Instructional Design Technology (M.Ed.)

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Instructional Design Technology students focus on creativity and innovation; critical thinking and problem solving; and communications and collaboration skills.

Instructional Design Technology students will learn to assess, problem solve, and design pedagogy for more effective learning.

After completion of the program by addressing the needs of digital native learners and digital immigrant teachers, students may enter corporate training, instruction design, higher education-instructional technology, teaching, learning technologies, support distance education, Edu-business or use greater technology integration within any instructional setting.

ESU Today. Instructional Technology Educator Tomorrow.

/digital_media_technologies/images/Diana-Allison_profile.png Diana Allison M'20
Instructional Design Technology Major

Diana Allison ’03 M’06 M’20 says “I am proud to say I am a Warrior, and I encourage others to become one too!” – and as a three-time graduate of East Stroudsburg University, she has the credentials to back it up.

Allison, a secondary instructional technology coach for the East Stroudsburg School District, earned her undergraduate degree from ESU in English Literature, then pursued her M.Ed. in English (Secondary) and later completed her second M.Ed. in Instructional Technology in May 2020.

As a first-generation college student, let alone the first in her family to earn several college degrees, Allison enrolled at ESU with the support of her family, which moved to East Stroudsburg from Brooklyn, N.Y. when she was in fifth grade. She comes from a hard-working, Italian family whose roots go back to immigrating to the United States in the early 1900s and to which she credits the family’s values and work ethic for her academic and professional successes. “Over the many years I have spent as an ESU student, there were so many supportive professors with whom I made a connection,” Allison said. “It is with gratitude that I connect my successes with professors both past and present. At ESU, I have always felt important and that my education was prioritized.” Prior to her current position as secondary instructional technology coach, she taught English at JT Lambert Intermediate School from 2005 through 2016 at the seventh and eighth grade levels. Allison has always had a passion for teaching, and as an instructional technology coach, she has the opportunity to share her expertise with many students as well as her colleagues district-wide.

All About Instructional Design Technology at ESU

Why ESU?
What do students learn to do?
Career Opportunities
Internships and Research Opportunities

4-Year Curriculum Plan (??? link)Courses and Requirements All Graduate Programs

100%

distance learning via LMS and video conferencing

What do students learn to do?

In the ESU master's program, students will become proficient in applying theory and instructional design to address the pedagogical needs that will help them confidently implement technology.

Admissions Requirements

For M.Ed. degree

Two letters of recommendation
Portfolio or interview (Interview is granted after the application is received)
For full admission a minimum overall undergraduate 3.0 QPA
Rolling deadline

For certification

Contact the graduate coordinator for additional admission information to comply with Pennsylvania Department of Education requirements.
Minimum overall undergraduate QPA 3.0 (Pennsylvania Act 354)
If not 3.0 QPA, then completion of nine credits of Instructional Design Technology courses with prior written approval of graduate coordinator faculty adviser
Two letters of recommendation
Rolling deadline

ESU Today. Instructional Technology Educator Tomorrow.

/digital_media_technologies/images/stefanie-stricker_profile.jpg Stefanie Stricker M'19
Instructional Design Technology Major

Stefanie Stricker M’07 M’19 holds two graduate degrees from East Stroudsburg University – her M.Ed. in Reading, followed by a second M.Ed. in Instructional Technology – so she is uniquely qualified to talk to the caliber of ESU’s programs as she advances in her career in education.

Stricker has both in-classroom and online learning experience, most recently as a K-5 Cyber Instructional Success Coach with the East Stroudsburg Area Cyber Academy, through the East Stroudsburg Area School District. She began her career in the district after being hired as a second-grade teacher in 2004.

She quickly enrolled in ESU’s master’s program in reading and earned her Reading Specialist Certification, which she says “has helped me immensely, and I have used every single day in the classroom,” in teaching second, fourth and fifth grades for 15 years.

