A new master’s degree program at Anderson University will help educators and professionals from healthcare and corporations better integrate technology into their instruction and training programs.
The Master of Science in Instructional Design and Learning Technology(MS-IDLT) launches this spring. Students receive an iPad during their first course.
The new master’s degree program is offered through a collaboration between the Center for Innovation and Digital Learning(CIDL) and AU’s College of Education. The 30-credit-hour program is offered entirely online and can be completed in as little as 12 months.
Dr. Josh Herron, associate dean in the CIDL, expects students to come to the program from diverse backgrounds.
Students who have participated in undergraduate programs at AU have always shown high interest in work being done by the CIDL. Many educators and trainers in the region already attend workshops at AU on mobile learning, technology integration and more.
Graduates of the program will be ready for jobs with titles such as instructional designer, learning technologist or trainer. These professionals collaborate with subject matter experts and use learning theories, instructional design models and multimedia to develop meaningful learning experiences.
Students in the new program will develop instructional materials using design-based approaches and immersive, interactive multimedia in real-world learning situations. They’ll learn to integrate and evaluate emerging technologies and delivery modes to understand best approaches for any learning need.
Salaries will vary for graduates of the program, since many will be adding this skill set to job duties that include administration or management. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics finds these skills in job categories such as “instructional coordinator” or “training and development manager.”
Nationally, the median pay is $62,460 per year for instructional coordinators and $105,830 per year for training and development managers. Between the two categories, more than 20,000 new jobs are expected to be created nationwide from 2016-26, and that doesn’t include openings in existing jobs due to the coming retirement wave of baby boomers.