What's your educational and professional background? Where do you currently work, and/or where have you worked?
I graduated in 2007 with a Business Education degree from MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, KS. I struggled to find a job teaching Business classes so I spent a year adding endorsements to my teaching license. I’m now up to 7 endorsements. After that I was finally able to land a teaching job in Bonner Springs, KS teaching Chemistry and Earth and Space Science. I stayed there for 2 years before moving to Denver and taking an online teaching job with K12. This year begins my 4th year with K12!
What are some of your hobbies and interests that make you happy, curious, and an engaged learner?
My main hobby is crafts. I enjoy sewing the most and this activity allows me to unwind at the end of the day. I like to see something become real that I’ve only imagined in my head. It’s very gratifying! I’m not sure sewing has anything to do with taking this course, but I find myself engaged in learning when I’m researching a new project!
For students who have previously learned with Remi: What advice do you have for students who are taking a course with Remi for the first time?
This class seems very differently structured than Games was. My only advice is to respond to the discussions early in the week but don’t overstress them. You don’t have to answer every single question with a 1000 word response!
Attach a picture of you, your family, your pet, a favorite place... something that expresses a bit about who you are... and please tell us why you chose to include this picture/media.
This is my family. I am a stay at home mom so I am constantly around my two wonderful munchkins. I included this photo because they are my reason for getting out of bed each day!
Your general research interests, including the 15 preliminary research questions and statements generated through our introductory activity Generating Research Questions.
1. Teaching, Engagement, Inquiry – How can teaching with inquiry effect student engagement?
2. Learning, Design, Who – How do design differences effect learning?
3. Creativity, Technology, When – When does technology increase or decrease creativity?
4. Resources, Curiosity, Science – How does the availability of science resources effect student curiosity and inquiry?
5. Children, What, Setting – In what settings do children learn best?
6. Where, Crafts, Business – How and where could I lead a successful crafts business?
7. Collaborate, Creating, Play – How does collaborative play effect children’s creativity?
8. Ask questions, Writing, Stories – What types of stories could I write stories in order to encourage children ask questions about our world?
9. Learning, Games, Goals – How do goals in games effect learning?
10. Why, Research, Professional Development – Why is research so important in professional development?
11. Children, Creating, Setting – In what settings are children their most creative?
12. Writing, Media, Where – What types of media would make me a better writer of children’s stories?
13. Technology, Creativity, Resources – How do computer resources effect creativity of students?
14. Children, Ask questions, Curiosity – How can we encourage children to ask questions and be curious about their world?
15. Business, When, Stories – When can I write stories and make it a successful business?
Share some initial thoughts areas of inquiry (i.e. topics, problem statements, curiosities), research settings, and how you initially see yourself conducting action research.
Well first of all I would have to see if this has to be education related or not. If it does have to be in the education field, I would probably try to do something with my (almost) 5 year old. He’s going to Kindergarten next year and I want him to be prepared for that. I could do some research to figure out how he can learn at home in order to be kindergarten ready. If it doesn’t have to be education related, I’d like to focus on my writing. I’ve wanted to become a published children’s book author for a long time so I’d like to research some ways to get manuscripts written, submitted, and published.