Loreta Costa
EDD 7007
9/22/2015
Research Exercise (13 points) Objectives 5, 7, and 8
Identify a specific graduate degree program in instructional technology, distance
education,
or both, that is offered entirely or primarily via distance education. Identify just one
program
at one university. Answer the following questions:
Part I: The institution and its programs (1 point each, unless otherwise indicated)
1. List the name, mailing address, and website URL of the institution. [.5 point]
University of Maryland University College
3501 University Blvd. East
Adelphi, MD 20783
www.umuc.edu
Source: www.umuc.edu
2. What degrees and majors are offered in the identified program? For instance, NSU
offers an EdD in instructional technology and distance education. Florida State
University offers an MS in instructional systems design. [.5 point]
The University of Maryland University College offers a Master of Distance Education
and E-Learning. Within this program, there are three specializations: Distance
Education Technology, Distance Education Teaching and Training, and Distance
Education Policy and Management. The university also offers four dual degree
programs: Master of Science in Management, Master in Business Administration,
Master of Education, and Master of Science in Technology Management.
Source: http://www.umuc.edu/academic-programs/masters-degrees/distanceeducation.cfm
http://mdehub.weebly.com/about.html
3. For how long has the institution been offering the identified program at a distance?
The Master of Distance Education program at UMUC was founded in January 2000.
The program has been offered for 15 years.
Source: http://mdehub.weebly.com/history-of-the-mde-program.html
4. What course delivery technologies are used? Be specific: general terms such as
“Webbased” are insufficient. Also, be inclusive, bearing in mind that many programs use
a variety of technologies in addition to a course management system.
The program at UMUC partners with the Center for Lifelong Learning at the Carl von
Ossietzky University of Oldenburg (OL), which is one of the oldest distance learning
universities in the world, having been founded in 1974. Because of this partnership,
UMUC’s Master of Distance Education and E-learning program employs many of the
same course delivery technologies, emphasizing asynchronous (different place,
different time) learning for maximum flexibility for both students and teachers. Online
tutorials (both written and pictorial as well as video/audio) and online seminars
composed of threaded discussion posts are used in an organized manner within each
course, which is then accessed through course management systems. These
technologies are all easily accessible worldwide through the web.
Source: http://mdehub.weebly.com/about.html
http://mdehub.weebly.com/history-of-the-mde-program.html
5. Is there a face-to-face component of instruction? If so, where is it conducted, and for
what duration?
There is no face to face interaction in the program. The program prides itself on its
asynchronous delivery, which is done fully online in a web-based ‘virtual’ classroom
environment.
Source: http://mdehub.weebly.com/history-of-the-mde-program.html
6. How long does it take to earn a degree in the identified program? (Indicate either the
briefest amount of time required or the amount of time most students require.)
The program consists of 36 total credits. These can be completed in as little as two
years, which seems to be the most followed degree plan for most students.
Source: http://www.umuc.edu/academic-programs/masters-degrees/distanceeducation.cfm
http://mdehub.weebly.com/degree-planning.html
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Qx9doOK6jFRGGFpeVGijNJs_Ipf0wpUZjtaaPQmUlA/edit
7. Is the institution accredited? If so, by what organization? [.5 point]
The University of Maryland University College is accredited at the regional level by the
Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is a member of the University
System of Maryland. The Master of Distance Education and E-Learning program also
holds specific accreditation from the European Foundation for Management
Development-Technology-Enhanced Learning.
Source: http://www.umuc.edu/visitors/about/
https://www.umuc.edu/faculty/edudept/eduprograms/mde.cfm
8. Is the institution public or private? If private, is it for-profit or not-for-profit? [.5 point]
The University of Maryland University College is a public institution.
Source: http://www.umuc.edu/visitors/about/
9. What is the total enrollment of the institution? How many students are enrolled in the
identified distance-delivered program?
UMUC’s overall online enrollment surpassed 243,000 students in 2014.
Source: https://www.umuc.edu/visitors/about/ipra/glance.cfm
10. What is the tuition (per course or per year)?
The Total Tuition for the program depends on your status as either ‘in-state’ or ‘out-ofstate’ resident. For Maryland residents, as well as those in military service and their
spouses, the total tuition is $16,488. For out-of-state residents, the total tuition is
$23,724. For out-of-state federal employees, their spouses/legal dependents, the total
tuition is $17,793.
Source: http://www.umuc.edu/academic-programs/masters-degrees/distanceeducation.cfm
Be sure to cite your source for each answer.
Part II: The institution’s website (1 point each)
Critique the institution’s (or program’s) website, answering the following questions:
A. How would you rate the visual appeal of the site? What elements are visually
appealing, and which aspects are less so? Include screen shot(s) to illustrate.
In my opinion, the visual appeal of the site is minimal, comprised of basic, easy to
navigate headings and very little in terms of dynamic visuals. Below is the Master of
Distance Education and E-Learning main page within the UMUC website, which has low
visual appeal:
Source: http://www.umuc.edu/academic-programs/masters-degrees/distanceeducation.cfm
It includes the most basic information on the program for the prospective student, but
adds several buttons and links such as “Request Info” and “Apply Now” that prominently
display the most necessary features for students needing additional information. It also
provides the phone number for advisors prominently below these two buttons, so that
students can speak to a human if they prefer. The most useful link on this page is the
one directly underneath the heading, titled “The MDE Hub.” Once you click on that
website, you get to the actual program’s self-styled website which contains most of the
information on the program:
This ‘internal’ website provides more instant visual appeal, by including a large picture
of the campus environment so that prospective students feel like they are inquiring
about a prestigious institution. Additionally, the buttons on the top of the page break
down the various categories and provide more ample information for students.
Source: http://mdehub.weebly.com/
B. Is the site easily navigable and well organized? Provide examples.
The internal site is well organized, with larger tabs/categories divided into: About,
Students, Alumni, and Faculty. Within these tabs, there is ample information with the
subsections clearly defined and with tabs for each. Within the “About” section, we can
find information on the Master’s Curriculum, Graduate Certificates, Faculty Members,
Newsletters, and the Program History.
Source: http://mdehub.weebly.com/about.html
Clicking on the Master’s Curriculum link gives us more detail and information on the
different specializations within the program, which in turn link to additional information
for each program:
Source: http://mdehub.weebly.com/mde-curriculum.html
C. Does the site contain sufficient information to answer questions 1-10? If not, provide
details.
The internal site (http://mdehub.weebly.com) does a good job of providing most of the
information in questions 1-10. It would be useful if the main UMUC program website for
this program (http://www.umuc.edu/academic-programs/masters-degrees/distanceeducation.cfm) would stress the importance of the internal MDE Hub website in
providing additional information. They simply provide the link but do not stress its
importance.
D. What is the most positive aspect of the website?
The most positive aspect of both websites is the fact that the information is laid out
clearly and in an organized matter. Neither website strives for artistic visual appeal, and
instead, both approach a no-nonsense method in presenting the information to
prospective students.
E. What aspect of the site is most in need of improvement?
The UMUC website for the program is the probably the initial page that most
prospective students come across when researching the university’s distance education
programs. If I were designing this website, I’d make sure to include an “About” section in
the main page that would formally introduce the program, its history, and its mission.
Additionally, I would include more sections highlighting the ease of enrollment, the
convenience of online education, and more specific, frequently asked questions such as
the amount of time it usually takes to complete the program, etc.