E-Learning Heroes - Advice and ideas from the Articulate Community

Got this question from a blog reader:

"As part of our development, a few of us in the OD department are looking into programs/certifications that will help us as we move from producing on-demand learning events to creating learning that is part of a learning plan.  Can you recommend any programs"

This is an online program that I went through for my Masters. A lot of work but it was worth it.

* Boise State Education Technology Program

Here's a list of some programs that I found a while back when I was looking.  I just add to it as I find more.  Some of them are degree programs and some are certificate.  Not all of them are online.

• Arizona State University, Tempe: Educational Technology
• Bloomsburg University: Instructional Technology; E-learning Developer Certificate
• Boise State University: Instructional Performance & Technology
• Brigham Young University: Instructional Psychology & Technology
• California State University, Chico: Instructional Design & Technology
• Capella University: Instructional Design for Online Learning
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University: Instructional System Design
• Emporia State University: Instructional Design & Technology
• Fairmont State: Online Learning
• Florida State: Instructional Systems
• Full Sail: Education Media Design & Technology
• George Mason University: Instructional Design & Development; E-learning Graduate Certificate
• George Washington University: Educational Technology Leadership
• Idaho State University: Educational Leadership & Instructional Design
• Indiana University Bloomington: Instructional Systems Technology; Distance Program
• James Madison University: Learning Technology Leadership; Educational Technology
• La Salle University: Instructional Technology Management
• New York Institute of Technology: Instructional Technology
• Penn State University: Instructional Systems; Instructional Systems-Educational Technology
• Purdue University: Instructional Technology
• Rio Salado College: Associate Degree in eLearning Design Specialist; Certificate: E-learning Design Specialist
• Robert Morris University: Instructional Leadership; Instructional Technology Specialist
• Roosevelt University: Training & Development
• Saint Joseph's University: Instructional Technology; Certificate: Instructional Technology
• Saint Leo University: Instructional Design; Certificate: Instructional Design
• San Diego State University: Educational Technology; Online: Educational Technology
• Southern Polytechnic State University: Instructional Design
• Syracuse University: Instructional Design, Development & Evaluation
• Texas A&M University, Texarkana: Instructional Technology
• University of Arkansas: Educational Technology
• University of California Irvine: E-Learning Instructional Design (certificate)
• University of Central Florida: Instructional Technology
• University of Colorado, Denver: Information & Learning Technology
• University of Georgia: Instructional Design & Development
• University of Maryland Baltimore County: Instructional Systems Development
• University of Massachusetts: Instructional Design; Online: Instructional Design
• University of Massachusetts, Boston: Instructional Technology Design
• University of Memphis: Instructional Design & Technology
• University of Missouri: Learning Technology; Learning Systems Design & Development
• University of North Carolina: Instructional Technology
• University of North Dakota: Instructional Design & Technology
• University of North Texas: Applied Technology & Performance Improvement
• University of Texas at Austin: Instructional Technology
• University of Texas, Brownsville: E-learning Certificate
• University of Washington: E-learning Design & Development
• University of Wisconsin: Instructional Design
• Utah State University: Instructional Technology & Learning Sciences
• Virginia Tech: Instructional Design & Technology; Online: Instructional Design & Technology
• Wayne State University: Instructional Technology
• West Texas A&M: Instructional Design & Technology
• Western Illinois University: Instructional Design & Technology

I'll second James'  recommendation for Boise State. I work with someone that graduated from BSU and the quality of the program shines through regularly. I also know one of the instructors in the program and you can't go wrong.

I know plenty of folks from the Florida State and San Diego State pipeline as well. I've participated in the San Diego program. These, along with Indiana are well respected programs. Each of which, I believe, offers a certificate program. All of which are listed on Tess' list above.

I think the best approach is to figure out what types of tasks and outcomes you're most interested in attaining and shop for a program that matches this most closely. Curricula vary greatly from school to school.

@Tess -

That's a great list

Thanks for the list, Tess.  

I echo the earlier comments re: Boise State and SD State.  I know quite a few who've enjoyed the U of WA certificate program.

I have really enjoyed the two pre-conference Certificate Programs that I've taken with the eLearning Guild offers prior to Learning Solutions or DevLearn.  I find that 8 hours with a subject matter expert and a small group of like-minded professionals gives me a lot of learning for a reasonable price, and the best part is that I actually learn something and can apply it to my work (and even remember something a year later!)  

Boise looked interesting, but I can see it requires a major investment. "The cost of the entire master's degree (unless you have transfer credits) is $12,518." Maybe it is me coming from Sweden where a lot of education is free, but I guess price tags lilke these can scare people away.

$12518 seems fairly low. I'm guessing that's for in-state.  Costs per credit hour can be as high as $750-$1250. That would make that same graduate degree 24k - 45k. In my opinion, that's not really reasonable. Some would disagree, considering that career prospects and pay are likely to increase. Either way, 12.5k seems attractive in comparison

If you can get on as a SA, your tuition is waived. I personally fronted the cost and I for one will tell you for an online course it's not easy by any means but it was worth the time and money. One learning theory course I took involved ton of research and writing and by the time the course was over I was burned out. However that course really did a nice job preparing me for my final comprehensive exams. Here's the nice part. Since I graduated from Boise, I only need 1 year to complete my Ed D and I'm actually shooting for a free scholarship or to employment as a SA for one of my previous  instructors. Anyway that's my next goal. Plus Boise is accredited and they do not charge out of state tuition as many other universities do. It's truly an awesome program and I only have positive things to say about my instructors.

