The Master of Arts in Learning and Emerging Technologies (30 or 36-credit program options) is designed for individuals from a variety of backgrounds, comprising a community engaged in exploring and researching the learning process, specifically with emerging online technologies. This program is appropriate for community college faculty, instructional designers, trainers in corporate and nonprofit organizations, K-12 teachers, artists and international educators, among others. For a student, being part of this community of practice is to model the types of interactions and creative, problem-based activities made possible by using a range of technology tools for learning. The program’s overall goal is to come to a better collective understanding of how we can meet learning outcomes using various new, digital technologies. These emerging technologies include tools that extend online learning experiences beyond a single learning management system into a matrix of tools that can make up personal and networked learning environments. These tools include, but are not limited to, means of networking and communication (social networking sites, text chat rooms, blogs); interacting in immersive environments (SecondLife/Kitely); engaging in simulations and games; sharing sources by bookmarking (digg, de.li.cious); consolidating images, audio and video content (flickr, podcasting, YouTube); and collaborating on projects (wikis, Google sites). Faculty members and students will engage in authentic learning activities that incorporate emerging technologies, while at the same time basing their research on sound pedagogy, practice and research methods that inform this expanding, interdisciplinary field.

Program Delivery

While most of this program is delivered online asynchronously, some courses may have a small number of synchronous (same-time) supplemental learning opportunities via webinars or virtual environments to help promote student community. Instructors will make an effort to schedule these activities at times that work for their students. In addition, due to the nature of some courses, students may be required to access or acquire additional software and/or hardware for some course activities. Students will be notified of additional requirements in a course’s full syllabus.

Admission to the M.A. in Learning and Emerging Technologies is selective. This program begins new students in the fall and spring terms only. In addition to completing the graduate application, acceptable candidates should have evidence of research literacy skills, such that the student has competence in reading, interpreting and using various data. Students also submit an example of digital work.

Application

Please see the Graduate Admissions pages of this catalog for a complete listing of materials required to complete a graduate application.

The MA in Learning and Emerging Technologies offers 6 concentrations including an individualized concentration. The required courses of the 6 concentrations and the suggested enrollment sequences of each are located below the Program Curriculum outline. The exact enrollment sequence should be planned between the student and the advisor as part of degree planning.

Program Curriculum

The MA in Learning and Emerging Technologies program offers a professional-focused curriculum for 30 credits or a research-focused curriculum for 36 credits. All concentrations of this degree follow the curriculum outlined below. Regardless of the concentration chosen, all students will be required to take five core courses (15 credits) and four courses in their area of concentration (12 credits). Depending on whether they choose the Professional Focus final project (3 credits) or the Research Focus final project (9 credits), students will also be required to take either one or 3 capstone courses.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
CORE COURSES (5)		15
EDET 6005	Learning with Emerging Technologies: Theory & Practice	3
EDET 6010	Media Literacies in Emerging Technologies	3
EDET 6015	Instructional Design for Online Learning Environments	3
EDET 6020	Issues and Ethics in the Digital Age	3
EDET 6025	Assessing Learning in Digital Environments	3
CONCENTRATION COURSES (4)		12
CAPSTONE COURSES (1 or 3)		3-9
Professional Focus (1 course)
EDET 7020	Capstone Project: Professional Focus	3
OR Research Focus (3 courses)
EDET 6030	Advanced Design Seminar: Portfolio Project	3
EDET 7015	Proposal Seminar: Research Project	3
EDET 7025	Capstone Project: Research Focus	3

The typical enrollment sequence for 6 credits a term (part-time schedule) is as follows for fall term start. Students and advisors adjust for lower or greater enrollment based on availability and the term in which they begin their studies. The summer term offers both 15-week and 6-week course lengths. It also is important to note that students using financial aid must enroll in at least 5 credits per term. Suggested Enrollment Sequences for each concentration can be found at the navigation links below:

INDIVIDUALIZED

Students who choose the individualized concentration may choose from a variety of electives in a special area of interest to fulfill the 4 concentration courses required of the degree.

