Recommendations for Choosing a Master's Program in Technology Education

1. Technology Education Master’sProgram Advisors’ Recommendations(Survey Results)Jim Flowers, Ball State University

2. Team Dr. Jim FlowersProfessor of Technology & Director of Online EducationAdvisor for Ball State’s MA in Technology Education Dr. Edward J. Lazaros Assistant Professor of Technology & Coordinator/Advisor for Ball State’s Master of Arts in Career and Technical Education

3. Two studies • Lazaros, E., & Flowers, J. (2014). Keys to succeeding in a master’s program: Advice from technology education graduate advisors / faculty. Technology and Engineering Teacher, 73(5), 34-39. • Flowers, J., & Lazaros, E. (2013). Where to earn a master’s degree. Technology & Engineering Teacher Electronic Supplement, 72(8), 1-16.

4. Passages in this presentation also appear in • Lazaros, E., & Flowers, J. (2014). Keys to succeeding in a master’s program: Advice from technology education graduate advisors / faculty. Technology and Engineering Teacher, 73(5), 34-39.

5. Full dataset • For the entire list of anonymous data in this research containing all recommendations by all program advisors, edited only by removing identifying information, see: http://jcflowers1.iweb.bsu.edu/pres/2014ITEEA/AdviceRaw.pdf

6. I’m thinking about earning a master’s degree, but I really need some advice first.

7. Graduate Advisor Survey • All 25 programs listed in the Engineering & Technology Teacher Education Directory 2011-2012 (Rogers, 2012) as having at least one master’s graduate • Nine additional programs not listed in that directory identified through an Internet search • Target survey population = 34.

8. Protocol • IRB approval • Email request to participate in October 2012, with a reminder sent two weeks later • Online survey open for one month

9. Sample Filter • Administering, advising students, or teaching in a degree program most closely associated with technology education • If not, then a request to forward the recruitment message to the most appropriate individual at their institution

10. Instrument • Online Qualtrics survey • Section 1: up-to-date information to inform initial article on “Where to Earn a Degree.” (n=20, not anonymous) • Section 2: advice for potential graduate students (n = 21, anonymous)

11. Typical Information from Section 1

12. Section 2 “Please write one sentence, maybe more, giving us your best advice to graduate students (or prospective graduate students) in each of the following stages: • Trying to decide whether this is the right time for me to start a master’s program. • Choosing which program and institution is the best fit for me. • Making application to graduate school. • Succeeding as a graduate student. • Conducting master’s level research.”

13. Analysis • Common themes • Representative quotations

14. 1. Is This The Right Time?

15. 1. Is This the Right Time?Understand your goals. • “Investigate your short-term andlong-term personal and professional goals…Why do I want to pursue a graduate degree? Self-fulfillment and improvement? A quest for knowledge? Increased earning potential?” • These goals are individual, “there is no single answer to this question.”

16. 1. Is This the Right Time?Timing • “It is always the right time.” • When you can commit “a minimum of 20 hours per week…” • “Contact faculty at that university to discuss your current situation and future career goals.”

17. 2. Choosing the Program & Institution

18. 2. Choosing the Program & InstitutionGoals and fit • “Determining your goals for coming to graduate school will help us help you determine if and how your program fits your goals.” Therefore, • “Talk to faculty [but also to] students in the program and graduates of the program to get a ‘feel’ for [it].” • “If you are more interested in research, consider a research -orient institution. If you are primarily interested in teaching, you may want to look at an university that emphasizes teaching more than research.”

19. 2. Choosing the Program & InstitutionCharacteristics • “length of program, costs, course titles and descriptions, and the institution.” • “Quality, cost, convenience.” • “… scholarships”

20. 2. Choosing the Program & InstitutionProgram Theme, for example • “This program is ‘teacher-focused.’ It is unique in that it allows educators the opportunity to complete multiple K-12 endorsements…” • “This program is designed to directly address national standards and state licensure standards…”

21. 2. Choosing the Program & InstitutionProgram Faculty • “Select the university [that] has a strong group of faculty that are interested and focused on the teaching and learning process.”

22. 2. Choosing the Program & InstitutionLocation • “This can be geographically made and typically is...” • “Our program is offered in an asynchronous format. ”

23. 2. Choosing the Program & InstitutionChallenge • “Graduate studies should be about challenging yourself and that may require you to go into a program that is outside of your comfort zone.”

24. 3. Making Application to Graduate School

25. 3. Making ApplicationGet informed. • “Investigate the application process and requirements...” • “Carefully read The Graduate Catalog and determine that institution's policies, procedures, and schedule. ”

26. 3. Making ApplicationMake contact. • “Meet with a program advisor first.” • “Make face to face contact in person or electronically and engage in dialog prior to applying.” • However, “Fully online programs normally allow students to also apply for admission online and not require phone or live contact to pursue admissions.”

27. 3. Making ApplicationStart early. • “Start early and give yourself enough time… Complete all application materials well in advance to provide enough time for review and acceptance before classes begin.”

