Learning Design and Technology, M.Ed.

Program Description

In the Master of Education in Learning Design and Technology program educators learn to optimize the intersection among content, learning theory, and technology, individually and collectively redefining what constitutes learning in the 21st century. Instruction becomes student-centered and customized. Learners become co-creators of knowledge, joining with educators in joint inquiry. A disposition for learning is cultivated; learners are encouraged to awaken and enliven their innate sense of imagination, curiosity, self-awareness, passion, courage, adaptability, and perseverance.

The program prepares educators to connect learners to digitally-mediated modes of learning, thinking, and knowing. Technology is used to redefine instruction and create new learning tasks, moving beyond technology as a direct substitution tool. Instructional technology becomes a mind tool to enable learning that could not happen in any other way.

Pairs of courses focus on transformative learning areas related to research, the educator’s new role, instruction through technology, collaboration, and change.

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, graduates are expected to be able to do the following:

1. Ignite learning by incorporating new knowledge

• Value inquiry and information needs in order to engage in lifelong learning.
• Apply a repertoire of creative and flexible information seeking strategies to navigate the unfamiliar, take action, or solve a problem.
• Re-ignite passion for educating and learning through scholarship.
• Engage in research to create something new, acquire insight, transform values, or expand knowledge base.
• Validate understanding and interpretation of information through discourse with others, including experts and practitioners.
• Employ multimedia, hypermedia, and electronic literature resources to gather and distribute knowledge and information.

2. Center the learner by creating individual capacity

• Develop dispositions: the mindset and ethical habits needed to advance learning in both educator and learner.
• Relate the science of learning to learner development.
• Evaluate how technology transforms learning.
• Cultivate reflective practices and redefine the educator’s role.
• Develop culturally relevant educational awareness.
• Model and promote self-directed learning.

3. Design instruction for individualizing learning

• Develop a design mindset and process for improvement.
• Structure environments to ignite creativity.
• Craft instructional design with an awareness of how learning occurs.
• Integrate learning theory, content knowledge, and technological knowledge to deepen learning.
• Create conditions to optimize engagement and motivation for all learners.
• Develop authentic learning by intentionally aligning standards, assessment practices, and instructional strategies.

4. Exchange and communicate to create shared solutions

• Develop the language and practices to break down the isolationism of teaching/training.
• Create learning solutions in consultation with colleagues and the community.
• Apply global lenses to understanding learning.
• Create a professional support network.
• Capture ideas, data, and relationships visually.
• Employ clear writing and speaking skills appropriate to the audience, including multimedia formats and web publishing.

5. Initiate organization-wide change

• Analyze system changes required for innovative program adoptions.
• Work with policy leaders as change agents.
• Advocate for updated educational/training approaches to improve learning.
• Evaluate relevant trends and approaches from non-education arenas (the arts, science, business, etc.).
• Promote educational equity.

Program Structure and Delivery

Neither transfer credits nor electives are accepted into the program.

Courses are delivered fully online.

Graduate Certificate Credit Use Toward Degree

Students may use all credits of the Critical, Creative, and Design Thinking Certificate  and/or the Teaching, Training, and Leading with Technology Certificate  toward completing the Master of Education in Learning Design and Technology. Students who complete both certificates will fulfill all the requirements for the master’s degree.