The following Sections highlight courses, my experiences, and artifacts from classes in the MDE Program
UCSP 611: Introduction to Graduate Library Research Skills
"(Required within the first 6 credits of graduate study for all new graduate students.) An overview of online library and information resources material that is critical for 21st-century managers. An in-depth introduction to the library research process and the tools necessary to succeed in graduate study are provided. Emphasis is on the efficient and effective use of a variety of electronic retrieval systems, including the online catalog of the University System of Maryland and affiliated institutions (USMAI), UMUC's subscription databases, and the Web. Discipline-specific research is conducted in order to gain experience in formulating viable research questions, selecting the most appropriate investigative methods and resources for research, locating relevant research materials, evaluating the scholarly value of sources, and effectively citing sources."
OMDE 601 - Foundations of Distance Education and E-learning Professors Christine Walti and Lisa Blaschke – Winter 2012
"(Developed by Ulrich Bernath of Germany and Eugene Rubin of the United States, in collaboration with Borje Holmberg of Sweden and Otto Peters of Germany.) An overview of the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are required by a competent practitioner of distance education. Critical concepts and issues identified in the distance education literature are explored and the history and theories of the field are critically examined."
OMDE 603 - Technology in Distance Education Professors Gila Kurtz & James Rawson - Spring 2013
"A review of the history and the terminology of technology use in distance education (DE), building on the topics and technological issues raised in OMDE 601. The basic technology building blocks of hardware, networks, and software are identified. The characteristics of asynchronous and synchronous technologies and tools used in the teaching and learning, as well as the administration of DE are analyzed. The relationship between technology and the goals of the educational/training organization are critically examined. The relationship between information technology and DE is explored, with special emphasis placed on online technology. Topics covered include the criteria and guidelines for selecting technologies for DE and the future directions of technology in DE."
DEPM 604 - Management and Leadership in Distance Education and E-learning Professor Michael Beaudoin – Spring 2013
"An introduction to the organization, management, and administration of distance education and e-learning training programs and systems. Topics include management theory and practice, organizational behavior and change, leadership roles and styles, and planning and policy. Discussion covers education and training in academic and corporate settings and the knowledge and skills necessary for a distance education practitioner to function effectively in either type of organizational environment. Assignments include individual and group case-study analyses, brief essays, and literature searches related to distance education and e-learning leadership."
OMDE 606 Costs and Economics of Distance Education-Fall 2013
"(Developed by Thomas Huelsmann of Germany.) A study of the economics of distance education in the larger context of the economics of education. A variety of methodological approaches (including cost/benefit and cost/effectiveness analysis) are applied to the distance education context. A variety of costing techniques and economic models are explored and applied to different institutional forms and levels of distance education."
DETT 607 - Instructional Design and Course Development in Distance Education and E-learning Professor Linda Smith – Summer 2012
"An examination of the instructional design process, its history and place in today's course development efforts, and the use of instructional design components in practice. Emphasis is on the nature of learning and the requirements for effective instruction. The theoretical underpinnings of learning are explored and applied to the design of a prototype classroom. Management issues surrounding course and curriculum development efforts are discussed, and a comprehensive curriculum management plan is developed."
OMDE 608 - Learner Support in Distance Education and Training Professor Jane Brindley – Spring 2012
"An introduction to the theories and concepts of support for learners in distance education and training. The various types of learner support, including tutoring and teaching; advising and counseling; and library, registrarial, and other administrative services are examined. Discussion addresses management issues, such as planning, organizational models, staffing and staff development, designing services to meet learner needs, serving special groups, and evaluation and applied research. Assignments include designing a learner support model for a particular context (e.g., public or private educational institution or corporate or military training)."
OMDE 610 Teaching and Learning in Online Distance Education
"Course Description: An exploration of the online teaching and learning dynamic, including its theoretical foundation and best practices. The themes that shape the online teaching/learning relationship are addressed through individual and collaborative projects. Topics include philosophical frameworks; instructional, social, and cognitive presence; interaction,collaboration, and participation; community and engagement; and administration and management."
DETT 611 - Library and Intellectual Property Issues in Distance Education and E-learning Professor Ilene Frank – Summer 2013
"(Formerly OMDE 611.) An overview of the development and delivery of digital resources for distance education. Discussion covers the intellectual property issues affecting the use of copyrighted works in distance education, developing and delivering library resources online to a faculty and student population, and the future of digital information delivery and the impact of digital rights management (DRM) technologies and social networking."
OMDE 620 Training and Learning with Multimedia Professor Jill Fresen and Professor Dr. Olaf Zawacki-Richter — Fall 2013
"(Formerly OMDE 620. Developed by Joachim Hasebrook of Germany.) An examination of the use of digital media in a variety of educational settings to identify properties, strengths, and weaknesses of multimedia in different learning contexts. Basic psychological processes of perception, understanding, and learning are introduced. Focus is on multimedia and instructional design for online learning systems, such as Web-based training. Hands-on experiences with several multimedia and online learning and information systems are provided. Topics also include groupware and collaborative learning technologies, intelligent systems, instructional simulations, and virtual reality systems."
EDTC 650 Teaching and Learning in the K-12 Virtual School
"An introduction to K-12 distance education, including the policies and structures of K-12 virtual schools, teaching and course development strategies appropriate for K-12 online courses, and current issues involved in the K-12 virtual enterprise. Emphasis will be on K-12 schools that offer courses over the Internet; also included will be discussion of principles that apply to other forms of K-12 distance education, such as television and correspondence courses. Topics include different models of current K-12 virtual schools; district, state, and national regulations governing these schools; role of parental involvement and student support systems; social and collaborative aspects of learning at a distance; and training and mentoring of online K-12 teachers. Trends in international K-12 virtual schools will be compared with those in the U.S. The effectiveness of virtual schools and courses at the elementary and secondary school level will be explored."
OMDE 670 Portfolio and Project in Distance Education and E-learning
A capstone study of distance education and training designed to demonstrate cumulative knowledge and skills through two major projects: an electronic portfolio and a case study. The personal e-portfolio documents credentials and accomplishments to date and also serves as an ongoing resource and record of continuing professional development. The case study, which focuses on a distance education/training program or organization, involves in-depth analysis of the setting and application of concepts and strategies to enhance practice and performance in distance education and training.
DETT 621 Training at a Distance (Final Class Next Term).
"An examination of the role of distance training in business, nonprofit, and government organizations. A wide variety of issues, problems, and solutions in Web-based training are explored. Topics include the economics of distance training, distance technology in the business organization, synchronous versus asynchronous interactive tools, collaborative and problem-solving tools, authoring tools, insourcing versus outsourcing, and the role of multimedia in distance training. Emphasis is on the concept of the corporate virtual university and its design and operation."