This Calendar is effective September 1, 2000 - August 31, 2001
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Appendices

9.7. Advanced Graduate Diploma
in Distance Education (Technology)



Introduction

The Advanced Graduate Diploma in Distance Education (Technology) [AGDDE(T)] is intended for practitioners who are interested specifically in issues related to the use of technology in distance education and training, but who do not intend, at least initially, to pursue the Master of Distance Education degree. The AGDDE(T) provides usable skills and applicable knowledge in the use of educational technology for distance and virtual learning, along with a basic grounding in distance education concepts and principles. The program also provides some student choice in the selection of courses.


Admission

Admission Requirements
Persons wishing to enrol in the Advanced Graduate Diploma in Distance Education (Technology) program must hold a baccalaureate degree from a recognized post-secondary education institution.

Application Procedure
Complete and submit the AGDDE(T) Application Form along with the non-refundable application fee. Submit official transcripts* directly from an accredited institution showing the granting of a bachelor's degree. Submit three letters of recommendation, at least one of which should be from someone who is familiar with the applicant's academic skills; complete and submit the AGDDE(T) Application Questionnaire; and submit an up-to-date resume. All application materials must be received by the Centre for Distance Education at Athabasca University by March 1 for consideration for admission into the program starting in September.

*Applicants submitting any official documents (e.g., transcripts) in a language other than English must provide an official translation of such documents. If the credential being submitted has been earned outside North America, documentation attesting to its equivalence to a North American baccalaureate is required. Such documentation can be provided through the International Qualifications Assurance Services (IQAS) at the following address.

International Qualifications Assurance Services
4th Floor, Sterling Place
9940-106 Street
Edmonton, AB T5K 2V1
E-mail: iquas@gov.ab.ca
http://www.aecd.gov.ab.ca/iqas/


Program Structure

Credit Requirements
Eighteen credits (six courses) are required to complete the AGDDE(T). (See below for a detailed description of courses and requirements.)

Program Status
To maintain program status, students must complete six credits of course work during each academic year (September 1 to August 31). Any student who receives a grade of "F" or more than one grade lower than "B-" in a core course may be required to withdraw from the program. Any student who receives a grade of "F" or more than one grade lower than "C+" in an elective course may be required to withdraw from the program. Students may not interrupt their studies for more than one semester without the approval of the program director. Students are required to present a minimum grade of "B-" on all courses in order to graduate.

Residency
To meet the residency requirements, students must complete a minimum of three courses (9 credits), including the two core courses, through Athabasca University.


Courses

AGDDE(T) students take their courses alongside MDE students, and are required to complete the same activities and achieve the same standard. Courses are designed to encourage self-study either at home or in the workplace. Students will be supplied with a basic course package of print and other media as deemed necessary (for example; textbooks, study guides, audiocassettes, videotapes).

In addition, students are expected to use computer mediated communications for the following purposes: instructor and student-to-student interactions in computer conferences; electronic mail, both within and outside of the course structure; file transfer or file attachment of assignments and feedback between instructor and students and between students on joint projects; and accessing electronic databases and various Web sites.

Core Courses (Required)
MDDE 601 Introduction to Distance Education and Training
MDDE 603 Systems Design in Distance Education

Prescribed Options (minimum of three required)
MDDE 604 Instructional Design and Program Evaluation in Distance Education
MDDE 610 Introduction to Technology in Distance Education and Training
MDDE 615 Human Factors in Educational Technology
MDDE 620 Advanced Technology for Distance Education and Training
MDDE 621 Using On-line Teaching and Learner Support Technologies in Distance Education and Training

Students may choose one additional course from the MDE category. Note: AGDDE(T) students are not allowed to register in MDDE 660 or MDDE 690-692. Students should be aware that some courses in the MDE catalogue are currently only offered once a year. Generally, core courses should be taken first in the program (especially if the student has limited distance education background).

AGDDE(T) courses are generally available as follows:

Fall term: 601*, 604, 610, 621.

Spring/summer term: courses are announced before the winter term.

Winter term: 601*, 603*, 615, 620.

Spring/summer term: courses are announced before the winter term.

*Required courses. See the course offerings and course descriptions in the MDE Program section for details about courses. Permission of the program director is required before courses are taken for AGDDE(T) program credit outside Athabasca University.

