M.Ed. in Innovative Learning
This forward-thinking program focuses on preparing students for the real-world future of work.
You'll develop competencies to leverage digital media and technologies for learning.
An Innovative Education for Innovative Learning
By embracing innovation in the context of open and collaborative approaches to education, cohort members in this 30-unit program explore and prototype new models for learning and performance.
Through problem-based action research, participants cultivate provocative methods to support equity, literacy, and the re-imagining of school and learning to close achievement gaps, promote social justice and equity.
The curriculum encourages candidates to:
- Rethink classroom practices through the lens of effective uses of digital media and technology as tools to support optimum student learning of subject matter.
- Engage in inquiry-based learning while exploring 21st century workforce skills; communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity.
- Examine the needs of schools and districts that face the challenges of achievement gaps, inadequate resources, poverty, language, and diverse cultures and innovate to create change and equitable practices.
- Focus upon effective pedagogies from the real world context of teaching in multicultural school systems and the future work place in a global market.
- Develop leadership skills necessary to support others to use technology effectively in the classroom.
You will develop competencies in:
- effective uses of digital media & technologies for learning
- the use of action research to inform teaching practices
- core subjects & 21st century themes
- learning & innovation skills
- transliteracy, media & technology
- professional development, evaluation and growth
- leadership & advocacy
Online or In-person Cohorts
You can choose between fully online and in-person locally in your school district.
Fully Online Cohort Program With Virtual Face-to-Face Meetings:
- Strong support network and collaborative community
- Guaranteed course offerings
- Flexible scheduling to meet cohort need
- Continuum of instruction between courses
- Cohort Facilitator provides peer mentoring & support (graduate of the MAEd program)
- Highly qualified faculty with classroom teaching experience
- Opportunity to meet face-to-face at conference
School District Based Face-to-Face Meetings:
- Requires eight teachers from the school district to commit to participation
- Classes held locally in the school district
- Strong support network and collaborative community
- Guaranteed course offerings
- Flexible scheduling to meet cohort need
- Continuum of instruction between courses
- Cohort Facilitator provides peer mentoring & support (graduate of the MAEd program)
- Highly qualified faculty with classroom teaching experience
- Opportunity to meet face-to-face at conference
MASTER’S OF INNOVATIVE LEARNING CURRICULUM
The Master's of Innovative Learning is a 30-unit program. You will need 12 units of teacher licensure coursework to apply (you can be currently enrolled in a credential program as long as 12 units are completed). The 12 teacher credential units are applied to this master's program and the remaining 18 credits, can be completed in one year by taking two courses per semester for three semesters, as listed below.
18 Unit Credential Extension Program Includes:
9 Units in Innovative Learning Courses:
EDUC 701 The Dynamics of the Equitable Classroom
(3 units) Explore new paradigms for teaching and learning to prepare students for the future of the global economy. This foundational course investigates 21st century learning skills in the context of cultural competency, equity, closing the achievement gap and the digital divide.
EDUC 702 Digital Tools for Edu-Vators
(3 units) Focus on experimenting with new learning tools, practices, and the development of learning activities and the seamless integration of technology, pedagogy and content knowledge within the local context. Emphasis is on developing units of practice and peer-to-peer professional development, advocacy and leadership skills.
EDUC 703 Extending Human Capacity via Transliteracy
(3 units) Explore virtual community building, reading, writing and interacting across multiple media and social platforms. Grounded in theory and rooted in practice, this course explores how to leverage social cyberspace relative to the master’s research project/thesis and future leadership and advocacy.
9 Units of Research Courses:
EDUC 790 New Literacies and Digital Epistemologies
(3 units) Review literature on new literacies in the context of the digital evolution. Participants will reflect on their practice and that of their school and district. Conduct an action research evaluation of a local problem and produce a needs analysis, culminating in the development of a research-based plan for master’s study.
EDUC 791 Sensemaking and Research Design
(3 units) Investigate human computer interaction combined with situational learning in the context of education. Critical analysis of the research literature related to the master’s project and development of an action research design.
EDUC 792 Capstone Seminar
(3 units) This course provides support and direction during the development and completion of the master’s thesis or project requirement for the master’s degree. This culminating research requirement may be fulfilled either individually or in collaborative teams through an action research study or an applied project with the approval of the faculty advisor. Students who do not complete the culminating research requirement during this course are required to enroll in the one credit course EDUC 796 each semester, until the research requirement for the degree is met.