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M.Ed. Technology in Education - Program Requirements

Please note that the program of study outlined below is the general M.Ed. program which is offered entirely online. It is in effect for all students beginning with the summer 2009 semester. Students who began the program before the summer of 2009 do not have to take ECOMP 5007 or 5004 as required classes and must take any four electives (of which 5007 and 5004 were two of the elective choices).

ECOMP 5100 - Computers, Technology, and Education
This course presents an overview of computers in education including productivity tools such as word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and graphics. Students survey examples of educational software, explore the Internet, conduct online learning, and practice APA writing style.

ECOMP 6008 - The World Wide Web as an Educational Resource
Through hands-on experience and readings participants develop skills in using World Wide Web (WWW) resources to communicate and collaborate with others locally and globally, evaluate and access information, conduct research, develop web sites, and apply what is learned in schools, classrooms and graduate studies. Responsible use of the WWW, issues related to educational uses of the WWW, and the changing role and nature of the WWW will be examined and evaluated.

ECOMP 7100 - Fundamentals of Computer Structure
This course investigates technical aspects of the computer, balancing between hardware and operating system. Methods of maintenance, troubleshooting and repair are demonstrated and experienced. The goal is to demystify the computer, not create technicians. Students learn basic technical language and concepts to communicate about, prevent, and solve basic technical problems, enabling them to function more effectively in educational settings with computers. This includes being able to make technically informed decisions regarding the purchasing and upgrading of computers.

ECOMP 6016 - Teaching and Learning With Digital Media
This course will help educators to harness the power of digital media for teaching and learning. They will learn to use that power to transform traditional teacher-centered classrooms into student-focused learning environments where students use digital media for the acquisition, analysis, construction, and presentation of knowledge. Hands on experiences will also help them develop proficiency with the tools and skills needed for authoring and publishing digital media in a variety of formats.

ECOMP 6102 - Classroom Assessment and Technology
This course investigates uses of technology in conducting and transforming assessment practices. Participants learn about technologies that support both formal and alternative/authentic assessment, e. g.: tests, portfolios, observation tools, self- and whole class assessments. Roles of assessment in student learning and meeting an educational organization's needs will be explored (including current assessments of technology's efficacy). Participants design balanced assessment programs that both prove and improve student achievement and use multiple methods to evaluate uses of technology resources in schools.

ECOMP 5007 - 21st Century Teaching: Supporting All Learners on the Ability Spectrum
This hands-on course teaches the application of technologies to the special needs curriculum. Participants develop the knowledge and skills to support special needs learners with technologies: understanding the learning characteristics of special needs students; developing customized hypermedia; selecting and evaluating appropriate software; experimenting with and using software and adaptive technologies; discussing special needs research and national legislation; investigating the latest issues of using technology for special needs learners; and integrating technology into the curriculum.

ECOMP 5004 –Technology into the Language Arts Curriculum
Course participants will experience a variety of hands-on activities designed to integrate technological applications to students' research, reading, writing, and publishing across content areas. This course surveys current research and best practice in teaching of language arts in combination with effective use of computers and other technology especially the resources available on the World Wide Web. Participants will preview, evaluate, and discuss applications of a variety of reading software and storybooks, presentation software, writing programs, editing and grammar tools, and desktop publishing packages.

ECOMP 6106 - Designing Curriculum to Integrate Technology
Participants will gain practical experience in curriculum planning that takes specific advantage of technology to enhance and extend learning. State academic standards and national technology standards will be used to make decisions about curriculum content and to plan technology-based activities. Participants will use databases and spreadsheets in support of inquiry learning. Writing and presentation software will be used for communication; and multimedia and web-tools will be used to design engaging learning environments.

ECOMP 6101 - Technology: Impact on Society and the Schools
Through discussions, readings, group work, and class activities, the course focuses on current social and political issues in educational technology, issues of effectiveness, and the process of leading change in educational institutions. Students analyze current practice and evolving issues with varied perspectives. Students lead a seminar on one of the course's controversial topics, and develop a plan for change in their own classrooms, schools, or communities.

ECOMP 5022 - Technology and Social Studies
This course gives teachers a chance to explore a variety of ways that technology can be used to support and enhance the social studies curriculum such as developing student-centered projects, inquiry, communication and "virtual learning." Students in this course will investigate and evaluate existing standards-based social studies curriculum; build resources; use new tools; and create new curriculum materials for their own classrooms. They will learn and use the "transformative" power of technology in the social studies.

ECOMP 5107 - Evaluating Educational Technology for the Classroom
This course focuses on the assessment and selection of appropriate educational technology applications for use in instruction in a variety of school settings. The course includes an overview of evaluation techniques for software and other instructional technology resources. National and local standards for subject matter content, thinking processes, and technology, as well as pedagogical approach, will inform the evaluation process. Students will develop their own evaluation tools for their own contexts and uses. (Note: This course is offered in alternating semesters.)

