Master of Science in Education in Instructional Technology

IX 500: FOUNDATIONS OF INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY (5 Credits)

This course focuses on the field of instructional technology, placing the field within the context of its history, current practices, and future directions. It provides the conceptual framework for other courses within the degree program.

IX 510: INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN (5 Credits)

This course presents the philosophical and theoretical foundation of instructional design. Students explore instructional design process models com­monly used by practitioners. They will apply the stages of a process model to create design documents in the education and training contexts. The model will address instructional analysis, assessing learning from instruction, media characteristics and selection, managing instruction, formative and summative evaluation, and the motivational design of instruction.

IX 520: NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION IN EDUCATION AND TRAINING (5 Credits)

This course presents the knowledge and skills necessary to identify training and/or instructional problems and potential solutions. Students explore the advantages and disadvantages of multiple techniques for performing a needs assessment. Students develop skills and collect resources related to the selection and use of analysis methods. They will conduct a needs analysis and submit a report in an education or training context. Students also consider evaluation taxonomies and models, tools and techniques, and develop an evaluation strategy for an instructional program.

IX 540: RESEARCH METHODS FOR EDUCATION AND INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY (5 Credits)

This practitioner-oriented course is designed for students to explore different methodologies, designs, and tools used in educational research. Students will examine ethical standards for conducting research and write an applied research proposal on an approved topic in the field of education or instructional design and technology. Other learning activities include examining data analysis techniques, completing the institutional review board certification, and critically analyzing readings and examples of research related to K–12, higher education, military, corporate, and nonprofit organizations.

IX 550: PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION IN EDUCATION AND TRAINING (5 Credits)

This course presents approaches to project management for education and training projects. Students explore concepts of project management and leadership, tools, procedures, and methodologies. They focus on creating, monitoring, and reporting project plans from the proposal to the implementation stages. They consider project constraints including time, cost, resource allocation, and scope. Concepts of change management are also explored and applied to implementation strategies used in education and training environ­ments.

SPECIALIZATION COURSES (25 Credits)

ED 503: EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY (4 Credits)

This course introduces students to prominent research-based theories of learning and examines the impact of these theories on students, learning and motivation, teaching, and assessment. Students critically evaluate opposing sides of current issues in educational psychology and articulate and defend personal positions on these issues.

ET 503: USING TECHNOLOGY—APPLICATIONS IN THE CONTENT AREAS (4 Credits)

In this course, students explore a variety of current and emerging instructional technologies. Through course readings, class discussion, and hands-on experiences using various technologies, students develop the knowledge and skills needed to integrate technology effectively into lesson plans and instructional materials to meet the needs of diverse learners and satisfy the requirements of unique learning environments.

IX 560: INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES INFRASTRUCTURE (6 Credits)

This course provides an introduction to computer networking and establishes a basic understanding of the infrastructure required to incorporate technology into the K–12 environment. Students will learn the basics of computer networks and technology infrastructure. They will also learn how infrastructure supports classroom design for learning with technology tools. Students will identify the skills necessary to design, install, maintain, and troubleshoot the technology and analyze the roles necessary to maintain effective infrastructure. In addition, students will learn how to assess institutional technology needs and plan for future growth.

IX 562: TECHNOLOGY ENHANCED LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS-K-12 (6 Credits)

In this practitioner-oriented course, students will explore existing and emerging multimedia technologies used in K–12 classrooms through peer and individual assignments. They will evaluate existing instructional resources available with classroom textbooks in open source content and learning object repositories. They will design and create an instructional lesson appropriate for the K–12 setting while adhering to federal, state, and local mandates regarding media development.

IX 570: DESIGN OF ONLINE INSTRUCTION IN K-12 ENVIRONMENTS (5 Credits)

In this application-based course, students will explore similarities and differences between Web-based learning and on-ground learning in K-12 classrooms. They will learn how to repurpose existing material and chunk content into online modules while organizing and managing reusable learning objects. They will design assessment items suitable for the online environment and learn about issues related to assessing students from a distance. They will create design docu­ments and content for an online course. Students will participate in peer-review evaluations and provide constructive feedback based on principles of online instructional design.

IX 500: FOUNDATIONS OF INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY (5 Credits)

This course focuses on the field of instructional technology, placing the field within the context of its history, current practices, and future directions. It provides the conceptual framework for other courses within the degree program.

IX 510: INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN (5 Credits)

This course presents the philosophical and theoretical foundation of instructional design. Students explore instructional design process models com­monly used by practitioners. They will apply the stages of a process model to create design documents in the education and training contexts. The model will address instructional analysis, assessing learning from instruction, media characteristics and selection, managing instruction, formative and summative evaluation, and the motivational design of instruction.

IX 520: NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION IN EDUCATION AND TRAINING (5 Credits)

This course presents the knowledge and skills necessary to identify training and/or instructional problems and potential solutions. Students explore the advantages and disadvantages of multiple techniques for performing a needs assessment. Students develop skills and collect resources related to the selection and use of analysis methods. They will conduct a needs analysis and submit a report in an education or training context. Students also consider evaluation taxonomies and models, tools and techniques, and develop an evaluation strategy for an instructional program.

