Online Masters in Educational Technology &/or Ed Tech Leadership?

[Cherice Montgomery]

I have a former student who is now living in CO who is interested in pursuing a MEd in Ed Tech or Ed Tech Leadership. Does anyone have any recommendations (pro or con) re: programs?

[Ben Rimes]

I wish I could recommend a program, but I'm in the middle of searching for one myself. I'm looking into what UofM, MSU, and Western have to offer, but I'm not limiting myself to something in state. I just really don't want to do the University of Phoenix Online or Walden University, because it just seems so cheesy to enter a program that's being hawked in my mailbox like the Saturday Sales at Meijer.

Apologies to anyone who has attended one of those universities, as I'm sure they have excellent programs and instructors. Their way of getting my attention just doesn't sit right with me all the time.

[Teresa Fulk]

Hi Cherise and Ben,

Several of us who have joined MACUL space are currently in the Instructional Technology Program at Wayne State. It is completely on-line and for the most part really works around your current schedule. I have been able to use every project that we have completed in my classroom immediately. The professors make the assignments as relevant to you current position as possible. I also have a friend in MSU's program and I've heard good things about that as well.

I hope that helps.

-Teresa

[Cherice Montgomery]

Since I'm a PhD student at MSU, I've had the pleasure of taking courses from some of the instructors who also teach in the masters program there. I can highly recommend it based on what I know of both the faculty and the program. However, this student graduated from MSU, so I think he would prefer to have a degree from a different institution.

I appreciate the reminder of Wayne State's program. I attended presentations given by a couple of instructors from that program a year or two ago and was very impressed.

Ben, if you discover anything promising, let me know. As to Phoenix--I would have to agree. I have a friend who teaches for them, and although she happens to be a great instructor, I do wonder about the program based on the "behind the scenes" stories she tells me.

[Ben Rimes]

Oh gosh, color me red and embarrased. One of our most active groups on the site here is the WSU IT group! Thank you Teresa for reminding me. My apologies to the fine people in the WSU group, because I've been following your discussions with interest.

[Ellen Fisher]

I agree with Teresa. It is all online and everything has worked great for me. Not only do you get the Masters but also a certification to teach technology. Although, I am not sure it that is all grades or just what you are certified in. Does anyone know?

[Cherice Montgomery]

Oh, that's an interesting twist. Thanks!

[Teresa Fulk]

I am under the impression that it will be a K-12 endorsement.

[Michael McVey]

Great programs all, but don't forget Eastern Michigan's program (EDMT) which is also entirely online. I began this year as a faculty member in that program.

[Ben Rimes]

I also forgot that Lawrence Tech has a program as well. This list and conversation will be made much more useful once Ning introduces their Wiki features to the site in the next update :)

[Cherice Montgomery]

I must say I'm a wiki fanatic. They are SO flexible and using them has generated a number of paradigm shifts in my thinking re: a variety of different issues. I find their inherent features naturally support my academic writing in incredibly powerful ways, they have really reshaped my pedagogy in the classroom, and have also changed how I facilitate professional development.

I've just about finished using a wiki to author a paper about wikis in world languages. While the paper still needs a lot of work (and, unfortunately, the most interesting section on transformations is still just in the brainstorming stage) I think it has given me a glimpse of the affordances of wikis for multimedia authoring. Writing on a wiki enabled me to create content that, in some respects, is more pedagogically sound than what typically goes into an academic paper. It also made me think more carefully about how to design experiences for my readers that would actively engage them with the concepts I was writing about. In turn, THAT forced me to consider how I might scaffold that engagement. The ways in which writing on a wiki makes it possible for writers to have actual conversations with readers around the work also intrigue me.

I invite your comments on the work in progress! http://cmwikipaper.wikispaces.com/

[Cherice Montgomery]

A program that is entirely online is exactly what this student needs because he is no longer living in MI. Thanks for the info.!

[Kathleen Samulski]

The distance Instructional Technology Master's program at Wayne State University has been great. I began in September of 2006, and I will have my degree in August. It was an interesting program because, we began as a group, and all the classes are planned--no registering necessary. Therefore, the same group has been together throughout the program. It's good for the rapport that sometimes is an issue with online programs. On the practical side, I had heard about and seen so many institutions whose online programs were more costly than a campus degree. At the time I registered a year and a half ago, the IT distance program cost the same as a WSU campus program. I have found the content to be rich and challenging, and I am happy with my choice. The entire program is asynchronous (with optional opportunities for synchronous activities), so it was easy to establish pacing that worked best for me. Let me know if you have any questions.
~Kathleen