What have IDS graduates
said about the program?
What makes IDS Online different from other programs?
What does it take to learn online?
What will I be doing as an IDS Online student?
How long is the program?
How is the program taught?
Who is my professor?
Who are my classmates?
How will I be graded?
How much will it cost?
How do I register?
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What have IDS graduates said about the program?
The following statements come
from a survey of IDS graduates:
"The educational experience
you will often reflect on will be one of pride and accomplishment,
growth and struggle, personal and professional. The
relationships with your colleagues and professor will
be one of risk and closeness, and more importantly of
support. The classes you will look forward to and the
exchanges will create new discoveries of educational
and personal philosophies that will assist you in your
journey to make a difference in your life and the lives
around you."
"I learned practical, useful information to use
within my classroom."
"My NLU experiences have propelled me into more
and more personal growth and development. I have a quest
for knowledge. I love collaboration with my peers. I
possess self-confidence in my profession I didn't have
before."
"I have never learned more about education. I changed
my whole attitude about teaching. I want my classes
to be democratic and child-centered. I want the kids
to buy into what they are doing!"
"My teacher action research changed the way I taught
forever! I would never go back to my 'old way' of teaching
or thinking."
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What makes IDS Online different from other programs?
Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS) has traditionally been a field-based
program that meets over the course of approximately twenty
months. IDS Online delivers the IDS program via the Internet
and avails faculty and students alike of the latest in educational
communications technology to facilitate innovation in curriculum
and instruction.
In the 120 year-old tradition
of National-Louis University, we are committed to advancing
progressive education in practical ways. In our teaching this
means we build a democratic community of learners, apply the
practical knowledge of experienced teachers, value personal
history, and encourage reflective practice.
Faculty are experienced educators,
and our students are practicing teachers with real-world experiences
and real-world challenges to work on during our journey together.
We start with these collective experiences and challenges
to build an "emergent" curriculum. This emergent curriculum
is constructed with rigor and flexibility in mind; the goal
is a greater understanding, using the knowledge we each bring
to share.
What does it take to learn online?
To be successful in online learning, you will need to:
* have access to a
cable modem or high-speed DSL connection;
* check your mail,
discussion, and classroom web site daily;
* practice/surf, post, reply, and be proactive in your
communication with your professor, small group members, and
other students in the class.
One rule of thumb is to tap
into your own experience and intuition as a teacher and try
to use the most effective means and strategies for communication.
A good first exercise is to
search the web, discover, and share a guideline or develop
a strategy for effective, engaging online discussion. This
may include posting facilitation tips, streamlining question
and answer techniques, exploring various ways to promote critical
thinking and analysis, and trying on different roles in discussion
groups. Finally, develop tasks for each group member, and
take part in a range of learning activities that can be conducted
via on-line discussion.
For more information on your
readiness and learning style, click here!
What will I be doing as an IDS Online student?
You will create and share innovative classroom projects, read
teacher-friendly materials, study your own teaching, enjoy
having a window into other classrooms, interact with supportive
colleagues, and learn to work and play with technology!
How long is the program?
The IDS online program is a 32-semester hour graduate program
that spans seven quarters, each quarter being approximately
10-11 weeks. The program ranges from 20-22 months.
How is the program taught?
An experienced core instructor will work with you over the
entire program. In addition, a faculty research advisor will
provide insight to advise and share information related to
your journaling, writing, and action research.
Who is my professor?
The IDS online program employs faculty
with diverse educational interests and backgrounds. Program
faculty are practitioner oriented, having direct experience
with K-12 learning environments. Our faculty have been classroom
teachers, curriculum specialists, or school principals. You
will have a core instructor who will facilitate the learning
experiences of your cohort, as well as a faculty research
advisor. You will also have a variety of resource instructors
who will address specific content areas.
Who are my classmates?
Students in a typical cohort will be teachers of many grade
levels and subject areas from a variety of rural and urban
school settings. Your classmates, like you, will be educational
professionals seeking an online alternative for exploring
teaching, learning, and curriculum; conducting action research;
and sustaining a collaborative community.
How will I be graded?
Some examples of typical kinds of assessment used in this
program are reflective journals, classroom logs, responses
to readings, active online participation, portfolio development,
and small and large group discussions. The nature and kinds
of assessment strategies to be used are discussed and agreed
upon by the instructor, group, and individual, so that learning
experiences are natural, fulfilling, and beneficial to all.
How much will it cost?
The standard graduate semester hour tuition is $513 per hour.
Tuition is subject to change for groups that begin after July
1, 2004. For
information on financial aid and payment options, click
here.
How do I register?
For information on applying to the program and registering,
click here.
