Master of Education in Instructional Technology (All Levels)
Massachusetts Program

This program of study is approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for Professional Licensure in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and leads to a Professional License in Instructional Technology (All Levels).

Designed for Massachusetts educators who already hold an initial license in Instructional Technology but do not hold a Master's degree, this program leads to professional licensure while deepening the student's understanding of the use of technology to support student learning. Students will build an understanding of the pedagogies and theories that guide implementation of classroom technologies.

This program is offered exclusively online and can be completed on a part-time basis in six semesters.

Prerequisite: Massachusetts initial licensure as an Instructional Technology Teacher

ECOMP 6100 | Educational Uses of Systems Thinking, Modeling and Simulation
This course is an introduction to “systems thinking,” a prescribed way of thinking about, describing, and understanding real world phenomena and its relevance to education. System thinking is the art and science of examining real world complexity and understanding patterns in relationships. Through computer-based exploration and discussion, students will develop understanding about this framework and about the use of models and simulations as thinking tools in educational settings.

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ECOMP 7008 | Research in Technology in Education
This course engages students in action research leading to development of an appropriate intervention in using technology. Through research, students are expected to more fully understand technology’s role in education. Student research projects will include the development of meaningful research questions, a cultural-historical analysis of context, an appropriate research design, and the application of qualitative methods for data collection and analysis. Students will relate their findings to published research, and plan a research-based intervention using technology.

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ECOMP 7009 | Leadership in Educational Technology: Systemic Program Implementation
(online only)
Using case studies, internet-based sources and publications in the market, and participants’ professional contexts, this course explores and applies key educational leadership principles in technology use. Participants will analyze these principles in their professional settings and develop a product that has significant value to their educational technology leadership role. Course topics include shared vision, planning, access, integration into instruction, assessment and evaluation, support, professional development, community relationships, and ethical legal issues.

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Electives

ECOMP 5004 | Technology in the Language Arts Curriculum
Course participants will experience a variety of hands-on activities designed to integrate technological applications to students’ research, reading, writing, and publishing across content areas. This course surveys current research and best practice in teaching of language arts in combination with effective use of computers and other technology, especially the resources available on the world wide web. Participants will preview, evaluate, and discuss applications of a variety of reading software and storybooks, presentation software, writing programs, editing and grammar tools, and desktop publishing packages.

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ECOMP 5007 | 21st Century Teaching: Supporting All Learners on the Ability Spectrum
This hands-on course teaches the application of technologies to the special needs curriculum. Participants develop the knowledge and skills to support special needs learners using technologies—understanding the learning characteristics of special needs students, developing customized hypermedia, selecting and evaluating appropriate software, experimenting with and using software and adaptive technologies, discussing special needs research and national legislation, investigating the latest issues of using technology for special needs learners, and integrating technology into the curriculum.

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ECOMP 5022 | Technology and Social Studies
This course gives teachers a chance to explore a variety of ways that technology can be used to support and enhance the social studies curriculum, such as developing student-centered projects, inquiry, communication, and “virtual learning.” Students in this course will investigate and evaluate existing standards-based social studies curriculum, build resources, use new tools, and create new curriculum materials for their own classrooms. They will learn and use the “transformative” power of technology in the social studies.

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ECOMP 5102 | Introduction to Programming: From Graphics to Microworlds with LOGO
(face-to-face only)
This course will introduce students to the educational philosophy of Logo Microworlds, to several Logo-supported learning environments, and to using Logo to create student-centered projects designed and implemented in the Microworlds environment. Students will be encouraged to find areas of interest to explore using Logo and will be introduced to some aspects of computer programming. Formerly: Creating an Educational Environment with LOGO.

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ECOMP 5107 Evaluating Educational Technology for the Classroom
This course focuses on the assessment and selection of appropriate educational technology applications for use in instruction in a variety of school settings. The course includes an overview of evaluation techniques for software and other instructional technology resources. National and local standards for subject matter content, thinking processes, and technology, as well as pedagogical approach, will inform the evaluation process. Students will develop their own evaluation tools for their own contexts and uses.

