7/24/20123:35 AM

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The university has developed strategic curriculum to facilitate the development of the technology skills necessary for online teachers in order to better prepare students for teaching careers in the changing landscape of K-12 schools and higher education.

Todays teacher must be proficient in using the current tools of technology in order to engage students, whether they teach in an online format, hybrid or brick and mortar school, said Dr. Lawrence Kushner, director of graduate programs in education and assistant professor in the M.Ed. Program.

Research indicates phenomenal growth in student enrollment in both online schools and individual online courses. According to the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL), there were an estimated 1,816,400 enrollments in distance-education courses in K-12 school districts in 2009 and 2010, almost all of which were online courses. This estimate does not include students enrolled in most full-time online schools, which included approximately 200,000 students in 2009 and 2010 and 250,000 students in 2010 and 2011. A decade ago, it was estimated that there were between 40,000 and 50,000 enrollments in K-12 online education.

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Curriculum designed for this program includes proven teaching methods for engaging students, the use of current technology and the introduction of new teaching practices, such as flipping the classroom.

The 15-credit concentration requires the completion of five specialized courses that will effectively prepare students for related and applicable careers.

These courses include contemporary issues in technology; integrating technology with teaching and learning; introduction to educational technologies; introduction to multimedia; and online course design and instructional strategies.

Students interested in the Online Teaching Concentration will be able to begin courses at the universitys Southpointe, Seven Fields or Monroeville campuses during the fall I session offered Aug. 27 through Oct. 20. The M.Ed. program can be completed in two years or less. Courses are offered in eight-week accelerated sessions with year-round admission dates and meet one night per week, from 6 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

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University to offer online teaching focus