As information technology continues to advance and proliferate, employers in the field of education are increasingly seeking professionals who have the knowledge and skills to bring the power of technology to the classroom for the benefit of students and teachers alike.
To that end, University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) offers the Master of Science in learning design and technology (LDT). This program was created for those interested in a career where they can apply their talents and training toward designing and implementing innovative, transformative, and highly personalized learning experiences in any level or mode of education.
Brandie Shatto, EdD, has been a professor and program director at UMGC since 2017. Starting as the chair of the Master of Education (MEd) in instructional technology, she became the program director for LDT in 2020. We talked with Shatto about this exciting master’s program—what it entails, the coursework that’s covered, and who would most benefit from earning this degree.
What do you love most about the field of learning design and technology?
I personally love this field because it allows me to combine my knowledge of teaching and my enthusiasm for technology to create learning experiences that are authentic, meaningful, and that help meet a learner’s goals.
It’s also an exciting field. There are new technologies influencing the field — including generative AI, spatial computing, and adaptive learning — and new insights about learning being discovered every day, so there’s always something new to learn and try. You never get bored in learning design.
The LDT program deals with the science of learning—things that are very current and cutting-edge. What are some things that never change in education that students will learn in this program?
First, they’ll learn about the various learning theories—the foundational theories that underpin the field of learning design, including behaviorism, cognitivism, connectivism, etc. Researchers have been studying how people learn for a long time, and several theories have become standard in helping to explain how learning works. We cover these early in the program.
They’ll also learn about instructional design (ID) models. We cover several ID models that have become standard in the field and discuss their essential components. We also compare models and discuss their practical application in the workplace.
We focus on lesson structure. All instructional units generally consist of certain components (objectives, instructional strategies, resources, etc.), and we really focus on making sure that our students understand the key components of a well-designed learning experience.
In addition, there are certain enduring workplace skills that most educators agree are important to any field, including communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving. We practice these skills as they relate to learning design. While technology changes frequently, the theories and principles that guide effective design don’t change, and our goal is to make sure that our learners leave the program with the foundational knowledge, skills, and dispositions to be effective learning designers.
How would you describe the types of folks who are typically a good fit for the LDT program? What characteristics do they share?
Successful LDT candidates are interested in how people learn. They enjoy using technology and tend to have an aptitude for it. They’re also organized, collaborative, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems.
Is it necessary to have a tech background to pursue this degree?
It is not necessary to have a tech background for this program, but it is important to be open to using new technology tools, experimenting with them, and learning by doing.
What kinds of education jobs can graduates pursue with these advanced skills?
First, it's important to note that the LDT master’s degree is not a teacher prep program, meaning it doesn’t lead to teacher certification. (Students interested in teaching as a profession should consider UMGC’s Master of Arts in Teaching degree.) However, we have had teachers go through the program who were interested in becoming instructional designers, and their skills are often a good fit, because they already have a background in learning and can translate that experience into designing courses.
The primary job that graduates look for when they complete the program is instructional designer. However, graduates already employed in an instructional design role often become senior instructional designers or pursue leadership positions within their departments and organizations. Graduates from UMGC’s LDT program have found jobs in every sector, including education, government, corporate, nonprofit, etc. Graduates also seek positions as training developers, curriculum managers, training consultants, and more.
How important is creativity in the skills and practices students can learn in this program?
Creativity is very important to the skills and practices students learn. Learning design provides so many opportunities to practice creativity—in multimedia design and creation, in the development of learning content and activities, in solving design challenges and prototyping. We help guide our learners through some of these important creative decisions and share strategies for enhancing creativity.
What are the main topics covered in the coursework, and how do they translate into practical application?
The LDT master’s program is practitioner-based, meaning it is designed so that students are producing projects and deliverables that are practical and replicate workplace activities. From the first course, they begin applying what they learn to an actual design project, and they continue to build on their skills throughout the entire program to include, not just learning experience design, but also best practices for managing design projects, using analytics, collaborating with subject-matter experts, etc.
The program consists of 30 credits of coursework and covers
Learning theory
Instructional design models
Instructional media
Course development & design
Advanced design (gamification, spatial computing, AI, etc.)
Project management
Data analytics
Design thinking
Pedagogy & teaching online
What are some of the advantages for your students of online learning and what makes UMGC's online program different?
First, the program being practitioner-based (as described above) is a big advantage, because instead of reading about design, learners are engaged in designing learning experiences. Also, student projects are authentic—addressing real-world issues and challenges that educators face on a regular basis.
Many organizations are moving their training programs online to take advantage of the affordability and convenience that online learning provides. Learning designers are needed within public, private, and nonprofit organizations to ensure that these online training programs are effective.
Studying and engaging online in a collaborative virtual classroom helps prepare students to communicate effectively online, explore digital strategies, and evaluate and design media and technologies to support online learning. Students also develop a portfolio of work showcasing their job-ready skills.
The online courses are taught by our faculty of highly successful and experienced scholar-practitioners who are leaders in their fields. The curriculum is continually updated and designed with input from leading employers and educators.
Courses are structured to provide greater flexibility for students to move through the program at a speed that is right for them. Some students may choose to accelerate, and the format allows them to schedule multiple courses during a term.
Overall, the program is designed to be “radically practical,” that is, students will leave the program with job-transferrable skills in the field.
UMGC also offers a graduate certificate in LDT. Who should consider the certificate program and how would they benefit?
For people who are interested in the field but not sure they want to commit to a full degree program, the LDT certificate is a great way to get a taste of what the field is like. It’s also recommended for people who are interested in learning the foundations of course development and have a limited amount of time. Credits earned in the certificate program can be applied to the degree.
How can this program help students prepare for careers in workforce development/upskilling?
Often, people associate the field of learning design with developing courses for K-12 or higher education, and there are certainly many learning designers in these fields. But learning designers are needed in nearly all disciplines and industries to help train, retrain, and/or upskill workers. UMGC’s online program in LDT is created to help students develop their skills in several areas of study, including instructional design, multimedia production, learning analytics, and instructional technology—skills that are very much in demand in today’s workplace.
Reference on this webpage to any third-party entity or product does not constitute or imply endorsement by UMGC nor does it constitute or imply endorsement of UMGC by the third party.
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