I came here to ask a similar question and found this thread. I'm looking for something a bit more specific: I'd like to take some online courses that are not mired in 50-year-old theory: Bloom, Mager, ADDIE, "learning styles", etc. Instead, I'd like classes that cover the latest thinking: Michael Allen's Context, Challenge, Activity, Feedback method, for example, and Cathy Moore's Action Mapping approach. Do such courses exist?

I talked to a few people who found Rio Salado's online certificate program helpful http://www.riosalado.edu/programs/elearning/Pages/default.aspx

At the time - year+ ago - the program taught from E-learning by Design and Graphics for Learning. so I think it balanced theory and real-world projects.

The people I talked to were  ILT trainers and a project manager who were transitioning (involuntarily) into instructional design/elearning roles. 

I looked at the Boise State site, and maybe this is a silly question (or maybe i'm looking in the wrong place) but it lists a Masters of Educational Technology and a Masters of Science in Ed. Tech.  Is this there version of Instructional Design...or does the fact it mentions Technology mean something more? 

I guess what I'm trying to ask is...does the "technology" in the name just mean it focuses on e-learning and learning using technology as mediums...or does it mean you actually become a guru on the technical aspects of the technology?

I am currently an elearning student at Rio Salado Community College.  Here is a link to the program specifics: http://www.riosalado.edu/programs/elearning/Pages/certificate.aspx .  Don't let the inexpensive fees deter you from a quality education. Just take a look at the great source materials used in the program: Elearning by Design- William Horton; Designing Effective Instruction - Morrison, Ross and Kemp;and elearning and the Science of Instruction: Proven Guidelines for consurmers and designers of multimedia.  

Hello,

I found this earlier today.

http://www.astd.org/content/education/certificatePrograms/ELearning/

Caroline

I'm attending George Mason University - e-learning Graduate cetificate.  Really enjoying it. 

I have been debating if I need a masters or if a certification in ISD will do?

I started as of last Fall working on my PhD in Instructional Design and Technology via distance at Old Dominion University (Norfolk, VA). Great program with some of the leading thinkers in our field (both students and faculty). As grace would have it, I ended up learning about my current job through a classmate and got hired by a firm in Virginia Beach. So, I'm still a distance learner, but I'm close enough to show up for class every now and then--which I think has great benefits for networking and collaboration.

• Old Dominion University: Instructional Design and Technology PhD Program

Cool, Joe! One of my best friends is in that program as well. I'll likely jump in to take a class or two this fall to experience some of Dr. Morrison's lectures I'm a local.

Congrats on the job at Amerigroup. 

Let's here it for Boise State!  I'm a graduate student in their program right now and I LOVE IT!!!  They offer two different e-learning type certificates, a human performance technology certificate and a masters.  The instructors/professors are knowledgeable and the resources are great.  It's also very reasonably priced for a masters program.  I'd highly recommend it.  If anyone is interested, I'd be happy to give you contact info to any of the profs or the dept secretary.  She's outstanding!

I have just applied for the MET program at Boise State. I can't wait to start in the fall. Kris and James, I will be working full time while attending and I am a little concerned about the work load. I plan on starting out with two classes per semmester. Please let me know your thoughts. 

I'm getting close to finishing my Masters in Ed Tech at San Diego State and have learned a ton along the way and have made some connections that have already helped in my career.  I started by earning the Certificate in Instructional Technology and have transitioned into the Masters program.  Great thing is all the units I earned in the certificate program count towards the Masters.  It's a ton of work but well worth it for the knowledge you will gain and connections you will make with others in the field.

California State University, Fullerton offers a distance M.S. in Instructional Design & Technology. It was a challenging and rewarding experience!

Josh, I'm not sure what the workload in the MET program is.  In the M. IPT program, it's manageable while working full-time.  I also work full-time while going to school.  I've been in the program for four semesters thus far and I've taken two classes per semester like you plan to do.  It takes a lot of hard work and dedication but it's worth it.  My classes are all online which offers a ton of flexibility but requires committment.  When I started I told myself that I'd go to "school" two nights a week and then a certain number of hours on the weekend.  What I've found is that it works better for me to just remember deadlines and work with those because my schedule doesn't allow "school" on dedicated nights.

Joe, the BSU masters program also has three different certificates that all count towards the masters.  By the time I'm done I'll have a graduate certificate in human performance technology, a graduate certificate in workplace e-learning performance support and my masters. 

Ali, a lot of the programs listed above have online options. There are people all over the world who attend some of these courses.

Joshua is correct.  I am a student in the Ed Tech program at San Diego State and have had classmates all over the world.  It's 100% online so no need to commute.

As a Boise State graduate, I can also vouch for the quality of the Instructional & Performance Technology program. I did the entire program online over the course of four years (roughly one class per semester) and was very pleased with the faculty, and just as important, my fellow classmates. I would certainly recommend looking at it and would be happy to correspond with anyone who has specific questions about the experience.

-Ed

P.S. I just joined this forum the other day and this is my first post... I'm looking forward to reading and contributing more, this looks like a great resource!

Hi Rachel,

The use of the word "technology" might be a little confusing... It comes from the dictionary definition of technology and is used fairly commonly in the training and instructional design industry... So Instructional Technology really means (paraphrasing) applying scientific principles and knowledge to design, develop, evaluate, etc. instructional materials.  It does not mean the use of computers, specialized software, etc, although these tools are often used. Does that help?

Thanks!
-Ed