Introduction
In my application to the online Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Training and Development (T&D) Program at North Carolina State University, I stated that my desire to further my education stemmed from a “commitment to enhance my leadership and managerial skills as an instructional designer.” I further noted that, “Ultimately, I want to foster a positive and productive learning environment for adults who need to be better informed, or are striving to improve their job performance.” As I complete my portfolio, the final requirement of my master’s degree, I can confidently and proudly say that I have achieved these professional goals and many more.
The M.Ed. in T&D program is designed for working adults who want to further their learning on a part-time basis. I completed this degree over five years, enrolling in one course each fall and spring semester, along with the occasional summer. Many of my peers completed multiple courses each semester to finish the program as quickly as possible. I opted for a slower journey, one that would allow me to really process and learn what I studied. It was challenging to work full-time while in graduate school, but the ability to immediately apply my coursework to my job most certainly enriched my learning and professional development.
The program is distance-delivered, through an online Learning Management System (LMS). When I started the program, NCSU was using Blackboard; they later switched to Moodle. The LMS provided an integrated suite of tools including the following: content areas, discussion boards, quizzes, assignment submission, and, a gradebook. Most of the tools were asynchronous, meaning that students did not need to be online at the same time as their peers or instructors. Periodically, presentations or peer group meetings occurred in a synchronous or real-time environment using an interactive web-conferencing tool such as Elluminate. This tool allowed instructors and peers to text chat, listen to live audio, upload content, and share software applications.
The M.Ed. in T&D is a 36-credit program, and includes the following courses:
The M.Ed. in T&D program is designed for working adults who want to further their learning on a part-time basis. I completed this degree over five years, enrolling in one course each fall and spring semester, along with the occasional summer. Many of my peers completed multiple courses each semester to finish the program as quickly as possible. I opted for a slower journey, one that would allow me to really process and learn what I studied. It was challenging to work full-time while in graduate school, but the ability to immediately apply my coursework to my job most certainly enriched my learning and professional development.
The program is distance-delivered, through an online Learning Management System (LMS). When I started the program, NCSU was using Blackboard; they later switched to Moodle. The LMS provided an integrated suite of tools including the following: content areas, discussion boards, quizzes, assignment submission, and, a gradebook. Most of the tools were asynchronous, meaning that students did not need to be online at the same time as their peers or instructors. Periodically, presentations or peer group meetings occurred in a synchronous or real-time environment using an interactive web-conferencing tool such as Elluminate. This tool allowed instructors and peers to text chat, listen to live audio, upload content, and share software applications.
The M.Ed. in T&D is a 36-credit program, and includes the following courses:
As a result of the knowledge, skills, and abilities I acquired through the M.Ed. in T&D program, I am well positioned to work in multiple capacities and environments. There is a strong demand for my skills in the workplace. Furthermore, the directions in which I can practice as a training and development professional are vast.
