I enthusiastically recommend Mr. Jim Shaffer as a candidate for Purdue’s Master of Science in Education in Learning Design and Technology. I served as head of the English department during Jim’s first nine years at South Western High School. Currently, I serve as the curriculum leader for the English department, a position in which I work closely with Jim to develop quality curriculum for face-to-face, blended, and online courses. I have also had the pleasure of being under Jim’s leadership during professional development workshops and technology coaching sessions. As an English teacher in our department, Jim consistently demonstrates a passion for extending literature and literacy instruction beyond the established canon, as well as beyond the traditional learning environment. This passion is complemented by his intellectual curiosity, a tireless work ethic, and an adventurous spirit, all of which inform his educational vision: that all students deserve a rigorous educational experience delivered in an inclusive, fair, equitable, and respectful manner. The following should serve as an evaluation of Jim’s professional strengths and scholarly potential. • A born educator, Jim tirelessly seeks and develops …show more content…
He is not so much consumed with the “what” as he is interested in the “why” and the “how.” For example, Jim likes to ask why students in countries where mandated testing is non-existent or limited, regularly outperform students from the United States, where high-stakes testing is the norm. He likes to ask how learning experiences can better imitate the high-tech work environments students will encounter throughout their lives. He especially likes to ask how all curriculum can be infused with the critical and higher-order thinking skills students need to evaluate information, analyze problems, and make shrewd