The Master of Arts in Learning and Performance Technology (previously Instructional Systems Development) requires a minimum of 30 credits hours starting Fall 2022. Students must complete seven required core courses (totaling 21 credits), three elective courses (totaling 9 credits) and complete a professional portfolio.
Benefits of Program
- Provides a strong foundation in instructional design, performance improvement, instructional systems development, and training principles;
- Practical application of learned skills through internships and project-based course work;
- Accomplished program faculty are scholars, instructional designers, developers and training managers;
- Program faculty are practitioners and work as instructional designers, developers, training managers, and instructional technologists;
- Students will develop a portfolio of work samples;
- No tests, all assignments are real world, project-based assignments;
- Choice of electives and course project assignments.
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Required Courses (21 credits)
LAPT/EDUC 602: Instructional Systems Development
Online (Fall, Spring & Summer)
This course includes the elements of analysis, design, development, implementation and evaluation. An emphasis is placed on micro-level design issues including analysis, design and evaluation. Learners work through the ISD process to assemble a training or education project that is ready for implementation. A design plan and lesson plan is constructed to allow learners real-world experience in the ISD process. The online section of this course is taught using an asynchronous delivery format.
Prerequisite: Consent of the LAPT department.
LAPT/EDUC 603: Analysis for Design and Evaluation
Online (Fall, Spring, Summer)
This course focuses on the assessment, design and evaluation stages of the ADDIE model of instructional systems design. It promotes a sequential process through which instructional designers define performance problems, analyze performance gaps, identify root causes, propose training solutions, design appropriate learning events and craft evaluation strategies to measure the efficacy of their recommended approaches. Students will prepare multiple project documents throughout this real-world, real-time applied learning event, culminating in a final project portfolio of professional-grade ISD work. The online section of this course is taught using an asynchronous delivery format. This course was formerly known as Instructional Systems Development II
Prerequisite: LAPT/EDUC 602 (ISD Section) and consent of department
LAPT/EDUC 671: Principles of Training and Development
Online (Fall and Spring)
This course examines key principles relevant to training and development. They include: the role of training in an organization, adult learning theory, needs assessment, training methodology, organizational support, resources and constraints, evaluation of training, and managing the training function. Issues that influence training implementation, such as ethics and interpretation, are also addressed. The online section of this course is taught using an asynchronous delivery format.
Prerequisite: LAPT/EDUC 602 and consent of the LAPT department.
LAPT/EDUC 771: Research Designs in Learning and Performance
Online (Fall and Spring)
This applied research course is designed for Master’s students in the LAPT graduate program. The course focuses on the process of applying research design models and methodologies to the analysis of performance problems or opportunities for organizations, teams or individual workers. Students will develop and apply a variety of systematic measurement and evaluation tools, including extant (existing) data research, surveys, benchmarking, and focus groups while conducting performance and root cause analysis in the context of needs assessments or front end analysis. A statistical analysis software package will be used to analyze and report research data. This course is taught using an asynchronous delivery format. This course was formerly Research Designs in Education.
Prerequisites: LAPT/EDUC 602, 603, 605 and/or consent of LAPT department.
LAPT/EDUC 794: LAPT Capstone Experience
Online (Fall, Spring and Summer)
This course provides the advanced graduate student in the LAPT program the opportunity to analyze an educational or training problem, and apply the complete instructional systems development process to the design and development of a comprehensive instructional program to meet the needs determined by the analysis. The student is expected to design a project plan and follow the plan as he or she designs and develops all the instructional material necessary to support delivery of the comprehensive instructional system. The instructional system is expected to include an evaluation component and reflect the proper application of LAPT principles in the overall design. This course is taught using an asynchronous delivery format.
Prerequisite: LAPT/EDUC 792T, completion of 10 out of 12 program courses and consent of department.
LAPT/EDUC 796: Human Performance Technology
Online (Fall)
This course focuses on a synergistic examination of the current issues related to the design, development, delivery and evaluation of training systems for employee training in industry and business. Corporate organization, financial, social and political factors are analyzed in terms of their effect upon the efficacy and efficiency of such training programs. The students are expected to research such factors and their synergistic effect upon corporations’ internal efforts to respond to training needs.
Prerequisite: LAPT/EDUC 602 and consent of department.
LAPT/EDUC 605: Adult Learner
Online (Fall, Spring and Summer)
This course covers adult learning theories, instructional strategies and other aspects of adult learning and human performance improvement, with a special emphasis on the implications for design, delivery, evaluation and the application of learning. Other selected topics include alternative methods to traditional learning/training, and the characteristics, motivation and learning preferences of adult learners. The online section of this course is taught using an asynchronous delivery format.
