Comprehensive Exams - Instructional Technology
IT students must successfully respond to 3 comprehensive exam questions. Comprehensive exam questions are given by the three program faculty members in the areas below. The purpose of the comprehensive exams is for students to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the fundamental knowledge, skills and principles of the field of Instructional Technology. As such, the questions will be designed to test knowledge, application of this knowledge to case specifics, and the ability to synthesize the content from core courses. The questions will follow from, but not be specifically limited to, the material covered in required courses. Doctoral students receive questions designed for the doctoral level and Masters students receive questions designed for the Masters level.
Students may elect to offer an Instructional Design or Technology Management Project and/or the Instructional Competency Project in lieu of examination questions (no more than 2). These options must be arranged in advance with the faculty member supervising the exam.
Comprehensive Examination Areas:
Dr. John Bunch:
History, Management & Issues in IT, Media Production (Audio-Visual Materials, Photography and Video)
Dr. Glen Bull:
Computer Tools & Learning Technologies, Networks & Telecommunications Systems
Dr. Mable Kinzie:
Instructional Design & Development, Interactive Technologies
Comprehensive Examination Options:
Candidates are to meet with each of these faculty members early in the semester in which they plan to take the examination and discuss both the general nature of that person's question as well as the criteria for successful completion.
The candidate will either be given a "sit-down" question or be given a two-week time period to prepare a written response. The "sit-down" examination will be conducted on the date published by the Curry School for M.Ed. Examinations or on the date arranged with the faculty advisor. The two-week examination will be conducted during a time period agreed upon by the student and faculty member. Responses to "sit-down" questions, while not expected to be as lengthy or as fully developed and supported as those for the two-week papers, are required to reference the literature of the field in support of the development of ideas and the argumentation of key points.
The text of two-week written responses must be grounded in the literature of Instructional Technology, be approximately ten pages in length (typed, double-spaced, 1.25 inch margins, and no larger than 12 point type) and should conform to one of the commonly used style formats such as MLA or APA.
If a candidate is unsuccessful on any one of the three questions, the failed portion of the examination must be repeated. Students are allowed two opportunities to re-take the examination.