Meet Joy Ware

My INDS Degree

My INDS degree, “ Educational Technology and Culturally Responsive Design,” centers on the intersection of technology and culturally responsive education, with a specific emphasis on the teaching practices commonly referred to as pedagogies of educational technology. I intend to integrate three main areas of study: information systems, education, and visualization tools in media in order to develop competency in both cultural studies and educational technology design. I am studying software development and learning how to create multimedia educational technology tools primarily through courses in information systems. These courses include human-computer interaction and sociology of education. I am gaining a deeper understanding of cultural competence that is essential for designing effective educational technologies for different cultures and their impact on learning. In media communication studies, I am enriching my understanding of visualization tools in media and editing for educational purposes.

Degree Mentors

• Dr. Jamie Gurganus, Associate Director of STEMed Research at UMBC, Teaching Assistant Professor at UMBC Engineering and Computing Education Program (ECEP,) & Mechanical Engineering and Director for the Center for Integrated Research, Teaching & Learning
• Steven McAlpine, Assistant Teacher Professor Individualized Study

Post Graduation Plans

After graduating from UMBC, I plan to work with the Maryland Department of Education, through which my focus will be on how culturally-specific frameworks applied to educational technology encourage academic achievement, especially in marginalized communities.

Courses In My INDS Degree

✅Education: Build foundational knowledge in education and understand the instructional techniques and pedagogies related to the craft of the teaching process.

(EDUC 310, 311, SOCY 345, ENES 345, 396, PSYC 215)

✅ Information Systems: Further develop my skills in information systems to develop an understanding of technological mediums in educational technology.

(IS 300, 303, 352 400, 403,)

✅Arts & Media: Gain a multidisciplinary perspective through visual models and tools necessary in digital storytelling platforms and products in academia. (MLL 484, HONRS 300, MCS 485, ART 210, 324)

✅Visualization: Research methods courses that included a cultural analysis component provided me with the opportunity to build and refine my knowledge and expertise as an education researcher.

(AFST 495, GWST 370, HONR 400, ENGL 393)

✅ Individualized Study: These courses will help me to design a degree plan that integrates the areas of concentration above.

(INDS 330, 335, 410, 480, 490, ENTR 201)