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Athabasca University

Master of Education in Distance Education Program Plans

Information effective September 1, 2017.

Focus Areas

Leadership in Education

Instructional Design

Mobile Learning

K-12 Blended and Online Learning

Focus Area: Leadership in Education

Course-Based Route

Core Requirements (for the MEd)

MDDE 601 Introduction to Distance Education and Training
 (3)
MDDE 602 Research Methods in Distance Education
 (3)
MDDE 603 Foundations of Instructional Design: Systems Analysis and Learning Theory
 (3)
MDDE 605 Planning and Management in Distance Education and Training
 (3)
MDDE 610 Survey of Current Educational Technology Applications
 (3)
  or
  
MDDE 620 Technology in Education and Training
  
MDDE 694 Capstone e-Portfolio Project
 (3)
  Total core:
 18 credits

Required for the Focus Area: Leadership in Education (Course-Based Route)

To fulfill the Leadership in Education focus (course-based route), students take the following two (2) required courses and three (3) electives:

MDDE 631 Inclusive Leadership and Practice in Education
 (3)
MDDE 632 Leadership in Education Innovation
 (3)
  Total required: 6 credits

Electives

Choose any three of the following:
MDDE 611 Foundations of Adult Education (3)
MDDE 613 Adult Education and Lifelong Learning (3)
MDDE 617 Program Evaluation in Distance Education
 (3)
MDDE 630 Trends and Issues in K-12 Online and Blended Learning (3)
MDDE 650 Tutoring and Student Support in Distance Education and Training (3)
MDDE 651 Gender Issues in Distance Education (3)
MDDE 665 Collaboration and Mentoring in Educational Environments (3)
MDDE 690 Independent Study
 (3)
  Total electives: 9 credits
  Total core + required + electives:
 33 credits

Focus Area: Leadership in Education

Thesis Route

Core Requirements (for the MEd)

MDDE 601 Introduction to Distance Education and Training
 (3)
MDDE 602 Research Methods in Distance Education
 (3)
MDDE 603 Foundations of Instructional Design: Systems Analysis and Learning Theory
 (3)
MDDE 605 Planning and Management in Distance Education and Training
 (3)
MDDE 610 Survey of Current Educational Technology Applications
 (3)
  or
  
MDDE 620 Technology in Education and Training
  
  Total core:
 15 credits

Required for Focus Area: Leadership in Education (Thesis Route)

To fulfill the Leadership in Education focus (thesis route), students take the following two (2) courses and four (4) thesis courses:

MDDE 631 Inclusive Leadership and Practice in Education (3)
MDDE 632 Leadership in Education Innovation (3)
  Total required:
 6 credits

Thesis

MDDE 701 Quantitative Research Methods
 (3)
MDDE 702 Qualitative Research Methods (3)
MDDE 703 Research Proposal Writing
 (3)
MDDE 704 Thesis Completion and Oral Defense
 (3)
  Total thesis: 12 credits
  Total core + required + thesis:
 33 credits

Focus Area: Instructional Design

Course-Based Route

Core Requirements (for the MEd)

MDDE 601 Introduction to Distance Education and Training
 (3)
MDDE 602 Research Methods in Distance Education
 (3)
MDDE 603 Foundations of Instructional Design: Systems Analysis and Learning Theory
 (3)
MDDE 604 Instructional Design in Distance Education
 (3)
MDDE 610 Survey of Current Educational Technology Applications
 (3)
MDDE 694 Capstone e-Portfolio Project
 (3)
  Total core:
 18 credits

Required for Focus Area: Instructional Design (Course-Based Route)

To fulfill the Instructional Design focus (course-based route), students take the following three (3) courses:

MDDE 617 Program Evaluation in Distance Education
 (3)
MDDE 618 Instructional Project Management (3)
MDDE 619 Trends and Issues in Instructional Design (3)
  Total required: 9 credits

Electives

Choose any two of the following:
MDDE 611 Foundations of Adult Education (3)
MDDE 612 Experiential Learning (3)
MDDE 613 Adult Education and Lifelong Learning (3)
MDDE 621 Online Teaching in Distance Education and Training (3)
MDDE 622 Openness in Education (3)
MDDE 623 Introduction to Mobile Learning (3)
MDDE 651 Tutoring and Learner Support in Distance Education (3)
MDDE 690 Independent Study
 (3)
  Total electives: 6 credits
  Total core + required + electives:
 33 credits

Focus Area: Instructional Design

Thesis Route

Core Requirements (for the MEd)

