Kerry Magro

Course Reflection - June 15, 2018

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I have spoken at K-12 and Universities. I have hosted a local cable TV show and presented and raised funds for schools such as PG Chambers School and Spectrum 360 in Livingston. I developed a Facebook Page called A Special Community that has over 127k followers to give people impacted by a diagnosis (both those with disability and disease) a place to highlight their stories. That journey took me recently to the Bahamas to create a documentary for the Bahama Minister of Education.

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Throughout this journey, I’ve done media appearances on radio, TV, podcasts, blogs and other forms of online publications. I have used social media to promote and expand my professional progression. In the second year of my program, I’ve shifted to giving more presentations that counted for Continuing Education Credits for educators, therapists, and behavioral analysts.

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Everywhere I go I discuss what the Ed.d program has meant to me.  Cohort 4 is genuinely a Community of Practice. We are Ed Tech Giants. We are the NJCU Ed.d Educational Technology program!

 

What have we done and what have I learned

 

Fundamentals of Educational Technology

 

EDTC 801, Summer Institute I, Dr. Laura Zieger, Summer 2016

●    Cohort members participated  in team building and bonding exercises  All collaboratively developed mission, website and initial immersion into ed tech applications in an educational setting . Highlight was flying of  drones.

●    My individual contribution was to help the team come up with our overall presentation showcase outside of the website. This included  helping come up with our storyboard for our motto and pledge.

●    Created Personal Growth Plan and Individual website Kerryfrancismagro.com

 

EDTC 802, Principles of Educational Technology Leadership, Dr. Christopher Carnahan, Summer 2016

●    The cohort studied leadership styles. Ronnie O’Neil and I developed situational leadership profile presentation, and  handouts.

●    I researched  a Pokemon Go program for a middle school history class and conducted a Literature review of 3-D printing applications. Dr. Canaharan allowed me to successfully revise this project as it was my first experience with a Literature Review

 

EDTC 804, Global Issues in Educational Technology Leadership , Dr. Christopher Shamburg, Fall 2016

●    Group projects and collaboration are the foundation of Dr. Shamburg’s classes.

●    Created global news map with cohort on special education around the world.

●    College level proposal and literature review ( group project) Global Issues in Ed Tech Leadership: Curriculum Project Kerry Magro, Veronica O’Neill, Susan Marie Terra, David Thompson

●    This next course had the most impact on my professional life. After studying global learning in a  Literature Review of Global Issues in E-Learning on  India  Indira Gandhi  Open University and other Online universities sparked my interest in global education.  I have since presented at conference in Dubai and Australia. I have spoke at middle  and high schools in Bermuda.  I  did an in-service for parents and educators in the Bahamas and created a video series of interviews for disabled students to share with the Minister of Education. I will be returning to the Bahamas as part of the Summit on the Seas program for Educators Fall 2018.                                                

 

EDTC 813, Advanced Using Integrated Software across the Curriculum, Dr. Shamburg, Fall 2016

●    Another stellar course combining new learning methods, and also the impact of facilities on learning. The first project was a design of an exhibit at a museum. Mine was  A Design for the Science of Basketball: which was an Interactive Exhibit at Liberty Science Center. After taking this course, I gained a sincere appreciation for educational opportunities in Museums and exhibit settings. In my trips around the country and internationally such as Presidential libraries and most recently the Disney Museum in San Francisco and Abraham Lincoln Museum in Springfield Illinois.

●    The second project was a group project creating an Advisory Guide for Applying the Technological Design Principles of Bers: Case Study on the Pleasantville, NJ School District, Susan Marie Terra, Kerry Magro,  and Laszlo Pokorny. This project interested me because so many of the autism community already lack social skills, The concept of tech toys replacing playgrounds leading to a lack of social skills is an area I would like to explore further.

●    Project 3 was a  Teacher Evaluation in a Blended  Learning Environment, Susan Marie Terra, Kerry Magro, Laszlo Pokorny - highlighted for me as the traditional lecture format shifts to team projects new methods of evaluation are needed.

●    The last project was applying the Pecha Kucha presentation style( 20 slides with 20 seconds explanation to  Systems Thinking - On blended classrooms. We used it to explain two books: The Fifth Discipline & Blended.  Video with PowerPoint slides based on two books the Fifth Disciple and Blended by Horn and Staler. With a Master in Strategic Communication and as a professional speaker  I am always looking for new techniques for presentations.

 

EDTC 815, Advanced Administration and Supervision of Technology in Educational Settings, Dr. Christopher Shamburg, Fall 2017

●    As preparation for future positions as Administrators in school settings, this course prepared cohort members to develop and carry out tech plans. We prepared tech plans for three new schools. Our group picked the Jersey City Public Schools. Planned Growth Program for Jersey City Schools Patrick Holness, Alexander Kuziola, Kerry Magro, Ronnie O’Neill and, Leah Shull

Patrick was always a good resource for me and the Cohort and his camaraderie is felt.

