MAT@USC | Master of Arts in Teaching Delivered Online » Haley Hiatt http://mat.usc.edu Master of Arts in Teaching Delivered Online Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:44:06 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 My Hero of Education: An AMAZING “Pioneer” in Education! http://mat.usc.edu/my-hero-of-education-an-amazing-pioneer-in-education/ http://mat.usc.edu/my-hero-of-education-an-amazing-pioneer-in-education/#comments Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:40:23 +0000 Haley Hiatt http://mat.usc.edu/?p=1198 Master of Arts In Teaching

I currently observe an AP US history teacher that at my local high school as part of my Master of Arts In Teaching curriculum. He teaches with enthusiasm, keeps the students engaged for 90+ minutes and has the ability to demand students’ respect.  How many teachers can say that they do this – successfully?

My teacher is one of those teachers who can influence a student’s life permanently and he is the type of teacher that you would invite to your wedding because he had such a profound effect on you in the classroom.  I feel that he will become the standard of how to teach in the classroom.  He knows how to understand the student, he empathizes with the student and, at the same time, pushes the student to become better academically.

Since he teaches mostly honor courses, he knows that he must set a high standard for each student.  (Although even if he was teaching a regular course, I think that he would set a high standard too – I don’t think that it matters which course he is teaching.)  He treats all of the students equally and always gives compliments and encouragement.  The teacher definitely sets an expectation of hard work while constantly stimulating the students’ minds and probing for in-depth questions and answers.  He always goes the “extra mile” for his students and he is definitely my standard for my future classroom!

Haley is a member of the first MAT@USC cohort. She is currently seeking her online teaching credential to become a history teacher in California.

Related Posts

]]> http://mat.usc.edu/my-hero-of-education-an-amazing-pioneer-in-education/feed/ 0 The Shipwreck http://mat.usc.edu/the-shipwreck/ http://mat.usc.edu/the-shipwreck/#comments Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:07:31 +0000 Haley Hiatt http://mat.usc.edu/?p=877 Learning about being shipwrecked while studying for my masters of arts in teaching.

I wanted to write about a recent concept that I have learned in my Human Differences course while studying for my master of arts in teaching. I really liked learning about the “shipwreck”, a concept in regards to a learner’s identity.  When something devastating occurs in one’s life (in the school arena) it can be demoralizing.  This can include being diagnosed with a learning disability or learning that one’s reading level does not correspond to the grade level. At this point, the learner’s identity has “shipwrecked”  and the student has a choice: do I get back up or do I stay down?

The concept of the “shipwreck” assumes that the students gets back up and is amazed at what he/she can do and how he/she can progress even through a trial such as this.  The learner has had a crisis in his/her life, but has produced a better result in the end than what could have been before.  I really enjoy this concept because I can apply this to my own life.  I had/have trials in which I have been “shipwrecked” or stranded.  Although difficult, I have somehow managed to pick myself up and the pieces around me to create an even finer production than before.  If I can do it, you can do it!

Haley is a member of the first MAT@USC cohort. She is currently seeking her California teaching credentials to be a history teacher.

Related Posts

]]> http://mat.usc.edu/the-shipwreck/feed/ 0 My History Class Observation http://mat.usc.edu/my-history-class-observation/ http://mat.usc.edu/my-history-class-observation/#comments Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:34:55 +0000 Haley Hiatt http://mat.usc.edu/?p=755

observation while working on master of arts in teaching.

I would like to tell you about an observation experience I had during my Framing Experience Class while working on my master of teaching program.  After graduating, I would like to teach high school history so I observed a ninth grade honors history class.

On the day of my observation, the students were memorizing their world geography (I think they had a final exam coming up). The teacher, Mr. C, made the class entertaining while maintaining the high standard of academics.  I interviewed him after the class.  He has a very professional manner about him, but he “gets” the students.  He understands the teenage mind.  He understands how they think and how they might respond.  He can anticipate their answers.

I hope to have that characteristic as a teacher.  This is my favorite age group and Mr. C made me excited to think that I could be teaching history in a year or two.  His students were very attentive during the class, as he would call upon the students at random times.  I think that his strategy of calling upon students randomly has a good effect upon the students; most of them seemed to have their homework finished and ready with the answer if called upon.  I’m glad that this was my first high school history class that I observed because I am so excited to start teaching!

If you’d like to learn about how MAT@USC can prepare you to earn your teaching credentials and make a difference in your local community, contact our Admissions office at 888.MAT.1USC or email us at matadmit@usc.edu.

Related Posts

]]> http://mat.usc.edu/my-history-class-observation/feed/ 4 Meeting my fellow peers – in person! http://mat.usc.edu/meeting-my-fellow-peers-in-person/ http://mat.usc.edu/meeting-my-fellow-peers-in-person/#comments Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:49:41 +0000 Haley Hiatt http://mat.usc.edu/?p=732

meeting peers from online master of arts in teaching program.

I wanted to write a post about how it was to actually meet other students in my program.  I went to the 100th Birthday Anniversity for the Rossier School at USC and there were about 15 other MAT students there.  Heather Dexter (the very cool tech support/counselor/admin for everything go -to person) was also there from Maryland and I got to sit next to her at lunch.

Some of my peers that I met are from San Diego and there was one from Maryland as well.  It was great to meet everyone in person and discuss the program thus far.  I also got to spend some time with Melora Sundt, my professor from The Framing Experience (the first official class of the program); if you can get her for a professor, I highly recommend her.  She was SO helpful when it came to helping me with my papers, giving my information about taking the CBEST and CSET to taking time out of her busy schedule to meet me at USC one Wednesday afternoon in early June.  She gave me a tour of the Rossier School and I got to meet other professors and the dean.  I felt like I was really going to school on campus!  Everyone made me feel a part of the school, making the “online distance learning” feel more personal and real.

