Education Technology Specialist MSEd Program

Pace’s School of Education views educational technology as both a body of knowledge and skills and a vehicle for personal and social empowerment. Candidates learn through the same advanced technologies they are preparing to teach with and about. We see technology as a tool to empower both the learner and the teacher and as a tool to constantly advance pedagogy and practice. Recognizing the need for teachers and related professionals to use a broad range of technologies in their multiple roles as teachers, mentors, facilitators, researchers, change agents, and life-long learners, the Pace School of Education offers the M.SEd in Educational Technology Specialist.

 

Through classroom activities and projects designed to help participants apply research and best practice using technology, the program is designed to draw on the entry-level strengths of participants and provide each participant with the combination of courses and field experiences needed to gain competencies in technology planning, collaborative team building, instructional planning, and problem solving. Candidates meet (in person or virtually) with faculty to design their own professional development plan.  Specifically, they will be prepared to integrate technology with effective instruction for all learners, including those with disabilities, and to support technology initiatives in their schools. Candidates will also participate in on-line forums, collaborative projects, professional mentoring experiences and synchronous (repeated?) Internet-based seminars.

 

The program allows candidates to complete either a full master’s degree or an Advanced Certificate. For the 36-credit master’s degree, an 18-credit Core that includes a practicum is generally required of all participants. Those entering the master’s degree program with an undergraduate or graduate degree in technology take the 24 credits Educational Technology Specialist Core and remaining courses to complete the pedagogical core requirements. Those entering the program with a provisional or initial certificate, take the 18-credit core plus 15 credits of technology courses. However, since some candidates enter with previous educational technology coursework while others may enter with none, the 18 credits beyond the Core will vary from student to student.

 

While much of the advisement for this program will be done on an individualized basis, there are certain generalizations that are provided below. As a culminating experience for the master’s degree, all candidates will design, present and evaluate an Educational Technology Portfolio. This portfolio will include a professional development presentation, standards-based lessons which integrate technology, and will reflect input from a range of stakeholders from their practicum setting. Satisfactory completion of the Educational Technology Portfolio is required for program completers.

 

The MSEd program is an evening program that allows the career changer and college graduate to work during the day while attending class at night, and is available on our Westchester and New York City campuses.  Classes are scheduled in the evening, with each class meeting one evening per week for three hours.  On the Westchester campus, MSEd courses are scheduled during the fall and spring semesters from 4:30 p.m. - 7:20 p.m. or from 7:30 p.m. - 10:20 p.m. (It should be noted, however, that most courses are offered at the earlier hour.)  On the NYC campus, MSEd courses are scheduled during the fall and spring semesters from 5:30 p.m. - 8:15 p.m and 6:00 p.m. - 8:45 p.m..  During the summer sessions on both campuses, courses meet twice a week in the late afternoon or early evening.

 

Educational Technology Specialist candidates may choose to pursue the program on a full- or part-time basis.  Nine credits is considered full-time study at the graduate level, and candidates may not register for more than three courses in the fall and spring semesters.  In addition, candidates are limited to registering for no more than one course in each of the two summer sessions.

 

Candidates enrolled in full time study should plan 18-24 months to complete the program; candidates enrolled part time should plan 2-3 years to complete the MSEd in Educational Technology Specialist.

 

All candidates who are interested in applying to the MSEd in Educational Technology Specialist must file the Application for Admission.
 

Degree Requirements
While exceptions may be made, there is a 18-credit hour Educational Technology Specialist
core that most students will take. It consists of the following:

Core Requirements (18 credits)
ED 615 Assistive Technology for Educating 3
Students with Low-Incidence Disabilities
ED 616 Curriculum Development and Instructional Planning with Technology 3
TS 642 Introduction to Computer Software, 3
Hardware and Networking Technologies
TS 654 Designing Standards-Based, Technology-Enhanced Curriculum 3
ED 672 Differentiating Curriculum and Instruction 3
or
ED 672A Differentiating Curriculum and Instruction in Inclusive 3
and Secondary Settings
ED 690 Teacher as Researcher 3

Pedagogical Courses (15 credits)
Candidates who come with a technology background but with little or no education
background will need to have a review done but will, in general, need courses such as
the following:
ED 630 Human Development in the School Context 3
ED 631 Educational Psychology 3
ED 640 Secondary Methods: Learning to Teach 3
ED 692T Student Teaching 6

Technology Courses (12 credits)
Students who come with little or no technology background will need the following
courses, some of which are prerequisite for the core:
TS 652 Using the Internet as an Instructional Tool 3
TS 653 Multimedia Tools and Design 3
TS 643 Networking Technologies 3
TS 671 Internship in Educational Technology 3

Literacy Requirements (6 credits)
ED 651 Models of Literacy Instruction and Technology 3
and/or
ED 656 Literacy in the Content Area 3

Total Credits: 36