Department of Educational Leadership

Instructional Technology - Overview

Application Forms - Graduate Catalog - Program Outline - Web-Based Certificate

The Instructional Technology program prepares individuals for a variety of instructional development and technology-related positions in education, business, and industry. Many courses within each emphasis are unique in nature, often meeting virtually using a variety of social networking tools (e.g., discussion boards, chat rooms, etc.).  Four areas of emphasis are available to students:

• Educational Technologies - enables teachers and other school personnel to plan, implement, and evaluate technology-based instruction and learning activities in P-12 settings. Students interested in leadership roles in educational technology, such as technology coordinators in schools or school districts, can work toward meeting the standards for the Illinois State Board of Education's Technology Specialist certificate through this program.
  

• Instructional Design & Performance Improvement - focuses on skills necessary for careers in instructional technology, performance improvement, instructional design, and training in non-school settings.
  
  
• Interactive Multimedia Technologies - appropriate for people wishing to pursue the design and development of various interactive multimedia and web-based learning experiences.
  
  
• Library Information Specialist - designed for k-12 educators who hold a teaching certificate within the state of Illinois and are interested in furthering their personal knowledge of library information sciences. Students can choose to work towards a Master’s in Instructional Technology or participate as non-degree students to pursue an ISBE Library Information Specialist endorsement.

Several unique features of the program provide students with opportunities for important practical experiences (e.g. IT571, IT572, and IT573) that complement course work. Juried presentations provide students with an opportunity to share their work with a jury of professors and peers, and defend their work in light of their own goals and the content of their degree program. Design Studios (e.g. IT596, and IT597) provide students with opportunities to work on real-world projects for a variety of real clients in order to develop skills in collaboration, design, development tools and techniques, and project management.

For more information, Please contact :

Yuliang Liu, PhD
618.650.3293