The University of West Georgia


Media

Master of Education, Specialist in Education

Concentration: Instruction technology, Media specialist

Program Strengths

  • One of the few in the region that delivers its program through distance education technologies. 
  • The focus is on developing skills that are essential to effective information technology planning, delivery of instruction, problem solving and making use of formative and summative data for technology decisions.
  • The instructional technology program is designed to prepare instructional technology specialists to work in a P-12 school setting as instructional technologists.
  • The instructional technology program provides advanced preparation for school library media specialists, instructional technology coordinators and teachers seeking to gain additional skills in instructional technology for integration in the P-12 classroom.
  • The media specialist program is designed to prepare school library media specialists at the graduate level.  Students are provided with educational experiences to prepare them to work in P-12 settings as information providers, instructional consultants, teachers and collaborative leaders in integrating learning and information literacy skills into the curriculum. 
  • Students acquire skills that are necessary to design and deliver and effective school library media program as well and use formative and summative evaluation to determine program effectiveness.
  • Media specialist certification available.

Special Opportunities

  • The instructional technology program is offered online with minimal (one to three) campus visits per course.
  • Students are provided with field experiences designed to give holistic exposure to excellent school library media programs.

Job Opportunities

  • Graduates entering the program with P-12 certification are qualified to work in a variety of educational settings as technology specialists and/or coordinators. They are also qualified to work in a variety of educational settings as school library media specialists.
  • With additional coursework, students with S-5 certification can earn the director of media center endorsement, which allows graduates to supervise media centers at the district level.

Organizations

  • Kappa Delta Phi

Facilities

  • The program is offered online with limited face-to-face meetings.
  • Distance education technologies.
  • Access to PC and Macintosh labs that offer tools for multimedia, Web and video development. 
  • Students are also eligible for copies of the latest Microsoft Office Applications and Operating Systems for use in their degree program.


Faculty Specialties/Interests

  • Distance education technologies including WebCT Vista, Blackboard and E-College.
  • Web page design, video production, distance education pedagogy and online research. 
  • Website accessibility, online training development, motivation in online environments and accreditation standards for school library media programs. 
  • Using technology with diverse learners and online learning.
  • Faculty members are student centered and meet student needs whether on or off campus. 
  • Public school teaching, Georgia Department of Education, focused development in Curriculum and Instruction, and in-depth technology expertise.