I didn't know what to expect walking into my first in-person day of the MAET Summer Hybrid Program at Michigan State University. I am working towards a Master's Degree in Educational Technology. I chose to complete a hybrid program during the summer of 2022 with two weeks of online instruction, two weeks of in-person instruction, and two more weeks online. I would end the program with nine credits or three classes completed.
What I experienced during the two weeks in Michigan was teaching with creativity. The days were a mix of field trips to campus sites like museums and the planetarium, Quickfires, where we had to create something within short time blocks with constraints, and group discussions reflecting on reading and activities. The days passed quickly, and I connected to the course content through the various activities.
MAET Hybrid Program Group Discussion at MSU Broad Museum. Photo by Brittany Dillman.
Taking intellectual risks is a tenet of creative teaching (Henriksen & Mishra, 2013). During a Quickfire, our instructors tried a new exercise for the program where students took on a persona, such as a parent, teacher, or school board member, and spoke as if they were that character. The instructors provided the participants with a scenario where a school banned students from having cell phones. This activity was an innovative way to create a learning experience.
Traditional graduate programs facilitate learning through reading, writing papers, and taking tests. A creative program, such as the MAET program at Michigan State University, teaches students with innovative strategies and helps students be more creative.
References and Image Credits
Dillman, B. (2022). MAET Hybrid Program Group Discussion at the MSU Broad Museum. [Photograph] https://drive.google.com/file/d/1H8xGUrREo-XQuR9iAmFW-Irs48XBaVPl/view?usp=sharing
Henriksen, D. & Mishra, P. (2013). Learning from Creative Teachers. Educational Leadership. 70(5), https://www.ascd.org/el/articles/learning-from-creative-teachers
MAET Blog. (2021, July 13). MAET Quickfire. Michigan State University, College of Education. https://education.msu.edu/maet/2021/07/13/maet-quickfire/
Michigan State University. (2022). Hybrid Summer Program. Michigan State University, College of Education. https://education.msu.edu/cepse/maet/hybrid/
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1H8xGUrREo-XQuR9iAmFW-Irs48XBaVPl/view?usp=sharing
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