I have been researching Educational Technology programs, and some of the schools I have looked at offer a M.A in Ed.Tech and others offer a M.ED. Can anyone tell me the difference? I feel silly for not knowing. Thanks! Holly
My understanding is that the MeD degrees are like other Master of Ed degrees in that you need to have teacher certification, or obtain it while in the Masters program. The Master of Arts or Science I think do not generally have this requirement. I beleive the MEd is more important for those in the K-12 environment. I am enrolled at Nova Southeaster for the summer so I am relatively new to this as well
Sometimes it is simply different nomenclature for two very similar degrees. One university calls its program a M.A. while another labels its program a M.Ed. A third school will label it as a M.S. There often isn't a difference.
There are no stupid questions! Okay... I stand corrected... that was a stupid question. [just kidding] An M.ED is a teaching credential. An MA in Ed.Tech is a master of arts degree, like any other; and like any other it has a particular specialization/concentration... in this case, "Educational Technology." In most jurisdictions it would probably not be a teaching credential, per se, but in some it may very well allow you to teach anyway. Wanna' teach 10th grade social studies? Get the M.ED. Wanna' develop teaching labs; or lab content; or web-based delivery systems, etc.; or wanna' develop new and interesting ways to get through to special needs students using technology; at any grade level? Get the MA in Ed.Tech... ...or the M.ED. After all, if you think about it, while it's not clear that you could teach with the MA in Ed.Tech, you could most certainly teach and develop cool educational technology with the M.ED. You could also get the M.Ed and a postgraduate certificate in Ed.Tech... and then you'd have what I'd consider the best possible combination. With that, you'd have the respect of the educators around you because you'll be one of them, yet you could still profess to be a techno-ed-geek whenever that's called for.
Probably just a difference in nomenclature. Though, I suspect, the original difference may have been that the M.Ed. was supposed to be more applied in emphasis, while the M.A. and M.S. in Education were supposed to be more theoretical in emphasis. Holly, No question is stupid.
Re: Re: stupid question I'll accept your challenge! If the rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain then what is the meaning of twelve?
Des Elms; I feel that you are only partially correct, your reply was somewhat accurate. I did, however like the thoroughness of your reply. The “credential” part of any K-12 education program is considered to be licensure obtained after meeting the requirements of a licensure qualifying degree program and successfully including passing licensure specific examinations (such as the Praxis II series, Cbest or TeXeS). Also specific field endorsements can be considered a credential in the field of education. This route can be equated to that taken by CPAs or Bar Licensed Attorneys. Generally, if involved in an undergraduate program, a combined state licensure approved/education or subject related degree program is the qualifying degree. These can vary in nomenclature; BAIS, BA General Ed., BA Elementary/Secondary Ed., etc. If a degree seeking student has a degree in another discipline, then the MAT is one of the most common degrees offered by various institutions that lead to licensure and practice. The M.Ed. is usually offered as more in-depth education for those already in the field of education. Those who seek the M.Ed. are often already licensed and would like to advance their knowledge in education, obtain higher income, or obtain additional training and gain a leadership role in the field of education. The M.Ed. is often a generalist degree with a focus on both administration, and the relationship between educational theory and application in practice. There are also other degrees that are usually coined Master of Arts, but a few designated Master of Science as well, that have a subject specific focus for those who want advanced training in a concentration and area. These degrees are also usually offered to those who have already obtained licensure, or have a background in the subject of concentration. There are exceptions, but this is often the case. Granted also, not everyone who enrolls in an education related degree program intends to teach at a K – 12 public school, nor does every school limit enrollment in certain programs to practicing or licensed teachers and educators. The MA. in Ed. Tech program sounds (from nomenclature alone) to be very similar to the Stanford University, School of Education’s MA in Learning, Design & Technology program, or the MA in Learning & Technology offer through Western Governors University, Teachers College. If my assumption is correct, then it is indeed designed to offer training in the theory, implementation and development of technology-based teaching, learning, and education delivery systems. Often such programs are targeted at currently practicing teachers and educators in both K-12 and collegiate settings, but they have also attracted corporate trainers and other interested parties. Here are link to the two programs that I think might be similar in some respects: http://ed.stanford.edu/suse/programs-degrees/program-ldt-ma.html http://www.wgu.edu/education/master_education_learning_technology.asp
Bill Huffman: There was a family friend I had known many years ago that might find your question very profound. He was one of these “stuck in the 60s”, Gallagher personality types, who often found great meaning in such obscure thoughts. It was a common occurrence for him to ask such questions aloud to no-one in particular, and then answer his own question at some length. In tribute to his talent for philosophizing the absurd, his own responses were so magnetically engrossing and esoterically logical in a convoluted sort of way, that he often had others convinced that he made sense. I would regularly hear people comment about how “deep” or “profound” his ideas were.
So that ther'll be something separating 11 and 13 in casinos on rainy days on the Spanish plain. I'm sorry for not being more clear. Of course I didn't mean that the M.Ed degree itself would be the teaching credential, sans some kind of licensure-specific, standardized testing. I was just contrasting the inherent value of the M.Ed versus an MA in Tech.Ed as teaching-credential-requisite. Further, I did envision in what I posted (but did not specify it) that an M.Ed would be the sort of degree that say, for example, a teacher with only a teacher with a BA or BS might be forced to get in some jurisdictions within his/her first 5 years of teaching. That's, specifically, what I intended when I referred to the M.Ed as a "teaching credential." As for the rest of what you wrote, good post.
Re: Re: Re: stupid question Finally! Someone has posted something on my intellectual level. OK, I give up on the 12 thing. But how high is up? 1/7 as high as 7-up of course. If one train leaves Chicago at noon for New York and another train leaves New York for Chicago an hour later, why is a duck? Isn't this fun? BH