Professional Focus Enrollment Sequence (30 credits)

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Fall		Credits
EDET 6005	Learning with Emerging Technologies: Theory & Practice	3
EDET 6010	Media Literacies in Emerging Technologies	3
	Credits	6
Spring
EDET 6015	Instructional Design for Online Learning Environments	3
EDET 6020	Issues and Ethics in the Digital Age	3
	Credits	6
Summer
EDET 6025	Assessing Learning in Digital Environments	3
Elective		3
	Credits	6
Second Year
Fall
Elective		3
Elective		3
	Credits	6
Spring
Elective		3
EDET 7020	Capstone Project: Professional Focus	3
	Credits	6
	Total Credits	30

Research Focus Enrollment Sequence (36 credits)

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Fall		Credits
EDET 6005	Learning with Emerging Technologies: Theory & Practice	3
EDET 6010	Media Literacies in Emerging Technologies	3
	Credits	6
Spring
EDET 6015	Instructional Design for Online Learning Environments	3
EDET 6020	Issues and Ethics in the Digital Age	3
	Credits	6
Summer
Elective		3
EDET 6025	Assessing Learning in Digital Environments	3
	Credits	6
Second Year
Fall
Elective		3
EDET 6030	Advanced Design Seminar: Portfolio Project	3
	Credits	6
Spring
EDET 7015	Proposal Seminar: Research Project	3
Elective		3
	Credits	6
Summer
EDET 7025	Capstone Project: Research Focus	3
Elective		3
	Credits	6
	Total Credits	36

INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN

Professional Focus Enrollment Sequence (30 credits)

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Fall		Credits
EDET 6005	Learning with Emerging Technologies: Theory & Practice	3
EDET 6010	Media Literacies in Emerging Technologies	3
	Credits	6
Spring
EDET 6015	Instructional Design for Online Learning Environments	3
EDET 6020	Issues and Ethics in the Digital Age	3
	Credits	6
Summer
EDET 6025	Assessing Learning in Digital Environments	3
EDET 6075	Assistive Technologies & Learning	3
	Credits	6
Second Year
Fall
EDET 6035	Advanced Instructional Design	3
EDET 6135	Practicum in Learning & Emerging Technology	3
	Credits	6
Spring
MGMT 6115	Tools & Processes in Project Management	3
EDET 7020	Capstone Project: Professional Focus	3
	Credits	6
	Total Credits	30

Research Focus Enrollment Sequence (36 Credits)

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Fall		Credits
EDET 6005	Learning with Emerging Technologies: Theory & Practice	3
EDET 6010	Media Literacies in Emerging Technologies	3
	Credits	6
Spring
EDET 6015	Instructional Design for Online Learning Environments	3
EDET 6020	Issues and Ethics in the Digital Age	3
	Credits	6
Summer
EDET 6025	Assessing Learning in Digital Environments	3
EDET 6075	Assistive Technologies & Learning	3
	Credits	6
Second Year
Fall
EDET 6035	Advanced Instructional Design	3
EDET 6135	Practicum in Learning & Emerging Technology	3
	Credits	6
Spring
EDET 6030	Advanced Design Seminar: Portfolio Project	3
EDET 7015	Proposal Seminar: Research Project	3
	Credits	6
Summer
EDET 7025	Capstone Project: Research Focus	3
MGMT 6115	Tools & Processes in Project Management	3
	Credits	6
	Total Credits	36

STEM EDUCATION AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES

Professional Focus Enrollment Sequence (30 credits)

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Fall		Credits
EDET 6005	Learning with Emerging Technologies: Theory & Practice	3
EDET 6010	Media Literacies in Emerging Technologies	3
	Credits	6
Spring
EDET 6015	Instructional Design for Online Learning Environments	3
EDET 6020	Issues and Ethics in the Digital Age	3
	Credits	6
Summer
EDET 6025	Assessing Learning in Digital Environments	3
EDET 6150	STEM Tools Devices & Simulations	3
	Credits	6
Second Year
Fall
EDET 6045	Digital Games Simulations & Learning	3
EDET 6080	Evaluation Assessment and Data Driven Learning Design	3
	Credits	6
Spring
EDET 6125	Developing an Integrated Immersive STEM Learning Environment	3
EDET 7020	Capstone Project: Professional Focus	3
	Credits	6
	Total Credits	30

Research Focus Enrollment Sequence (36 Credits)

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Fall		Credits
EDET 6005	Learning with Emerging Technologies: Theory & Practice	3
EDET 6010	Media Literacies in Emerging Technologies	3
	Credits	6
Spring
EDET 6015	Instructional Design for Online Learning Environments	3
EDET 6020	Issues and Ethics in the Digital Age	3
	Credits	6
Summer
EDET 6025	Assessing Learning in Digital Environments	3
EDET 6150	STEM Tools Devices & Simulations	3
	Credits	6
Second Year
Fall
EDET 6030	Advanced Design Seminar: Portfolio Project	3
EDET 6045	Digital Games Simulations & Learning	3
	Credits	6
Spring
EDET 6125	Developing an Integrated Immersive STEM Learning Environment	3
EDET 7015	Proposal Seminar: Research Project	3
	Credits	6
Summer
EDET 6080	Evaluation Assessment and Data Driven Learning Design	3
EDET 7025	Capstone Project: Research Focus	3
	Credits	6
	Total Credits	36

