INSTTECH 6250

Writing a Graduate Paper/ePortfolio

1. What was the context (the course, purpose, situation, etc.) in which this artifact was
created?

My artifact for this course was a one-themed literature review focusing on how a
makerspace curriculum can impact how learners develop creative problem-solving skills.

2. What outcome(s) (ISTE standards) were you demonstrating in creating it? For each
outcome, describe how the artifact addresses the indicators within the standard.

Standard 1 Learner:​ ​Educators continually improve their practice by learning from and
with others and exploring proven and promising practices that leverage technology to
improve student learning.
1a ​Set professional learning goals to explore and apply pedagogical approaches
made possible by technology and reflect on their effectiveness.
1c​ Stay current with research that supports improved student learning outcomes,
including findings from the learning sciences.

My artifact for this course met these benchmarks because I worked to find current
research looking at how makerspaces are implemented in education at all levels. This
including look at constructivism to evaluate different ways of making meaningful learning.
This paper explored the pedagogical approach to makerspace curriculum and how to
apply those concepts to increase student learning and problem-solving.
.
Standard 2 Leader: ​Educators seek out opportunities for leadership to support student
empowerment and success and to improve teaching and learning.
2a ​Shape, advance and accelerate a shared vision for empowered learning with
technology by engaging with education stakeholders.
2b​ Advocate for equitable access to educational technology, digital content and
learning opportunities to meet the diverse needs of all students.
 2c​ Model for colleagues the identification, exploration, evaluation, curation, and
adoption of new digital resources and tools for learning.

These indicators were met because my artifact demonstrates how educators can use
research to demonstrate the need for or against the adoption of new tools and resources
for learning. This research forced me to set my biases aside and evaluate the
effectiveness of a makerspace curriculum on how students apply creativity and
problem-solving. In my recommendations I also argued that all students should have
equitable access to a makerspace, allowing students to show learning in diverse ways.
Not all students learn or demonstrate learning in the same way and my research
advocated for a creative space where students can use technology and other materials
to learn.

Standard 5 Designer: ​Educators design authentic, learner-driven activities and

environments that recognize and accommodate learner variability.
5a ​Use technology to create, adapt and personalize learning experiences that
foster independent learning and accommodate learner differences and needs.
5b ​Design authentic learning activities that align with content area standards and
use digital tools and resources to maximize active deep learning.

This artifact describes how when students are exposed to a makerspace curriculum, it
allows them to create new things without direct instruction. A makerspace is designed
so that students can learn and explore independently. Teachers and educators can use
a makerspace to incorporate authentic and real-world problems and tasks. Research
also shows that students who have access to a makerspace tend to incorporate deeper
learning and understanding because of the implementation of creative problem-solving
skills.

Standard 6 Facilitator: ​Educators facilitate learning with technology to support student

achievement of the ISTE Standards for Students.
6b​ Manage the use of technology and student learning strategies in digital
platforms, virtual environments, hands-on makerspaces or in the field.
 6c​ Create learning opportunities that challenge students to use a design process
and computational thinking to innovate and solve problems.
6d​ Model and nurture creativity and creative expression to communicate ideas,
knowledge or connections.

My artifact and the research it produces embodies this standard and its benchmarks.
When educators incorporate a makerspace into their teaching, students are given more
voice and choice in how to show mastery, requires them to use a design process to ask,
implement, plan, and revise, and tends to foster creative skills and authentic
connections. In a makerspace, the teacher is able to be more of a facilitator of learning
rather than the only source of knowledge.

3. What challenge(s) did you encounter in creating this artifact? What did you learn from
encountering this/these challenge(s), and how can you turn these challenges into
opportunities in your current or future professional life?

This artifact in and of itself was challenging. I didn’t feel as though I had any background
knowledge or experience in creating this literature review. At first, it was also difficult to
find the right sources to support my research. I also felt challenged trying to fit my
writing in what I felt was the box of expectations of a literature review. What I learned
from these challenges was that when something is hard, it makes it that much better
when you are done. It gives me an accomplished feeling to know that I was able to
overcome a challenge to create a piece of research that was meaningful to my
professional life. These challenges also taught me to be true to myself. I need to write
about how I write and teach how I teach. When I tried to be like someone else, I wasn’t
as successful. In my current professional life, this will help me to overcome challenges
and stay true to who I am and what I do as a professional.

4. What does this work show about you and your capabilities?

This artifact shows that I am capable of struggling and overcoming challenges. It shows
that I have perseverance and that I am able to research and present evidence for a topic
that I am passionate about.
 5. What did completing this work teach you about yourself as a 21st Century educator?

This work taught me that as a 21st-century educator I need to sometimes let my

students struggle and make mistakes. Not all of my students will go to graduate school
and write a literature review, but this skill of problem-solving will be one they use in any
aspect of their lives in and out of school.

Writing a Graduate Paper Artifact