The more and more time that I spend with my “online” MAT peers helps me to realize that online distance learning isn’t really that much less personal than taking classes on the campus.  Since I have met several students from around southern California, I feel more connected to USC, while at the same time, I still feel connected to my friends in Ohio, Maryland, and Kentucky since we meet online weekly for discussions.

Fight on!

Other Posts

]]> http://mat.usc.edu/meeting-my-fellow-peers-in-person/feed/ 0 My new friends http://mat.usc.edu/my-new-friends/ http://mat.usc.edu/my-new-friends/#comments Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:05:38 +0000 Haley Hiatt http://mat.usc.edu/?p=580

making friends while getting my master of arts in teaching

I feel so connected to all of my peers/colleagues in the master of arts in teaching program.  I have made a lot of friends whom I have gotten to know over the past couple months.  One of my MAT@USC friends just had her second baby (who is absolutely adorable!), another friend is currently living in London with her husband and two boys, another is traveling around Europe, including London and Paris, and one just started teaching high school history in Park City, Utah.  Although many of my MAT@USC peers/friends do not live near me in southern California, I feel connected to them almost daily.  The MAT@USC has a great feature on 2SC that allows me to see who is online whenever I log in.  I also have many of my friends on Gmail chat, including my professors so I have almost unlimited access to them.  I have also connected with many of my peers on Facebook, which allows us to get to know each other better.

My professors are extremely accessible with email, Facebook, and our 2SC website chat with camera and microphone.  I can request a study session and within 24 hours, my professors will respond and let me know when we can meet.

What a perfect time to begin the MAT@USC program!  Because we live in such a technologically advanced society, I feel that I am not really missing out on meeting with my peers and professors in person.  Meeting with them through the internet almost feels as if I am talking to them in person.

Thank you MAT@USC for helping me to feel connected and a part of the Trojan family without having to step on the USC campus!

Related Posts

]]> http://mat.usc.edu/my-new-friends/feed/ 0 What has surprised you most about the MAT@USC program? http://mat.usc.edu/what-has-surprised-you-most-about-the-matusc-program/ http://mat.usc.edu/what-has-surprised-you-most-about-the-matusc-program/#comments Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:35:55 +0000 Haley Hiatt http://mat.usc.edu/?p=536

surprises about master of arts in teaching program.

The technology!!!  Since I am very technologically illiterate, I was expecting the online masters in education program to be somewhat difficult to navigate.  However, I have found it extremely easy to use and new features are being added weekly.  For example, I can comment under each student’s comments, which is similar to Facebook.  There is also a chat feature and I can see who is online when I log in.  I can also chat with Student Support, who is online frequently.

Although MAT@USC is very technologically advanced, it is very simple and straightforward.  Those who designed the program did such a good job that I sometimes feel like I am sitting next to one of my peers, instead of just chatting through the internet.  We are able to have our professor discussions in which we can see and hear them, as if we were sitting in the classroom.  Sometimes I forget that I am even on the internet.

I can not only connect with my peers on a personal level, but also an academic level – all through the internet.  We have student “forums” each week, in which each person has the opportunity to respond to other students comments/opinions about each week’s readings.  I really enjoy the opportunity to discuss our readings in depth, while getting to know my peers.

Go MAT@USC technology!

Related Posts

]]> http://mat.usc.edu/what-has-surprised-you-most-about-the-matusc-program/feed/ 4 My Journey to the MAT@USC, or Why I love History http://mat.usc.edu/my-journey-to-the-matusc-or-why-i-love-history/ http://mat.usc.edu/my-journey-to-the-matusc-or-why-i-love-history/#comments Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:41:08 +0000 Haley Hiatt http://mat.usc.edu/?p=502

why i got my masters of arts in teaching.

My name is Haley Hiatt and I am SO excited to part of the master of arts in teaching program!  I have always LOVED history since I was in elementary school.  I would like to share 2 experiences about why I have a passion for history and want to incorporate it into my future teaching experiences.  The first experience occurred in tenth grade.  My world history teacher’s name was Mr. Feldmeth.  The class was difficult and rigorous, but I did well in it, which started my real passion for history.  He told me one day that he could see me teaching.  That may have sparked the idea for me.  I was also a teaching assistant for two history classes, Popular Culture in America and San Francisco History, at Brigham Young University.  These were two very challenging classes for the students (I took the classes before I T/Aed).  Each exam would take between 4-5 hours, but I LOVED the content!  The teacher, Dr. Fox, was very organized, and had different mediums to present, ie projector illustrations, white board lectures, and video clips.  It was academically stimulating and challenging.  My passion for history continued to grow after taking these classes and T/Aing for them.

I have always wanted to get a Master’s degree (and possibly a Ph.D. someday).  Eighteen months ago, my daughter, Emma Claire Hiatt, was born.  I knew that it would almost be impossible to go to school full time and take care of Emma full time.  I had researched previous online programs and on-campus programs, searching for one that would enable me to stay with Emma and go to school.  I did not find any.  I moved to Los Angeles during the summer of 2008.  I started researching several graduate programs in the area and happened upon the MAT@USC.  I did some investigation and realized that this was the perfect program for me!  I applied, was accepted, and started April 20, 2009.  I am so grateful for this opportunity to go to school full time and take care of my daughter.

I hope to be teaching (or looking for a job) at this time next year.  I feel that my master’s degree from USC will help me to become marketable in the education field.  I see myself teaching history five years from now (hopefully all subjects of history, including world history, European history, and American history).  My expected graduation date from USC is May 2010.  I am SO excited to have the opportunity to be in the classroom and teach history!

Related Posts

]]> http://mat.usc.edu/my-journey-to-the-matusc-or-why-i-love-history/feed/ 0