Name: Ms. Marsha Barnett Cooke
Work Address:
Marsha Barnett Cooke
Curriculum Vitae
Northwest College, 1010 W Sam Houston Parkway, Houston, TX 77043
Office Telephone Number: 713-718-5700 Northwest
College Email Address: marsha.cooke@hccs.edu
Education
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M.A. Psychology, Walden University, Baltimore, Maryland, 2010
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B.A. Psychology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, 1976
Teaching Experience
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Instructor: 2011 – Present
Houston Community College District
Courses: Introduction to Psychology, Life Span Development
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Instructor: 2008
Lone Star College System
Courses: Program for Adult Learning Skills
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Teacher: 2004 – 2008/2001-2003
Katy Independent School District
Courses: Psychology, English III Resource
Professional and Work-related Experience and Skills
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Hermann Hospital Psychiatric Unit, Psychological Specialist, Houston TX, 1976-1977
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MAVS – Mavericks Achieving Volunteer Service, Initial Sponsor and inaugural developer of program, 2004-2007
Professional Achievements and Publications
Katy ISD Student Mentor, MPJH 2001-2003/MRHS 2004-2008
Teaching “Excellence” Award. December 2006.
Capstone: Cooke, Marsha B. (2010). Impact of Social Integration for Students with Learning
Disabilities (LD).

My Teaching Philosophy
Social Integration
The social environment of academia creates a community where attitudes develop and where students eventually come to identify and establish social competence as they mature. How students adapt during adolescence can ultimately affect their transition into adulthood as educational experiences play an integral part in how students eventually assimilate into life beyond school. This development will have an integral impact on life beyond graduation. According to Ban dura’s social learning theory behavior that is reinforced has a greater possibility of being replicated, whether through observation or imitation. The acquisition of knowledge occurs through observation, modeling, and imitation, but is also based upon influence from the environment and outcome expectancies. It is my intention to promote a positive classroom environment that promotes social integration utilizing prior experiences and creating awareness while developing understanding towards others. Interactive and collaborative strategies provide the opportunity for students to engage and learn how to work cooperatively.
Self Reflection and Evaluation
– An active approach to learning
Students who have the ability to self reflect how they arrived at a conclusion or constructively evaluate the work of others; begin to develop problem solving and critical thinking abilities over time. One of my favorite strategies is called “3 levels of questioning.” Broken down into 1) What I know, 2) What I want to know, and 3) What I learned. There are various other forms of this process, but used throughout a learning period it allows students to look beyond assessment results and evaluate their own educational process into how it translates into possible real-world scenarios. Students who can somehow identify with their learning process and see how it can be utilized or how it is part of scaffolding educational constructs over time tend to not be as reliant upon accumulation of knowledge and regurgitation of facts. Comprehension and the ability to summarize information allows students to then apply this information by making connections with learning and identifying with practical situations and solutions.
This identification process combining information uniquely requires creativity but ultimately promotes the evaluation process. An active learning approach promotes independence and critical thinking. I often remind my students that they will learn as much or even more from each other through actively engaging in the classroom through group assignments, then they may from their instructor. Personal effort cannot be under-estimated.
Multiple Modes of Learning - Meeting the needs of students
The combination of multiple instructional and interactive strategies promotes a more engaging learning environment and allows students multiple ways of interacting with concepts of knowledge. By promoting the belief that by furthering their education students will become aware of how essential a life-long love of learning will enhance their personal and professional lives. An active approach to engage in college level

courses reflects their desire to obtain an education by taking on the responsibility that such courses require and they will be held to that standard. Their commitment and effort will help them integrate psychological concepts and relate these concepts to current events as well as their individual lives. As an educator I recognize that all students learn differently, have individual preferences, and will respond uniquely to various instructional strategies. It will be essential to utilize a variety of assessment strategies by examining the strengths and weaknesses of my students in order to best meet their needs. Allowing students to incorporate their own personal interests and utilizing such interests within the academic environment will help to promote and embrace a desire to learn.