2012 OSU Ecampus graduates

Jill Taylor Carter – A teacher bolsters her education and passes it on

M.S. in Science and Mathematics Education (School-Based)
Canby, Ore.

What does earning your OSU degree mean to you?
I am able to share the love of science and address misconceptions in science phenomena among my students in elementary grades. I am able to foster inquiry-based learning in my educational environment through discourse, inquiry -based investigations, and technology integration. My students and colleagues have already benefited from my education at OSU, and I will continue to create and provide authentic professional development in my educational setting!

Why did you choose to complete your degree online through OSU Ecampus? What did you enjoy about this method of education?
I am a working mom, with two small children, and actually was in labor as I was doing homework online at 2am in the morning with one of my children (2 years of age). It would not have been possible to complete a master's degree without the access of online schooling. This program provided flexibility and so much support from my professors. I felt like I really got to know them, and my classmates. The best part was the constant interact I had with classmates through multiple technology resources, and my professors. There was a community of learners collaborating and working together at times which were convenient for us working in small groups. I could see when my professors were online and I was doing my homework and we could Skype. The convenience and independent pace was also a must in my lifestyle. Today we are all so busy, as working parents, it is so nice to be able to attend such a wonderful college without have to drive and waste 30 minutes both ways to attend class on evenings, taking away time I would have with my family. If online school wasn't an option, I would not have been able to acquire my master's degree in science education.

Did you have an instructor or advisor who was influential in helping you succeed as a distance student?
Emily van Zee and Maggie Niess, were both very influential. They gave me so much of their time and support. It seemed like no matter what time of day it was, they were right there willing to walk me through something or help me better understand an assignment. They modeled the type of teaching I could only hope to accomplish in my own classroom. The feedback they provided was so meaningful and really made me synthesize the readings and think about how I could apply what I was learning into my classroom. Most importantly, they create assignments which were not addition work to take on, but would align with lesson planning in my classroom to create a more successful learning experience for my students! Even though my exit interview was the first time I had met them in person, I felt very close to them, and felt like I had not only respected them as professors, but also gotten to know them on personal levels.

What will your Ecampus degree allow you to do that you were unable to do before?
I am able to really offer so much more to my students in terms of science, math and technology. I was able to use what I have learned from the program and apply it to using iPads to enhance science in the classroom. I gained confidence as a profession and took on the responsibilities of being a technology grant recipient to enhance science learning for the state of Oregon. I also feel strongly that it will enhance my ability to be marketable in my career. I was also challenged and pushed to new accomplishments, and it empowered me to understand that I can continue to push myself to try new things, and work diligently to further my life-long learning and imbed those same values into my students!

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