FAQ

Educational technology is a field of study of human learning and deals with complex, integrated process involving people, procedures, ideas, devices and strategies for analyzing problems and devising solutions to those problems. It is technology because it is concerned with a "systematic application of scientific and other knowledge to practical tasks"; it is qualified as educational because the practical tasks are within the context of all levels of education.

The field is officially defined as ... the theory and practice of design, development, utilization, management, and evaluation of processes and resources for learning.
 
Educational technology has a total commitment to search systematically for new and effective ways of organizing the teaching and learning process; it is not a "bag of mechanical tricks" and must not be thought of as being synonymous with technological devices. It attempts to find ways of organizing, designing, implementing and evaluating learning systems. The field is fundamentally concerned with the best possible application of technological developments to educational practices, and involves a continuing reconsideration of all elements in the teaching-learning process.
 
The Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT), dedicated to improving instruction through technology since 1923, interprets the term technology as a process, not merely in terms of hardware (such as computers or television or projectors), but in terms of learners and their relationship to the people, events, places, and things through which they learn (AECT 2005). As the leading organization in our field, AECT defines educational technology as the theory and practice of design, development, utilization, management and evaluation of processes and resources for learning.
 
As a field, educational technology emphasizes communication skills and approaches teaching and learning through the judicious use of diverse media. Like all forms of applied technology, it assumes that theoretical knowledge and scientific principles can be applied to problems that arise in a social context. Practitioners in educational technology seek new and effective ways of organizing the teaching and learning process; however, they are not content with a "bag of mechanical tricks. Rather, they explore ways of organizing, designing, implementing and evaluating learning systems. The field is fundamentally concerned with the best possible application of technological developments to educational practices, which requires a continual reconsideration of teaching and learning processes.
 
Ultimately, the study of educational technology prepares an individual for intellectual activities that carry a great personal responsibility. These activities rely upon a body of knowledge rather than routine tasks or isolated technical skills. In addition, the use of technologies available via the World Wide Web compel us to realize that our responsibilities must be commensurate with our reach, which extends well beyond our local settings and carries potential to influence, for better or worse, members of online communities around the world.

What occupations are available for EdTech graduates?
Educational technology prepares individuals to be knowledgeable about learning resources, about the processes for analyzing and devising solutions to those problems through research, theory, design, production, evaluation, utilization, and about the processes involved in organization and personnel management. Such an approach leads to employability in a myriad of situations, so it is not surprising that the positions for which the graduates of our program qualify are listed under different headings, such as educational specialists, instructional designers, educational software developers, training specialists, and of course, classroom and resource teachers. Many of our grads are or become administrators of educational programs, from curriculum directors to technology support or workforce training directors, as a result of their understanding of technology integration.

The primary employers are educational institutions, both public and private, at all levels: K through 12, postsecondary (community colleges and universities). Also government and private agencies like software companies, publishing companies, and companies and agencies with training and design departments, such as health care, manufacturing industries and large retail corporations.
 
San Diego State University has an excellent web site that talks about the kinds of jobs found by ed tech grads, calling it "the best career you never heard of"!.

Is a Bachelor's Degree in Education needed to enter the program?

No, but some experience in teaching or training is useful. What is important is the applicant's understanding of and commitment to the field of educational technology.

What undergraduate degree is needed or preferred by the program?

A bachelor's degree in any field is acceptable, as long as it has been earned at an accredited institution; the GPA (Grade Point Average) of 3.0 on a 4-point scale is necessary to consider the applicant for regular status admission. Majors in Journalism, History, Political Science, and Nursing, among others, have successfully graduated from the program
 
Some programs require completion of one or two prerequisites before an applicant may be admitted. Does this program have any such pre-requisites?

No, the ETEC Master programs do not have a formal prerequisite. We want our applicants to be reasonably well experienced with computers and media before taking the first program course. ETEC deals with the knowledge and skills often designated by the general term "media," and includes a diversity of channels and materials used in the context of instruction. Since the ETEC program is not essentially a curriculum to teach basic computer skills, it is assumed that applicants enter with this ability. Students lacking such a background may find it useful to complete one of the ETEC 400 level courses before admission or in their first semester in the program.

If the GPA is below 3.0, or is not at all available, how is the application evaluated?

The Graduate Division, which evaluates applicants' meeting the overall university graduate admission criteria, recommends resubmission of the application after at least 12 credits of graduate courses are earned with a B or better average. These courses cannot be in the field of study to which the applicant is seeking admission.
 
If the applicant's GPA is not available (as is the case when the degree had been granted by an institution whose grading practice does not generate GPAs), the university will require that GRE be taken; the departmental criterion of scores at least the 50th percentile rank in each of the three parts of the GRE will be applied
 
Does the applicant with the minimum 3.0 GPA need to take the Graduate Record Examination?

