How Mukasa Ivan Expanded His Teaching Career with a Master’s

After more than a decade of teaching math, physics, and computer science, Mukasa Ivan had plenty of classroom experience. But he also knew there was more he wanted to learn.

Based in Uganda, Ivan was interested in experiencing graduate education through a U.S. institution and gaining a new perspective he could bring back to his teaching. That search led him to Moreland University’s online 12-month Master’s in Education with Teaching Credential program, where he focused his studies on educational technology.

A Calling to Teach

Ivan knew he wanted to teach long before he pursued his online master’s degree. Growing up, he had a severe stutter, and people around him questioned his decision to enter a profession that would require him to speak in front of students every day. He pursued it anyway.

“I knew I wanted to be a teacher no matter what,” he said.

What happened when Ivan began teaching only reinforced that sense of calling.

“The first time I stepped into the class to teach, that’s when the stuttering ended,” he said. “And from that point onward, I realized that that was my absolute calling. And I never looked back.”

His experiences as a student also influenced the teacher he became. Ivan struggled with some subjects, particularly math, and felt that teachers weren’t always able to explain difficult concepts in ways he could easily understand. It made him think about the students who might face the same challenge in his classroom.

“How can I help someone out there struggling?” he asked.

Finding the Right Master’s Program

For Ivan, pursuing a U.S.-based master’s also had to work with the life he already had. He was teaching full time and had a family in Uganda, so relocating wasn’t an option. An online program gave him a way to pursue his master’s degree without moving abroad or stepping away from teaching.

Moreland University’s online M.Ed. with Teaching Credential also offered something else Ivan was looking for: the opportunity to combine his master’s studies with teacher preparation and a pathway toward U.S. teacher certification.

“I really wanted something that would go beyond just a master’s, something like a teacher preparation, and after that I could, you know, have the possibility of getting a teacher’s license from the U.S.,” Ivan said.

Bringing Technology into His Teaching

With a background in math and computer science, Ivan chose educational technology as the specialization for his master’s studies. Rather than adding more coursework in subjects he already knew well, he wanted his graduate studies to take him in a different direction.

“How can I integrate technology in education and how can I help my colleagues in the process of integrating technology in education?” Ivan recalled.

As he learned about new technologies through the program, Ivan began experimenting with them in his own classroom. Tools such as Kahoot and EdSight were new to him, and he tried them with his students as he encountered them in his coursework.

“Honestly, I was using these technologies along the way because I couldn’t wait until the end to have them applied,” he said. “Because that means I wouldn’t, you know, remember how these things work.”

What he learned also reached beyond his own classroom. Ivan shared the tools and ideas with colleagues, and when it came time to conduct research later in the program, he looked at how those teachers were using the technologies and how easily they were incorporating them into their instruction.

Balancing a Master’s with Full-Time Teaching

Balancing graduate school with a full-time teaching job took planning. Ivan set aside dedicated time for his coursework and created a schedule to help him stay on track. He also found that focusing on one module at a time made it easier to manage his studies alongside his responsibilities in the classroom.

“Honestly, it was intense,” he said. But his takeaway for other working teachers is encouraging: “It’s intense, but it’s absolutely manageable.”

For Ivan, staying organized was an important part of making the two work together. Rather than juggling multiple courses at once, he could focus his attention on the module in front of him before moving on to the next.

A New Perspective on Teaching

Ivan came to Moreland with years of experience as a teacher trained in Uganda. Part of the value of studying through a U.S. institution was being introduced to a different approach to teacher preparation, including U.S. teaching standards.

“As a Ugandan trained teacher, I learned a lot of things,” Ivan said, including how teacher training and standards in the U.S. differed from his experience in Uganda.

Today, Ivan is in his 14th year of teaching math, physics, and computer science in Uganda. Looking back on his experience with Moreland, he has already recommended the university to a colleague and would encourage other educators considering a master’s degree to pursue it.

“It’s something that I would still recommend to anyone who is willing to invest in their career,” he said.

Ready to Take the Next Step in Your Teaching Career?

You don’t have to step away from the classroom to work toward your next goal. Moreland University’s 12-month Master’s in Education with Teaching Credential gives working educators the opportunity to earn a master’s degree while completing the requirements for a pathway to U.S. teacher certification.

Choose a specialization that fits your goals, build skills you can use in your teaching, and earn your degree through a flexible online program designed to fit alongside your work.