EDCI 670: Integrated Project

Guidelines for Nonthesis Master's Degree
Students in Educational Technology

Purpose:
The Educational Technology (Ed Tech) program area of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction has adopted the use of an integrated project as an exit requirement for all non-thesis master's degree students.  The intent of the integrated project is to allow you to demonstrate the knowledge and skills that you have obtained during your master's program of study through a project of some sort.  You are expected to propose, plan, and conduct a project, approved by your graduate committee, that synthesizes what you have learned in your master's program in a way that is consistent with your own interests.  The exact nature of the project is a joint decision between you and the members of your graduate committee; most students complete either a small-scale research project or an instructional design and development project.  As part of the formal requirements, you will: a) prepare a proposal for the project, b) conduct the project, c) prepare a formal written report of your project, d) make an oral presentation of your project, and e) defend your project before your graduate committee.  Typically, the integrated project spans the final two semesters of the master's program of study.  It is the capstone of your academic program.

Although your project can be on any topic that meets the approval of your graduate committee, it cannot be the outcome of a previous class, internship, or work experience.

Preliminary Steps
1.  Before you begin proposal development and the integrated project, explore potential ideas with your major advisor, committee members, and other graduate students.  Review examples of previous integrated projects.

2.    Through informal discussions with members of your graduate committee, identify a faculty member with whom you wish to work.  In most cases, this will be your major advisor, but it could be another member of your committee.  Settle on a tentative topic for your integrated project.

EDCI 670 ? 1 Credit (Phase 1)
3.  No later than the next to the last semester of your program of study, enroll in EDCI 670, Educational Technology Integrated Project, for 1 hour of credit.  This is the proposal development phase of the project.

4.  During the semester in which you are enrolled in one credit hour of EDCI 670 (the proposal development phase) you are to create a proposal for your project. The proposal must include the following components:

• Statement of the purpose of the project:
  Write an abstract or synopsis that describes the purpose of your proposed project and an overview of what it will entail.
  
  
• Review of the literature:
  Briefly review the literature that is most pertinent to your proposed project.  While this is clearly crucial for a research-oriented integrated project, even instructional developmental projects should have a relevant literature base addressing the topic and the proposed instructional approach.
  
  
• Project plan:
  Describe in detail exactly what it is you plan to do.  For a research-oriented project, describe the methodology.  For a development project, describe your systematic instructional design process including planning, implementation, and evaluation activities.
  
  
• Timeline and Budget:
  Outline the timeline of events that you will follow in completing your project.  Identify any costs associated with your project.
  
  
• References:
  Include a bibliography of all cited references in APA format.

5.  Submit a printed copy of the proposal to the faculty member with whom you are working for preliminary approval.  Following preliminary approval of your faculty advisor, submit copies of your proposal to all members of your graduate committee.  In order to give your committee members adequate time to review your proposal and to give you time to make revisions, you should submit it no later than the end of the 12th week of the semester (or the end Module 2 during the Summer Session. 

6.  Schedule a meeting to present and defend your proposal to the members of your graduate committee no later than the end of the 14th week of the semester (or the end Module 2 during the Summer Session).  The proposal phase of your integrated project is not considered completed, and a grade for EDCI 670 will not be awarded, until all committee members have approved and signed your proposal.  You will not be permitted to register for Phase 2 until Phase 1 is complete.

 EDCI 670 - 2 Credits

1.  No later than the semester in which you expect to complete your degree, enroll in EDCI 670, Educational Technology Integrated Project, for 2 hours of credit.  During this phase of the project, you will complete your proposed activities and present the results.  Note: Phase 1 must be successfully completed before you can register for Phase 2.

2.  Conduct your project as planned.  If your project changes from what was approved by your committee in your proposal, consult with and obtain the approval of all committee members regarding the necessary changes and the rationale behind the changes.

3.  Prepare a formal written report of your project.  Follow departmental formatting guidelines for preparation of graduate theses.  In most cases, your final report will include: a cover page (with signature blanks for committee members), abstract, and introduction, review of the literature, methods and procedures, results (i.e., research findings for a research study or development products) and appropriate evaluation information for a development project, conclusions (i.e., what you learned), and references.  Be sure to use APA format.

4.  No later than the 8th week of the semester (or end of Module 1 in the summer), contact your faculty advisor to schedule an oral presentation (30 minutes) and committee defense (60 minutes) of your project.  It is your responsibility to work with your advisor to arrange for any equipment needed for your presentation and defense.

5.  Submit a printed copy of your written report to the faculty member with whom you are working for preliminary approval.  Following preliminary approval of your faculty advisor, submit copies of your project report to all members of your graduate committee.  The written report must be submitted to all members of your committee no later than 2 weeks prior to the scheduled date of your oral presentation and committee defense. [Note: deadlines may have to be moved up significantly during the summer.  If committee members are unavailable, it may not be possible to complete during the summer.  Please plan accordingly.]

6.  Make your public oral presentation as scheduled.  A typical oral presentation should be approximately 25 min. in length with another 5 min. for questions.  The presentation is a factor in the project evaluation.

7.  Following your oral presentation, meet with your graduate committee to present and defend your project and final report. Your integrated project is not complete until all members of your committee have approved the final draft of your project report.  When all final corrections are completed, submit a printed and electronic copy of your final report to your major advisor.

Evaluation

You will be evaluated on the quality of your:

a) proposal
b) written report
c) oral presentation
d) committee defense

Last update: May 2005