Required for Focus Area: Instructional Design (Thesis Route)

To fulfill the Instructional Design focus (thesis route), students take the following two (2) courses and four (4) thesis courses:

MDDE 617 Program Evaluation in Distance Education
 (3)
MDDE 618 Instructional Project Management (3)
  or
  
MDDE 619 Trends & Issues in Instructional Design
  
  Total required:
 6 credits

Thesis

MDDE 701 Quantitative Research Methods
 (3)
MDDE 702 Qualitative Research Methods (3)
MDDE 703 Research Proposal Writing
 (3)
MDDE 704 Thesis Completion and Oral Defense
 (3)
  Total thesis: 12 credits
  Total core + required + thesis:
 33 credits

Focus Area: Mobile Learning

Course-Based Route

Core Requirements (for the MEd)

Required for Focus Area: Mobile Learning (Course-Based Route)

To fulfill the Mobile Learning focus (course-based route), students take the following two (2) required courses, as well as three (3) electives:

MDDE 621 Online Teaching in Distance Education and Training
 (3)
MDDE 623 Introduction to Mobile Learning
 (3)
  Total required:
 6 credits

Electives:

Choose three of the following:
MDDE 611 Foundations of Adult Education (3)
MDDE 612 Experiential Learning (3)
MDDE 613 Adult Education and Lifelong Learning (3)
MDDE 618 Instructional Project Management (3)
MDDE 619 Trends and Issues in Instructional Design (3)
MDDE 622 Openness in Education (3)
MDDE 690 Independent Study
 (3)
  Total electives: 9 credits
  Total core + required + electives:
 33 credits

Focus Area: Mobile Learning

Thesis Route

Core Requirements (for the MEd)

Required for Focus Area: Mobile Learning (Thesis Route)

To fulfill the Mobile Learning focus (thesis route), students take the following two (2) required courses and four (4) thesis courses:

MDDE 621 Online Teaching in Distance Education and Training (3)
MDDE 623 Introduction to Mobile Learning (3)
  Total required:
 6 credits

Thesis

MDDE 701 Quantitative Research Methods
 (3)
MDDE 702 Qualitative Research Methods (3)
MDDE 703 Research Proposal Writing
 (3)
MDDE 704 Thesis Completion and Oral Defense
 (3)
  Total thesis: 12 credits
  Total core + required + thesis:
 33 credits

Focus Area: K-12 Blended and Online Learning

Course-Based Route

Core Requirements (for the MEd)

Required for the Focus Area: K-12 Blended and Online Learning (Course-Based Route)

To fulfill the K-12 Blended and Online Learning focus (course-based route), student take the following three (3) required courses and two (2) electives:

MDDE 621 Online Teaching in Distance Education and Training (3)
MDDE 622 Openness in Education (3)
MDDE 631 Inclusive Leadership and Practice in Education (3)
  Total required: 9 credits

Electives:

Choose two of the following:
MDDE 630 Trends and Issues in K-12 Online and Blended Learning (3)
MDDE 650 Tutoring and Student Support in Distance Education and Training (3)
MDDE 623 Introduction to Mobile Learning (3)
MDDE 651 Gender Issues in Distance Education (3)
MDDE 665 Collaboration and Mentoring in Educational Environments (3)
MDDE 690 Independent Study
 (3)
  Total electives: 15 credits
  Total core + required + electives:
 33 credits

Focus Area: K-12 Blended and Online Learning

Thesis Route

Core Requirements (for the MEd)

Required for Focus Area: K-12 Blended and Online Learning (Thesis Route)

To fulfill the K-12 Blended and Online Learning focus (thesis route), students take one (1) required course, one (1) elective, and four (4) thesis courses:

MDDE 631 Inclusive Leadership and Practice in Education (3)
  Total required: 3 credits

Electives

Choose one of the following:
MDDE 621 Online Teaching in Distance Education and Training (3)
MDDE 622 Openness in Education (3)
MDDE 630 Trends and Issues in K-12 Online and Blended Learning (3)
  Total electives:
 3 credits

Thesis

MDDE 701 Quantitative Research Methods
 (3)
MDDE 702 Qualitative Research Methods (3)
MDDE 703 Research Proposal Writing
 (3)
MDDE 704 Thesis Completion and Oral Defense
 (3)
  Total thesis: 12 credits
  Total core + required + electives + thesis:
 33 credits

 

Regulations effective September 1, 2017 to August 31, 2018.

Updated May 29 2017 by laurab

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