Advanced Standing
Some students may have completed work at other post-secondary institutions that is applicable to the AGDDE(T) program. After admission, a committee will review such work to determine if the student should be awarded Advanced Standing, and whether "Not to Take" restrictions for equivalent specific courses in the AGDDE(T) program should be imposed. Students seeking Advanced Standing will be required to submit official transcripts (if these were not submitted in support of their application for admission) and the appropriate evaluation fee to the MDE Program Director for review. Students will also be required to submit detailed course descriptions for such courses. Failure to supply either the transcript or the detailed course descriptions (if required) shall result in no Advanced Standing being awarded. For more information, students should contact the Diploma Advisor.

Transfer Credit
Students enrolled in the AGDDE(T) program may take courses from other post-secondary institutions in fulfilment of the program requirements, provided such courses are applicable to Athabasca University's AGDDE(T) program. Students wishing to take courses from other institutions must obtain a Letter of Permission, a written request, detailed course outlines, and the appropriate fees to the Diploma Advisor or MDE Program Director for review. If approved, a Letter of Permission will be issued by the Office of the Registrar. To allow for mailing time, requests for a Letter of Permission should be made at least one month before the registration deadline at the institution where the student will be taking the course. Upon completion of the course, the student must submit an official transcript to the AGDDE(T) advisor in order to obtain credit for the course.

Program Delivery
The program is offered during two semesters each year (with a spring / summer semester offered in most years). The fall semester begins the day after the Labour Day holiday in September and lasts for fifteen weeks. The winter semester begins the second non-holiday Monday in January and lasts for fifteen weeks. All course work should be completed during the semester periods. Extensions to these timelines may be granted if circumstances warrant through the granting of an Incomplete.


Academic Schedule AGDDE(T)

2000
July 7 Last day for program students to register in 2000 fall session courses. Registration fees are due.
Sept. 4 Labour Day, University closed.
Sept. 5 First day of fall session courses.
Oct. 5 Last day for early withdrawal from fall session courses. No record of the course will appear on the transcript.
Oct. 9 Thanksgiving, University closed.
Nov. 13 University closed in lieu of Remembrance Day.
Nov. 15 Last day for program students to register in 2000 winter session courses. Registration fees are due.
Nov. 15 Last day for late withdrawal from fall session courses. Transcripts will reflect a withdrawal in good standing.
Dec. 15 Last day of fall session courses.
Dec. 25/00 -
Jan. 3/2001
University closed.
 
2001
Jan. 8 First day of winter session courses.
Feb.8 Last day for early withdrawals from winter session courses. No record of the course will appear on the transcript.
Feb. 19 Family Day, University closed.
March 1 Last day for receipt of application materials for admission to the program starting in September 2001.
March 20 Last day for late withdrawal from winter session courses. Transcripts will reflect a withdrawal in good standing.
April 13-16 (inclusive) Easter break. University closed.
April 20 Last day of winter session courses.
TBA Spring / summer session.


Computer System Requirements

In order to participate in the program, each student must own or have ready access to the following minimum computer hardware and software. Students are advised that PCs are the primary equipment supported by Athabasca University's Helpdesk. Only limited assistance for other hardware and software platforms is offered.

Minimum

  • Pentium 100 or higher
  • 32 MB RAM
  • 50 MB free disk space
  • 3.5 inch floppy disk drive
  • Mouse
  • 28.8 baud modem
  • Windows 95
  • Current anti-virus software
Optimum
  • Pentium 200 MMX or higher
  • 64 MB memory
  • CD-ROM
  • 100 MB free disk space
  • Mouse
  • 33.6 baud modem or faster
  • Laser or inkjet printer
  • Backup device
  • Access to fax
Software
  • Word or WordPerfect
  • Netscape
  • Current anti-virus software
It is also highly desirable for students to own or have access to a printer and word processing software that can read and write Microsoft Word documents. Students are responsible for their own communication costs such as long distance telephone charges and subscriptions to an Internet node, or any other communications service requirements.


Procedures

Students should complete the core courses in the prescribed sequence. Elective courses may be taken on completion of the core courses or concurrently with the core courses offered in any term. Students will be required to complete a program plan for review by the Diploma Advisor to ensure conflicts or delays are avoided.

Incompletes
In exceptional circumstances, and where the course instructor concurs, students may be assigned a grade of Incomplete (IN). This allows the student to take an additional two months to complete and submit the course work. Two months after the original course completion date, a grade will be assigned to the course. Where the student has not submitted the required course work a failing grade ("F") will be automatically assigned.