Not if the GPAs from previously attended institutions are available; as additional information about the applicant, good scores (indicating at least 50th percentile standing on each of the three parts of the examination: verbal, quantitative, and analytical) will be viewed favorably by the admission committee

Are other tests required before being considered for admission?

Yes, but that requirement applies only to students from foreign countries where English is not the main language. Those students need to submit TOEFL (Test of English as a Second Language) scores; the composite score of 650 (representing about the 87th percentile rank) is expected, though a lower score may be accepted if other criteria are exceeded.
 
What is the ratio of admissions to applications?

With the stringent requirements that are in place, the number of serious applicants is approximately 15-20 percent of the total number of inquiries about the program. From among that number of formal applicants, the program accepts roughly between 50 and 60 percent.

How long does it typically take for a student to complete the program?

The minimum time is two academic years of full-time study, which would mean three courses in each fall and spring semester in two years. Typically, these days most students are working adults who find it difficult to maintain a full-time course schedule. Most students complete the program in three years but some take longer depending on the number of courses taken per semester. Remember that in addition to class time, graduate courses require a significant commitment to reading and other course work beyond the hours in the classroom

Can a part-time student accomplish all the requirements by attending just the Summer Sessions?

No, required courses are only offered in the fall and winter semesters, and must be completed in sequence. Many students complete electives during summer sessions. In the first year, students must take two required courses in each of their first fall and winter semesters

Are there educational technology courses offered on the Internet, thus eliminating the problem of regular attendance on campus?

The Online Master's in Educational Technology (OTEC) program is offered almost entirely online through the Internet. The program requires three weekend sessions in the first semester on campus. In addition, many electives are offered entirely online with some available every semester including summers. The on-campus ETEC Master's can only be completed by attending face-to-face sessions on the Manoa campus

Are campus-based courses offered late afternoons, evenings, and/or weekends?

All required graduate-level courses (600-level and above) are offered on a once-a-week basis at 4:30 to 7 p.m. during the regular semesters; summer session offerings of graduate courses are on a M-F schedule for 3 weeks, though not necessarily in the late afternoon
All scheduling must consider the availability of appropriate facilities and resources. At present, there are no weekend-only offerings of Ed Tech courses

Are all courses for a grade A-F, or are some on Pass or Fail basis?

At the University of Hawaii, graduate courses, in order to be applicable to a degree program, require A-F grading, unless they have been approved as mandatory C/NC (credit/no credit) courses. (Pass/Fail designation had been changed to C/NC basis years ago.)

Is the coursework for a degree all pre-set, or can the program be individualized?

All students must first take the eight required courses. Electives are what the name implies, restricted only by the time they are offered; each student will be selecting four electives. At least two of these must be 600-level or above completed after the first semester in the program. Students are encouraged to select courses in an interest area, such as distance education, K-12 classroom teaching, adult education and professional development, or technology support.

May assignments be submitted via e-mail or fax?

This will depend on the instructor's instructions, and definitely on the type of assignment. Some work that requires special formatting may not transmit dependably in its original format by either fax or e-mail; even when sent as e-mail attachments. Many ETEC courses use the WebCT course management system and often assignments must be submitted by uploading digital documents to the course DropBox

What is the policy on transferring course credits to the UH program?

Generally, only 6 credits of courses with A or B grade are transferable, but it depends on the type and content of the courses. In order to be considered, the courses must be completed by the time student intends to enter the UH ETEC program, and their completion and grade documented by official transcript(s). Courses counted towards a previous degree may not be counted. In order to be transferred, a course must fit logically into the ETEC degree program

Do you accept online coursework done for other institutions as credit transfer?

Though the ultimate approval is lodged in the Graduate Division, the departmental program bases its recommendation on the same criteria as indicated in the item 17 above
Is there an organization of ETEC students, and how can it be reached?

Yes, there is an active organization called ETEC HUI, and its officers may be reached by e-mail at etec-hui@hawaii.edu. It is an officially recognized organization. Inquiries by prospective applicants are welcome by ETEC HUI members.
 
Is the use of departmental equipment available to students?

Equipment may be borrowed from the College of Education's Curriculum Resource Center which maintains a drop-in computer lab. Several computer labs, outside our Department's purview, are available to students while on campus. Coin-operated copy machines are available in the libraries (one is just across the street from the department).
 
The program expects all students to have their own computers with necessary peripherals, and appropriate software to accomplish the required work.

Does a student need special equipment?

As a technology oriented program, it is important for students to have excellent access to and familiarity with computers and networking. Technology is used in every ETEC graduate class, even those oriented more towards theory and research. To meet this requirement, students are expected to have a laptop computer to bring to classes as well as reliable Internet access for completing homework assignments
 
Laptops should generally meet the College of Education specifications, including wireless Internet capability but a Windows platform is not required. Software needed includes the Microsoft Office suite and Macromedia Dreamweaver. Some courses may require purchase of additional software or use of freely available applications. Broadband Internet access outside of classes is highly recommended as some courses use video and other applications requiring more intensive bandwidth.
 
