Master of Education in Technology in Education

National* and Online Program

See the Technology in Education home page for programs in Massachusetts.
See Wisconsin for a 30-credit licensure-only program in that state (students in WI desiring a Master's program may take the M.Ed. program below, with three electives rather than two).
See the Online Program page for further details on taking this program fully online.
See below for a note on program variation for Washington and Oregon students.

*states where this program is currently offered

*Students in Oregon and Washington will take the required course ECOMP 7008 Research in Technology in Education in place of three elective credits. Total program credits = 33.

This is a Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) approved program of study for Instructional Technology. It is generally appropriate for educators who are currently licensed as teachers in states outside of Massachusetts. If you are not currently licensed as a teacher, please contact your local Department of Education to determine if this program is recommended for you. This is a Massachusetts-approved program, with electives replacing a required practicum, and a psychology course.

Required Courses

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.

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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 to schools, classrooms, and graduate studies. Responsible use of the WWW, issues related to educational uses of WWW, and the changing role and nature of WWW use will be examined and evaluated.  

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ECOMP 6106 Designing Curriculum That Integrates Technology
This course focuses on the integration of computers and other new technologies into the academic curriculum. Teachers at all levels of the educational system are under pressure to meet the dual demands of integrating new technologies into teaching and helping their students achieve high standards. Participants will use the TFU Framework to design curriculum that addresses state and national content standards. Participants will put theories of learning and teaching with technology into practice.

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ECOMP 5004 Technology in 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.

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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 using 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.

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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 of 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.

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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.

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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.

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ECOMP 6102 Classroom Assessment with Technology
This course investigates use of classroom assessments to make decisions about instruction and student learning. During the course, participants will explore a broad range of strategies, including:  selected response assessments (such as multiple choice tests, extended written response assessments, and use of observation and personal communication. Participants will learn about the technologies that support assessment design, and they will use technology to design balanced assessments that both prove and improve student achievement.

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Electives

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.

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ECOMP 5102
Introduction to Programming: From Graphics to Microworlds with LOGO
This course will introduce students to the educational philosophy of Logo Microworlds, to several Logo-supported learning environments, and to using Logo to create student-centered projects designed and implemented in the Microworlds environment. Students will be encouraged to find areas of interest to explore using Logo and will be introduced to some aspects of computer programming. Formerly: Creating an Educational Environment with LOGO.

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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.

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ECOMP 6003 Using Technology to Integrate Mathematics Across the Curriculum
This 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 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.

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ECOMP 6009 Website Design and HTML: Web Publishing for Educators
This course focuses on web site development by and for educators, students, and schools.  Each participant creates an original site, a process that is supported by the class examination of technical issues (design, HTML scripting, digital imaging, web editors, Internet publication, and site maintenance) and real school examples of teacher and student web authoring. Issues of classroom pedagogy and management, student-centered web development, access, defining one's audience, and school-wide participation will be addressed.

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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, PCs using Windows, and all laptops to work with remote infrared programming that is linked to vision, sonar, tactile sensors, speech, pattern recognition, voice recognition, and problem solving challenges.

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ECOMP 6019  Web 2.0 for Education
This project-based course introduces educators to Web 2.0 for their teaching practice. We identify, experience and evaluate selected web applications, and critically consider the implications for learning in and out of the classroom.  Students are encouraged to apply Web 2.0 features, such as authentic communication, to address ELL and accessibility.  Web 2.0 is integrated in our class assignments, rather than learn tools. We “work the web.”

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ECOMP 6202 Assessment and 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.

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ECOMP 6203 Building Online Communities and 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, and 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.

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ECOMP 7008 Research in Technology in Education
This course engages students in action research leading to development of an appropriate intervention in using technology. Through research, students are expected to more fully understand technology’s role in education. Student research projects will include the development of meaningful research questions, a cultural-historical analysis of context, an appropriate research design, and the application of qualitative methods for data collection and analysis. Students will relate their findings to published research, and plan a research-based intervention using technology.

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ECOMP 7010 Emerging Technologies
Educators experiment with leading edge technologies such as streaming audio and video, GIS, hand-held 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.

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Lesley University reserves the right to unilaterally add, withdraw, or revise any course offering in the above-mentioned program of study, including policies, provisions, requirements, and fees.

Lesley University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity institution and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, handicap or disability in its education programs, employment, or in admissions to, access to or treatment in its programs or activities.