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Leading & Learning in a Digital Age

Accepting applications for this topic summer of 2025

Program/Degree

Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma (4 course program) towards the MEd Interdisciplinary

Delivery

Fully Online

Duration

One year (4 consecutive terms)

Contacts

Graduate Program Administrator:
Cheryl Ohly
Email

Academic Co-coordinators:
Dr. Barb Brown
Email

Dr. Michele Jacobsen
Email

Program Overview

Join us in this award winning, fully online Master of Education program offered through the Educational Studies in Learning Sciences and acknowledged with a UNESCO Open Education Resource (OER) Implementation Award in 2021!

Digital innovation and learning in multimodal contexts have become a global focus. Explore the complexities of inclusive and high-quality digital learning environments using online pedagogies. This four-course topic in Learning Sciences is fully online (mostly asynchronous with a few synchronous sessions scheduled each term) and designed with flexibility for working professionals. Learn alongside instructors and invited guests who are internationally recognized in the educational technology field and experience a highly interactive online learning experience with zero textbook costs (ZTC).

Take risks and learn how to use innovative technologies, develop your social learning network, and critically examine the literature and research in the field. Plan to make a difference in your work context to help others navigate the complexities of living and working a digital world. This program attracts teachers and professionals in educational environments as well as professionals in other fields and disciplinary areas, world-wide.

Program Details

Courses in this program are offered fully online. Courses are held in both an asynchronous environment (D2L) and a synchronous (real-time) environment (Zoom) which allows instructors to virtually meet and talk with students and experience a live exchange of ideas, hear class presentations and do group work with access to a whiteboard. For additional information regarding online delivery, refer to the eLearn website.

Topic Goals:

  • Develop and critically assess authentic interdisciplinary and technology-rich learning designs and environments
  • Demonstrate technological fluency and competencies in online pedagogies and technological literacies
  • Advocate for high quality digital learning environments informed by understanding of current trends and issues in the field
  • Develop empowering and proactive teaching and learning practices in schools or other work contexts that promote active citizenry in a participatory and digital age

Target Audience

  • Teachers/instructors with an interest in designing and leading digital learning environments in primary, secondary or post-secondary environments or other work contexts
  • Educators and consultants who work with supporting technology use
  • School and district leaders
  • Professionals in educational development, communications and other fields

A registration package will be sent to new students after they have been admitted. Registration for the summer term will be available in late winter. Fall and Winter registration opens in the spring. Your Graduate Program Administrator will send more information about registration to you.

Fee details are available through the University Calendar. An explanation of fees is available on the Faculty of Graduate Studies' website.

The University of Calgary offers multiple ways to meet the cost of your education. Please refer to the Awards, Scholarships and Bursaries page to learn more about options available to students. For additional information, please contact Student Financial Support.


Congratulations to the graduate students in the 2019-2020 cohort and 2020-2021 cohort for publishing Ethical Use of Technology in Digital Learning Environments: Graduate Student Perspectives, Volume 1 and Volume 2.


Program Schedule & Course Descriptions

  • Program begins each Summer term (refer to the Academic Schedule for specific dates)
  • Outlines are normally available 1-2 weeks prior to the start of term in D2L
  • 3 units per course

Term 1 - Summer

Interdisciplinary Learning and Technology

In this course, students will examine online pedagogies and the implications for designing and leading interdisciplinary and technology-rich learning and different ways of demonstrating learning. High quality teaching to support learning for all students includes flexible and innovative designs with access to appropriate technology and digital learning environments.

Registration info:
EDER 678.67 L03 (1124)

Term 2 - Fall

Technological Literacies

In this course, students will examine the role of technological literacy in today's learning landscape. Students will consider the shifts that have occurred in developing competencies in technological literacies and the implications of emerging trends and innovations in new literacies. In this course, students will examine the relationship between literacy and the environment and how to foster diversity of language and lead literacy practices and experiences in contemporary classrooms and in an interconnected world.

Registration info:
EDER 678.68 L02 (72139)

Term 3 - Winter

Ethics and Technology

In this course, students will examine safe and ethical use of technology in digital learning environments. Students will explore the ubiquitous influence and complexities of technology in a participatory culture and the evolving issues that confront communities. Students will explore how elements of a participatory culture and the ethical implications involved, can serve to support and change how curriculum outcomes are approached and how to navigate and lead in a complex culture where the line between consumers and producers is blurring.

Registration info:
EDER 678.69 L02 (12087)

Term 4 - Spring

Leading Citizenry in a Digital Age

In this course, students will examine the evolutionary nature of social networks, digital citizenship and the complexities of leadership and fostering citizenry in digital age and advancing online teaching and learning. Students will formulate a responsive and empowering model of digital citizenship that enable high quality teaching and learning with safe and ethical use of technology and with careful consideration and critique of the issues and challenges facing today's schools.

Registration info:
EDER 678.70 L01 (30356)

Learning is never complete. Each day, each class, I learn something new from faculty, classmates or the research I do. In my younger years, I did not think that I was capable of reaching this level, but this program made it clear that it was attainable and that the learning is indeed valuable to the work I do.

marcia-steeves

Marcia Steeves, MEd

Leading & Learning in a Digital Age

Marcia graduated with her MEd in 2023 and is an Academic Integrity and Copyright Officer. Read more about Marcia's journey

Explore more student testimonials

nicole-neutzling

Nicole Neutzling

"Effective, engaging learning can take place completely online. I developed strong supportive relationships with my colleagues and instructors that I never thought would be possible in a fully virtual environment."

joel-templeman

Joel Templeman

" Being able to bring your own experiences into the class and then apply it back directly to your situation makes the learning authentic and actionable."

heather-van-streun

Heather van Streun

"I first was introduced to Werklund by a colleague who had rave reviews of the faculty. I chose Werklund because of the variety of programming, the flexibility within the programs, and the affordability."