UHM has many educational discounts and site licensing programs that reduce the costs for hardware and software. Information on these may be found through the Information Technology Services and UHM Bookstore web sites. Many vendors also offer student discounts through their online web sites.

Do you have lockers for students?

Unfortunately, with space being at a premium, we do not have lockers or other storage space for students. The department, however, maintains open mailboxes for every major, where students can find materials and messages from their instructors, from the office, or from other majors. Students are expected to check the mailboxes at least on a weekly basis

Is free e-mail available to students?

Yes, the University provides that service to all its enrolled students without additional costs. Use of UH e-mail is mandatory in this program, and only the name@hawaii.edu style of e-mail address is used in departmental communications. Students may have other e-mail services for personal correspondence. The same policy applies to faculty and staff. E-mail addresses are made available to all majors, but not revealed for any non-departmental use. The University also provides limited space for personal web pages

How much will it cost to complete the ETEC master's program?

Tuition and fees are set by the University and may increase over time. You can get information on the cost per credit from the Graduate Studies web page for the online program and Outreach College for OTEC

Are there any scholarships, assistantships, or other financial aid available?

There are multiple finacial aid options for graduate students at UHM. Some are direct grants to students such as scholarships, tuition waivers and similar awards. In addition, graduate teaching or research assistantships are awarded for specific work to be performed by the recipient
 
To find out more about aid for graduate students, see the Graduate Studies information on financial assistance
 
The College of Education offers some scholarships and assistance programs. A number of graduate assistantships are offered through the College of Education Technology and Distance Programs, and a number of our students have held (and still hold) these positions. In some cases, advanced graduate students have the opportunity to serve as adjunct faculty for undergraduate courses.
 
Tuition waivers are state-funded grants, of which the department has been allotted one in each of the last few years. The Educational Technology awards of tuition waivers are based primarily on academic merit, so only continuing students are eligible. This is a highly competitive funding source. Current students are notified by email of application procedures each year.

A graduate planning to go for a doctorate would want to know: what is this program's academic reputation?
Very good; but that is the faculty speaking. While some fields are ranked by their professional organizations, there is no ranking of programs in the field of educational technology. We can offer as evidence of the program's reputation what our graduates who pursued doctoral program on the mainland have told us: they considered their preparation through our program's Master's degree to be better and more comprehensive than of many if not most of their new doctoral classmates from other institutions, as well as comments we have heard from faculty at other institutions who have had our Master's students in their doctoral programs. ETEC Master's students have been successful in being admitted to highly competitive doctoral programs.
 
The Educational Technology program at the University of Hawai'i is since October 2001 nationally accredited. Accreditation is from the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) in association with the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
 
Will I be assigned to an advisor when I am admitted to the program?
The Department Chairperson serves as an interim advisor to all students until they are advanced to candidacy and their proposed final project is approved. At that point, project advisors are appointed to help the students to carry out the project, and to stay on course toward program completion. All entering students are requested to meet with the Chair to plan an appropriate program of study
 
Where can I find more about this program?
For detailed description of the program, admission requirements and procedures, and to initiate an application for admission, click on etec.hawaii.edu. Our website contains links to the application forms. To find out what currently enrolled students and recent graduates think about the program, send a request to etec-hui@hawaii.edu. If you wish to talk to the department spokesperson, send an e-mail to ETEC-dept@hawaii.edu, or call (808) 956-7671.

I understand it is difficult to find parking on campus; does a graduate student have a chance to get a parking permit?

It is true that parking is very limited on campus, especially during the day. It gets a little better after 4 p.m. (and that is when ETEC graduate courses are offered), but unless you obtain an "evening parking permit" ($18 a month, renewable), or pay a daily fee of $3 to park in the parking structure or the visitors' parking zones (Zone 14 next to Sinclair Library, or Zone 10 next to Kennedy Theatre), you may need to hunt for a spot in the vicinity.
 
Alongside Metcalf Street are metered stalls, but be forewarned: the City "meter maids" check those places quite frequently. The Parking Zone 1 next to Wist Hall is off-limits without a permit, and there, too, the checks are frequent and violations can be costly. Note that if you drive, you need to allow enough time to find often limited parking and still arrive at your class on time.
 
For an evening parking permit, you will need valid driver's license, valid car registration, valid no-fault insurance card, and valid safety check.
Some students (and some faculty) rely on the city bus system, which serves the campus with Routes A, 4, 6, and 18

What about housing on- or off-campus?

The University of Hawaii has been functioning as a commuter college, not as a residential campus. The advice is to consult the following web sites: http://www.housing.hawaii.edu/ for housing on campus, and http://www.housing.hawaii.edu/och for off-campus housing.