StudyQA — Master: Learning Technologies — University of Texas at Austin

Photos of university / #utaustintx

Description Contents Requirements

Learning Technologies (LT) applies contemporary research and development from interdisciplinary fields such as education, psychology, communications, and technology, to the design of effective, efficient, interactive, and engaging learning environments. The LT Program offers graduate-level Masters and Doctoral degrees, which prepare professionals for various positions in education and industry. Working closely with faculty, students can expect to be involved in real-world research and design projects (e.g., Presidential Timeline, Alien Rescue, TechEdges, Adventure Learning) using state of the art technologies. Our graduates serve as university faculty, instructional designers, evaluators, trainers, and managers of instructional systems in public schools, business, government, higher education, military, and other settings.

Research Requirement (3 hours)

EDC 380R Educational Research & Design

Learning Technologies Requirements (24 hours)

Students who have already taken courses similar to the required ones listed below and need course substitution should discuss with their assigned coursework advisor and then seek approval from the LT Program Area Advisor. In general, course substitutions are discouraged.

*Blended with a few face to face meetings
** Completely online

Required Courses (12 hours)

To be taken in Fall semester:

EDC 390T Instructional Systems Design*
- This course provides an overview of the theoretical frameworks, current trends, and common concerns associated with the design and development of instructional materials. Students will investigate the theoretical, practical, and critical perspectives on instructional design as it is applied in a variety of educational contexts (i.e. K-12, higher education, and corporate training) and modes (i.e. face-to-face, hybrid, and online). Through reading, discussions, real-world design, practical application, and interactions with instructional design experts, students will become designers of effective and engaging learning experiences.

EDC 390T Foundations of Learning Technology**
- This course is designed to introduce you to the field of learning technology by learning its history as well as the learning theories, paradigms, thought leaders, trends and issues that have shaped the field. The course is primarily online and involves both individual and collaborative work. Online class meetings will be held every 2-3 weeks to facilitate real-time discussions on the readings as well as opportunities for interaction with visiting experts in the field.

To be taken in Spring semester:

EDC 385G Interactive Multimedia Design and Production*
- In this hands-on course, students will learn various new media based technology tools to create a Web-based application on a topic of their choice. Students will engage in the design and production process and work with a client in developing an interactive Web-based application; and industry standard technology tools on graphics, video, audio, animation, and Web development will be used in this course. By taking this course, students will not only develop and advance their technical skills, but also acquire the experience of engaging in the entire development process from a concept to a product in a real-world setting.
EDC 385G Teaching and Learning with the Internet**
- This course examines the Internet’s capabilities for blended or face-to-face instruction, learning, professional development, and research. Students will understanding the historical context of uses of the Internet for teaching and learning, become a participant in the Internet, develop a critical framework for evaluating Internet/web uses in educational contexts, and interpret educational research that focuses on teaching/learning with the Internet/web.

Elective Courses (12 hours)