TEACHING AND LEARNING WITH EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES

Professional Focus Enrollment Sequence (30 Credits)

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Fall		Credits
EDET 6005	Learning with Emerging Technologies: Theory & Practice	3
EDET 6010	Media Literacies in Emerging Technologies	3
	Credits	6
Spring
EDET 6015	Instructional Design for Online Learning Environments	3
EDET 6020	Issues and Ethics in the Digital Age	3
	Credits	6
Summer
EDET 6025	Assessing Learning in Digital Environments	3
EDET 6140	Socially Networked Learning: Understanding Designing Evaluating	3
	Credits	6
Second Year
Fall
EDET 6075	Assistive Technologies & Learning	3
EDET 6060	Digital Tools for Education & Training	3
	Credits	6
Spring
EDET 6130	Facilitating Learning with Emerging Technologies in Blended & Online Environments	3
EDET 7020	Capstone Project: Professional Focus	3
	Credits	6
	Total Credits	30

Research Focus Enrollment Sequence (36 Credits)

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Fall		Credits
EDET 6005	Learning with Emerging Technologies: Theory & Practice	3
EDET 6010	Media Literacies in Emerging Technologies	3
	Credits	6
Spring
EDET 6015	Instructional Design for Online Learning Environments	3
EDET 6020	Issues and Ethics in the Digital Age	3
	Credits	6
Summer
EDET 6025	Assessing Learning in Digital Environments	3
EDET 6060	Digital Tools for Education & Training	3
	Credits	6
Second Year
Fall
EDET 6030	Advanced Design Seminar: Portfolio Project	3
EDET 6075	Assistive Technologies & Learning	3
	Credits	6
Spring
EDET 6130	Facilitating Learning with Emerging Technologies in Blended & Online Environments	3
EDET 7015	Proposal Seminar: Research Project	3
	Credits	6
Summer
EDET 6140	Socially Networked Learning: Understanding Designing Evaluating	3
EDET 7025	Capstone Project: Research Focus	3
	Credits	6
	Total Credits	36

EMERGING MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY FOR THE ARTS

Professional Focus Enrollment Sequence (30 credits)

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Fall		Credits
EDET 6005	Learning with Emerging Technologies: Theory & Practice	3
EDET 6010	Media Literacies in Emerging Technologies	3
	Credits	6
Spring
EDET 6015	Instructional Design for Online Learning Environments	3
EDET 6020	Issues and Ethics in the Digital Age	3
	Credits	6
Summer
EDET 6025	Assessing Learning in Digital Environments	3
EDET 6055	Digital Media Arts & Technologies	3
	Credits	6
Second Year
Fall
EDET 6065	Emerging Media & the Arts: Theory & Practice	3
Elective		3
	Credits	6
Spring
EDET 6040	Performance Theory	3
EDET 7020	Capstone Project: Professional Focus	3
	Credits	6
	Total Credits	30

Research Focus Enrollment Sequence (36 credits)

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Fall		Credits
EDET 6005	Learning with Emerging Technologies: Theory & Practice	3
EDET 6010	Media Literacies in Emerging Technologies	3
	Credits	6
Spring
EDET 6015	Instructional Design for Online Learning Environments	3
EDET 6020	Issues and Ethics in the Digital Age	3
	Credits	6
Summer
EDET 6025	Assessing Learning in Digital Environments	3
EDET 6065	Emerging Media & the Arts: Theory & Practice	3
	Credits	6
Second Year
Fall
EDET 6030	Advanced Design Seminar: Portfolio Project	3
EDET 6040	Performance Theory	3
	Credits	6
Spring
EDET 6055	Digital Media Arts & Technologies	3
EDET 7015	Proposal Seminar: Research Project	3
	Credits	6
Summer
Elective		3
EDET 7025	Capstone Project: Research Focus	3
	Credits	6
	Total Credits	36

INNOVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES

Professional Focus Enrollment Sequence (30 credits)

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Fall		Credits
EDET 6005	Learning with Emerging Technologies: Theory & Practice	3
EDET 6010	Media Literacies in Emerging Technologies	3
	Credits	6
Spring
EDET 6015	Instructional Design for Online Learning Environments	3
EDET 6020	Issues and Ethics in the Digital Age	3
	Credits	6
	Total Credits	12

