Competitors
In 2002, UBC's online Master of Educational Technology was possibly the first of its kind. Now, a quick web search reveals that options within this field have dramatically increased. The table below gives a brief synopsis of the fully online Masters in Educational Technology degrees available by country. However, there are many more face-to-face and blended program options.
National Competitors of the MET Program
With technology advancing in western society, Master of Educational Technology programs are on the rise to meet the increasing demand. Many universities offering Master's programs with some focus, or an option to focus on educational technology, are springing up all over the world. A prospective student will find these programs being offered in Europe, Australia, Asia, the United States and Canada. However, when considering Master's Programs that focus solely on educational technology, there are a small number of established programs, as well as a few programs that have recently emerged. (Please note, that because the majority of authors of this site are Canadian, and are students of the M.E.T. Program at UBC in British Columbia, this comparison of Master's degrees in Educational Technology will review only those located in Canada.)
If a prospective Graduate Student were researching Master's Degrees in Educational Technology in Canada, they would come across the following eight programs:
Athabasca University in Alberta
Master of Education in Distance Education
Concordia University in Ontario
Master of Arts in Educational Technology
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Master of Education in Information Technology
Royal Roads University
Master of Arts in Learning and Technology
Simon Fraser University in British Columbia
Master of Education or Master of Arts in Educational Technology and Learning Design
University of Alberta in Alberta
Master of Education in Technology Education
University of British Columbia
Master of Educational Technology
University of Saskatchewan
Master of Education in Educational Technology and Design
All eight programs are comparable and similar in that, they are all run by the University's Faculty of Education, and all require a similar number of completed credits to successfully be awarded the degree. However, there are also many differences between these programs. For example, some programs require students to complete courses on-campus, while others offer courses online. Some programs require a thesis or an e-portfolio, while others are coursework only programs.
A point to make about all the programs listed above, is that with the exception of Athabasca and Royal Roads University (which advertises itself as an "Open University") they are all offered by traditional research-based universities in the country.
Below, please find the comparison chart of the eight Canadian Master's Programs in Educational Technology, with a comparison and review of six common aspects.
If a prospective Graduate Student were researching Master's Degrees in Educational Technology in Canada, they would come across the following eight programs:
Athabasca University in Alberta
Master of Education in Distance Education
Concordia University in Ontario
Master of Arts in Educational Technology
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Master of Education in Information Technology
Royal Roads University
Master of Arts in Learning and Technology
Simon Fraser University in British Columbia
Master of Education or Master of Arts in Educational Technology and Learning Design
University of Alberta in Alberta
Master of Education in Technology Education
University of British Columbia
Master of Educational Technology
University of Saskatchewan
Master of Education in Educational Technology and Design
All eight programs are comparable and similar in that, they are all run by the University's Faculty of Education, and all require a similar number of completed credits to successfully be awarded the degree. However, there are also many differences between these programs. For example, some programs require students to complete courses on-campus, while others offer courses online. Some programs require a thesis or an e-portfolio, while others are coursework only programs.
A point to make about all the programs listed above, is that with the exception of Athabasca and Royal Roads University (which advertises itself as an "Open University") they are all offered by traditional research-based universities in the country.
Below, please find the comparison chart of the eight Canadian Master's Programs in Educational Technology, with a comparison and review of six common aspects.
Because education encompasses such a broad spectrum of industries and people working in different capacities, this site argues that all these programs have both benefits and challenges, with their advantages or severity dependent on both the student's background and future goals. For example, the knowledge and experience a high school teacher brings with them into the Master's program may be completely different than that of an administrator at an ESL school, or that of an instructional designer. Prior to selecting a Master's degree program, a prospective student must first consider their goals, and then review each of the different program offerings. Only in this way will they choose the program that will enable them to achieve their goals.
Overall, all Master of Educational Technology degrees enable leaders in education to integrate and manage technology in educational systems.
Overall, all Master of Educational Technology degrees enable leaders in education to integrate and manage technology in educational systems.
International Competitors of the MET Program
A complete list of the online, educational technology-based programs that are offered internationally would be too long to include here. However, the following websites both offer excellent starting points should you wish to explore other online programs:
- Tony Bates' List of recommended graduate programs can be accessed from from: http://www.tonybates.ca/resources/recommended-graduate-programs-in-e-learning/
- Vicky Phillips's The 10 Best Schools to get an Education Technology Masters Degree Online (2012) (purely a USA focused list) can be accessed from:
http://edudemic.com/2011/10/online-masters-edtech/
Competitors Activity
If you explored the competing programs, what did you find? No doubt you've already done some research yourself, prior to becoming a MET student...
If you have not already done, so please visit our Reflections Blog, and join us in posting a short video explaining why you chose the MET program at UBC, and detailing what your experience in the program has been like so far. |