Satisfactory completion of each course in the Certificate Program requires a project, report, or participation for demonstrating and evaluating competency in the subject matter. The assessment methods are intended to be an integral part of the learning process. Through the projects, you explore topics in more depth and gain practical application skills. Through the reports, you synthesize what was learned and its value for you. The projects and reports also comprise a portfolio of work that you keep for future reference.

In the Self-Paced Track, each core module requires a project that applies the content to a situation of your choosing, within boundaries set forth in the module. Your advisor is available for consultation or questions at any point in the project.

The courses use project-based learning because it is a powerful tool that helps to:

• apply concepts to real situations that meet your interests, job demands, or organization's needs.
• gain practice in planning and designing elements of a distance teaching/learning system.
• develop decision-making and problem-solving strategies.
• gain a deeper understanding of principles and methods.
• demonstrate your developing knowledge and skills.

The project is typically reported in a paper (approximately ten to twelve pages, double spaced) submitted to your advisor for feedback. However, in consultation with your advisor, you may decide to submit a work-based product that incorporates module concepts. A work-based product may be a planning document; or it may use other media such as audiotape, videotape, CD-ROM, or World Wide Web.

We encourage module projects that coincide with on-the-job work projects. Many Certificate Program participants have used the module projects as an opportunity to accomplish a piece of planning, development, design, or evaluation for their organizations.

Many electives in the Certificate Program require a summary report to earn credit for completion. The report is done soon after completing a course, and it is shared with your advisor via telephone, electronic mail, or in writing (equivalent to approximately three pages, double-spaced).

Reports are a valuable tool for deepening your understanding and application of new ideas. Thus, the electives use report-based learning to help you to:

• assess and integrate the most important things learned--new knowledge, skills, or perspectives.
• identify potential uses of new knowledge to improve your understanding and application of distance education components.
• identify the value of the learning experience for your professional or personal development.

Courses conducted online via the Internet/Web, including the collaborative track core modules and the Internet seminar electives, use activity-based learning that involves:

• Participation in weekly online activities with a required mimumum number of substantive postings per week. Substantive means that a posting (electronic message) demonstrates higher-level thinking processes of analysis, synthesis, or reflection to foster knowledge construction and application.

• Completion of all required learning activities with demonstrated competency in understanding and applying major concepts and principles.

• Development of skills in evaluating and using electronic information sources.