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
First Year SUMMER
EDET 6025	Assessing Learning in Digital Environments	3
AND Choose one from the following (3 credits)
EDET 6095	Practicum-Virtual Worlds I: Learn Create Plan	3
OR
EDET 6050	Digital Identity & Virtual Communities	3
OR
EDET 6045	Digital Games Simulations & Learning	3

Plan of Study Grid

Second Year
Fall		Credits
EDET 6027	Immersion: Virtual, Augmented, & 360 Realities	3
EDET 6080	Evaluation Assessment and Data Driven Learning Design	3
	Credits	6
Spring
EDET 6070	Innovation: Meeting the Challenges of Organization or Systems Integration	3
EDET 7020	Capstone Project: Professional Focus	3
Plus credits from first year		18
	Credits	24
	Total Credits	30

Research Focus Enrollment Sequence (36 credits)

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Fall		Credits
EDET 6005	Learning with Emerging Technologies: Theory & Practice	3
EDET 6010	Media Literacies in Emerging Technologies	3
	Credits	6
Spring
EDET 6015	Instructional Design for Online Learning Environments	3
EDET 6020	Issues and Ethics in the Digital Age	3
	Credits	6
Summer
EDET 6025	Assessing Learning in Digital Environments	3
EDET 6070	Innovation: Meeting the Challenges of Organization or Systems Integration	3
	Credits	6
Second Year
Fall
EDET 6030	Advanced Design Seminar: Portfolio Project	3
EDET 6027	Immersion: Virtual, Augmented, & 360 Realities	3
	Credits	6
	Total Credits	24

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Second Year SPRING - Choose One (3 credits)
EDET 6095	Practicum-Virtual Worlds I: Learn Create Plan	3
OR
EDET 6050	Digital Identity & Virtual Communities	3
OR
EDET 6045	Digital Games Simulations & Learning	3

Plan of Study Grid

Second Year
Summer		Credits
EDET 6080	Evaluation Assessment and Data Driven Learning Design	3
EDET 7025	Capstone Project: Research Focus	3
Plus credits from above		30
	Credits	36
	Total Credits	36

Electives

Students in the individualized concentration complete 12 credits of electives devoted to their area of focus. The Emerging Media concentration allows for one 3-credit elective. Students may choose to take scheduled or individualized electives or courses from other graduate programs at Empire State College. They also may cross-register at another college or use transfer credit to complete elective credit requirements. Electives currently available in the program are listed in the course listing section of the catalog.

Degree Program

To begin planning your degree program, think about your long- and short-range goals and your area of focus. Your academic advisor can assist you in thinking through these goals/interest and the ways in which they can be made into appropriate electives. If you are considering doctoral study, you also should investigate the requirements of programs that interest you so that you can incorporate their requirements into your Master of Arts degree.

Degree program planning should begin before you enroll in electives. You cannot graduate without an approved degree program on file.

Note: You may not enroll for more than 21 credits without an approved degree program in place.

In what ways do specific tools help us as learners demonstrate not only what we know, but our capacity to create, interact and collaborate across multiple settings? Understanding these new dynamics requires complex communicative understandings and collaborative skills.

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Consider the social, ethical and legal impacts of new technologies on our lives, individually and collectively;
• Explore the multiple, unfolding political and economic impacts of digital media as a transformative agent in the global civic and market arenas;
• Develop an understanding of how people learn in technology-mediated environments;
• Examine and evaluate learning that occurs in technology mediated environments, and the impact of digital tools, resources and pedagogical methods in these settings;
• Acquire the skills and capacity to identify, employ and evaluate technologically supported tools and methodologies; and
• Conduct original research projects both individually and in collaborative faculty-student teams in order to expand knowledge in the field.

MALET students do a final culminating experience in a two-course sequence at the end of their program. Students can choose from among the following three options: a professional or creative project, a practicum or a thesis. The final project is conducted independently with the support of a guiding faculty member (First Reader) and the advice of a second faculty member (Second Reader.) The final project is both written and presented orally by students at the conclusion of the final project term, and will demonstrate the ability to investigate learning and emerging technology problems, using many of the theory and skills acquired throughout the program. Successful completion will demonstrate research, application, integrative analysis, writing and oral presentation skills.

Students should determine the type of final project at the conclusion of the first four classes when the degree program is submitted. This allows for appropriate selection of electives to support the success in the final project.

Professional or Creative Projects

A professional or creative project offers an opportunity to explore how theories connect with issues, problems or programs in field settings. Students apply appropriate contemporary curriculum, learning, design or artistic theories to a learning and innovative technology project that can be used in practice. There is an intended audience identified, professional or creative problem identified and a plan for project development. Providing a detailed context is equally important, so your professional or creative design project should be situated in a thorough consideration of the changing needs in your chosen setting, and the most relevant research in your content area. After providing the context and rationale for the professional or creative project and designing the content and evaluative components, the student will pilot it with the first and second reader, and colleague students doing final projects, if appropriate.

