Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Richard PIerog on January 4, 2011 at 3:58pm

I looked into a PhD in ed tech before, and found the University of Calgary.  It may be worth checking out.

 

 

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Richard Alan Smith on January 10, 2011 at 1:59pm

Tyler,  Stop! Do not pass go! Do not collect $100. Do not even think about attending a for-profit online university  such as Capella or Northcentral University (or any other kind of for-profit).   These schools have no standing in the college and university academic community. You will never be able to even be considered for any kind of position at a university.  You will learn little if anything about elearning, especially at the doctoral level.  You might be able to have the title of "Dr." within your school district and maybe they will give you some additional money for having the title, but that is about it.  You are probably looking at tuition for the degree in the area of $30,000 and hence you will never earn enough from your salary increase get that money back.  That flexibility you talk about and want will come back to bite you in the rear.  If you truly want a doctorate in elearning then you will have to attend one of the few bricks and mortar universities that offer them (most are in instructional technology).  You might try a workaround with the closest university to you and do your degree in curriculum and instruction with a dissertation dealing with distance ed and curriculum.  That would be better than attending an online for-profit because of its convenience.  And don't fall for the argument that I am just an "old school" traditional person and refuse to recognize the "cutting edge" work the online for-profits are doing.  Their doctoral degrees are still worthless if you want a job in university, or think tank, or consulting firm, etc.  Save your money. Spend it on your wife and kids. Don't go to a for-profit for your doctorate.  Please let me know if you have any other questions.  Richard

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Permalink Reply by Tyler Amidon on January 10, 2011 at 4:20pm

Richard,

I hear what you're saying but the program really seems to fit me, my interests and my needs.  Plus, the courses look great.  I agree with you on Capella but Northcentral has a pretty solid reputation and is accredited through the HLC (http://www.ncahlc.org).  The majority of the responses have been pretty positive.  I've talked to a recent graduate (different degree) and he gave his experience an above average rating.

 

Given all that.  Do you have an suggestions for alternatives to the online universities?

Richard Alan Smith said:

Tyler,  Stop! Do not pass go! Do not collect $100. Do not even think about attending a for-profit online university  such as Capella or Northcentral University (or any other kind of for-profit).   These schools have no standing in the college and university academic community. You will never be able to even be considered for any kind of position at a university.  You will learn little if anything about elearning, especially at the doctoral level.  You might be able to have the title of "Dr." within your school district and maybe they will give you some additional money for having the title, but that is about it.  You are probably looking at tuition for the degree in the area of $30,000 and hence you will never earn enough from your salary increase get that money back.  That flexibility you talk about and want will come back to bite you in the rear.  If you truly want a doctorate in elearning then you will have to attend one of the few bricks and mortar universities that offer them (most are in instructional technology).  You might try a workaround with the closest university to you and do your degree in curriculum and instruction with a dissertation dealing with distance ed and curriculum.  That would be better than attending an online for-profit because of its convenience.  And don't fall for the argument that I am just an "old school" traditional person and refuse to recognize the "cutting edge" work the online for-profits are doing.  Their doctoral degrees are still worthless if you want a job in university, or think tank, or consulting firm, etc.  Save your money. Spend it on your wife and kids. Don't go to a for-profit for your doctorate.  Please let me know if you have any other questions.  Richard

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Permalink Reply by Tyler Amidon on January 10, 2011 at 4:23pm

Are you attending the University of Calgary?  If so, how do you like it?  If not, where do you attend?  Any other feedback would be helpful.

Richard PIerog said:

I looked into a PhD in ed tech before, and found the University of Calgary.  It may be worth checking out.

 

 

 

 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Richard PIerog on January 10, 2011 at 4:52pm

Hi, Tyler,

 

I did a masters in educational technology at ubc (http://met.ubc.ca/) but decided against the PhD with Calgary, not because of the program per se--it looked quite good to me--but due to the $10 K per year required to complete it and the fact that I wasn't going to pursue employment requiring a PhD.

 

Best,

 

Richard

Tyler Amidon said:

Are you attending the University of Calgary?  If so, how do you like it?  If not, where do you attend?  Any other feedback would be helpful.

Richard PIerog said:

I looked into a PhD in ed tech before, and found the University of Calgary.  It may be worth checking out.

 

 

 

 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tyler Amidon on January 10, 2011 at 5:44pm

Is that an online degree?  I live in the states so that would be quite a commute to UBC.

Richard PIerog said:

Hi, Tyler,

 

I did a masters in educational technology at ubc (http://met.ubc.ca/) but decided against the PhD with Calgary, not because of the program per se--it looked quite good to me--but due to the $10 K per year required to complete it and the fact that I wasn't going to pursue employment requiring a PhD.

 

Best,

 

Richard

Tyler Amidon said:

Are you attending the University of Calgary?  If so, how do you like it?  If not, where do you attend?  Any other feedback would be helpful.

