MEd, Teaching & Learning

The Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Teaching and Learning concentration in Instructional Technology is intended to prepare professional educators, as well as other instructional professionals, with a specialization designed to develop scholarly expertise in online development, design and assessment in instructional technology venues.

This specialization will focus on current theory in instructional technology, a solid foundation in effective online instruction and facilitation, the design of online instructional materials, and the myriad uses of online instructional technology as applied to a variety of content, resources and subject matter. Furthermore, the specialization will provide individuals with knowledge of instructional technology in a local, regional and global setting. The program will provide a capstone experience that is tailored to meet the needs of each student's specific background and career goals.

The outcomes for the Instructional Technology concentration area include:

Professional Knowledge

• Candidates will demonstrate an advanced knowledge of systematic design structures and tools for communicating through technology in classrooms, online or in professional training settings.
• Candidates will demonstrate an understanding of the various types of local, regional, national and global online educational settings and recognize relationships of course activities and products to individual educational/instructional philosophies.

Professional Practice

• Candidates will produce instructional materials to meet content-specific educational objectives involving components such as audio recordings, video recordings, telecommunications, photography, graphics and computer applications.
• Candidates will demonstrate effective practices in utilizing technology in traditional and online learning environments.

Professional Inquiry and Leadership

• Candidates will demonstrate the ability to design, organize and evaluate technological resources for use in an educational or work environment.

The Diverse Learners concentration area is designed for licensed professionals who may be interested in seeking either add-on teacher certification in Learning Disabilities (LD) or an English as a Second Language (ESOL) endorsement. With the changing demographics in today's public schools, teachers who are able to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of all learners are in great demand. The primary outcomes for candidates pursuing the Diverse Learners Concentration are focused on developing an advanced level of knowledge, skills and dispositions associated with teaching students with diverse learning needs through a variety of research-based instructional strategies, including the use of technology. A more in-depth understanding of the learning characteristics of students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and those with exceptional learning needs, along with the ability to create positive learning environments for these students, will be the crux of this concentration area. In addition, candidates will develop their skills in critically examining and using research to inform their practice and they will develop the competence and confidence to serve as advocates for their students and provide leadership in their schools.

While evaluation of an individual's transcript is required in order to verify the specific courses and Praxis II examinations needed for any add-on certification area, in most cases the required courses offered through the Diverse Learners path should prepare a licensed educator with the needed coursework, knowledge, skills and dispositions for certification in Learning Disabilities. The core required EDUC 682 Field-Based Individualized Activities could serve as the practicum experience required for add-on certification in Learning Disabilities or ESOL endorsement.

The outcomes for the Diverse Learners concentration area include:

Professional Knowledge

• Candidates will acquire in-depth knowledge of learner characteristics and language acquisition that apply to teaching children and adolescents with exceptional learning needs and those with limited English proficiency.

Professional Practice

• Candidates will expand their level of competence in planning, implementing and assessing instruction that is responsive to the intellectual, psychological, social and physical needs of students with exceptional learning needs and those with limited English proficiency.
• Candidates will develop advanced skills in the use of a variety of instructional strategies, including technological formats, for teaching content area reading and writing to students with exceptional learning needs and those with limited English proficiency.

Professional Inquiry and Leadership

• Candidates will demonstrate an advanced level of competence for working collaboratively and effectively with other professionals in their field.

The Montessori Education concentration will award twelve (12) Montessori-specific hours to qualified candidates who hold existing Montessori credentials from freestanding programs accredited by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE). Freestanding programs are those programs that are not associated with universities and do not award academic credit.

Candidates in the M.Ed. in Teaching and Learning Montessori concentration will complete the core foundational blocks (15 hours), will receive twelve (12) concentration-specific hours in recognition of their Montessori credential, and complete nine (9) elective hours. Three (3) of the elective hours will come from coursework in the M.Ed. in Montessori Education program.

The outcomes for the Montessori Education concentration area include:

Professional Knowledge

• Candidates will demonstrate the ability to integrate knowledge, practice, inquiry, and leadership through the framework of Montessori education and its context within contemporary psychology and learning theories.

Professional Practice

• Candidates will expand upon their foundational knowledge of Montessori education and human development to create engaging learning environments and activities that meet the needs of children in multi-aged settings.
• Candidates will demonstrate the ability to plan, organize and evaluate classroom strategies and appropriate technology based on best Montessori practice, professional standards and current research.

Professional Inquiry & Leadership

• Candidates will demonstrate an advanced level of competence in working collaboratively and effectively with professional peers, families and the community.

Admissions requirements for the Master's in Education, Teaching & Learning include:

• B.A. or B.S. from an accredited institution
• Official transcripts of all work must be submitted

Lander University recognizes the needs of teachers and other professional educators to continue advanced studies beyond the bachelor's degree level. The M.Ed. program is designed for the student who has graduated from a regionally accredited college or university with a baccalaureate degree and is seeking a Master's level degree in Teaching and Learning in Diverse Learners, Instructional Technology or Montessori Education.

The program of study leading to the Master of Education in Teaching and Learning degree consists of course work and other learning activities in the following areas at the 600 level:

Note: The information below provides convenient links to some of the courses required for this degree; however, it should not be used as a course registration guide. Please refer to the official Lander University Academic Catalog for the most accurate and up-to-date program requirements.

For more information about the program or assistance with the application procedure, please submit a Request for Information.