NYIT-Vancouver gains approval for master's in instructional technology for teachers and workplace trainers

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      The New York Institute of Technology didn’t want to take any chances when it decided to launch a master’s degree in instructional technology at its downtown Vancouver campus. One of the key designers of the curriculum was Sarah McPherson, an expert in adult-learning theory who chaired this program at the institute’s New York campus for 12 years.

      “They thought maybe I knew a little bit about it,” McPherson quipped in a phone interview with the Straight. “We just got approval [from the Ministry of Advanced Education] in late spring/early summer, so we’re actually recruiting.”

      The program has two tracks. One cohort is for educators in the kindergarten-to-Grade-12 system who want to enhance their understanding around using technology in their teaching.

      “It’s very focused on pedagogy, integration of technology into curriculum, strategies for instruction to improve learning for students, and assessment of what worked,” McPherson explained.

      She called the second cohort the “trainer program” and said it incorporates adult-learning theory in providing education to employees of corporations, nonprofits, and government organizations. It’s more instructional-design-focused than the one aimed at school educators.

      Most of the courses are delivered online, according to McPherson, but there will also be opportunities for students to meet periodically and learn through videoconferencing. She expects that most students will already be in the workforce, which is why any face-to-face instruction will likely occur during evenings or weekends.

      The master’s in instructional technology is a 33-credit program that can be completed in five semesters (just over two years) if people take two courses per term.

      NYIT's Vancouver campus is in the heart of the downtown core at 701 West Georgia Street.

      At the New York campus, teachers can enroll in more intensive summer courses lasting up to eight hours a day over a week or for shorter periods over two to three weeks. McPherson said she hasn’t ruled out the possibility of this model being introduced in Vancouver.

      She also said that the master’s in instructional technology enables educators to learn about social media as well as multimedia strategies to make their course work more interesting through the use of videos and animation in classrooms. In addition, the program emphasizes the importance of online research skills to help students learn how to trust certain sources.

      McPherson pointed out that the master’s degree also elevates teachers’ understanding of the dynamics behind cyberbullying. “They learn the digital citizenship that they need to teach to go along with the social media,” she said.

      NYIT recently announced the appointment of chartered professional accountant Irene Young as the new dean and executive director of its Vancouver campus. Young has an MBA from UBC and a bachelor of commerce from the University of Manitoba. She is currently working on a doctorate from Simon Fraser University.

      Irene Young is the new dean and executive director of NYIT-Vancouver.
      NYIT is holding an open house at its Vancouver campus (701 West Georgia, 17th floor) from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday (November 10). Prospective students can learn about scholarships, financial aid, career planning, and the school’s professional-development and graduate programs. The Vancouver campus is also hosting seven separate discussions called Tech for Teachers between Saturday (November 12) and December 10. For more information, go to www.nyit.edu/vancouver/.

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