Rapid advances in technology now allow us to offer an alternative for those who desire a master's degree in education.

This past June the College of Education launched "Ed-Online" – two new master's degree specializations available through the use of personal computers and Internet connections. One specialization is in Curriculum, Technology and Education Reform (CTER), which is geared towards practicing K-12 teachers and administrators. The second master’s offers an emphasis in Human Resource Development (HRD); it is aimed at human resource professionals who have responsibility for education and training in the private and public sectors.

A dozen faculty representing five College departments are currently involved with Ed-Online. Jim Levin, professor of educational psychology, is leading the CTER program; Tim Wentling and Scott Johnson, professors of human resource education, are leading the HRD program.

Although both programs require several face-to-face gatherings of the entire class, most of the instruction is delivered via distance learning. This means that students can attend "class" from the home, office, or virtually anywhere that they have access to a computer and the Internet.

"The College of Education has received numerous requests for this type of degree," said Cathy Thurston, Director of the Office of Educational Technology. "Because many of our campus courses already use the Internet, offering master's degrees online seemed like a natural progression. The response has been phenomenal."

The first CTER group has twenty-six participants. A number of these students are district technology coordinators who will be integrating their enhanced knowledge and skills into their respective school districts. Others are K-12 teachers, including music and special education teachers.

Twenty students in the Chicago metro area are working toward the emphasis in HRD. These students are primarily full-time professionals in business or industry who hope to gain the skills needed to develop, implement and manage education programs within their organizations.

Although the programs are different, they share certain common threads. The curricula take students through eight courses, each redesigned for an online format. Only one or two courses will be offered each term. Students in the CTER emphasis will graduate in two years; those in HRD, in two and a half years.

To ensure a high-quality educational experience, students will be expected to actively participate in discussion groups and interact frequently with the instructors. Some courses will use synchronous distance education technologies that allow simultaneous "chat" groups among students and the instructor. Similar to other University courses, there will be projects, papers, and exams to complete.

The U of I's Vice President for Academic Affairs, through U of I Online, is providing initial funding for this program with additional support from the College of Education and UIUC’s Web Technology Group. Currently, the School of Library and Information Science and the Department of Computer Science are the only other UIUC units offering online degrees.

Because this method of instruction is still very new, evaluation is a critical component. Each course will be carefully critiqued to determine the effectiveness and impact of the instruction. Some of the same courses will be taught simultaneously on campus to allow faculty to contrast and compare online instruction with traditional face-to-face teaching. Researchers hope to obtain the empirical data needed to assess the outcomes of web-based learning.

"Use of the Internet as an instructional tool provides exciting opportunities for our College," said Dean Mildred Barnes Griggs. "The access and convenience of this particular program fits well with our outreach and service mission. It also encourages the type of life long learning that we value in the College of Education."

For additional information about Ed- OnLine click on the College Web site: http://www.ed.uiuc.edu/ed-online/