PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS
Why Online? | Requirements | Core courses | Electives | Instruction | Flexibility Moodle | Evaluation | Orientation
Benefits of Online Education
Online education is an efficient, convenient, and flexible approach to learning that allows students to adapt coursework to their busy schedule, work at their own pace, and access study materials, university staff, and fellow students wherever and whenever they choose. Making full use of Internet technology, GSE coursework enables a great deal of interaction and collaboration with peers through e-mail, discussion boards, chat rooms and other emerging technologies. Also, GSE faculty and staff engage students in frequent communication and provide ongoing academic counseling and technical support.
Program Requirements
The program requires completion of eight courses (32 semester hours, 4 hours per course), normally taken over two calendar years. It is designed around cohorts of students who begin and end the program together more or less at the same time. Each cohort is ideally made up of 25 students who follow the same sequence of six core courses. This is followed by two elective courses to enable students to broaden their understanding of particular issues, to participate in a study abroad program, conduct a work-based project in international education. There is some flexibility in the ordering of courses to fit individual needs, but students are encouraged to take the core courses with their cohort since learning and community building of educators is as important to the process as the courses are.
Core Courses
Each of the six core courses examines the ways in which conditions of global inter-connectivity and interdependence affect educational policy; technology and educational reform; classroom learning and management; curriculum and instruction; and issues of identity and culture in transnational contexts. The core courses are:
- Globalization and Educational Policy
- Technology, Globalization, and Educational Reform
- Global Issues in Learning and Teaching
- Curriculum in the Global Context
- Identity and Culture in Transnational Contexts
-School-Based Project in Internationalization
Cohorts begin in both the Fall and Spring Semesters. Most students take one course at a time in the Fall and Spring, and two courses during the Summer session for each of the two years that are taken to complete the requirement of the program. However, some flexibility is possible for students who wish to work to a different schedule, either by taking parts of their summer off, or by varying the speed at which they wish to complete of their program.
Electives
Electives offered vary each year . Some are offered regularly such as the course Study Abroad: Issues and Experience and Organizational Development in Education. Others are topical, and have included courses entitled, Understanding Katrina: Transnational Perspectives, and Open Source, Open Access, Open Education
Modes of Instruction
All courses will be taught online. Each course will be unique in its format and setup, however each will include a variety of readings, writing assignments, group projects and other related activities. Most materials will either be available on-line or will be made available in print. This program encourages maximum amount of participation and student interaction through asynchronous forums. Most courses will have a synchronous component to them as well, organized in the specific format that the instructor chooses.
Program Flexibility
Since the majority of students enrolled in the on-line courses are working professionals, every attempt is made to schedule any synchronous activities in the evenings or on weekends. Synchronous activities can include, but are not limited to, on-line chats, real-time audio or video mini-lectures or discussions. Opportunities mayl also exist for face-to-face meetings on the UIUC campus, however these are not requirements. In addition to instructor-authored course web pages, students use textbooks, course packs, and other materials. Some textbooks (when available) may be checked out of the University's Academic Outreach library system. Students will also have access to the University's vast library system.
Synchronous Classes
Students can expect a maximum of one on-line synchronous class meeting each week during the Fall and Spring semesters, (15 week courses) and more frequent on-line synchronous class meetings for all summer courses. These classes are normally held at either 7 or 8 p.m. Central Standard Time (CST). All students are encouraged to attend, even if this is not an absolute requirement. Each course uses three modes of electronic communication: Moodle for course-ware and asynchronous activities; Elluminate for synchronous classes enabling communication in each of textual, audio and video modes; and Skype for consultation with instructors and peer exchange.
Click here to see what a sample course looks like on Moodle.
Course Evaluation
Each course will be evaluated individually based on the criteria set out by the instructor. In most courses the evaluation will be based on a combination of reading and writing responses as well as school-based projects based on the course content. The idea of the program is to provide you with an opportunity to apply what you are learning in the courses, therefore a majority of your grade will be attributed to this.
Program Orientation
There will be an online orientation prior to the start of each program. This will be an opportunity to build a community with the cohort with which you will be working for the next two years, as well as an opportunity to obtain essential information for the successful completion of the program. There may also be conferences throughout the course of the program, which will allow opportunities for face-to-face interaction. Additionally, the study abroad component will be another opportunity to meet your colleagues one-on-one.
Why online? | Requirements | Core courses | Electives | Instruction | Flexibility Moodle | Evaluation | Orientation