Prerequisite: LAPT/EDUC 602 and/or consent of department
Or
LAPT 610: The Business of Learning and Performance
Online (Fall)
Through exploration and application of interactive and iterative business development processes, this course blends the use of organizational development; best business principles and practices; and industry trends in designing, delivering, and evaluating classroom, Internet, blended learning, and self-directed learning. It integrates the traditional role of an instructional designer into a complementary, but new role of solving performance problems in an organization.
* LAPT/EDUC 602 must be an LAPT section of the course.
** LAPT/EDUC 771 and LAPT/EDUC 794 must be an LAPT section of the course.
Choice of Three (3) Elective Courses (9 Credits)
Students enrolled in the LAPT Master’s program may select 9credits of electives from the below group of courses.
LAPT/EDUC 641: The Online Classroom
Online (Fall only)
In this course, various aspects of computer-mediated communication and instruction are examined. A broad range of distance education issues and applications are explored from a theoretical and practical standpoint. This course is taught using an asynchronous delivery format.
Prerequisite: LAPT/EDUC 602 recommended and consent of department.
LAPT/EDUC 643: Principles of eLearning Education
Online (Spring only)
This course provides students with a foundation in history, theory, organization, technologies and instructional procedures used in distance education. Students gain experience with several distance-education delivery systems. This course is taught using an asynchronous delivery format.
Prerequisite: LAPT/EDUC 602 recommended and consent of department.
LAPT/EDUC 647: Corporate eLearning Training
Online
This course identifies how to maximize utilization of organizational technology to deliver distance training. Students will examine case studies to explore current practices and future trends in business application of distance learning. This course is taught using an asynchronous delivery format. There will be some optional synchronous sessions that will be recorded for later viewing.
Prerequisite: LAPT/EDUC 602 and consent of department
LAPT/EDUC 648: Consulting for Learning and Performance Technology
Online (Spring only)
Students examine the various roles, functions, skills and knowledge needed of internal and external consultants to help solve human performance problems.
Prerequisite: LAPT/EDUC 602 and consent of department.
LAPT/EDUC 649: Trends and Issues in Learning and Performance Technology
Online (Alternating Summers)
This course provides participants with awareness of strategies, practices, and ideas concerning training and development issues. It is designed for students to explore “real world” applications for programs, services and operations in a training environment. Professionals in the training field will be featured as guest speakers. This course is offered in alternating summer sessions. This course is taught using a synchronous online delivery format.
Prerequisite: LAPT/EDUC 602 and consent of department.
LAPT/EDUC 681: Survey of Instructional Technology Applications
Online (Fall and Spring)
First in a series of three Instructional Technology courses, this course exposes students to a range of multi-media tools used to design interactive instruction including computer-based training (CBT) and web-based training (WBT) products. Through analysis and hands-on experience with each tool, the students identify the properties of each tool, describe the strengths and limitations and evaluate their application for different learning events. This course formerly was EDUC 640. The online section of this course is taught using a synchronous delivery format.
This course requires the purchase of Captivate software. The current semester’s requirement may be found on the Textbooks and Materials page.
Prerequisite: LAPT/EDUC 602 (may concurrently take 602 and 681) and consent of department
LAPT/EDUC 682: Instructional Technology Design and Development
Online (Fall and Spring)
Second in the series of Instructional Technology courses, this course continues a student’s development process as he/she applies ISD principles to the development and delivery of instruction using a computer-based training model. This course formerly was EDUC 610. This course is taught using a synchronous online delivery format.
Prerequisite: LAPT/EDUC 640 or 681 required and consent of department
LAPT/EDUC 683: Multi-Media Project Management
Online (Fall and Spring)
The last of three Instructional Technology courses, this lab-based course allows students to apply project development and multi-media design skills by completing an industry-based design project. The course is divided into four or more discrete modules that teach specific multi-media development applications required to execute and complete the design project. By the conclusion of the course, each student possesses comprehensive knowledge of the applications and how to apply them to a multi-media design project. This course formerly was EDUC 620. This course is taught using an asynchronous delivery format. There will be some synchronous sessions that will be recorded for later viewing.
Prerequisite: LAPT/EDUC 640 or 681 required and consent of department
LAPT/EDUC 690: Individual Projects (requires director’s approval)
Portfolio
All M.A. students in the Learning and Performance Technology degree program are required to submit a professional portfolio of course-related work samples that reflects their accomplishments throughout their tenure in the program. UMBC LAPT Portfolio Requirements and Portfolio Checklist
Academic Standards
Students must earn a grade of “B” or higher in their first six credits. Students must maintain a 3.0 grade point average (“B”) to graduate. If students do not maintain a 3.0 GPA their matriculation in the program may be discontinued.
For more details on policies and procedures visit the UMBC Graduate School website.
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