Master of Education in Teaching & Learning

Teaching & Learning Concentrations

• Instructional Technology

  The Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Teaching and Learning concentration in Instructional Technology is intended to prepare professional educators, as well as other instructional professionals, with a specialization designed to develop scholarly expertise in online development, design and assessment in instructional technology venues.

  This specialization will focus on current theory in instructional technology, a solid foundation in effective online instruction and facilitation, the design of online instructional materials, and the myriad uses of online instructional technology as applied to a variety of content, resources and subject matter. Furthermore, the specialization will provide individuals with knowledge of instructional technology in a local, regional and global setting. The program will provide a capstone experience that is tailored to meet the needs of each student's specific background and career goals.

  The outcomes for the Instructional Technology concentration area include:

  Professional Knowledge
  

  • Candidates will demonstrate an advanced knowledge of systematic design structures and tools for communicating through technology in classrooms, online or in professional training settings.
  • Candidates will demonstrate an understanding of the various types of local, regional, national and global online educational settings and recognize relationships of course activities and products to individual educational/instructional philosophies.

  Professional Practice

  • Candidates will produce instructional materials to meet content-specific educational objectives involving components such as audio recordings, video recordings, telecommunications, photography, graphics and computer applications.
  • Candidates will demonstrate effective practices in utilizing technology in traditional and online learning environments.

  Professional Inquiry and Leadership

  • Candidates will demonstrate the ability to design, organize and evaluate technological resources for use in an educational or work environment.

• Exercise and Sports Studies

  The Master of Education (M. Ed.) concentration in Exercise and Sports Studies is aimed at individuals currently certified in physical education as well as those whose initial degree may have been in exercise studies, athletic training or another health-related field. The intent of the Exercise Science and Sports Studies Concentration is three-fold: to expand professional knowledge, to improve upon professional practice, and to promote professional inquiry and leadership. The ultimate goal of learning among professionals is to continuously inquire, analyze and apply learning for the benefit of constituents. Individuals in the Exercise and Sports Studies Concentration will further their knowledge and skills to facilitate and enhance the growth and development of their learners, performers and/or participants.

  The outcomes for the Exercise and Sports Studies concentration area include:

  Professional Knowledge

  • Candidates will expand their content knowledge and the application of content knowledge to instruction in exercise and sport-related environments

  Professional Practice

  • Candidates will use advanced content knowledge and methods of systematic inquiry to design and conduct appropriate learning experiences that facilitate and enhance the growth of learners, performers and/or participants.

  Professional Inquiry and Leadership

  • Candidates will engage in inquiry relative to professional knowledge and practice and communicate the results in order to contribute to the professional learning of others for the sake of advancing the profession.

• Diverse Learners

  The Diverse Learners concentration area is designed for licensed professionals who may be interested in seeking either add-on teacher certification in Learning Disabilities (LD) or an English as a Second Language (ESOL) endorsement. With the changing demographics in today’s public schools, teachers who are able to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of all learners are in great demand. The primary outcomes for candidates pursuing the Diverse Learners Concentration are focused on developing an advanced level of knowledge, skills and dispositions associated with teaching students with diverse learning needs through a variety of research-based instructional strategies, including the use of technology. A more in-depth understanding of the learning characteristics of students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and those with exceptional learning needs, along with the ability to create positive learning environments for these students, will be the crux of this concentration area. In addition, candidates will develop their skills in critically examining and using research to inform their practice and they will develop the competence and confidence to serve as advocates for their students and provide leadership in their schools.

  While evaluation of an individual’s transcript is required in order to verify the specific courses and Praxis II examinations needed for any add-on certification area, in most cases the required courses offered through the Diverse Learners path should prepare a licensed educator with the needed coursework, knowledge, skills and dispositions for certification in Learning Disabilities. The core required EDUC 682 Field-Based Individualized Activities could serve as the practicum experience required for add-on certification in Learning Disabilities or ESOL endorsement.

  The outcomes for the Diverse Learners concentration area include:

  Professional Knowledge
  

  • Candidates will acquire in-depth knowledge of learner characteristics and language acquisition that apply to teaching children and adolescents with exceptional learning needs and those with limited English proficiency.

  Professional Practice
  

  • Candidates will expand their level of competence in planning, implementing and assessing instruction that is responsive to the intellectual, psychological, social and physical needs of students with exceptional learning needs and those with limited English proficiency.
  • Candidates will develop advanced skills in the use of a variety of instructional strategies, including technological formats, for teaching content area reading and writing to students with exceptional learning needs and those with limited English proficiency.

  Professional Inquiry and Leadership

  • Candidates will demonstrate an advanced level of competence for working collaboratively and effectively with other professionals in their field.