Educational Technology Certificate online

This course will orient students with the historical context of distance education along with an analysis of contemporary trends. Various theoretical frameworks will also be introduced. Existing standards, such as the National Standards for Quality Online Teaching (NSQ) that guide educators and instructional designers to design courses and teach effectively in online environments, will also be introduced. Additionally, students will address the digital divide along with other types of inequalities, and cultural assumptions that challenge high needs schools or regions in poverty to implement online education.

"This course will introduce the theoretical framework of instructional design models and teaching, facilitation, and assessment strategies for online teaching and learning. Students will be exposed to various types of technologies and digital tools to make effective and efficient online courses. An overview of strategies for promoting motivation in online courses will also be discussed. Students will have opportunities to create online learning environments, and apply instructional design models and motivation frameworks to make online courses interactive and engaging."

In order to foster skills in the emerging field of educational technology leadership, students in this class will learn about innovative ideas and strategies related to effective digital learning. Students will be introduced to national, state, and institutional policies pertaining to online learning and educational technology. This knowledge is fundamental to a solid leadership framework. Further leadership skills will be honed in discussions of strategies for instilling a culture of effective digital learning. This culture includes the evaluation of online and hybrid courses and other technology initiatives. Leadership principles also include support of change management and strategic planning, which the students will learn about based on compelling case studies. Lastly, students will gain skills to strengthen their own professional development by staying current with new technologies.

This course will introduce the principles and applications of universal design and accessibility for online teaching and learning. Students will differentiate barriers that limit accessibility and facilitators that promote accessibility of online materials and environments. Students are expected to create inclusive online materials by integrating universal design principles and affordances to meet the needs of diverse learners. The targeted diverse learners may include those with and without disabilities or those from linguistically and culturally diverse background. Intra- and interdisciplinary collaboration between students will also be encouraged through hands-on activities.

This course will provide candidates with a comprehensive understanding of the role and potential uses, as well as drawbacks of artificial intelligence (AI) in education, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to effectively engage in this evolving field. Candidates will gain insights into theoretical frameworks and models for proper AI integration across subjects in formal and informal learning settings. In addition, they will obtain technical, pedagogical, and strategic knowledge and skills pertaining to the uses of AI technology in education. Specific AI-based educational applications and solutions to challenges, problems, and barriers will be explored. Ethical and policy considerations when using AI technology will also be examined.

This course explores theories and practices related to global education and collaboration with technology. Candidates will be equipped with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed for designing and implementing effective global learning and collaboration opportunities using technology, thereby preparing future generations to thrive in an interconnected world. Candidates will examine existing initiatives and projects and analyze their theoretical, pedagogical, and strategic aspects. They will learn how to harness the affordances of technology while being aware of its limitations for global education and cross-cultural communication. Furthermore, candidates will discuss subject areas that might be taught more authentically through this kind of collaboration, explore ways to expand learning horizons, address local, national, and/or global challenges, and bridge cultural and digital divides. Candidates will be enrolled in the professional learning community to contribute to it and gain resources and practical strategies for advocacy and promoting the value of global education.

This course explores theories and practices related to global education and collaboration with technology. Candidates will be equipped with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed for designing and implementing effective global learning and collaboration opportunities using technology, thereby preparing future generations to thrive in an interconnected world. Candidates will examine existing initiatives and projects and analyze their theoretical, pedagogical, and strategic aspects. They will learn how to harness the affordances of technology while being aware of its limitations for global education and cross-cultural communication. Furthermore, candidates will discuss subject areas that might be taught more authentically through this kind of collaboration, explore ways to expand learning horizons, address local, national, and/or global challenges, and bridge cultural and digital divides. Candidates will be enrolled in the professional learning community to contribute to it and gain resources and practical strategies for advocacy and promoting the value of global education.

This course provides a comprehensive overview of the principles and practices involved in the evaluation of learning technologies in diverse learning environments. Candidates will examine various evaluation models and frameworks, as well as formative and summative evaluation techniques. The course emphasizes the importance of data-driven decision-making in formal and informal educational settings and explores how to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of learning systems to improve educational processes and outcomes. Candidates will be equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to conduct thorough evaluations of educational technology initiatives and projects.

This course focuses on basic programming and engineering concepts, robotics, and linkages among engineering, technology, science, and society. Through engaging programming activities with the Scratch software program, candidates are introduced to the basic concepts of programming, while creating animations, interactive stories, and games. Candidates are subsequently introduced to robotics applications such as Lego WeDo and/or Lego Mindstorms, by building and programming. Additionally, candidates are introduced to the following concepts: elements and principles of design, engineering design processes, and collaborative problem solving. They then employ engineering and scientific concepts in order to solve engineering design problems. Candidates will also be introduced to methods to document their work and communicate their solutions to their peers and members of the professional community. All of the hands-on activities are structured to integrate science, mathematics, technology, and the arts.

This graduate course is designed to provide candidates with the content knowledge and educational leadership skills to evaluate, develop, and implement high-quality, technologically rich curricula, programs, and other supports for academic and nonacademic student programs. The purpose of this course is for candidates to understand the school leader’s role in designing curriculum that integrates technology across the disciplines for learning and instruction aligned to state and national standards.