Is this program for me?

• Are you interested in learning how to use technology to improve productivity and performance in the workplace? If so, Instructional Technology with the Performance Technology Option may be the right choice for you!



• Are you interested in designing and developing distance learning programs for your organization? Then consider Instructional Technology with the Distance Learning Option.

Instructional Technology Specialization

Instructional Technology involves far more than just the technological tools that are bursting forth on our societal landscape with ever-increasing rapidity. Its main concern is how to effectively apply technology to achieve educational goals in a wide variety of educational settings—K-12, colleges and universities, industry, the military, government, and health care.

For this, the instructional technologist must be able to analyze the learning system; determine the instructional goals; design, develop, and implement solutions for reaching those goals; and evaluate the effectiveness of those solutions.

Professional Core

Because the purpose of instructional technology is to promote learning, the 21 semester hours in the professional core required for an Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction are designed to provide a solid foundation in the psychological and philosophical foundations of education. You will also examine critical issues in education and learn how to conduct educational research.

Performance Technology Option

The Performance Technology Option (27 semester hours) emphasizes theoretical and applied perspectives for enhancement of individual and organizational performance through the systematic use of innovative instructional technologies, training, feedback systems, and incentive systems. You will gain a strong foundation in instructional systems design, needs assessment, human performance improvement, and project management. You will also examine the use of emerging technologies to increase productivity and workplace performance.

Performance Technology Program Objectives

• Work in education and training learning organizations as instructional technologists, performance consultants, performance engineers, instructional systems designers, and researchers.
• Implement cost-effective strategies to assist individuals and organizations in performing their jobs more effectively.
• Analyze organizational and individual performance issues using the tools of instructional technology and the objectivity of analysis, design, and evaluation procedures.
• Develop strong theoretical and applied models for developing problem solutions that focus on human and systems improvement within a learning organization.

Distance Learning Option

Distance Learning is quickly becoming the leading innovative strategy for the delivery of instructional systems in higher education, the military, K-12 educational systems, and business and industry. Distance and distributed learning professionals are faced with designing distance infrastructures, establishing policy directives within organizations, supporting students, developing instructional materials, and implementing distributed systems. The Distance Learning option (27 semester hours) will prepare you to research the issues, provide scholarly input on current trends in the field, and begin shaping how distance and distributed learning will work in a variety of organizations.

Distance Learning Program Objectives

• Work in distance and distributed learning environments as instructional technologists, distance learning directors, Web designers, EPSS designers, and researchers.
• Provide leadership in the efforts of organizational change to shift pedagogically from traditionally delivered instruction to distributed learning.
• Design and develop instructional materials in distance and distributed learning environments such as interactive distance learning, Web-based instruction, digital video streaming, and CD-ROM multimedia resource materials.
• Develop applied research agendas to promote active, dynamic learning environments in distance and distributed learning systems.
• Produce plans for continuous improvement and evaluation of distance and distributed learning systems and for the future of the field itself.

Dissertation

The final step in achieving your doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in Instructional Technology involves planning, conducting, and documenting a research study focused on an issue related to your specialization for your dissertation. The dissertation process is a major effort involving 18 semester hours, during which time you will work independently under the guidance of your dissertation committee.

How do I get started?

1. Review the information regarding the Ed.D. program and the Evaluation and Accountability specialization in the UWF catalog.
2. Contact Dr. Rasmussen, the Instructional Technology Program Coordinator and Chair of the Department of Engineering and Computer Technology, to make an appointment to talk to an advisor.
3. Submit an application to Graduate Admissions.
4. Submit an application to the Ed.D. Program Office.