The McPherson College
Master of Education Program
provides creative, student-focused learning
experiences to help enact real change.
We help you select a project that will make a real difference in your students’ lives.
The classes are designed to help you identify, understand and then solve a problem that matters to you.
Once a week class meetings, with significant online and one-on-one interaction.
Lots of Good Stuff Happening!
posted by mark | May 14, 2013 | | K-12 Reform, Master of Education, online learning, Progressive Education
Things are continuing to move….
P3 initiative: Recently I was contacted by two McPherson Middle School employees about developing a mentor project between our very best students and emotionally disturbed students at the Middle School. I am thrilled with the way the McPherson College community has embraced this opportunity, with a special shout out given to our Director of Service Projects Tom Hurst, who has taken a very appropriate and appreciated leadership role in this initiative. [ Read more... ]
Relationships in Small Towns
posted by mark | April 19, 2013 | | K-12 Reform, Navel Gazing
Gail, the kids and I travelled to Oklahoma this week. While we were gone, strong storms hit the McPherson area. The same night I received an email from a fellow faculty member, Steve Crain, who is also fairly new to the McPherson area and to McPherson College. Steve informed me that our across the street neighbors had noticed that one of our garage doors was open and were concerned. Our neighbors took it upon themselves to contact Steve, who lives a block over and see if he would check it out. Steve came by and rang the doorbell, determined that we were not home, and while doing so noticed a package that had been left on our door. Steve moved the package into the garage, made sure the house was secure and got the garage door closed.
Gail and I are regularly amazed at the quality of life in this town, and the level of relationships that can develop. It makes me think that towns, schools, neighborhoods could all benefit from becoming smaller, both in size and in approach to relationships.
Vision Quest
posted by mark | March 26, 2013 | | Navel Gazing
We are currently recruiting students for the second cohort of our Master Program, and I am just as nervous as I was last time. Why is that?
Last year we had no real idea if anyone would sign up at all. We had a non-accredited program. We had nothing but a vision. This year we have an accredited program filled with students who are excited to be doing the good work that leads to a graduate degree. We have partnerships with local school districts that embrace and support our vision. We have brochures,and commercials, and websites.
And….I am a nervous wreck. Is it going to be like this every time?
The Good Work Continues
posted by mark | March 18, 2013 | | K-12 Reform, Master of Education, online learning, Progressive Education, Teaching Stories
There has been a lot of positive activity surrounding our grad program since the last update was sent out, so without further delay…
Milwaukee: For a variety of economic and capacity reasons we decided to seek HLC accreditation for online delivery of the Milwaukee program, and the first part of the application was sent to reviewers last week. We feel that applying for the online designation maximizes our flexibility in how we move forward with the concept.
To Teach
posted by mark | February 15, 2013 | | K-12 Reform, Master of Education, Progressive Education, Teaching Stories
I dropped by Eisenhower Elementary this week to see a student and to start a book chain. Don’t feel bad if you don’t know what a book chain is; I made the term up during the writing of the previous sentence.
A few months ago my friend Melissa demanded I read a certain book. Immediately. She said things like ”You are a total idiot if you don’t read this book.” and “If you don’t read this book before you die, you might as well admit your life has been wasted.” So I ordered it from Amazon, and felt good that in this one area at least I would neither be a total idiot OR live a wasted life. In fact I felt so good about it that when it finally arrived I complacently unwrapped it, complacently put it on my desk for a week, and then complacently put it on my bookshelf and forgot about it. Ordering it, you see, was half the battle, and I was good with my 50% victory in this area. I felt solid and unthreatened by the unread book, sitting on my bookshelf. It was kind of like Ernie the Elf in reverse. Then, last week, the book fell off the bookshelf and literally landed at my feet, and I picked it up, and even opened it.
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