EDC 390T Advanced Instructional Systems Design*
- Course includes advanced topics, theoretical frameworks and strategies for the design of instructional systems. Students will work in teams to design and develop an instructional product for an authentic client such as a state agency, school system, university, corporation or museum that meets specified criteria for quality.
EDC 385G Analysis of Research in Learning Technologies
- The goal of this course is for students to get familiar with research in the field of technology for teaching and learning and develop one’s own research interest. Course activities include reading both major historic and contemporary topics in the field, evaluating emerging technology tools and learning environments to examine their potentials for teaching and learning, synthesizing selected research topics, and developing one’s own research topic that can be used for one’s dissertation.
EDC 385G Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning*
- Explore current research, theories and strategies of computer-supported collaborative learning, Course includes Web-based activities focused on collaborative inquiry, collaborative writing, project-based learning and collaborative approaches to foreign language learning. Students design a collaborative learning activity using contemporary Web-based tools and environments.
EDC 385G Current Issues in Learning Technologies
EDC 385G Designs and Strategies for New Media*
- This course is about human-computer interaction (HCI), and the emphasis is on examining and understanding the designs and strategies for new media through various evaluation and hands-on activities. We will examine the use of new media from the perspectives of information design, interaction design, and interface design and learn industry standard new media tools to illustrate our understanding. Developing such design and practical knowledge will enable students to become effective designers for creating and working with interactive technology applications for use in various setting: online, face-to-face, and hybrid.
EDC 390T Issues and Strategies For Technology Leaders
- This course will examine the concept of a “technology leader” in the context of PK-12 schools. Topics include: standards, licensure, technology planning, leader preparation and professional learning, data-driven decision making, technology integration, staff development, and types of leaders. Students will understand the roles, responsibilities, and knowledge required of a technology leaders, interpret educational research on technology leadership and identifying promising areas for new research, and develop one’s own technology leadership capabilities.
EDC 385G Learning Technology Planning and Management*
- The course is designed to help you understand the educational technology planning process and to develop components of a technology strategic plan using authentic tools in an authentic context. The context for learning the principles and strategies for technology planning is a K-12 school district since almost everyone has had experience either as a student or professional in this setting.
EDC 385G Motivation and Design of Learning Technologies
EDC 385G Online Learning and the Future of Education**
- This course is focused on the exploration, understanding, and critique of contemporary developments in online learning (including K-12, higher education, and corporate contexts). The course involves evaluating current and future trends in online education including online learning research, theory, and best practices.
EDC 385G Technology & Preservice Teacher Education
- This course comprehensively examines the role technologies have played within teacher preservice preparation. Students will gain a historical view of technologies (e.g., radio, film, TV, computers, Internet); technological perspectives (e.g., instructional media, instructional design, computer-based teaching/learning, TPCK); and modalities (face-to-face, distance education, online learning) that have been included within teacher preparation in the last century. Students will examine subject-specific (e.g., mathematics, science, social studies, English, foreign languages, special education) approaches to technology integration, based on their interest areas.
EDC 385G Technology, Teacher Learning & School Change
- This course examines the complexity of the change process, especially in relation to the introduction of digital technologies in the PK-12 school context. Students learn about dimensions of educational change, understand how innovations are adopted, adapted, and eventually diffused or rejected across organizations, and will be able to describe particular aspects and features of schools, school processes, and human elements that have led to successful/unsuccessful technology integration in classrooms and schools.
EDC 397P Graduate Internship

Please Note: Not all courses are offered every year. Other courses may be added. Please check the course schedule.

Outside Department Requirements (6 hours)

Students can choose courses that fit their interests and/or professional goals from other departments and colleges, such as:

Department of Educational Psychology
Department of Educational Administration
Department of Special Education
Department of Kinesiology and Health Education
Department of Computer Sciences
School of Information
College of Communication
Or other departments/colleges

Please note: Course number from outside departments cannot begin with EDC.

Additional Requirements

Additional requirements vary based upon type of degree sought.

Master of Arts with Thesis (6 hours)

EDC 698A & 698B Thesis

Master of Arts with Report (3 hours)

EDC 398R Report

Master of Education with Coursework Only (3 hours)

The Master of Education with coursework only degree is available to students who present one year or more of teaching, training, instructional development or project management experience.

One elective

Total Minimum Hours

Master of Arts with Thesis (39 hours)
Master of Arts with Report or Master of Education with Report (36 hours)

Requirements

TOEFL: 79 on the Internet-based test (iBT)
IELTS: An overall band of 6.5 on the Academic Examination
GIAC Online Application
Select the appropriate major on the drop-down menu. Note: STEM Education requires a specific major selection. Applicants to all other programs should select Curriculum and Instruction as their major.
Official Transcripts
Supporting Materials
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Statement of Purpose
- Three letters of Reference
- Supplemental Non-English Writing Sample (Bilingual/Bicultural Education applications only)