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EDTC 510
Foundations of Distance Education and Training |
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EDD 511
Adult Learning: Theories, Principles, and Applications
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EDTC 550
Information Technology
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CUR 524
Instructional Design
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EDTC 526
Assessment and Evaluation in E-Education
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QNT 540
Research and Ethics in E-Education
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EDTC 555
Internet and Distance Education Delivery
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Course Descriptions and Personal Reflections
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EDTC 510 - Foundations of Distance Education and
Training This course focuses on the principles of distance education as
a medium for course, degree or training-based instruction. The history,
philosophies and best practices associated with distance learning will be
presented and analyzed. Current critical issues that impact the
teaching/learning environment in distance delivery modalities also will be
examined.
I found this class to be extremely interesting. Being my first online
class, I was apprehensive at first, but quickly got used to the pace and
format. The class content was incredibly valuable, as I knew nothing
about the world of distance education at all. It was very interesting to
learn the history of distance education and to learn about the modern
developments in that field.
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EDD 511 - Adult Learning: Theories, Principles and Applications
This course focuses on adult development and learning
theories. Students will identify the stages of adult development and
examine the concept of andragogy versus pedagogy. Major theories of adult
learning and how they relate to instructional practices will be explored.
Intelligence, learning styles, and motivation are discussed in the context
of teaching adult learners. Emphasis will be placed on teaching and
learning models and strategies and effective practices in distance
education.
This class was also incredibly useful, as I had no background in
education. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the theories and
principles of education. Now that I am in the teaching field, I
constantly here the key phrases and important terms I learned in this
class.
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EDTC 550 - Information Technology This course
introduces the fundamentals of computer systems and the role of
information processing in today’s business environment. An overview is
presented of information systems, systems development, operating systems
and programming, database management, networking and telecommunications,
and the Internet. In addition, a management perspective is given for each
of the areas.
This was a class that I wish I had taken years ago. I learned a lot
about information technology just working with computers and networks in
various jobs, but this class allowed me to go back and learn the basics
and build on that knowledge to learn how to use information technology in
education.
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CUR 524 - Instructional Design This course is
designed to provide students with the instructional planning skills they
need to develop educational course and materials. Students will study the
relevant theories of instructional design and apply proven procedures for
designing, developing, implementing, and evaluating objectives-based
instruction. Specific focus will be given to the creation of materials
appropriate for adult learners in classrooms and learning at a distance,
including attention to life experiences, entry level skills, motivational
needs, and modes of delivery.
I really enjoyed having this class while beginning to work as a
teacher. It allowed me to immediately apply what I was learning in the
class. I learned the basic principles of designing instructional
materials and was able use that knowledge to improve myself in the
workplace.
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EDTC 526 - Assessment and Evaluation in E-Education
This course focuses on developing the skills necessary to become effective
assessors of adult learners. Students learn the fundamentals of
traditional testing and explore how to design alternative assessments in
an electronic environment. Interpretation of assessment data, strategies
for tracking student progress, and communicating results based on clear
criteria and standards will be presented. Critical assessment issues
facing distance education programs will be analyzed and debated.
At first, this class looked like it was going to be tedious and boring,
but it turned out to be rather interesting. There was a lot of math in
it, but I learned how to use spreadsheets to easily find the results I
needed. The key terms I learned in this class are very common in the
educational world.
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QNT 540 - Research and Ethics in E-Education This
course is an overview of the fundamentals of research and is designed to
provide students with the basic knowledge and skills needed to be
successful in graduate level studies. Ethical issues related to research,
including basic theory and practice, professional codes of ethics,
governmental regulations, confidentiality, and present and future
controversies surrounding the integration of technology into instructional
processes will be of focus. Students will address the issues of
information and intellectual property, privacy issues in a digital
environment and the relationship of individual, governmental and societal
concerns in an ever advancing and changing electronic community.
I have to say, this was my least favorite class. There was a lot of
reading and a lot of theoretical information. Some of the ethical issues
were interesting and lead to some good discussion among the students, but
it was difficult to see how it could all be immediately applied.
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EDTC 555 - Internet and Distance Education Delivery
This course compares and contrasts different education delivery systems.
Both asynchronous and synchronous deliveries are explored. An emphasis is
placed upon Internet delivery and Internet course management solutions.
This was another very interesting class. I had no idea that there were
so many formats and platforms available to distance educators. I gained a
good understanding of the various tools available and their respective
strengths and weaknesses. I also had the opportunity to actually try a
couple of the platforms. This was the type of hands-on practice that I
really enjoy.
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