Your first step is to contact your advisor and begin planning your program of study. The course requirements are provided in the Courses section. Look ahead to the Capstone requirement so that you can work on it as you progress through your program.

What is a Program of Study?

A Program of Study (PoS) is a listing of the courses you will complete to earn your Master's or Specialist degree. Typically, the Program of Study is submitted for SISLT approval before you are half way through the program. Your advisor will help you develop your own personalized program of study.

Note: A PoS Worksheet to help develop your PoS is provided in the Online Educator Advising Aid. This may assist you in deciding whether prior graduate coursework can be submitted for possible inclusion in your PoS. This PoS Worksheet is NOT the form used to submit your PoS for your degree. You must use the actual forms listed below to submit your program of study.

Planning Your Program of Study—Master's and Specialist Degrees

When you are accepted into the program, you will be assigned a faculty advisor. You should e-mail your advisor to begin the program planning process.

Use the Educational Technology Advising Aid for the Online Educator Focus Area to guide your program planning throughout your program. This aid provides information on the steps you go through in your program: Getting Started, Planning Your Program of Study, and Capstone.

Develop your program using the M-1 (OE) Program of Study Form. This form establishes the courses required for you to earn your degree. It has to be approved by your advisor.

• Make sure you have at least 15 hours at the 8000- or 9000-level and all required courses, as well as any other requirements.
• The M-1 Form should be filed with the Student Coordinator by the end of your second semester in the program.

For the Specialist degree, students need to file additional forms:

• S-1 Request for Committee Form: to create your program committee.
• S-2 (Online Educator) Program of Study Form for the Specialist degree.
• S-3 Report of Committee specifying you have passed your portfolio and signed by committee members.

What Other Graduate Courses Might be Approved in the Online Educator Program?

• University of Missouri graduate courses you have completed to date that are relevant to the Online Educator track.
• Courses from other institutions you wish to have considered for inclusion in your PoS.
• A maximum of 6 hours may be transferred from another institution with advisor approval.
• Transfer courses must be documented by an official transcript.
• A "customized" PoS is sometimes an option. Contact our Student Coordinator for more information.

Making Changes to Your Program of Study

To make changes to your program of study after it is approved and filed, use the Course Substitution Form. New signatures will be needed to process this form through the Student Coordinator.

Close Return to EdTech main page

You will take 18 credit hours of required courses and select 12 credit hours from approved elective courses. Plan ahead by checking the Searchable Schedule for All SISLT Courses for course availability.

Online Educator Program Competencies

The Online Educator program focuses on the following competencies:

• Designing online learning environments, activities, and assessments for meaningful learning.
• Designing, facilitating, and evaluating online discussions.
• Promoting student engagement and motivation in online learning environments.
• Understanding unique characteristics of online learning environments.
• Selecting appropriate technology tools and learning objects to support online learners.
• Using Learning Management Systems to support and deliver online learning.
• Seeking for and evaluating Internet-based information and resources that can be used to enhance online learning.
• Organizing course materials in an online format.

Your work in the program encompasses these competencies and focuses on producing exemplary online learning products, interventions, and environments to demonstrate knowledge and mastery of the competencies. While coursework supports your success with these products, interventions, and environments, we encourage you to develop these across time in the program so that the work is personally satisfying, solves real problems, and is high quality.

At the end of your program, the your knowledge and skills will be assessed in an authentic project developed in “9410: Capstone: Design and Evaluation of Online Course.” We encourage you to work cooperatively, as we as to expand your network of colleagues beyond the program.

Online Educator Course Requirements

The Online Educator curriculum reflects the dynamic nature of the field. Your program of study consists of 30 graduate credit hours. The overall program structure includes coursework in three categories:

• Required (18 Credit Hours)
• Recommended Electives (12 Credit Hours for Master’s degree; 9 credit hours for Specialist degree)
• Required for Specialist degree (3) Credit Hours: Introduction to Applied Statistics.

