Participants learn how an online master’s program in instructional design and technology was developed for accelerated competency-based and course-based options by leveraging a project-based approach that ensures learners demonstrate mastery of IDT competencies by producing artifacts representative of the range of authentic performances expected of 21st century IDT professionals.
Participants in this session will learn how Ashford University’s College of Education developed an online Instructional Design and Technology Masters of Science program (MSIDT) that includes both accelerated competency-based and course-based completion options. This session includes a description of how a project-based curriculum strategy was leveraged to ensure learners are able to demonstrate mastery of program learning outcomes. Participants will also learn how the program emphasizes activities that can facilitate the transfer of essential and advanced IDT knowledge and skills into multiple workplace contexts to support Ashford University’s commitment to workplace readiness and career advancement for program graduates. Additionally, participants will hear how the projects and related activities lead to learner production of artifacts for inclusion in a program eportfolio that are representative of the range of authentic performances expected of 21st century IDT professionals. Participants will hear from the program’s leadership and faculty about (1) the process used to design masters-level projects representing an internationally validated set of IDT competencies, (2) the process for developing curriculum for the course-based option that corresponds to the curriculum in the accelerated competency based option, (3) a comparison and contrast of the advantages and disadvantages of each program option, and (4) an overview of the faculty model.