Master of Education

Supervisor: Dr. Sandra Bosacki.

Entry date: September 2018

My name is Maria Coccimiglio, and this is my Brock Grad Story. I just started the M.Ed. program in September. My specialization in the program is in Teaching, Learning, and Development. I came to Brock to further the research skills I developed throughout my BA Psychology degree. This experience thus far has presented so many opportunities. I have had the pleasure of working as a Teaching Assistant and a Research Assistant. These two positions have allowed me to further my abilities as a researcher. I am able to learn more about education, as well as data collection and analysis.

As I continue through this program, I have begun thinking and working on my thesis. Considering I am a new student, it is hard to explain my own research with the same confidence as someone who has already been working on his or hers for months or even years. My interest is in prosocial behaviours and attitudes in middle childhood, and how they relate to academic achievement. My goal is to view this through an evolutionary lens, connecting these concepts to how reciprocal altruism has been evolutionary advantageous.

This is the first time I have lived away from home. At first, there were many concerns I had. How would I balance living away from home and being in school? Would I be able to sustain this new lifestyle? Would my schooling suffer if I can’t maintain a balance? Overall, I am so grateful that I chose to come to Brock, as my experience here has been nothing but positive. The faculty has been so supportive, and the course content has expanded my learning and knowledge in a variety of topics. This experience has allowed me to grow, learn, and gain a new sense of self that I am so thankful for.