NWCCU Accreditation Narrative for Curriculum and Instruction MEd Programs
(Professional Educator, Technology Education, Educational Researcher)

Question 1 – What did you do on assessment this year?

Master’s candidates have two options regarding their final assessment. One is to complete a professional paper in EDCI 575, Professional Paper and Project. This is for the Professional Educator and Technology Education options. The other option is to complete a master’s thesis in EDCI 590, Masters Thesis. This is for the Educational Researcher option. Also, exit instructor evaluations help determine the quality of course delivery and student success.

Question 2 – What data did you collect?

Master's Level Professional Paper and Project course pass rates and Master’s Thesis pass rates were collected. Course evaluations were also considered.

Question 3 – What did your review of the data indicate for you?

  1. Students in the Professional Paper course, EDCI 575, all completed the course with an A as their grade. Fall semester 2015, four of four students completed, Spring semester 2016 three of four student completed with one taking an incomplete, and Summer semester 2016, three of three completed the course indicating they successfully completed their MEd in Curriculum and Instruction. Students in the Technology Education Option take EDCI 575 as well therefore their pass rates are included in the data previously mentioned. The student who took an incomplete is finishing the class fall semester 2016.
  2. Two students in the Educational Research program passed their Master’s Thesis class, EDCI 590.
  3. In our programs in C&I we have a history of successfully preparing our students because we work closely with them as advisors and instructors and typically do not allow them to move forward unless they are prepared to move forward.

Question 4 – As a result of your review of the data, what did you do?

  1. All of our students in MEd programs are doing well. One reason could be students in the Professional Paper program receive double support at the end of their program because they get feedback during the course from both their advisor and the course instructor.
  2. We are in the process of discussing how we can make our programs more seamless. We currently have courses for students to take but they can take them at any time during the program. To make our program more seamless we would like to “map” our curriculum so students know what courses will be taught and when they should take them.
  3. For the MEd, Professional Educator Option in C & I, students currently take courses in any order. We are discussing having students take EDCI 506, Applied Educational Research, one or two semesters prior to EDCI 575, Professional Paper and Project, to help prepare them for their final course (EDCI 575).
  4. We are also discussing having one application date for master’s students in order to develop cohorts and offer courses in a consecutive order that makes more sense to students.