Programme description for Multimedia and Educational Technology, Master's Programme (2021–2023)

On successful completion of the programme, the student should have the following learning outcome defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

KNOWLEDGE

The candidate:

• can review multimedia and educational technology as a research field
• understands the relationship between interactive design and learning theories
• has advanced knowledge of deliverance platforms for multimedia content
• has a thorough understanding of 3D visualization
• can assess the value of games and simulation in E-learning systems
• has advanced knowledge of human-machine interfaces
• has advanced knowledge about how to apply theoretical models to identified research problems

SKILLS

The candidate:

• can design and create an advanced and effective educational multimedia system, using state of the art technologies, based on acknowledged pedagogical and aesthetical principles
• masters multimedia technology, software and hardware, on a professional level
• can create and use interactive content and web design to promote and enhance media projects
• has control of the formatting and distribution of content across major digital media platforms
• has the programming skills to produce advanced educational technology content
• can carry out an independent, limited research or development project in accordance with applicable norms for research ethics

GENERAL COMPETENCE

The candidate:

• can apply their knowledge and skills to new areas to pursue advanced task and projects
• can communicate extensive independent work by mastering the relevant forms of expression used in research and development in multimedia and educational technology
• can disseminate their knowledge of applied and theoretical problems and solutions, orally and in writing, to their peers and to a general audience
• can evaluate work in their field, including their own work, using professional terminology
• can contribute to innovation in academic and industrial projects
• can analyse relevant professional and research ethical issues

The programme delivers candidates with high competence in multimedia and educational technology. The emphasis in the programme is on knowledge of existing and new technology, new tools and new methods for dissemination of knowledge through the use of modern educational technology. The teaching will reflect the wide range of branches the candidate can work in after graduation, ranging from the development of E-learning material for traditional school and university education, training of employees in firms and as employees in companies using E-learning and educational technologies. The programme focuses on educational technology, and all topics are helping to underpin the knowledge necessary to develop good E-learning modules and topics. A thesis of 45 credits in the third and fourth semester, gives the students the possibility for specialization in a particular field of industry.

Multimedia is an area where companies and professionals both cooperate and compete internationally as well as nationally. The literature in the programme is in English, and English is the language of teaching. This will prepare the students for an international working life and teach them to communicate about their field of expertise in an international environment.

The students are given the opportunity to take parts of the programme at partner universities abroad. Full-time master´s students can take the third and/or fourth semester at a partner university abroad. Credits awarded at the foreign university may be transferred into the student´s programme at the University of Agder (UiA). In order to become an exchange student, the courses/thesis work that the student is planning to undertake at the foreign institution must be given a preliminary approval by the student´s programme manager at UiA, and a written student contract must be signed with the International Education Office. The Faculty of Engineering and Science has a large number of partner universities with which student exchange can be arranged in an efficient manner. The master´s programme is open to incoming exchange students from foreign universities, who may follow one or two semesters of the programme.

Students who have been given conditional admission to the programme must meet all the admission requirements before they can pass into the 2nd year of the programme. The student must have passed at least 45 ECTS in the Master´s programme before registering for the Master´s Thesis. All courses that lead directly to the thesis work must be successfully completed. Every semester the students must prepare and update individual education plans. Students are expected to take full responsibility for their own learning and personal progress in keeping with their individual education plans.

The requirements that the students have to meet in order to graduate are described in the different course descriptions under the headline "Examination requirement"and "Assessment methods and criteria".

On successful completion of the master's degree, candidates will be able to move directly into the field of multimedia industry and enterprises where information is central. Central areas of work will be development of digital learning systems for the public and private sector, for example the public education system, the movie-, TV- or other media industry, the structural engineering, offshore industry, museums/galleries and advertising agencies. The Master´s programme in multimedia and educational technology provides the basis for continuing in education and research in Norway or abroad, for example with a doctorate.

The Faculty has its own doctoral programme in engineering and science, and a candidate from a master´s programme in multimedia and educational technology can be qualified for this programme.

Together with the students the university regularly arranges trips abroad for the students to visit relevant firms and universities. These trips are voluntarily and not a requirement in the study programme. The students must cover the expenses of the trip themselves.

If a student gets the opportunity to work with a company in their location, or if a student chooses to work together with a company in a course, the student will have to cover the travel expenses.

A compulsory course in Health, Safety and Environment is required for students admitted to the programme.

It is a requirement that all students at UiA have their own portable computer (laptop) for use in teaching and examinations, see Examination Regulations, University of Agder, §12d