Richard PIerog said:

I looked into a PhD in ed tech before, and found the University of Calgary.  It may be worth checking out.

 

 

 

 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Richard Alan Smith on January 10, 2011 at 6:16pm

Where do you live?  From what you say you seem to be near some bricks and mortar universities.  What do they offer? Also, why do you want to get a doctorate in elearning?  What do you plan to do with it?  By elearning, do you mean, online instruction or the general use of technology for instruction?  If you want an online doctorate from an excellent university why not consider doing it in educational leadership from Texas A&M University.  See,

http://tlac.tamu.edu/articles/executive_edd

  At least that way you could have an administrative career path in your district or a different district and have a doctorate that will command respect.  Whether Northcentral has a program that fits your needs and interests is not relevant when you take into consideration you will be paying many thousands of dollars for a degree that will not be of much professional use since no other university will pay it much heed.  That is unless you just want to pay to study and have a title at the end of it.

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Permalink Reply by Tyler Amidon on January 10, 2011 at 6:49pm

Fair comments.

I'm a middle school math teacher with a passion for technology and I work for Denver Christian Schools.  One of my main goals is to, yes, have the degree and two I would like to take DCS to the next level using my E-Learning degree, online instruction, I don't want a general use of technology degree.  Also, my goal is to focus on the e-learning world of technology not the administration side of education.  I would like to develop the e-learning side of DCS and broaden our reach for students who can't physically get to DCS.  Also, I do not have plans to join a think tank or become a world class professor.  I may be coming off as defensive and for that I apologize.  I am truly thankful for your time and energy in this conversation and I look forward to it continuing.  It has made me think through, even more than I had, why I'm seeking this degree.

 

By the way, I think that degree from Texas A&M is very intriguing to my wife :-)  

Richard Alan Smith said:

Where do you live?  From what you say you seem to be near some bricks and mortar universities.  What do they offer? Also, why do you want to get a doctorate in elearning?  What do you plan to do with it?  By elearning, do you mean, online instruction or the general use of technology for instruction?  If you want an online doctorate from an excellent university why not consider doing it in educational leadership from Texas A&M University.  See,

http://tlac.tamu.edu/articles/executive_edd

  At least that way you could have an administrative career path in your district or a different district and have a doctorate that will command respect.  Whether Northcentral has a program that fits your needs and interests is not relevant when you take into consideration you will be paying many thousands of dollars for a degree that will not be of much professional use since no other university will pay it much heed.  That is unless you just want to pay to study and have a title at the end of it.

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Permalink Reply by Richard PIerog on January 10, 2011 at 7:09pm

All online.  A lotta work, but (despite being a last minute kind a guy) good.  The students in the program were mostly from parts of Canada, but I worked with many, too, who were from America, Hong Kong, Japan, Europe, you name it.

Richard PIerog said:

Hi, Tyler,

 

I did a masters in educational technology at ubc (http://met.ubc.ca/) but decided against the PhD with Calgary, not because of the program per se--it looked quite good to me--but due to the $10 K per year required to complete it and the fact that I wasn't going to pursue employment requiring a PhD.

 

Best,

 

Richard

Tyler Amidon said:

Are you attending the University of Calgary?  If so, how do you like it?  If not, where do you attend?  Any other feedback would be helpful.

Richard PIerog said:

I looked into a PhD in ed tech before, and found the University of Calgary.  It may be worth checking out.

 

 

 

 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Heidi Ellis on January 14, 2011 at 3:45pm

If you're interested, there is a free webinar on the Online Graduate Certificate in School Administration and Supervision with a technology emphasis presented by ISTE and the Johns Hopkins University School of Education on:

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

1pm Pac / 2pm Mtn / 3pm Cen / 4pm Eas  (duration 1 hour)

To join the Webinar, please follow the link below. Enter as a guest by typing your name in the first field, and click “Enter Room.”

http://iste.acrobat.com/jhuinfo

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Permalink Reply by Tyler Amidon on January 14, 2011 at 4:56pm

Thanks Heidi,

 

I'll definitely check that out.

Heidi Ellis said:

If you're interested, there is a free webinar on the Online Graduate Certificate in School Administration and Supervision with a technology emphasis presented by ISTE and the Johns Hopkins University School of Education on:

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

1pm Pac / 2pm Mtn / 3pm Cen / 4pm Eas  (duration 1 hour)

To join the Webinar, please follow the link below. Enter as a guest by typing your name in the first field, and click “Enter Room.”

http://iste.acrobat.com/jhuinfo

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Permalink Reply by Suzanne M Martin on January 17, 2011 at 8:30am

I am in the doctorate program at Northcentral for Educational Technology and E-Learning.  Overall I like the flexibility of the courses. I would recommend the program to anyone who has experience with online coursework and is a self-motivated learner.  All assignments have been individual - no group projects as some online school require. 

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