M.S.Ed. Course Work

The Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) in Instructional Technology program at Northern Illinois University is a 33-semester-hour program that prepares students to be competent practitioners and creative leaders in all major areas of the field. The certificate of Distance Education emphasizes knowledge, skills, and practice in designing, developing, and evaluating distance, online, and virtual learning experiences (DOVE). Emerging practices encompass DOVE learning and courses in this certificate support the attainment of necessary knowledge, skills, and practices to improve teaching and learning in these environments.

Through this program, I strengthened my understanding of learning theory, and my ability to identify and assess learning needs. By studying the Association for Educational Communications and Technology standards, I have identified key competencies of an instructional designer and found them to be grouped into formal and informal skills. Formal competencies would include concrete ideas such as understanding learning theory, being able to identify and assess learning needs and being or having access to a subject matter expert. Informal competencies such as the flexibility to adjust a lesson or learning structure in the moment to meet the needs of the learners, patience for learners who may need more time or further explanation, self-reflection, and the ability to critically assess your performance. These elements have helped to shape my instructional design philosophy and professional approach to training.