Master of Arts in Technology Education
Department of Technology
Ball State University

Mission Statement

The mission of the Master of Arts in Technology Education program is to prepare graduates who possess theoretical and practical understanding of technological content, pedagogy, and research to effectively implement and improve Technology Education.

Graduate Study

Graduate study is demanding and rewarding. While self-directed, it often requires meaningful interaction among students and instructors. It is considered specialized education, which requires depth and intensity of study at a high level of academic and intellectual performance. Such rigor demands that students demonstrate empirical validation in analysis and synthesis of technological content, pedagogical issues and research.

Goals

The program requires students to critically analyze, discuss and synthesize contemporary and historical theoretical and research literature related to the goals of each course. Graduate students will:

1. engage in systematic study and critical dialog on issues and opportunities related to the technological world;

2. identify and evaluate technological content;

3. critically reflect upon and evaluate educational practice in light of theoretical and empirical evidence;

4. produce well-formulated original propositions, and defend those propositions based upon historical and philosophical perspectives, reviews of academic literature, empirical evidence, and logical reasoning;

5. develop skill in designing, conducting, and applying educational research that leads to understanding, critical judgment, and practice;

6. enhance teaching effectiveness;

7. commit to the idea that ethical standards be satisfied in coursework, research, and instruction;

8. develop a foundation for making significant and independent contributions to the profession.

Methods of Teaching and Learning

The graduate program requires extensive use of learning resources, often including library resources, laboratories, computer facilities and online resources. Typical students in a 15-week course should expect to dedicate 9 to 12 hours per week on coursework. Students must be effective managers of their time and must log on to the course often, usually daily. Variations from this could occur for many reasons, especially where students may require more or less assistance in writing and proofreading.

Graduate course work focuses on advanced disciplinary content, usually as an extension of disciplinary content presented at the undergraduate level. When graduate work serves an introductory function, it typically introduces disciplinary content that is not offered at the undergraduate level but that is dependent upon understandings acquired at the undergraduate level. However, introductory graduate course work may also be an accelerated way to create a basic background for an individual with an undergraduate degree in another field or who lacks background from undergraduate preparation.