Re-registration
Students may re-register in a course only if they have received more than one final grade of "B-" or lower in a core course or more than one final grade of "C+" or lower in an elective course, or have withdrawn from the course in good standing. In re-registering, students must complete all course requirements and pay the full course fee. Students are permitted only one re-registration in each course. Both the initial registration and the re-registration will appear on the student's academic record.

Withdrawal

Fall and Winter Courses
Students may withdraw from a course up until one month before the end of the semester (see academic schedule) by submitting a Withdrawal Request Form. The date of withdrawal will be the postmark on the request, or if the notice is hand delivered or faxed, the University date stamp. Students may also request a withdrawal from a course by electronic mail provided the request is confirmed in writing. If a student withdraws from a course within the first month, the record of registration will be deleted from his / her official transcript. If a student withdraws from a course after the first month of the course and before the last month of the course, the official record and transcript will show that the student withdrew without credit and without prejudice or academic penalty.

Spring and Summer Courses
Students may withdraw from a course up until one month before the end of the semester by submitting a Withdrawal Request Form. The date of withdrawal will be the postmark on the request, or if the notice is hand delivered or faxed, the University date stamp. Students may also request a withdrawal from a course via electronic mail provided the request is confirmed in writing. If a student withdraws from a course within the first two weeks, the record of registration will be deleted from his / her official transcript. If the student withdraws from a course after the first two weeks of the course and before the last month of the course, the official record and transcript will show that the student withdrew without credit and without prejudice or academic penalty.

Withdrawing from Program
Students may withdraw from the program by submitting their request in writing to the Program Director. Students who withdraw may be re-enrolled in the program by following the aforementioned application procedures. Students requesting re-admission to the program will be competing against all other applicants and will not receive special consideration.

Refunds
Students will receive a refund of the full course fees minus the course withdrawal processing fee (see AGDDE(T) program fees, below) if they withdraw from the course within the first month of fall and winter courses and within the first two weeks of spring and summer courses. Students should not return their course materials. Students wishing to withdraw from a course(s) before the first day of class will receive a partial refund (full tuition minus the withdrawal processing fee).

Grading System
All courses will be graded using the following scale.

A+ 90 - 100%
85 - 89%
A- 80 - 84%
B+ 77 - 79%
74 - 76%
B-70 - 73%
C+67 - 69%
64 - 66%
C-60 - 63%
0 - 59%
IN Incomplete status
WWithdrawn in good standing

Time Limits for Completion
Students have a maximum of three (3) years from their first registration to complete the AGDDE(T) program.


Fees

All fees are quoted in Canadian dollars and are subject to change.

Program application fee (non-refundable) required each time a person applies: $ 50
Admission fee (payable upon acceptance into the program): $100

Course Tuition Fee (includes all required materials)
Students living in Canada: $800
Canadians living outside of Canada: $900
International students living outside of Canada: $1,000

Other Fees
Evaluation fee: $55
International evaluations: $110
Letter of Permission fee: $20
Transcript fee: $10
Withdrawal processing fee: $300

The withdrawal processing fee includes the cost of course materials and an administrative fee for processing the request. There will be no refund for returned course materials. The total tuition cost for a Canadian student living in Canada, who takes all his or her courses from Athabasca University, would be as follows: $800 x 6 (3-credit courses or equivalent) = $4,800. (Application and admission fees not included in the above calculation.)


Course Offerings 2000-2001

Refer to the complete course descriptions in the MDE program.


Additional Services

Library
Athabasca University Library also serves the needs of graduate students. See Section 10.8 Library Services.

Income Tax Deductions
Application and tuition fees can be used to reduce income tax. Only fees paid and expended during the calendar year can be reflected in the tax receipt. Canada Customs and Revenue Agency regulations permit the University to issue an education tax credit receipt only for amounts greater than $100. Full-time students may be eligible for the education tax credit for each month of full-time registration. T2202 tax forms for the educational tax deduction along with the tuition tax receipts are automatically mailed to the address on record in February.

Appeals
All students at Athabasca University, whether undergraduate or graduate, are bound by the same policies and regulations governing academic conduct and appeals. Refer to Section 12 Student Code of Conduct and Right to Appeal.

Transcripts and Confidential Information
Graduate students, like undergraduate students, are bound by the institution's policies, regulations, and procedures governing the release of transcripts and confidential information.


Contact Information

AGDDE(T) Advisor
Centre for Distance Education
Athabasca University
1 University Drive
Athabasca, AB T9S 3A3
(800) 788-9041 (ext. 6179) or (780) 675-6179
Fax: (780) 675-6170
E-mail: mde@athabascau.ca
http://cde.athabascau.ca/


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