IX 540: RESEARCH METHODS FOR EDUCATION AND INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY (5 Credits)

This practitioner-oriented course is designed for students to explore different methodologies, designs, and tools used in educational research. Students will examine ethical standards for conducting research and write an applied research proposal on an approved topic in the field of education or instructional design and technology. Other learning activities include examining data analysis techniques, completing the institutional review board certification, and critically analyzing readings and examples of research related to K–12, higher education, military, corporate, and nonprofit organizations.

IX 550: PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION IN EDUCATION AND TRAINING (5 Credits)

This course presents approaches to project management for education and training projects. Students explore concepts of project management and leadership, tools, procedures, and methodologies. They focus on creating, monitoring, and reporting project plans from the proposal to the implementation stages. They consider project constraints including time, cost, resource allocation, and scope. Concepts of change management are also explored and applied to implementation strategies used in education and training environ­ments.

SPECIALIZATION COURSES (26 Credits)

HE 521: TEACHING ADULT LEARNERS (5 Credits)

This course provides participants with the information necessary to comprehend, assess, and evaluate the foundational aspects of andragogy, which includes historical influences, theories and models, contemporary and international perspectives, the use of technology, teaching in a variety of higher education settings, and the development of and reflections on teaching and learning in adulthood.

HE 547: EFFECTIVE ONLINE INSTRUCTION-DESIGN AND PRACTICE (5 Credits)

This course explores the factors that make online learning courses successful as well as what lessons can be learned from less successful online strategies. The course examines how the findings of online learning research, a deep understanding of local context, and the intelligent use of technology tools can work together to allow the development and delivery of top-flight online courses. Practical, applicable skills are stressed in this practice-oriented course.

IX 536: DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT TOOLS (5 Credits)

In this application-based course, students will discuss trends and issues of eLearning content development and explore similarities and differences among eLearning authoring tools and methods. They will learn how to develop original content with a variety of authoring tools and software applications and to repurpose existing material with reusable learning objects (RLOs) and content repositories. Interface layout standards, accessibility and SCORM/AICC compliance, and collaborative environments are explored. They will consider technical and development requirements for eLearning delivered through multiple learning channels including online and mobile platforms. Students will create a design document and instructional module in this course.

IX 542: MULTIMEDIA DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION (5 Credits)

This course provides an introduction to digital media production. Students will acquire fundamental knowledge and skills in designing and producing digital media. Students will evaluate appropriate uses of digital media. The course introduces the tools of digital video production and sharing as students create online instructional materials using digital media.

IX 564: DESIGN OF LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS (6 Credits)

This course presents activities related to the design of a learning application. Students explore advantages and disadvantages of multiple learning environments and content delivery technologies. They will develop a plan for an individualized learning project that includes a template for design of a specific environment. Course topics include education and communication theory, course and content delivery methods, asynchronous and synchronous technologies, multimedia design, usability testing, and integration of multime­dia objects within instructional programs and systems.

HE 521: TEACHING ADULT LEARNERS (5 Credits)

This course provides participants with the information necessary to comprehend, assess, and evaluate the foundational aspects of andragogy, which includes historical influences, theories and models, contemporary and international perspectives, the use of technology, teaching in a variety of higher education settings, and the development of and reflections on teaching and learning in adulthood.

IX 535: DEVELOPING INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS (5 Credits)

This course provides the knowledge and skills required to develop instructional materials for an instructor-led training scenario as approved by the instructor. This training scenario will provide the context and focus for the materials. Each student will create a series of print-based instructional ma­terials for this scenario considering best practices and design and development guidelines.

IX 536: DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT TOOLS (5 Credits)

In this application-based course, students will discuss trends and issues of eLearning content development and explore similarities and differences among eLearning authoring tools and methods. They will learn how to develop original content with a variety of authoring tools and software applications and to repurpose existing material with reusable learning objects (RLOs) and content repositories. Interface layout standards, accessibility and SCORM/AICC compliance, and collaborative environments are explored. They will consider technical and development requirements for eLearning delivered through multiple learning channels including online and mobile platforms. Students will create a design document and instructional module in this course.

IX 542: MULTIMEDIA DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION (5 Credits)

This course provides an introduction to digital media production. Students will acquire fundamental knowledge and skills in designing and producing digital media. Students will evaluate appropriate uses of digital media. The course introduces the tools of digital video production and sharing as students create online instructional materials using digital media.

IX 564: DESIGN OF LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS (6 Credits)

This course presents activities related to the design of a learning application. Students explore advantages and disadvantages of multiple learning environments and content delivery technologies. They will develop a plan for an individualized learning project that includes a template for design of a specific environment. Course topics include education and communication theory, course and content delivery methods, asynchronous and synchronous technologies, multimedia design, usability testing, and integration of multime­dia objects within instructional programs and systems.