Karin D Knapik

203R Hartford Ave West, Uxbridge MA 01569 508.259.5369 March 24, 2013 Framingham State University 100 State St Framingham, MA 01702 To Whom It May Concern: It is with great pleasure, and relief, that I submit my portfolio for review as one of the final requirements toward reaching my goal of obtaining my Masters of Education degree in Curriculum and Instructional Technology from Framingham State University. My entrance into education was somewhat like coming in through the backdoor; starting as a technology director and finding my way into the classroom. I came to teaching well versed in technology but limited in my knowledge of education. Through my coursework at Framingham I have explored how children learn and how I can best pass along my knowledge to students with varying learning styles. My professors have shared resources that have proven invaluable in my classroom; tools that not only support student learning and understanding but are critical to an education in the 21st Century. My portfolio contains just a sample of work I do each day as a Technology Teacher at Uxbridge High School. I design my lesson plans around my students; I serve as their guide. The majority of my units are small group, project-based units that challenge students to think creatively. This approach, I believe, it is critical to developing students who will be successful in tomorrows world economy. It has been six years since I first stepped foot in front of a high school classroom and I have never looked back. Technology makes education exciting for me and for my students. As a life-long learner myself, I couldnt have chosen a more appropriate discipline. I appreciate the opportunity I have had as part of the online CIT program; it has enabled me to better serve the students of Uxbridge High School today and into the future. Sincerely, karinknapik@gmail.com

Karin D. Knapik

Education should impart not facts, not training...but rather the cross-curriculum abilities to reason, to imagine, to think laterally, and perhaps most-important, to welcome learning as a continuing and essential part of life. -Bank of Montreal Chairman Matthew Barrett