Learning Design & Technology FAQs

Graduates of Loyola’s M.Ed. program have gone on to become:

• National Board Certified Teachers
• Technology Facilitators and Coordinators
• Personnel at Ed Tech Start Ups
• Instructional Designers (both within and outside of education)
• Online preK-12 Teachers
• STEM Teachers and Coordinators
• Professional Learning Leaders and Liaisons
• Curriculum Developers
• Video Producers
• Learning Coaches

The M.Ed. in Learning Design & Technology builds critical competencies related to designing effective learning in face-to-face, hybrid, and online environments, selecting and implementing appropriate technologies, preparing learners to effectively use technology, and effectively leading colleagues in the advancement of educational technologies. If instructional design, leadership skills, and using technology to foster learner engagement and success are important to you, this degree may be right for you.

You will find success in our Learning Design & Technology program if you have an interest in some or all of the following areas:

• Analyzing the needs of learners and stakeholders to determine goals and objectives of instruction

• Familiarity with various learning theories (e.g., behaviorism, constructivism, cognitivism) to inform instructional strategies and approaches

• Applications of traditional and emerging technologies

• Designing multimedia products

• Exploring models of change to promote technology integration

• Innovations in today’s learning environments

• Harnessing the power of digital media in our interconnected world

• Developing technology-rich learning environments that are socially just and equitable

• Understanding the unique characteristics of adult learners and incorporating principles that facilitate adult learning

No. Our online M.Ed. program is developed for currently working professionals in any field. You are not required to be a certified teacher, though it is expected that you have some knowledge about the teaching and learning process. You will encounter some coursework that is geared towards application into your own professional learning environment.

You will earn 36 credits including a 3-credit culminating internship.

You can view the full list of required courses on our degree requirements page.

Graduate students enrolled in the Learning Design & Technology program typically complete the 12-course program in two years plus one semester. Courses are convenient for full-time work schedules.

A cohort is a group of students who work together in an academic program. Research states that having students take the same classes together lead to an overall better academic outcome.

A non-cohort has the flexibility to work at their own pace taking one or more classes. Non-cohort students do not qualify for the 15% tuition discount. However, we do have other scholarships and awards for you to explore as an traditional student.

Online courses allow you to complete your coursework anywhere and at any time of day. Despite this flexibility, online learners don't set the pace for their studies. Courses in the Learning Design & Technology Program have start and end dates, and instructors set the pace by requiring specific deadlines for all coursework. It is very important to keep up with due dates and participate actively in your course.

With the flexibility of when and where you complete the coursework comes even more responsibility. There are some key steps you must take to be successful in an online course, including creating the structure and organization provided by a traditional classroom and holding yourself accountable for your work and studies.

Here are a few tips to help you on your way to becoming a successful online learner:

• Know the Expectations: Academic outcomes in online courses are proven to be comparable, if not greater, than those in traditional face-to-face classrooms. While many assume online courses are easier, this is not the case. Our online courses in the Learning Design & Technology program are divided into eight-week classes. They require the same amount of rigor and work as a traditional in-person class. You can expect 10+ hours of work per week.
• Establish a Workspace: One of the most important aspects of online classes online is finding or creating a space that is helpful and functional for you to work in. Whether it’s working from a desk at home or packing up your laptop and heading to the library, a quiet space with a good internet connection is ideal for your brain to be able to connect studying and school with whatever space you choose.
• Familiarize Yourself with Available Resources: As soon as you get that introductory email from your professor, read the syllabus! It will likely have all the information, websites, due dates, etc. that you need to be successful in the class. Bookmark the course homepage and once the course is available, spend some time just navigating your way through the class and making sure you can figure out what you need to know and do. Also, remember that you have access to all of the support and resources at Loyola University, including the LNDL Library and the Writing Center.
• Manage your Time Wisely: You will find that your time management skills will be critical in an online class. This is because it's very easy to spend either far too little time, or far too much time on the class. Set designated blocks of time to work on the class. This will help you stay up with the assignments and with the interaction required in online classes. Just because nobody is reminding you of due dates and when to complete your assignments doesn’t mean you don’t need to be working. You have to take charge of your own schedule.
• Ask for Help If You Need It: Just because you can’t always see your professor in person, doesn’t mean they don’t want to help you. If you need help, just ask for it! You’re one simple email or phone call away from getting the answers you need to complete an assignment or pass an assessment. In all of the online courses you will take at Loyola, there will be a “help” discussion forum where learners have the opportunity to ask (and answer) questions along with the instructor.
• Keep Track of All of the Work You Complete: This is essential for staying organized in an online class. Keep track of all large assignments that you complete and keep them organized using a system that works for you (though cloud-based storage is recommended). One trick for completing discussion forum posts is to first write your responses using a different program (ie. MS Word or Google Docs) such that if for whatever reason you experience a technology issue, either with the class platform or your own internet connection, you have a copy of your work.

Adapted from Illinois Online and Southern Oregon University.

Prospective and new students in the program often wonder how they will get to know their peers and instructors when most of the coursework is completed on their own time. This amazing flexibility is what makes online learning so appealing to professional educators and it is also one of the reasons many students select our program. Many online graduate programs are completely asynchronous - meaning that students set their own schedules to work independently through self-paced course activities. While the majority of coursework in Loyola’s M.Ed. in Learning Design & Technology program will be completed asynchronously and facilitated in our learning management system, our program also incorporates regular opportunities to interact in real time with fellow classmates and faculty.

For the majority of courses in the program, faculty incorporate synchronous online class meetings - essentially an online version of a live, face-to-face class. Students can expect to attend these synchronous sessions a few times each semester. During these sessions, all participants will log into Loyola’s video conferencing platform at the same time and meet face-to-face using the webcams, microphones, and speakers built into their device or smartphone. This interaction helps all of us to feel more connected and eliminates the isolation of the online classroom. No matter where our students are geographically located, the intentional focus on social interaction, collaboration, and the development of a professional learning community is at the heart of Loyola’s online M.Ed. program.

You will explore free resources and platforms throughout your time in the program and you are not required to purchase additional software programs. Several courses do require the purchase of textbook(s). We strive to use as many open education resources as possible and most of the required texts are also available through the Loyola Notre Dame Library or possibly your local library.

Because tools and resources are constantly changing and new ones are regularly being introduced, we focus more on the processes than any given set of tools. By processes, we mean the ways of using technology effectively and appropriately in your professional environment and how to integrate it in ways that elevate learning and engagement. Once you understand the how and why, you can explore the tools and resources that put these processes into action. For example, you will learn about many different tools and web resources that can be used for digital assessments and you will have the chance to explore and learn new tools after you understand the what, how, and why of their integration into the learning environment.

Visit our admission requirements/apply page to learn more about the admission process and how to apply.