In the proposal seminar course the following sections are written. This proposal must be approved before enrolling in the final project term.

Included in the final project proposal document:

1. statement of purpose, need, audience and context/setting,
2. outline of objectives, methods of evaluation,
3. review of relevant academic literature on the topic of your topic and or review of similar programs as appropriate,
4. discussion of the curriculum, learning, creative or design theory used to frame project,
5. review of similar programs,
6. outline of evaluation methods proposed. 
   In the final project term, the project is executed. It is generally expected that students devote 200 hours to the design and present the work to faculty first and second readers three quarters through the final project term. Students keep a design log throughout the process. At the conclusion of the project, the final project document is completed which adds the following sections to the proposal paper:
7. discussion of approach to content, readings, resources and learning or artistic activities,
8. results of pilot with faculty and or colleague students and an indication of changes made to your project based on those findings,
9. conclusions and recommendations. The completed final project is 35-45 pages. Projects are shared on an ESC repository.

​For the professional or creative project option, students should consult with their advisors to ensure they include:

• Virtual Practicum Game Design
• Digital Media and the Arts
• Facilitating Online and Blended Learning Environments or a specialized advanced design study, including one or two of the electives as prerequisite to enrollment in the proposal seminar. 

Practicum

A practicum must be a learning opportunity where students develop skills and practical insights related to learning and emerging technologies. It involves considerable work at a specific site or in a fieldwork setting where students try out the ideas developed in this program or examine their applicability to specific situations. A practicum is a very effective way to expand the program knowledge and provide an exciting and challenging culminating experience. It also allows students to use coursework and gain experience in actual field settings in preparation for new job opportunities.

In Proposal Seminar, students conduct reading and research during the term to provide theoretical insights and a broader context for the work that will be done in the practicum term. A project proposal is written with the following sections:

1. An introduction to the practicum to be completed,
2. A theoretical framework for the work, considering learning, artistic or design approach,
3. Draw upon and reference appropriate academic literature;
4. Review related environments or projects in the field;
5. Lay out a practicum completion plan.
   In the final project term, the following is accomplished: approximately 240 hours of work in the practicum during the term; a blog of your activities and the insights gathered during the experience; some field site supervision by an appropriate professional. At the end of the practicum, your field supervisor will need to provide an evaluation of the work done in the practicum.
   At the completion of the practicum you add several sections to the proposal written in the previous term. You add a
6. reflection analyzing the experience and assess the ways in which you met the goals
7. the recommendations from your learning.

The completed final project is 30-40 pages. Projects are shared on an ESC repository. 

Students doing a practicum should consult with advisors and identify several appropriate courses that allow for testing the theory and design approach based on the type of practicum, prior to enrolling in project design. Examples include Virtual Practicum, Game Design, Digital Media and the Arts, Facilitating Online and Blended Environments, Learning Theory and Practice, STEM Environments. 

Thesis

A thesis is a scholarly piece of work that systematically and analytically explores a specific topic or question, generally through a research project. It is an in-depth investigation that contributes new knowledge to a field, and sometimes attempts to be generalizable beyond a single setting. It presents a synthesis and critical analysis of the literature on a particular topic in a well-reasoned way, and makes use of a conceptual framework relevant to the inquiry. It may use empirical data to support a hypothesis, and use a specific methodological structure. In this case, the thesis can be designed either as a quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods study. Writers of a thesis develop and make appropriate inferences based on a deep analysis of the chosen topic or question.

The thesis may be the best choice of final project if you have plans to continue your studies toward a doctorate. Included in the final project proposal document that is conducted in the capstone seminar term:

1. Introduction and research problem,
2. review of relevant academic literature on the topic of your topic,
3. discussion of appropriate the curriculum, learning, creative or design theory
4. methodology
5. research timeline.
   An IRB must be considered for human subjects review. In the final project term, you execute the research. The thesis adds the following sections to your proposal paper:
6. presentation of results
7. analysis of results
8. conclusions and recommendations.
   ​The completed final project usually around 50 pages. All theses are published in the ProQuest/UMI service.

Students doing a thesis must take a methods course or have the approval of the advisor. A methods course might be for example, research methods in education, arts-based methodology or methodologies in educational design.

Students also should identify several appropriate courses that allow for understanding theory. Examples include Learning Theory or independent studies related to the thesis topic.