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 Portfolio requirement so that you can work on it throughout 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 EdTech in Schools Focus Area 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 Technology in Schools Design & Development Advising Aid 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 Portfolio Preparation.

Develop your program using the M-1 (TiS) 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 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 TiS Program?

• University of Missouri graduate courses you have completed to date that are relevant to the TiS 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.

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The TiS focus area requires 30 graduate credit hours. There are 6 required courses and a choice of 4 elective courses. Plan ahead by checking the Searchable Schedule for All SISLT Courses for course availability.

TiS Program Competencies

After successful completion of the Technology in Schools Program, you will be able to

• Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity.
• Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments.
• Model Digital-Age Work and Learning.
• Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility.
• Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership.

TiS Course Requirements

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

• Required courses (12 Credit Hours)
• Recommended Electives (18 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.

What is Different in the FastTrack Program Option?

If you want a high quality master's degree focusing on educational technology in the schools from MU, this option is a good choice for you. Start any semester and one year later, you have your Master's Degree. There are five starting points: two in the Fall, two in the Spring, and one in the Summer. That's one of the many advantages to eight-week long courses.

The program requires 30 credit hours. There are ten 8-week courses in the FastTrack option. Each course is offered at least once a year. Talk to your advisor to work out the best plan for you!

If you miss a course in the Fast Track sequence, you might not be able to complete the entire program in a one-year time frame. However, several courses will be available two or three times per year. Your advisor will work with you on timing issues.

What is Different in the eMINTS Teachers Program Option?

If you want to apply the work you are doing with eMINTS to a Master’s degree in educational technology in the schools from MU, this option is a good choice for you. Your eMINTS credit and seven additional classes will result in a Master's degree. This is possible through a cooperative agreement between the eMINTS program and the MU School of Information Science and Learning Technologies (SISLT). You must take your eMINTS credits through MU to avoid credit transfer issues.

Below is a typical program of study for eMINTS teachers:

The cost of the tuition for the MU courses will be at the current rate in effect at the time of enrollment. The reduced rate made available for the graduate credit associated with the eMINTS professional development does not apply to MU 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).

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Your performance in the Technology in Schools focus area will be assessed through a portfolio process. You should start on your portfolio early in your coursework.

Portfolio Assessment

In your online portfolio, you will document your mastery of the ISTE standards through narratives and supporting examples of work. You will work with a faculty advisor to ensure that your portfolio meets all requirements.

Each portfolio consists of the following components:

• Professional resume, including a list of Technology in Schools-related skills and experiences.
• Documentation of ISTE standards mastery, using the ISTE template.
• Self-assessment narrative of your mastery of the ISTE standards with special attention given to the terms learning, evaluation, and leadership.
• Reflection paper, linking program content to classroom practice.
• Educational technology concept map.

Portfolio Details

A portfolio is a website consisting of products and artifacts demonstrating mastery of the TiS focus area competencies and ISTE Standards. There may be a few elements that are not actually included in the website (e.g., video clips of needs assessment interviews; a network solution you designed), but there is some representation of these products (e.g., a slide show about the interviews; blue prints or design documents for the network). Larger documents can be included as PDF files.

Ideally, products and artifacts are added to the portfolio as the work is completed, rather than waiting until the last minute to assemble the portfolio. Creating the portfolio is just like creating any other web site: design it, build it, test it, and revise it. Periodically, you will probably add something to the web site. If you don’t have easy access to a server to host your portfolio web site, SISLT will create an account for you on one of our servers.

In addition, a three-credit-hour seminar is offered to assist students in portfolio development (7378 Portfolio Development). The seminar is designed to be taken after completion of at least 12 credits (including 7377 and either 7360 or 7370) and admission to the program.

The University of Missouri will provide you with server space to house your portfolio and projects for other classes. If you have questions regarding technical issues with your server space, you should contact the MU help desk: http://doit.missouri.edu/help.

A SISLT advisor will examine the portfolio before it is presented for formal review and make suggestions for improvement when warranted.

Presenting and Evaluating Your Portfolio

Portfolios are presented completely online. The portfolio must be available for faculty review on the date given. The portfolio and its presentation are considered collectively. Consideration is given to the entry knowledge and skills of the student and the student’s professional goals. The SISLT review committee examines your portfolio and either passes it or suggests revisions. The review process asks two basic questions:

• Does the student know what the competencies mean?
• Has the student demonstrated adequate mastery of the competencies?

If a portfolio or presentation is found to be lacking, the student is given the opportunity to make the necessary adjustments (e.g., add elements to the portfolio, enhance the presentation, enhance the products or innovations). A conference call or e-mail correspondence will be used to get the portfolio back on track. The review committee will offer suggestions for additional work or changes to the portfolio. Once the committee is satisfied that the competencies are adequately addressed, the portfolio is accepted.

Note: You must be a registered student the semester in which you plan to graduate. Simply put, you cannot finish all of your coursework and present your portfolio the following semester without being enrolled in something. This means you must register for at least one course, or there is an “Exam Only” option available for students who have completed all required coursework.

Portfolio Samples

• Jeffrey Young
  http://sisltportfolio.missouri.edu/youngj/index.html
• Kathleen Merten
  http://sisltportfolio.missouri.edu/kcmmb2/index.html
• Brad Moser
  http://sisltportfolio.missouri.edu/bdmyrd/index.html

After Portfolio Approval

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

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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.

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