2011 Educational Technology Graduate Award

Congratulations!

Every year, COE faculty select students who have shown outstanding achievement in the area of their study. For the first time, there are two outstanding students selected by the Educational Technology faculty and their peers. The 2011 Educational Technology Graduate Award goes to Lisa Costello and Kavita Mehta. Congratulations! Your hard work and dedication are an inspiration for all Ed Tech students and faculty.

Lisa Costello

Lisa was born in Tempe, Arizona, and has lived there her whole life, with the exception of four years that she spent in California.  She is a single mom to:  Anthony, who is stationed with the Army overseas, his wife, Emily, and her lovely daughter, Theresa, who lives here in Arizona.  Lisa also has a beautiful little granddaughter named, Tatyana. 

Lisa received her B.A.E. in Elementary Education from Arizona State University, and her M.Ed. in Elementary Education from Northern Arizona University.  Completing her M.Ed. in Educational Technology has provided her with a sense of self-satisfaction and pride. 

Ms. Costello has worked for the past sixteen years in the Roosevelt School District No. 66, in Phoenix, Arizona, where she is an E.L.L. 4th grade instructor. She has worn many hats during these years, but there are two that she has cherished most.  Those were mentoring new teachers in her district, and working as a faculty advisor for Teach for America.     

Lisa’s final capstone project was an interactive, collaborative, online wiki course designed for younger elementary school children.  Its topic dealt with cybersafety and digital citizenship, and was intended as an uncomplicated and trouble-free course for teachers to put together and implement.  This engaging unit was supported by constructivist and networked- learning strategies, and also housed a community resource section with further sources for parents and staff. 

For additional information and/or to contact Lisa, please email:  LCostello03@aol.com.

Kavita Mehta

Born and brought up in New Delhi, India, Kavita started her Masters in Ed Tech one and a half years ago. She graduated in Bachelors and Masters with top honors from Delhi University and has a degree in teaching. She has been working in the technology department at an international school for last twelve years in New Delhi. 

Coming from a totally different cultural, financial and educational background; it makes Kavita proud that she created an "impossible" goal and believed in it to make it a reality! She learned and discovered so much about technology through this journey! 

In Kavita’s own words,”I met new people from different cultures. It’s been a great experience of learning and sharing. It was a wonderful positive online learning environment. I felt valued by my instructors, peers, and group mates in the same way as I would value my efforts.  I feel that my entire Program of Study has prepared me in multiple ways to achieve my goals. I am really grateful to this program for not only enhancing my love and desire of education, but also for opening my eyes to many new technological aspects and skills; and help me grow to continue my journey as a lifelong learner.”

Kavita’s capstone project “Professional Development of Instructional Assistant’s” (teacher assistants) was an obvious choice, for which she feels strongly. She offers Individual training or as required by the grade level teams, leads workshops after school or in-service days to IA’s. Her goal is to make them aware of technology tools and its advantages of teaching and learning to bring them at a comfortable level to work independently. She uses presentations, FTF, hands on training, share videos and resources like Moodle to bring them at par with the community.

Contact Kavita @:  kavitasmehta@gmail.com

Past Outstanding Technology Graduate Awards:

2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010

Questions? Feel free to contact an Educational Technology Program Adviser.