ETEC 522 – May 2012

Kudos for sharing your thoughts concerning the MET program with such creativity!
The variety of technological tools used to communicate your ideas demonstrated what you have learned during your MET journey. We were able to identify with many of your reflections, and it was a great opportunity to open dialogue on our learning experiences.

MET Market Success and Opportunities

Many colleagues expressed that they chose the UBC program, because of the convenience of the completely online format. For many, this form of Master’s meant a flexible study format to accommodate a busy life-style. For others, this type of online program allowed them to continue to work full-time while studying part-time, for they recognized that in their case
F-2-F studies would simply have been impossible.

MET Specializations

There were fabulously enriching posts as everyone poured out ideas about their likes, their challenges and suggestions for MET’s future. Here are some of the main ideas that came
up:

Likes:

– Variety of course assignments and requirements respecting learner style
– Use of different learning platforms
– Learning from colleagues to build useful educational technology tool box
– Focus projects on work-related topics
– Gaining experience and passing it on to students and colleagues
– Many opportunities to reflect on learning

Challenges

– Handling the workload + full-time work + family obligations
– Getting used to the different learning platforms
– Some of the core courses are repetitive for those with a BEd
– Completing research assignments

Suggestions

– Focus on K-12 and Adult Education as two separate entities
– Improving assignment directions
– Create a platform for past students of the MET program to convene, share ideas, and further their knowledge
– Offer continuing professional development

Offer the following courses as electives

– Courses that focus on specific software useful in a K-12 environment
– Offer a quality, entirely online PhD in Educational Technology
– Offer an Instructional Design course
– Offer an elective course for Adult Learners and Technology
– Learning Technologies Course for language teachers and learner
– A course on Vocational Training and Corporate Learning
– A course in Professional Development

And the survey says . . .

Here is a summary of the survey, please feel free to consult a presentation of the charts for more complete results at the bottom of the page.

How likely are you to recommend the MET UBC program to your colleagues?

Generally most people felt they were either definitely or most likely to recommend the MET program with less than 10% not or not likely.

When you have finished your MET, how likely are you going to go on to a PhD or DEd?

Interestingly, about half the colleagues identified they would definitely to likely go on to post graduate studies and the other half unlikely to not.
Among those who said they would continue to post-graduate studies most felt an on campus mode of delivery was for them, a blended mode came in second and an online mode of delivery in last position.

The most popular top 5 ventures for the MET that were considered to give the best return were, in order of importance:

1) Professional Development courses
2) Increased course options within MET
3) Collaboration with other universities to offer courses
4) Create K-12 and Adult streams of MET
5) Doctorate offered online

Most people heard of the MET program:

1) Online
2) Other
3) Colleagues
4) Friends

How long are you expected to take to finish your MET program?

For most people it ranged between 2 to 3 years, with 14.5 % completing the program under 2 years . . . Wow!

What factors were important in choosing the MET program?

Here are the 5 most popular responses.
1) For most people it was that the program was online
2) Getting a higher degree
3) Increased job opportunities
4) Topics offered in the course
5) Reputation of UBC

Please click on the following slideshow to view the details of the survey.
You can pause any slide to view details.