Credit hour limitations:

• A maximum of 6 hours of transfer credits.
• A maximum of 12 hours of Problems courses (ISLT 7085 or ISLT 9085)

Read Course Descriptions

Brief descriptions of all SISLT courses are available at: http://sisltschedule.missouri.edu/courses.

About Online Courses

Almost all EdTech courses are delivered to you online via the Internet. Online courses allow you to fit them into your personal schedule and within time frames established by the course instructor. Our courses use two different "course management systems" (CMS): Blackboard and a new CMS called Sakai. Regardless of the CMS, the general process is the same.

Throughout the week, you will:

• Go to the website for your course(s) and log in.
• Read recent announcements.
• Check the discussion board for new postings.
• Post your ideas and questions to the discussion board.
• Participate in small group activities and assignments.
• Read course documents (online postings, website resources, and textbook).

Periodically you will:

• Complete and submit assigned activities.
• Participate in peer review and feedback activities.
• Check your grades.
• Send/receive emails with your instructor(s).

Close Return to EdTech main page

The Online Educator focus area programs culminate in a Capstone course project showing mastery of the program competencies. The Capstone is used as the comprehensive exam at the end of the program of study.

Capstone

For your program, you must enroll in the one credit hour “9410: Capstone: Design and Evaluation of Online Course.” The Capstone is designed as the means for you to synthesize your learning and demonstrate mastery of the competencies for the selected focus area.

While each Capstone project will be as unique as the individuals in the Educational Technology program, all share the following elements:

• Design and development of an online course (or redesign/development of an existing online course).
• Evaluation of the course by two external reviewers.
• Report: Evaluation results; your reflection and critique.

How is the Capstone Project Created?

After enrolling in “9410: Capstone: Design and Evaluation of Online Course” immediately notify your advisor about the online learning environment you will use for your project. Most students will require that a course be set up on a learning management system such as Blackboard, Sakai, or Moodle. After creating your online course, you are responsible for finding two reviewers who will provide feedback that you should use to improve your course before submitting for faculty review.

How is the Capstone Evaluated?

Three SISLT faculty members evaluate a student’s Capstone project. The review process asks two basic questions:

• Has the student fulfilled the requirements of the Capstone course?
• Has the student demonstrated adequate mastery of the competencies?

Faculty reviewers do not consider your evaluators’ data, only the online course and your report. Additionally, consideration is given to the entry knowledge and skills of the student and the student’s professional goals. If a Capstone Project is found to be lacking, the student is given the opportunity to make the necessary adjustments (e.g., make improvements to the online course, enhance the instructional products or innovations).

After Capstone Approval

Provided you have completed all the coursework listed in your official M-1 (OE) Program of Study for Master’s degree, or S-2 (Online Educator) Program of Study for Specialist degree, you are ready for graduation!

Close Return to EdTech main page

The semester before you intend to graduate, you need to apply to graduate. Then once you have completed all the coursework and your portfolio has been presented and passed, you are ready for graduation! Beyond graduation, join the EdTech social media networks to stay involved and informed and contribute to the EdTech community!

Application to Graduate School

Prior to your final semester, you need to fill out the Application for Completion Form. This form is available for approximately six weeks prior to the beginning of your final semester. Watch your MU email account for notices from the Graduate School and SISLT Student Coordinator as to when the application will be available.

The Application for Completion is your indication to the Graduate School that you intend to graduate during a particular semester. Fill it out at the beginning of your final semester in the program.

Participation in MU Commencement Ceremony

If you plan on participating in MU’s commencement ceremony, read the Graduate School’s Commencement Ceremony Checklist, including where to obtain regalia. At this site you will find information about times of ceremonies, check-in procedures, and access. The Graduate School will send you details on commencement and you are welcome to attend.

It generally 8-12 weeks from the end of the semester to receive your diploma. If you have questions about your diploma or transcript, you may contact the Office of the Registrar at 1-800-225-6075 or umcunivregistrarwr@missouri.edu.

Close Return to EdTech main page