| 2. Graduate Diploma
in Distance Education Technology |
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2.1. |
Admission Requirements |
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2.2. |
Program
Application Procedures |
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2.3. |
Program Structure |
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2.4. |
Academic Schedule |
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2.5. |
Computer
System Requirements |
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2.6. |
Course-related Procedures |
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2.7. |
Fees |
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2.8. |
Course
Offerings (2009-2010) |
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2.9. |
Additional Services |
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2.10. |
Contact Information |
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2.3. |
GDDET Program Structure
Students are required to complete eighteen credits
(six courses) in the GDDET.
Program Status
To maintain program status, students must complete
six credits of course work during each academic year (September
1 to August 31). In core courses, the lowest acceptable grade is
B-. Students who receive a grade lower than B-, or receive more
than one grade of B- or lower, may be required to withdraw from
the program.
In elective courses,
the lowest acceptable grade is C+. Students who receive a grade
lower than C+, or receive more than one grade of C+ or lower, may
be required to withdraw from the program.
Full- and Part-time Involvement
Students may study in the program on a full- or part-time
basis. Part-time students must complete a minimum of six credits
(two course equivalents) per calendar year. In order to comply with Alberta
Students Finance Board requirements, and to qualify for full-time
status at the graduate studies level for funding and T2202A purposes, students must complete a minimum of nine credits (three courses) per calendar year (one course per term).
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| DEFINITIONS |
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| 100% Course Load: |
12 credits per 12-month period (1 credit per month) |
| 60% Course Load: |
9 credits per 12-month period (.75 credit per month). This
is the minimum that is required to qualify for T2202A, student
financial aid, and any other confirmation of full time status. |
| Term: |
A four-month study period. |
GUIDELINES
| 1. |
To be considered for a 60%
course load, students are required to register in
at least one three-credit course per term to be considered
full time. |
| 2. |
To be considered for a 100% course load, students
are required to submit a full year's study plan (three terms).
Students will need to identify at least 12 credits of study
covering a full 12-month period. |
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For example: |
3 credits for Term 1 |
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6 credits for Term 2 |
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3 credits for Term 3 |
| 3. |
Students who request certification of a 100%
course load must identify their full 12-month study plan at
the commencement of their first term of studies. Students are permitted to use any number of combination of credits in
their three identified terms provided the total number of credits
is equal to 12. |
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For example: |
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Scenario #1 |
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Scenario #2 |
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Scenario #3 |
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3 credits for Term 1 |
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6 credits for Term 1 |
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3 credits for Term 1 |
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6 credits for Term 2 |
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3 credits for Term 2 |
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3 credits for Term 2 |
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3 credits for Term 3 |
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3 credits for Term 3 |
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6 credits for Term 3 |
Residency
To meet the residency requirements, students must
complete a minimum of three courses (nine credits), including the
two core courses, through Athabasca University.
Relationship to MDE Program
Students completing the
GDDET may apply for admission to the MDE program. If admitted,
credits completed by the student towards the GDDET will be
accepted for credit towards the MDE degree in accordance with the MDE Program 33-credit regulations.
Students considering
the diploma should be aware that admission to the MDE program is
highly competitive.
GDDET graduates
must compete
with other qualified applicants for admission
to the
degree program.
Courses
GDDET students take their courses
alongside MDE students, and are required to complete the
same activities
and
achieve the same
standard. Courses are designed to encourage
self-study either at home or in the workplace. In individualized study courses,
each course comprises a basic materials
package of print and, at times, other media. In addition, students are expected
to use
computer mediated
communications for
the
following purposes:
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instructor and student-to-student interactions
in computer conferences;
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e-mail, both within
and outside of the course structure;
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file transfer or file attachment
of assignments and feedback between instructor and students and between
students on joint projects; and
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accessing electronic
databases (for example, Athabasca University’s Library).
Required Core Courses
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| MDDE 601 |
Introduction to Distance Education
and Training
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(3) |
| MDDE 603 |
Foundations of Instructional Design: Systems Analysis and Learning Theory
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(3) |
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Prescribed Options (minimum of three
required)
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| MDDE 604 |
Instructional Design in Distance Education
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(3) |
| MDDE 610 |
Introduction to Current Distance Education Technologies
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(3) |
| MDDE 615 |
Human Factors in Educational
Technology
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(3) |
| MDDE 618 |
Instructional Project Management
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(3) |
| MDDE 619 |
Trends and Issues in Instructional Design |
(3) |
MDDE 620 |
Advanced Technology for Distance Education and
Training
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(3) |
| MDDE 621 |
Online Teaching in Distance Education and Training
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(3) |
| MDDE 661 |
Seminar Topics in Educational Conferencing
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(3) |
| MDDE 662 |
Seminar Topics in Evaluating Conferencing Software
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(3) |
| MDDE 663 |
Emerging Issues in Distance Education Technologies
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(3) |
| MDDE 664 |
New Perspectives on International Distance Education
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(3) |
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Students may choose one additional course
from the MDE catalogue.
Note: GDDET students are not permitted to register in MDDE courses
MDDE 690 or higher. Students should be aware that some courses in
the MDE catalogue are currently only offered once a year. Generally,
core courses should be taken first in the program (particularly
if the student has limited distance education background).
GDDET courses are generally available as follows:
Fall term: 601*, 603* 604, 610, 619, 621, 663, 664.
Winter term: 601*, 603*, 604, 615, 618, 620, 661, 662.
Spring/Summer term: 601*, 603*, 604, 610, 621.
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Required courses. Refer to
the course list in the MDE program. Permission of the program
director is required before courses are taken for GDDET program
credit outside Athabasca University.
Advanced Standing
Some students may have completed course work at other post-secondary
institutions that is applicable to the GDDET program. After admission,
a committee will review such work to determine if the student should
be awarded advanced standing, and whether “not to take”
restrictions for equivalent specific courses in the GDDET program
should be imposed. Students seeking advanced standing will be required
to submit official transcripts (if these were not submitted in support
of their application for admission) and the appropriate evaluation
fee to the GDDET program director for review.
Students will also be required to submit detailed course descriptions
for such courses. Failure to supply the transcript or detailed course
descriptions (if required) shall result in no advanced standing
being awarded. Students will not be awarded advanced standing for
courses previously used towards the granting of another credential.
Contact the Centre for Distance Education (mde@athabascau.ca) for
more information.
Transfer Credit
Students enrolled in the GDDET program may take courses from
other post-secondary institutions in fulfilment of the program requirements,
provided such courses are applicable to Athabasca University’s
GDDET program.
Students wishing to take courses from other institutions must submit
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• a Letter of
Permission Request Form and applicable fee
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• a written request, and
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• detailed course
outlines
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to the program director for review. If
approved, the Centre for Distance Education will issue a Letter of
Permission. To allow for mailing time, requests for a Letter of Permission
should be made at least one month before the registration deadline
at the institution where the student will be taking the course. Upon
completion of the course, the student must submit an official transcript
to the Centre for Distance Education in order to obtain credit for
the course.
Program Delivery
The program is offered during three semesters each year. The fall
semester begins the second Monday in September. The winter semester
begins the second Monday in January. The spring/summer session begins
the last Monday in April. Each semester is 13 weeks in length. All
course work should be completed during the semester periods. Extensions
to these timelines may be granted, if circumstances warrant, through
the granting of an Incomplete (refer to Course-related
Procedures).
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