●    The next group project was Hiring Three Technology Coordinators. I worked with Steven Lahullier,  Laszlo Pokorny, and  Rachael Sedeyn. For a school-based cohort member, this was a good overview for me of future job opportunities in my field.

●    The next two group projects Increasing Achievement in Mathematics: A Comprehensive Approach was done by Alexander Kuziola, Kerry Magro, Veronica O’Neill, and Krista Welz

●    We then developed  A Professional Development Manual for Technology-Based Curricula again with  Alexander Kuziola, Kerry Magro, Veronica O’Neill, and Krista Welz. Working with members of the cohort at school levels was an excellent introduction for me in school-based planning.

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Theory and Practice

 

EDTC 808 Summer Institute 2017 Dr. Christopher Carnahan, Summer 2017

●    The Summer Institute started with the Requirement to take a Comprehensive Exam.

●    My Professional Growth Plan refines the Summer 1 goals with experience of the first year program. My PGP Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yLIzEiBH6o was completed. The continuing of videotaping and using of different means of media including webcasting expands my technical skills which I apply in my presentations around the country and internationally. Work in the area complements this.

●    Our  Jobs project prepared us to think ahead as to what type of jobs are in the field.

●    The Cohort and I feel right about being together face to face and enhancing our Community of Practice which continues off campus but online the rest of the year.

 

EDTC 805, Cross-discipline Studies in Technology  Dr. Laura Zieger, Fall 2016

●    One of best group projects was the creation of an Emerging Technology video on The Internet of Things was created with my Cohort members Chris Farrell and Hayet Benbader. We used  One Drive.

●    A second project was the development of a white paper.My White paper was on How to Recycle Tech for Special Ed Students in Third World Countries The Nika Project. I developed this idea after meeting Dr. Dan Phillips a the Dubai Technology Conference where I presented at in 2016. The development of a White paper allowed me to learn how to prepare an educational document to support a funding proposal. The Nika Project is a wonderful project where teachers traveled to South Africa and in a few short weeks taught the teachers and worked with the students using recycled Tech products with amazing educational results.

●    The final project was Creation of a Technology Theme Park. Mine focused on Stopping Bullying. It allowed me to take one of the themes I speak on and turn it into a viable project on the middle and high school level.It is presented under the My Blog section of the web portfolio.

 

EDTC 807, Implementation and Evaluation of Curriculum  Dr. Christopher Shamburg,

●    Historical Roots of American Curriculum. This was my foundation course in curriculum throughout American history. It opened up a productive avenue of the rise of curriculum theory and the principle players in the field. I was steeped in American educational history from the  American Curriculum text.

●    Another project was looking at Informal Learning and Communities of Practice. This topic led to my dissertation topic which is The Magro Matrix: Informal Learning How Parents Learn about Autism after a Child is Diagnosed. I believe each of the Cohort felt we are all learning from each other and have become a Community of Practice.

●    The final group project was a Curriculum Implementation Plan with my cohort members. This project highlighted our  three  interests mine  in Autism, Richard’s experience in  Robots and Laszlo’s strength in teaching special needs students to prepare a paper,  Using Robots to Teach Autistic Students by Richard Cottone, Kerry Magro, Laszlo Pokorny

●    Richard left the cohort after this paper, and his expertise in Robots and camaraderie is felt. 

 

EDTC 814, Advanced Effective Models of E-Learning Dr. Laura Zieger Summer 2017

This course embodies my new program motto: connect and collaborate.

●    Using a  Simulation called the Mt Everest Climb, we were divided into three teams  I was on Team Glacier with Chris Farrell, Richard Cottone,  Alex Kuziola, Rachel Sedeyn and Susan Marie Terra. Each of the groups had roles assigned my role as leader. We learned and were  taught  decision making, leadership, forming a team, simulation, and strategy

●    A second project was focused on  Higher Ed Cases. The Analysis of two case studies Case 1 South Run State College To Support Online Learning Program Showed needs assessment, needs analysis, task analysis set out goals and objective and costs of the program.  Case Study #2: A Dilemma Case in Teaching questions the impact of style of learning. In this scenario, there are no team projects which the pre=med students feel hurt their medcat scores. The expected change is an understanding of the impact of collaborative learning instruction style as a positive experience for pre-med students.

●    The final project allowed me to use work I was doing in the community. I developed an  E-Learning Project: A Transition Plan for Autistic Students in a Boys and Girls Club Setting.  The proposal was to use virtual reality headsets and social skills planning for autistic children transitioning from high school. The Hudson County Boys Club had asked me to consult with their staff on providing tech services to their autistic club members, so this assignment was beneficial for me. Like many of these assignments, these courses provided research, resources, skills and practical implications to allow me to become an educational technology leader.

