The first cohort of five students in the University of Central Arkansas Instructional Technology (ITEC) program is slated to graduate in May.
The 15-hour Online Teaching and Learning graduate certificate program is designed to provide K-12 educators with the knowledge and skills needed to become technology leaders and practitioners who are fully prepared to teach in an online environment. UCA offers the state’s only program leading to the Online Teaching and Learning educator license endorsement.
Nikki Aitken
Ann Broyles
Jana Dixon
Shelle House
Sarah Tucker
The five students are Nikki Aitken (Hot Springs), Ann Broyles (Conway), Jana Dixon (Hot Springs), Shelle House (North Little Rock), and Sarah Tucker (Sherwood).
“The pivot to online learning during the COVID-19 global pandemic in K-12 schools and college campuses has highlighted the need for effective planning and implementation to deliver online courses which are engaging and relevant to students. This is where our ITEC program may be instrumental in training teachers to become adept at offering quality online learning in the K-12 setting,” said Erin Shaw, UCA ITEC program coordinator.
The program consists of the following courses: Universal Design for Learning; Online Education Course Design, Delivery, Implementation; Online Teaching and Instructional Strategies; Supporting Student Success in Online Teaching; and Design and Production of Media Resources for Online Courses.
“These are the only graduate courses that I’ve taken in which my professors are practicing what they’re preaching,” said student Sarah Tucker. “They’re teaching a course on how to give an online class, and they’re doing all of the things that they’re teaching us to do.”
In addition to the Online Teaching and Learning program concentration, the ITEC program offers a master’s degree or graduate certificate in Multimedia Design and Development and Computer Science Teaching and Learning.
Each ITEC master’s degree program may be completed within two years, and all courses are available online.
Registration for all ITEC programs began in March for summer and fall 2021 courses. More information for prospective students is available at uca.edu/leadershipstudies/itec.
