After reviewing the previous Capstones, I see a lot of work ahead of me, but I also see what made it easy to read and get information from most readily. I looked specifically at two sites with intention. My first site was Lisa's and my second site was Jen Ellison's. Both of these were very dynamic websites with a lot to offer visually and informatively. I really enjoyed how both used word space and picture space in a even manner so that the verbiage was not too overwhelming to read. Jen even used some videos that she created and combined with real movies and acting of her own. I was very impressed with both styles that were ultimately very user friendly and written in a way that was entertaining and engaging. When I got to Jen's web site I ultimately found very valuable information that took me on a bird walk for more than two hours discovering more about my own topic and leads that she came upon to follow for myself. This process of looking at work already created was fascinating and ultimately very helpful to have examples of various ways students can get creative and where the template matches to standard procedure for all students. Having examples to explore makes the end product more clear as to the expectation expected. A captivating audience will be drawn in by the topic and need for information. After exploring the two sites that I did explore it made me realize how close we are to the end and how powerful our research really is. I aspire to make my educational website accessible to the audience of a teacher. I feel as though the people most drawn to this type of research are classroom teachers and administration. The alumni that have gone before me and the students that will follow in my footsteps are the most likely candidates for looking at my web page. I would like to target them as my audience as I found it so useful and helpful when doing my own work towards this graduate program. I think that the teachers that I will work with next year could find value in it, but are so overwhelmed with their own teaching I'm not sure they would actually want to take the time to look through it, nor would they know where to find it unless I invited them to the page. In my experience, I have sent teachers videos from the Master's program that I found very valuable and only one teacher even watched any of the videos after sending three throughout the year. I think that is why the Master's program is so valuable, because like-minded people are working together for a like-minded result.
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We as a cohort are an animal pack that needs each other to survive through the cold winters. And not only do we survive, we thrive. Cohort 16 has brought me much peace of mind in a very stressful year. They are supportive academically, verbally and in group projects and collaboration. This groups of teachers has so much knowledge and strengths in so many content areas that I have really been able to gleam insightful knowledge about my own teaching pedagogy, technology over various subject matters and have been able to adapt their skill sets to my grade level areas. After reading the P & C Handbook I wanted to cry and throw-up. Freaking out about this semester was an understatement. I know that I can do it, but the amount of work that is about to incur was not really what I was expecting. I was thinking that the last two semesters would better prepare me and put me in a place that I was just compiling the end products and being more creative with my brain. I realize now that this is the home stretch and I will really need to buckle down and rely on my Cohort to support me, and I them, to make it through these last few months. I know that we all have it in us and we have come too far to quit now. We are a group, that over the past year, have lifted each other up and reassured each other in doubt and worry that anything is possible and that we are capable of doing way more than we think we can, just like our students. When it comes to norms, this group is respectful of time and very professional when commenting or listening to colleagues. We are funny and entertaining and we all have very busy lives outside of this Master's that give us the drive and strength to push through to the other side of this milestone in our lives. In my experience, anyone in this group would go out of their way for any other group member to help read and support another's Capstone pursuit and give constructive feedback. Unconditional kindness are the norms established thus far.
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