Preferences of M.S. in Instructional Technology Students for Selected Instructional Program Characteristics
Abstract: This paper describes findings from a case study that examined the program design preferences of the existing population of M.S. in Instructional Technology (MSIT) students matriculating in an on campus, open enrollment program model at the University of Tennessee (UT) in Knoxville during the Fall semester of 2010. The MSIT population, 31 students, were contacted via email and asked to complete a 20 item electronic survey. Nineteen students (61% of the population) completed the online survey. The survey was designed to determine the students’ preferences for selected program characteristics, in particular their preference for future program format (on campus, online, or blended), program pacing, anticipated workload, and enrollment pattern. The findings from this study provided information to inform MSIT program redesign decisions at UT. These findings also may be of use to others involved in designing online programs to meet the needs of similar groups of students.