Masters of Education - Instructional Technology: How and Where to Get it Online

Masters of Education - Instructional Technology: How and Where to Get it Online
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M.Ed Instructional Technology: How it’s done

In pursuing the Masters of Education in Instructional Technology, there are a number of considerations. The online environment offers many advantages when it comes to this degree. First, it should be recognized that by its very title the course of study is well suited for the online environment. The learner gets a chance – hands-on – to learn and discover at their own speed the subject matter of the degree.

Let’s look in detail at this degree and its needs and implications. Most importantly, there are no pre-requisites for this degree, outside of the necessary requirements for pursuing any master’s degree. You must of course hold a bachelor’s degree in some field of expertise, but it does not have to be directly related. For instance, this writer’s bachelor’s was in Music Education. Many of my classmates came from various different walks of life, including nursing, military backgrounds, business and even government employees.

As stated earlier, however, for those wishing to enter the education field, this degree will not certify you to teach in the public schools but it does open doors at the collegiate level, even if those are limited. Be sure to check state requirements for certification before moving in that direction.

Next, the length of time it takes to complete the degree is somewhat up to you. In a traditional setting (brick and mortar) the degree requires the compulsory 33 hours. This can take over a year to complete, depending upon how many credits you take. Secondly, in the traditional setting you are charged by the credit hour so it can be more expensive.

The online M.Ed. in Instructional Technology can be completed in as little as ten months. It is important to note that in the online environment the tuition is per session, not per credit hour. The suggested model for a 10-month completion is two classes per session. If you take more than that, you will finish sooner and the degree is going to be cheaper.

Each session is 10 weeks long, so the learning is condensed and at times intense, yet at two classes per session very attainable. You can get an idea of the different colleges that offer this degree and compare prices and programs by going to these their websites. Some of the many colleges that facilitate this degree are he University of Phoenix, the American Intercontinental University (A.I.U.) and Capella.

Doing a cost analysis, A.I.U.’s total tuition for the degree is 23,500 which does not include books. At Capella, the same degree costs 26,304 plus books. Finally at Phoenix University the cost is 19,575 plus books. It is important to note that at Phoenix this cost is per credit while at A.I.U. and Capella it is per session. This means that if you take more classes in a session, it can bring the cost down.

In conclusion, the Master of Education Instructional Technology is a perfect fit for the online environment. The typical cost of this degree runs on average to about $23,000 depending upon the aforementioned particulars and of course the school you choose. In addition, the online at-home environment offers you the flexibility of preparing and developing your lessons and practical applications in the most user friendly environment possible. You should understand that the main online challenges are those you bring yourself. It requires good time management skills, self motivation and commitment, but in the end is a great place to pursue those higher education dreams. What better place to get a technology degree than from your own computer!