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ECOMP 6003 | Using Technology to Integrate Mathematics Across the Curriculum
This course focuses on using technology to integrate mathematics with other subjects. Students will explore interdisciplinary activities, focusing on using data and a visual database as tools to engage students and enhance their understanding in math and other disciplines. In addition, we will look at collaborative web tools and video to support learning and productive collaboration. Free web resources, from high-stakes testing support to education-focused virtual reality games, will also be featured.

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ECOMP 6009 | Website Design and HTML: Web Publishing for Educators
This course focuses on web site development by and for educators, students, and schools.  Each participant creates an original site, a process that is supported by the class examination of technical issues (design, HTML scripting, digital imaging, web editors, Internet publication, and site maintenance) and real school examples of teacher and student web authoring. Issues of classroom pedagogy and management, student-centered web development, access, defining one's audience, and school-wide participation will be addressed.

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ECOMP 6011 | Database Management Systems for Educational Settings
Today’s teachers and administrators use Database Management Systems (DBMS) to support a variety of purposes, and this is becoming increasingly true as educators adopt data-driven decision making. This course provides the knowledge and experience that educators need to understand, design, and implement relational DBMS projects to serve a wide set of goals in educational settings. Course goals and objectives are achieved through group and individual projects that include extensive hands-on experience with Microsoft Access.

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ECOMP 6018 |  Introduction to Educational Robotics (face-to-face only)
This course introduces the principles of robotics as a subject matter and as a concrete three-dimensional classroom tool to be used in many educational environments. Various types of robots are optimized to illustrate how these educational assistants can impact the learning environment and problem solving challenges for math, science, language arts, industrial arts, activities for disabled or special education students, and events for the gifted and talented. The course utilizes Macintosh computers, PCs using Windows, and all laptops to work with remote infrared programming that is linked to vision, sonar, tactile sensors, speech, pattern recognition, voice recognition, and problem solving challenges.

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ECOMP 6019  Web 2.0 for Education
This project-based course introduces educators to Web 2.0 for their teaching practice. We identify, experience and evaluate selected web applications, and critically consider the implications for learning in and out of the classroom.  Students are encouraged to apply Web 2.0 features, such as authentic communication, to address ELL and accessibility.  Web 2.0 is integrated in our class assignments, rather than learn tools. We “work the web.”

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ECOMP 6202 Assessment and Evaluation in Online Teaching 
This course examines assessment and evaluation in an online learning environment from the perspective of teachers and students in K-12 environments. Assessment strategies are presented, including self-evaluation, authentic assessment, triangulation, continuous evaluation, pre- and post-testing, and use of observational data. Attention is paid to selecting the most appropriate and engaging assessment strategies for students, and content that addresses the needs of students, keeping in mind the need to apply Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles.

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ECOMP 6203 Building Online Communities and Facilitating Student Discussions
This course focuses on building the skills and understanding of what is needed to create a supportive and constructive online learning environment through appropriate facilitation techniques and strategies in the K-12 environment. Participants investigate various aspects of facilitating online discussions, including teacher and peer moderated communication, developing guidelines and modeling substantive discussions and the use of multiple technologies to enhance contact with and among students.

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ECOMP 6204 Course Design, Development, and Strategies for Teaching Online 
This course provides the opportunity to synthesize components of online teaching by involving participants in the development of an online K-12 course.  Content and age appropriate online activities and strategies that will engage students are studied and developed.  Educational theory, best practices in online learning, principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and use of emerging technologies are researched, analyzed, and used to produce online lessons that are viable and engage students in authentic learning.

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ECOMP 7010 | Emerging Technologies
Educators experiment with leading edge technologies such as streaming audio and video, GIS, hand-held devices, virtual reality environments, web-based technologies, and applets to determine their usefulness in teaching, learning, integration into curricula, and matching technologies to students’ learning styles. They build knowledge, expertise, and experience in identifying the efficacy of future technologies in enhancing student learning and enabling students to learn new topics and ideas previously out of reach.

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Lesley University reserves the right to unilaterally add, withdraw, or revise any course offering in the above-mentioned program of study, including policies, provisions, requirements, and fees.

Lesley University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity institution and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, handicap, or disability in its education programs, employment, or in admissions to, access to, or treatment in its programs or activities.