Education Leadership Program Thrives Online

In fall 2014, Mason’s College of Education and Human Development launched a fully online Master's in Education Leadership. Ideal for those who are looking to move into leadership or administrative roles, this program prepares teachers to create and maintain improved learning environments that value diversity, continual knowledge acquisition, innovative and ethical decision making, and success for all students.

With the inaugural cohort nearly halfway done and a full Fall 2015 cohort ready to begin, the online program continues to match the demand and reputation of its face-to-face counterpart. So what’s their secret for success? Through an impressive team approach, faculty collaborate to build and teach the online courses as a cohesive and meaningful educational experience while granting a convenient and flexible format for full-time educators.

Fully Engaged Faculty

An Instructional Designer in Learning Support Services (LSS), Ying-Ying Kuo notes the successful partnership that she and the Education Leadership (EDLE) faculty have achieved in building a prominent online program together. She shares, “I am very proud of the EDLE faculty. Their growth in knowledge, capability, and efficacy has been my biggest motivator. I am honored to work with such a fabulous team.” Of course, this dedication goes beyond the course design process.

Adrienne Barker, a student in the inaugural online cohort, states, “The professors for this program are wonderful. They are so attentive and responsive. One of the fears of most students in an online program is not having access to staff to support them with their degree. For the EDLE Program, the opposite is the case. I find my professors to be extremely accessible and easy to reach, whether it’s via email, phone, or Skype.”

In fact, faculty members are taking their lessons learned in the online format and applying them for a better experience face-to-face. Dr. Anne-Marie Balzano, the EDLE Program Coordinator, notes, “There’s a whole different way of thinking about online learning. Our faculty has seen this as a real growth opportunity, and teaching online has also made us better face-to-face teachers.”

Coursework That Matters

Another strength of the online program is relevant and meaningful coursework. In addition to “two truths and a lie” icebreakers and “lost at sea” collaborative exercises, Dr. Balzano incorporates a school improvement project into her online section of EDLE 690. Because it applies to their current efforts and future goals, this project clearly seems to be the student favorite.

“We took a deep look at our school’s improvement plan with the intention of identifying the root causes for one of the weak areas. Then, we came up with a proposal of interventions that we can institute,” explains Sonya Wilson, another student in the original online cohort. “It has been exciting to see my classwork come alive in my school!”

Through meaningful coursework, students in this program become powerful and effective leaders in their own schools and communities, which is an aspiration that they all share. Barker adds, “I was inspired to enroll in the Education Leadership program because I firmly believe that great schools are a result of great leaders. I began to ask myself, ‘How can I make an even bigger impact than just on the students I teach?’ The answer for that was leadership. By encouraging and supporting teachers, I could expand my sphere of influence far past my own reach.”