand myself. In this
class I also understood that
not all students learn the
same and we as educators
need to create lesson plans
that are for all type of
learners. Professor Courduff
has been encouraging and
supportive through the
THE JOURNEY OF A SMALL TOWN GIRL
Nancy Cruz EDUC 526 Growth Assessment Page
APU Main Campus Spring May/2014
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I also learned
how to
incorporate
different
technology,
multiple
intelligences,
and blooms
taxonomy
into a lesson
plan.
programs.
EDUC
526

Capstone
Experience/
Digital Teaching
and Learning

INSTRUCTOR:
Jennifer Courduff

Spring
2014
I am in the middle of
the term. I have
learned how to be
detailed on my unit
plan. This skill will
help me stay
organized. I have
also learned how to
create a website
incorporating all of
my work for the
program.
In this class I am seeing all
my work come together.
There are a few things we
have to do for this class but
the way Professor Courduff
has organized it, it doesnt
feel overwhelming.


Evaluation of the impact of the Digital and Learning Program

One of the instructional strategies I will implement in my lesson plans is how to
use historical imagines using different apps and programs. I am going to history and in
history pictures and movie clips are a powerful source to engage students on the topic. I
have made short videos on WWII, The Great Depression and Aztec Empire as
introduction before getting into the lessons. This allows me to engage my students and
give them a short preview of what they will be learning. I will also teach my students
how to create short films on their technology devices. This will allow me to assign short
film history group projects.

Program Evaluation

My experience at APU has been amazing. From the moment I requested
information of the program a graduate advisor helped me with questions. The orientation
meeting was informational and it gave me an idea of where and how to start my
application process. The financial aid advisors are helpful with any financial aid issues or
questions. All of the professor I had ay APU have been amazing. They all have a passion
for teaching and educating their students. There are many strengths of the program. First
the professors are always there to help. Second, the program also educates the future
teacher about how technology is chaining the classroom, students different multiple
THE JOURNEY OF A SMALL TOWN GIRL
Nancy Cruz EDUC 526 Growth Assessment Page
APU Main Campus Spring May/2014
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intelligences, the different tools, and strategies that could be incorporated into our lesson
plans. Third, in all of my class I have learned how to use different technology devices,
social media, software programs, and apps. Fourth all the classes at APU are small and
made me feel we were a community. The one weakness and suggestion I have for the
program is for the credential part. I think it would be a great idea if students had
credential advisors. I know there are two one for single subject and one for multiple but
they handle many students. The reason I say this is because there have been times I have
questions about the credential program and I am not sure who to ask. I would also like
these advisors to have some knowledge of the combined credential and masters
programs. Overall APU has been an amazing experience and I feel I am now part of the
APU family.