 

 

EDTC 816, Advanced Methods for Building Online Communities  Dr.  Laura Zieger, Spring 2018

●    What is an online community?  For my project, a Community Search of Autistic Online Communities was conducted and led to my website which is referenced  below which was to Creating a Web site for Online Autism Resource

●    Our second project done as a group was a Context Analysis of a Google Educator Group in New Jersey done by  Christopher Farrell, Kerry Magro, Laszlo Pokorny, and Rachael Sedeyn. It allowed us to interact and understand real teachers in an online community.

●    Finally, we had to build a website for an online community. I consider this my Capstone project building a website for an online community.  Educating Parents Who Have Children with Autism Online Community: https://plus.google.com/communities/111705440740530932214

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Scholarship and Research

 

EDTC 803, Data Analysis and Report Writing  Dr. Cordelia Twomey, Summer 2016

●    For Project 1: Proposal With Visual Aids  Dr. Tominey asked us to develop a holiday fundraising proposal mine was for a Senior Class Initiative, a Holiday Extravaganza Proposal creating a Pop-Up Art Store Benefiting  North Valley Food Bank. I was thinking of my Santa’s Elves Holiday project and gave me fundraising ideas.

●    Project 2: Graphs with Related Information  I prepared a paper with five topics with visual aids and began to see the use of charts and graphs in the visual presentation of data

●     Project 3: Primary and Secondary Data – I used both forms of data to present  THE STUDY--SMART HOMES AND THE AUTISM SMART HOME GRANT which will allow me to see the relevance of this data in future grant writing opportunities.

EDTC 806 Research Methods in Educational Technology Leadership  Dr. Christopher Canaharan Spring 2017

●    Three types of studies were used Quantitative, Qualitative and Mixed Methods research. I learned the different methods led to different kinds of findings.

●    Project 1: Quantitative Study Bullying of Special Education Students Who Have Autism at Private and Public High Schools in New Jersey

●    Project 2: Qualitative Case Study - What Bullied Disabled College Students Experienced

●    Project 3: Mixed Methods Study -Online Support Group for Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

 

EDTC 809 Assessment and Evaluation,  Dr. Christopher Canaharan

This course honed our skills for choosing a methodology for our  dissertation and research including observation and field research,

●    Project 1: Observational Exercise.  I attended the trial of Senator Bob Menendez and observed the proceedings. Since I have dysgraphia, I took notes on my laptop.

●    Project 2: Qualitative Research Study My research question was, do educators believe that high school students benefit from assistive technology in the classrooms?

●    Project 3: I developed a Survey Proposal for Assistive Technology How do teachers use AAC in the classroom to help nonverbal children with autism?

●    Project 4: was a Pilot Field Study with IRB. My topic was NJ Teachers on Assistive Technology for Disabled High School Students: This was combined with us preparing an  IRB to give us practice for our dissertation IRB.

EDTC 810    Statistics for Educational Research  Dr. Kip Glazer, Spring 2018

The course revolved around teaching us the value of using statistics in research and everyday life. I had statistics as an undergraduate at Seton Hall. I felt like I had to work harder in this class making it feel a rewarding experience.  On the technology end, I enjoyed creating our website and working in a final group protect tied together what we have been learning along with the peer and self evaluations. By the time I did my final paper on stats Analysis of 4th Grade reading Scores I produced the stats tests and presented the results in a professional manner.

●    Project 1: Reading and Writing with Stats.  I found a report in mainstream media and analyzed  it , The Nation’s Report Card: Arts Assessment 2016

●    Project 2:  The next project was a group project where Michael Bermudez, Chris Farrell,  Rachael Sedyn, and I created a statistics website.

●    We collaboratively planned and executed the website called our Stats help website at stathelp.net covering three  3 inferential statistics . Practice runs of our videos were done to make sure they focused on being as professional as possible.  We then conducted a self evaluation.

●    Project 3: Peer Evaluation- Our final activity was to do a Peer Evaluation of Group 3 AKA The Stars of Startling Statistics featuring Anna Boscarino, Veronica O’Neill, Leah Shull and Susan Marie Terra who presented. The Case of the Startling Project

●    Project 4: The final project was an Analysis Paper. I did a Statistical Analysis of 4th Grade Reading Scores Across Ethnicity. I felt I did an excellent job of showing I met the course objective which was to use stats in words and present them visually after running statistic tests and analysis.

 

Future Coursework

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EDTC 811, Summer Institute III  Dr. Shamburg, Summer 2017

EDTC 812, Teaching in the Adult Learning Environment

EDTC 817, Advanced Developing and Managing Distance Learning Programs

EDTC  901, Dissertation I

EDTC 902, Dissertation II