The Loading... is a fully online 30 credit-hour program that prepares students to be leaders in K-12 schools. Throughout the course of their studies students will hone their interpersonal and technology skills and work collaboratively with K-12 faculty and staff to create and manage highly engaging learning environments. For students holding an initial teaching certification, this degree leads to recommendation for an additional New York certification as an Educational Technology Specialist, and satisfies the academic requirements for Professional Certification. The program meets the standards established by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) and is CAEP certified.
A New York State teaching certificate is required to be admitted into the Educational Technology Specialist program. If you are not certified, the easiest option is to enroll in the Instructional Design and Educational Technology program, as it does not require a teacher certification for admission. A second option is to pursue one of SUNY Potsdam’s Masters of Science for Teachers (MST) programs, which each lead to an initial teaching certificate, and then apply to the Educational Technology Specialist program after. A third option is to contact a BOCES Certification Officer at 1-800-356-4356 to seek guidance for the individual NYS Teacher Certification evaluation pathway.
Success Story
In the Fall 2012 semester, as part of a multimedia class for the MSED Educational Technology Specialist program, Trevor Dugan, Class of 2014, developed an app called PuzzleTopple. The app was published a year later and was available on both iOS and Android. Since the launch, the app went global, with 17,000 downloads in the Singapore region and over 25,000 downloads worldwide on iOS alone.
What You Will Learn:
- A broadly valued skill set that will qualify you for positions in technology leadership in K-12 schools.
- The foundation to help a school achieve their goals, including an understanding of technology in education, research techniques, instructional design and emerging learning technologies.
- Instructional design skills for creating performance improvement systems, from classroom/lecture to individualized instruction, including content analysis, sequencing, goal analysis and instructional strategies.
- Creative approaches for integrating technology into K-12 settings.
- A variety of elective options for deepening your skill set in technology utilization, including Teaching and Learning with Simulations and Games, Video Design and Production, Network Management, Cybersecurity, Distance Education, Technology Coaching and Webpage Design.
Unique Program Features:
- Electives, applied learning opportunities, and customized projects during coursework allow for individualized study that supports your unique career goals.
- Invitations to attend professional development workshops and/or conferences to help further your understanding of educational technology content and pedagogy.
- Small class sizes promote close relationships with professors and fellow technology specialist classmates.
- Students graduate with a cohort who provides support throughout the length of their future careers.
- An adviser guides you through the entire program, providing support that greatly enhances your education experience.
"This program was the single most important foundational experience in my professional career. The skills I learned prepared me to better teach and develop curriculum for students and educators across the country, and the connections I made have lasted long beyond my time on campus."
Makerspace Teacher, Cannon School, Concord, N.C.
Internships
Process for selecting clinical placement sites: All students in the Educational Technology Specialist program are required to complete a 100-hour school-based internship near the end of their program. Before their first semester of study students will work with their advisor to plan a program of studies, including the semester of their internship. In the semester immediately prior to the internship students will meet with their academic advisor to being the formal process of securing a placement. After discussing the internship with their advisor, students will complete the formal field experience application. From there the student, the advisor, and the staff at the SUNY Potsdam Center for School Partnerships (CFSPTC) will work to secure a placement that is a fit for the student’s individual situation. Detailed information about our program policies for clinical placements, including “Requirements and Process” and the “Application for Field Placement,” can be found in our field experience guidebook.
Testing Requirements for NYS Certification
Information about initial and professional certification requirements is available at the SUNY Potsdam School of Education & Professional Studies certification web page. Information about the Educational Technology Specialist Content Specialty Test (CST) can be found at the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE) website.
Program Contacts
Admissions / General Information
The Office of Graduate Studies
800) 458-1142 / (315) 267-2165
Satterlee Hall room 116
SUNY Potsdam
44 Pierrepont Avenue
Potsdam, New York 13676-2294
graduate@potsdam.edu
www.potsdam.edu/graduate
Program-Related Information
Dr. Anthony Betrus
Program Coordinator
Dunn Hall 393
(315) 267-2670
betrusak@potsdam.edu