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Session 15
An Overview of
Factors to Consider in Designing an Online Master’s Program
Session Description:
Many Universities and programs
are pursuing distance learning programs to provide learning
opportunities to individuals who may not be able to pursue
educational opportunities in the traditional formats. The
occupational therapy program at the University of North Dakota
developed and implemented an online transitional master’s of
occupational therapy program for the practicing therapist in
2004. This presentation will provide background on the
development of the program, how the program was designed and
implemented and will address issues of recruitment and retention
of students, course development, sequencing of course content,
and lessons learned throughout the process.
Development of the online
master’s program included interfacing with the University’s
online technology resource people and services (including access
to library services), design and sequencing of the curriculum
(including decision-making regarding making assignments and
coursework seamless across the curriculum), and faculty online
teaching preparation and participation (including individual
advisement and strategies). Student recruitment procedure and
retention issues will be shared with trends noted.
The lessons learned by this
department’s faculty will be discussed with the intention of
preparing others who may which to offer a degree program online
and to raise awareness of the multifaceted, teamwork approach
used.
At the end of this session,
participants will be able to:
- Discuss options for
technology selection.
- Describe staff and
administrative resources needed to implement an online
program.
- Discuss resources for
faculty development and course planning
- Identify strategies for
recruitment and retention of students.
- Describe key issues to
consider in course development and sequencing of the
curriculum
Presenters: Janet S.
Jedlicka, Jan Stube, LaVonne Fox, Sonia S. Zimmerman
Janet S. Jedlicka, PhD,
OTR/L, is a full-time faculty member and chair of the University
of North Dakota’s (UND) Occupational Therapy Program (OT). Her
Ph.D. is in Higher Education and Leadership. Her B.S. and M.A
are in Occupational Therapy. She designed the initial curriculum
for the online transitional Masters of Occupational Therapy
Online Program and has designed and implemented several courses
within the curriculum.
Jan Stube, PhD., OTR/L, FAOTA is a full-time faculty
member at the University of North Dakota (UND), Department of
Occupational Therapy (OT). Her Ph.D. is in Teaching & Learning:
Research Methodologies; her B.S. is in Occupational Therapy. She
is the Interim Director of the Transitional Master of OT (t-MOT)
online program for occupational therapists at UND. She is a
Fellow in the American Occupational Therapy association for her
contributions to OT education, practice, and research.
LaVonne Fox, PhD, OTR/L, is a full-time faculty member at
the University of North Dakota (UND), Department of Occupational
Therapy (OT). Her Ph.D. is in Higher Education and Leadership.
Her B.S. and M.A are in Occupational Therapy. She is the
Graduate Director for the Master of Occupational Therapy Program
at UND and has designed a number of courses of the online
transitional Masters of Occupational Therapy Online Program.
Sonia S. Zimmerman, MA, OTR/L is a full-time faculty
member at the University of North Dakota (UND), Department of
Occupational Therapy (OT). She is currently ABD in Adult
Education. She has extensive experience in both traditional and
online course design in health sciences higher education with
emphasis on mental health applications in occupational therapy.
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