About Me
Hi all, I'm ...
Dr. Debbie Azevedo
Introduction
Welcome to the Collaborative Educator!
I am Dr. Debbie Azevedo and I am very excited to be sharing a little about myself with you. As a child I always knew I wanted to become a teacher. When my friends would come over I would make them play school and they would be the students, while I was the teacher. I would draw out worksheets for them to complete.
Somehow I also convinced my mom to buy two old-fashioned student desks (remember the ones where you lifted the top of the desk to get your pencils and school books out?) so I could have my students (aka friends) sitting in real school desks and I instructed them on their lessons.
Now thinking back I wonder if my friends did not want to come over more often because they had to play the role of student.
Honestly, I never let them play teacher. (Oops!)
But I loved the role of teacher and I was passionate about educating others.
Educational Background
Elementary School Teacher
After high school, I went to a University and obtained a Bachelor's degree in Liberal Studies (apparently all student who wanted to be an elementary school teacher majored in Liberal Studies). I regret that decision now as I wish I had picked a specific major rather than general studies but this is what I completed.
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Upon graduation, I returned to the University to complete a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. I student taught for 7 weeks in a first grade classroom and another 7 weeks in a middle school 7/8th grade math and science class. Even though I thought I would dread working with middle schoolers it was actually the best part of the credential program.
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I went on to teach kindergarten, K/1 combination class, and third grade. Many years were spent working with at-risk students, pushing students to learn to read, and motivating students to enjoy school. The relationships I built with students and parents were solid and I knew I had made a difference in my student's lives. But life takes unexpected turns and we need to move with them.
Masters Degrees
While teaching at the elementary school I experienced the itch to go back to school as a student. I enrolled in the Masters of Education Program at a second university and spent 18 months completing a degree which would allow me to teach Transitional Kindergarten (TK) students. During the program, I learned instructional strategies to support my pedagogy and had fun learning in an online environment.
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Online learning was fascinating to me and I enjoyed my Masters program so much that even before it was completed I enrolled at a third university in the Masters of Educational Technology program. Let me tell you... I LOVED this program. I learned about instructional design, how to create online courses, how to create and edit videos to be uploaded onto YouTube, and even how to use html and css. I cried during the html/css course but the professor offered Happy Hours (live Zoom sessions) where students could ask questions, share their work, and get feedback in real time.
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Completing the Masters in Educational Technology degree is what caused me to LOVE school and technology. There is so much people can do in the online space. In the program I created a full blown online science course for kindergarten students. There were games, videos, discussions, and tons more information for students to learn about animals in the course.
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I WAS HOOKED!
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I knew from then on I wanted to design online courses and teach others how to create courses to teach about their passion.
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Docorate Degree
Finally, I decided to enroll in yet another university and complete a ...
Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction
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During the program, I learned about leadership qualities, how to incorporate technology into lessons, backward planning, and the importance of research. I also started working at a university, teaching other adults about inclusion in education. Andragogy (how adults learn) is my new love in life.... and to think that I started off my career thinking I could and would only ever work with students under eights years old! Boy was I wrong ... again the twists and turns of life helped me find my passion.
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TECHNOLOGY is my PASSION!
TEACHING is my PASSION!
ONLINE COURSE DESIGN is my PASSION!
Your Turn
I have found my PASSION ... and now I want to support you in finding yours.
It took me years and years of grinding down the twists and turns of life's adventures to FINALLY find the thing that makes my heart happy! I do not regret the road I traveled to get here.... I just wish I had taken a shortcut somewhere along the way to get here faster.
I am happy and ready to work with you!
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Let me show you about:
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Branding
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Online Course Design
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Wix Website Design
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Within each category there is so much to explore and I plan to be there and walk you through every step of the way.... however much or less (does that make sense?) you need me to be there.