28. 3. Making ApplicationFollow the guidelines. • “Follow all the directions. Follow up that every thing has been received...” • “Make sure it is complete”

29. 3. Making ApplicationTake it seriously. • “Do well as you can on the GRE and make sure your references know you well for areas related to graduate education. Your written sample has a lot of weight and so do your experiences.” • “In making application to graduate school, I recommend approaching it as if you were making application for a job you really want. Pay close attention to details and provide professional-level correspondence, etc.”

30. 4. Succeeding as a Graduate Student

31. 4. Succeeding as a Graduate Student“Time management” • “Budget your time.” • “Do not wait for deadlines to complete your work, be pro-active.” • “Online education is both challenging and rewarding. Success often depends on good organizational skills and a dedication to task associated to the programs. Staying current with online classes is essential to be highly effective and successful.”

32. 4. Succeeding as a Graduate StudentWork closely with faculty and advisor • “You need to engage your professors on a regular basis.” • “Even if you are an online student, personal contact and support is key.” • “Do not hesitate to communicate with your course instructors…” • “Connect with your advisor …” • “Get involved as much as possible with your faculty, other graduate students, and support staff of the program/university.”

33. 4. Succeeding as a Graduate StudentFocus • “focus” • “Engage deeply in the program.” • “Take time to study, and if you can, go full-time on campus.” • “Recognize that the engagement with content must occur at a deeper level than in your undergraduate work.”

34. 4. Succeeding as a Graduate StudentBe willing to give up some things. • “Ask family members to take up the slack around the house so that you can concentrate and be prompt. To perform well, you should expect to give up some other things, such as choir practice, coaching, and other elective service.”

35. 4. Succeeding as a Graduate StudentRead and write. • “Be prepared to read, read, read, and write, write, write. Graduate schools generally require much more reading, research, and writing than undergraduate programs…”

36. 4. Succeeding as a Graduate StudentLet yourself get into it. • “Work hard, value the environment, and enjoy the opportunity.” • “Follow your interests.”

37. 5. Conducting Master’s Level Research

38. 5. Conducting Master’s Level ResearchSelecting a research topic: advisor • “Talk with your advisor and attempt to connect your research with the focus area of your advisor.” • “If you have a research assistantship, then consider designing your own research project to compliment the research being conducted by your supervisor.”

39. 5. Conducting Master’s Level ResearchSelecting a research topic: personal • “select a topic you would consider your ‘passion.’” • “Do something that is meaningful to you and to students.”

40. 5. Conducting Master’s Level ResearchSelecting a research topic: meaningful • “Explore big ideas as much as possible in the early stages of your graduate studies.” • “Focus and application in the real world.” • “Work closely with your committee chair and conduct research that is important to the profession.”

41. 5. Conducting Master’s Level ResearchReview the literature very well. • “Do exhaustive literature reviews prior to developing your proposals as well as during your research.” • “Being thorough is the most important thing. Conduct complete literature reviews…”

42. 5. Conducting Master’s Level ResearchResearchmethods & statistics courses • “Take your Research Methods course as early in your program as possible.” • “Statistical analysis is common among all studies and understanding basic statistics and analysis techniques are essential.”

43. 5. Conducting Master’s Level ResearchGet an early start. • “Get your basics of research methods and statistics early enough in your career as a graduate student to know whether or not research is what you want to do.” • “You should start working on possible topics as soon as you start your course work.”

44. 5. Conducting Master’s Level ResearchMultitask and work hard. • “Be prepared to be doing lots of things simultaneously, and also feeling a little out of one's depth on most of them.”

45. 5. Conducting Master’s Level ResearchThink of yourself as a researcher. • “Accept the responsibility that a graduate degree IS a research degree, even at the master's level. Don't view research as a burden or requirement. Rather, consider it a responsibility to your field and an opportunity for yourself. Embrace this opportunity… Don't forget to pursue joint research with your faculty and peer graduate students.”

46. 5. Conducting Master’s Level ResearchGet help when you need it. • “Get writing and statistical help if needed.”

47. 5. Conducting Master’s Level ResearchUse sound research design & techniques. • “Report what you discover, not what you perceive to have discovered.” • “Learn to recognize quality research and study the methodologies associated with it. Replicate the qualities of good research and avoid the mistakes of mediocre or poor research.”

48. In all… • Graduate study may not be for everyone, but for those considering graduate study, the choice should be made after considering one’s goals, the timing of graduate school, and other personal and professional commitments. Working seriously and efficiently toward one’s goals while remaining in good communication with program faculty, especially a graduate advisor, could be keys to success.

49. Technology Education Master’sProgram Advisors’ Recommendations(Survey Results)Jim Flowers, Ball State University

50. “Technology Education Master’sProgram Advisors’ Recommendations”Comments? Questions? • This study: Lazaros, E., & Flowers, J. (2014). Keys to succeeding in a master’s program: Advice from technology education graduate advisors / faculty. Technology and Engineering Teacher, 73(5), 34-39. • Full anonymous dataset: http://jcflowers1.iweb.bsu.edu/pres/2014ITEEA/AdviceRaw.pdf • Companion study: Flowers, J., & Lazaros, E. (2013). Where to earn a master’s degree. Technology & Engineering Teacher Electronic Supplement, 72(8), 1-16.