ECOMP 6003 – Using Technology to Integrate Math Across CurriculumThis course focuses on using technology to integrate mathematics with other subjects. Students will explore interdisciplinary activities focusing on using data and a visual database as tools to engage students and enhance their understanding in both math and other disciplines. In addition, we will look at collaborative web tools and video to support learning and productive collaboration. Free web resources, from high stakes testing support to education-focused virtual reality games, will also be featured.

ECOMP 6009 - Website Design and HTML: Web Publish for Educators
This course focuses on web site design and development. Applying the basics of the HTML scripting language and digital imaging techniques, students will synthesize technology with pedagogy, integrating web sites into educational environments. The course emphasizes the student as author--one who designs, develops, and publishes web pages on the Internet-using appropriate instructional design techniques in a logical sequence. Issues of classroom management, student-centered web site development, and school-wide participation will be addressed.

ECOMP 6018 - Introduction to Educational Robotics
This course introduces the principles of robotics as a subject matter and as a concrete three-dimensional classroom tool to be used in many educational environments. Various types of robots are optimized to illustrate how these educational assistants can impact the learning environment and problem solving challenges for math, science, language arts, industrial arts, activities for disabled or special education students, and events for the gifted and talented. The course utilizes Macintosh computers, PC's using Windows, and all laptops to work with remote infrared programming which is linked to vision, sonar, tactile sensors, speech, pattern recognition, voice recognition, and problem solving challenges. (Note: This course is offered in alternating semesters.)

ECOMP 6019 - Web 2.0 For Education
This project based course is designed to introduce educators to various forms of Web 2.0 for use in their teaching practice. Students will identify and experience selected web applications and evaluate them for classroom use. Based on readings and experiences, students will critically consider the many applications of Web 2.0 for learning in and out school. For example, students will be encouraged to apply Web 2.0 features, such as authentic communication, to address ELLs and accessibility. Web 2.0 will be integrated in the classroom assignments, so that rather than learn tools students will simply 'work the web'.

ECOMP 6201 - Introduction to Teaching K-12 Online
This course is designed to introduce teaching online to K-12 educators. Utilizing a constructivist learning approach, students will explore the advantages of online learning, features of online environments, theoretical frameworks for online learning, and the best pedagogical practices for teaching and learning online. Expectations, characteristics and needs of online learners will be examined and specific strategies to help students assess their readiness to learn online will be developed. Solutions for the challenge of keeping students motivated to produce quality work through online learning will be explored as we work through each of the eight modules together.

ECOMP 6202 - Assessment & Evaluation in Online Teaching
This course examines assessment and evaluation in an online learning environment from the perspective of teachers and students in K-12 environments. Assessment strategies are presented, including self-evaluation, authentic assessment, triangulation, continuous evaluation, pre- and post-testing, and use of observational data. Attention is paid to selecting the most appropriate and engaging assessment strategies for students, and content that addresses the needs of students, keeping in mind the need to apply Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles.

ECOMP 6203 - Building Online Communities/Facilitating Student Discussions
This course focuses on building the skills and understanding of what is needed to create a supportive and constructive online learning environment through appropriate facilitation techniques and strategies in the K-12 environment. Participants investigate various aspects of facilitating online discussions, including teacher and peer moderated communication, developing guidelines and modeling substantive discussions and the use of multiple technologies to enhance contact with and among students.

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ECOMP 6204 - Course Design, Development, & Strategies for Teaching Online
This course provides the opportunity to synthesize components of online teaching by involving participants in the development of an online K-12 course. Content and age appropriate online activities and strategies that will engage students are studied and developed. Educational theory, best practices in online learning, principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and use of emerging technologies are researched, analyzed, and used to produce online lessons that are viable and engage students in authentic learning.

ECOMP 7008 - Research in Technology in Education
Using autobiographical teaching experiences, students will examine and write about their understandings, questions, and "private and public theories" that concern technology-supported practice in a self-selected content area. Students will analyze instructional situations, construct questions, design strategies to examine such questions with their K-12 students, reflect on inquires, and interpret and discuss results. This course demystifies a narrative form of research, enabling each participant to create an educative case study on technology-supported practice in his/her classroom. (Note: This course is only offered in the spring and fall semesters.)

ECOMP 7010 - Emerging Technologies
Educators experiment with leading edge technologies such as streaming audio and video, GIS, handheld devices, virtual reality environments, web based technologies, and applets to determine their usefulness in teaching, learning, integration into curricula, and matching technologies to students' learning styles. They build knowledge, expertise and experience in identifying the efficacy of future technologies in enhancing student learning and enabling students to learn new topics and ideas previously out of reach.