Alumni Spotlight: Matthew Ziebarth, Graduate Certificate in Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics and Assessment (MESA)

Meet Matthew Ziebarth, a 2020 graduate of the UIC Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics and Assessment (MESA) Certificate program. Ziebarth has worked as a high school social studies teacher for over 25 years, and has a Master of Arts degree in Educational Policy Studies, a Bachelor of Science in Education, and a Bachelor of Arts in History.

Living in rural Wisconsin, Ziebarth had a hard time finding a program that focused on statistical methodology in his area. He credits the online convenience and the curriculum of the UIC MESA programs to helping him gain the skills and knowledge he was seeking and earn the MESA graduate certificate.

What skills did you gain or sharpen through your MESA program at UIC and how do you use them today?

I learned a lot about statistical methodology and how to use it to analyze data in a practical way. The program really opened my eyes to the power of statistical analysis and why modern statistical methodology isn’t just “guessing with data,” but it is actually extremely accurate at predicting outcomes.

I also learned about program evaluation, which I believe will make a big difference in a possible career change. But for now, I have some skills that I can apply to programs within my school building.

How has your MESA degree or certificate program impacted you in terms of your current position or a position you’d like to attain in the future? 

As a classroom teacher, it has helped me critique and analyze statistical studies that I read or that are given to me to support educational policies. I’ve also started to use some statistical analysis on student data, as well as survey data. In the future, when I decided to move on from the classroom, I’d really like to have a position that I can use statistical analysis to improve the success that teachers have in their classrooms. Classroom teachers have so much to do and to think about, and I’d like to help develop tools to make it easy for teachers to analyze classroom data and help adjust their lesson for maximizing student learning.

What was a challenge you faced during your program, and who or what helped you overcome it? 

The biggest challenge for me was understanding the statistics. I’m not really a math guy, but I found that statistics made the most sense to me. My professors were really helpful, and when I had questions or problems, I never felt like I was being dismissed or ignored. They always helped me through any difficulties I had in my understanding.

What was the biggest takeaway from your MESA degree or certificate program? 

The biggest takeaway was how important scientific study of data and organizational policies can be in improving education. The typical community member or educator has limited understanding about possible improvements in educational policy. The certificate program will help me bridge the gap between the research and the practice, and I will be better equipped to help people understand what’s going on in the world of education.

What would you tell (or what advice would you give) to prospective students considering the MESA degree or certificate program at UIC? 

I would tell prospective students that even though this is an online program, I always felt connected to other students and professors. In each class, I was able to build relationships, and I never felt isolated.

MESA online quantitative research graduates are in high demand. Receiving this nationally ranked graduate degree or certificate, students are ready to succeed in a variety of research settings and environments. Choose from two online programs, a Master of Education Degree or a Graduate Certificate, and begin your journey today. To learn more about these online programs, visit http://mesaonline.ec.uic.edu/programs/contact-us.