I am a graduate student at Michigan State University majoring in Educational Technology.  I began  this course of study because I was already familiar with 
Many types of computer technologies, and I needed a Master's Degree in order to advance my career. I didn't expect my program of study to affect my philosophy of education. Previous to my beginning my Master's program, I was a firm believer in lecture and notes, talk and chalk approach to teaching as the ideal way to convey information to students. I would write terms on the board, lecture based on the textbook, and hope my students absorbed at least a little of what I was saying. I used this method believing that it would best prepare my students for the style and presentation of a college professor. Since this time, I have found ways to modify my teaching style and presentation in order to increase student engagement and exploration of the subject being taught

I still use talk and chalk lecture from time to time but I mostly use group based activities. I became a firm believer in collaborative learning and active learning as a result of my studies and research while pursuing my Masters. I assign each student with a partner and sometimes groups of 3 or 4 in order to work on projects in technology. I assign a group leader who decided which tasks will need to be done in order to complete the project. The group leader then assigns tasks to the group and reports to me on the progress of the group. Each student in the class has a chance to be a group leader. 

Assesment in my classroom is done through Portfolios. Each students will save their work on floppy disks after each assignment. The total of these assignments are examined by me at the end of the marking period in order to determine the students grade.