She started her second master’s program at ESU in 2015 in instructional technology, and earned her degree in 2019. “This was another great experience – I loved this program!,” said Stricker, who is a first-generation American and was the first in her family to go to college. As a graduate of one of ESU’s sister institutions in Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education, she said “I loved the experience that these schools offered. I chose it because it was what I could afford, and I ended up being so grateful for the education that I have received.” Immediately after gaining her instructional technology degree, she had the confidence to apply for a cyber school position and was able to talk about her program experience in her interviews. She was in this position when the COVID-19 pandemic began and has built and led an elementary cyber program during this challenging time. “My internship during my master’s program (in ESU’s field placement office with Dr. Brooke Langan and Dr. Kathy Post) gave me the confidence I needed to build my capacity as a teacher leader,” Stricker said. “That was a turning point in my career. The leadership skills I learned have helped me tremendously as a teacher-leader in cyber.” She also mentioned the importance of her Research 1 and 2 classes with Dr. Carol Walker, realizing how much she loved quantitative research, and conducting and presenting her research. Stricker also worked with the National Writing Project at ESU, and with the National Park Service to develop a “Science Sunday” program which got kids out to their local parks on the weekends. “Collaboration between ESU and ESASD has always been a priority for me,” she said. “Working in a school district with a university in the same town is such a huge benefit for our students!” Both degrees from ESU have helped shape Stricker into the teacher that she is today. She will be returning to the classroom this winter to teach middle school reading, and is excited to be using all that she has learned in both programs.

Immediately after gaining her instructional technology degree, she had the confidence to apply for a cyber school position and was able to talk about her program experience in her interviews. She was in this position when the COVID-19 pandemic began and has built and led an elementary cyber program during this challenging time.

“My internship during my master’s program (in ESU’s field placement office with Dr. Brooke Langan and Dr. Kathy Post) gave me the confidence I needed to build my capacity as a teacher leader,” Stricker said. “That was a turning point in my career. The leadership skills I learned have helped me tremendously as a teacher-leader in cyber.”

She also mentioned the importance of her Research 1 and 2 classes with Dr. Carol Walker, realizing how much she loved quantitative research, and conducting and presenting her research.

Stricker also worked with the National Writing Project at ESU, and with the National Park Service to develop a “Science Sunday” program which got kids out to their local parks on the weekends. “Collaboration between ESU and ESASD has always been a priority for me,” she said. “Working in a school district with a university in the same town is such a huge benefit for our students!”

Both degrees from ESU have helped shape Stricker into the teacher that she is today. She will be returning to the classroom this winter to teach middle school reading, and is excited to be using all that she has learned in both programs.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of this program build successful careers in a variety of instructional, corporate, and educational settings, including Instructional Designer, Instruction Technology Specialist, Instructional Design Technology Specialist, Educational Technology Specialist, Digital Technology Specialist.

Internships and Research Opportunities

Toward the end of the program, students will do a three-credit internship. The students will support instruction, either online or onsite. Students will complete the research and internship course after having successfully completed most of the course work. The internship is a key building block for a career to meet your professional goals.

Students will engage in action research design, creating learning opportunities that requires the application of research techniques to improve resources for learning and productivity in a technology enhanced environment. Using research-based instructional theories and extant data, students create a proactive research action plan implement their action research design in order to make positive change in a learning environment. While doing systematic research, students learn to create an observation tool, analyze the limitations of a study, or do data analysis to interpret the data.

Internships

The Instructional Design Technology graduate internship is a culminating experience that extends the knowledge base and customizes the learning experience beyond the academic setting.

The internship counts as 3 credits.
This represents part of the 33 credits for the degree, or 24 credits for certification.
Internship candidates will complete the degree coursework and the portfolio.
Review Graduate Internship Guidelines

Internships

The Instructional Design Technology graduate internship is a culminating experience that extends the knowledge base and customizes the learning experience beyond the academic setting.

The internship counts as 3 credits.
This represents part of the 33 credits for the degree, or 24 credits for certification.
Internship candidates will complete the degree coursework and the portfolio.
Review Graduate Internship Guidelines

Learn more about ESU and the Instructional Design Technology major.

Professional Licensure Disclosures and Distance Learning State Authorization: Applicants who are applying to programs that may lead to licensure in states other than Pennsylvania must be aware of the various state professional licensure requirements. Please see ESU's professional licensure disclosures, Evaluation of Conduct Record, and check licensure requirements by occupation and state at CareerOneStop.

For information regarding the Instructional Design Technology M.Ed. please contact the graduate coordinator: Dr. Carol Walker

Contact Information

Campus Address: Rosenkrans Hall
Phone:: (570) 422-3763
Fax:: (570) 422-3876 (Fax)

Title of Department Leader: Graduate Coordinator
Name: Dr. Carol Walker
E:: cwalker@esu.edu
Phone:: (570) 422-3646

Instructional Design Technology (M.Ed.)

All About Instructional Design Technology at ESU

What do students learn to do?

Career Opportunities

Internships and Research Opportunities

Learn more about ESU and the Instructional Design Technology major.

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Contact Information