Master of Education in Instructional Technology

General Overview of the M.Ed. in Instructional Technology

A collaborative degree between the University of Maine, the University of Maine Farmington, and the University of Southern Maine The University of Maine Master’s program in Instructional Technology is designed to help our masters' students become leaders in effective and innovative uses of current and emerging technology. The required coursework, research, and clinical experiences are designed for educators working in a variety of contexts. Students will engage in inquiry-based curriculum and build capacity to continually assess their local context; implement technology to enhance teaching, learning, and assessment; build professional learning networks to support ongoing professional development; and develop expertise in current and emerging instructional technologies. Essential to this program is a commitment to local community, advocacy for accessibility, and social justice, especially in the context of the potential for new technology to influence educational settings. The Master’s in Instructional Technology is designed to investigate the following central questions:

• Learning Environments: How do educators leverage technology to create environments that support the development of diverse skills, and emphasize challenging learning experiences?
• Teaching and Learning: How can technology enhance teaching and learning partnerships that support and promote innovative models of deeper learning?
• Digital Citizenship: How can educators promote an understanding of the social, ethical and legal issues and responsibilities related to a globally connected society?
• Professional Practice: How can educators develop and model pedagogical and andragogical principles of learning to promote professional growth and practice in a globally connected society?
• Leadership: How can educators align vision, implementation, and practice to foster learning enhanced by technology?

Program Requirements (33 credits)

Endorsement: After satisfactorily completing specified courses, students may earn the Maine Department of Education 680 (Computer Teacher) endorsement. Scheduling: It is possible to complete the program in six semesters. All courses are offered in a fully online format. Curriculum: We do not have a strict sequence of classes, but students typically take Digital Age Teaching and Learning Methods first. Subsequent courses are determined in conjunction with student’s advisor.

Instructional Technology Core (21 Credits):

• Digital Age Teaching and Learning Methods
• Studio in Computing for Learning
• Instructional Design and Project Management
• Universal Design for Learning and Assistive Technology
• Essentials for Educational Technology Leaders
• Introduction to Educational Research
• Educational Practicum or Educational Internship

Instructional Technology Electives (12 Credits) Electives may include: Innovation Educator Series

• Information Security in the Educational Environment
• Technology Supported Inquiry-Based Teaching and Learning
• Technology and Assessment
• Designing Networks to Optimize Learning
• Leveraging Crowd-Based Knowledge in K-12 Classrooms
• Supporting K-12 Math and Science with Technology
• Summer Technology Institute
• Technology for Young Learners
• Introduction to Flipped, Blended, and Online Learning

Instructional Design Series

• Advanced Instructional Design
• Professional Development and Coaching
• Practicum in Instructional Design

Electives are planned in conversation with the program advisor. It may be possible to take electives from outside the M.Ed. in IT with prior approval for Plan of Study. Semester hours for this program may include up to 6 hours of approved transfer coursework from a fully accredited college or university which would be acceptable at that institution in partial fulfillment of its requirements for a graduate degree, or up to 12 hours of approved transfer coursework from the University of Maine. All work for the M.Ed. program must be completed within six years of matriculation.

APPLICATION INFORMATION

When you are ready to apply, please first review the Application Instructions. Then, complete your online application.

What can I do with an M.Ed. in Instructional Technology?

Instructional technology is fast becoming a challenging and rewarding career move for educators at all levels. Education technology is becoming a mainstay for educational programs across ages and classroom settings. Earning an M.Ed. in Instructional Technology places you at the center of this emerging field. Students who complete this program will be prepared for careers as

• Facilitators or directors in education settings as resources for implementing technology in the classroom
• Instructional designers inside or outside the classroom
• Developers of instructional materials across a variety of media
• Curriculum development designers who utilizing education technology
• Education consulting

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an increase of 13% for instructional technologists in education between 2012 and 2022.

Duration

33 credit hours

Cost & Fees

• $418/cr. in-state and
• $523/cr. out-of-state

Miscellaneous

Fall / Spring / Summer