COLLEGE OF EDUCATION & HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Texas A&M University

Master's Oral Exam

Preparing for the Oral Exam

1.  Develop a Portfolio

EDTC Master's students are required to create and maintain an electronic portfolio reflecting their knowledge and abilities in Educational Technology. The portfolio should be designed as a resource for potential employers and therefore should contain:

  • An introductory page with your name & relevant personal information (background, degrees,  job titles, etc.)
  • Your career goals
  • A menu or table of contents that presents the organization or structure of your portfolio content
  • A well organized and formatted collection of your best work.
  • Your resume

There is no fixed format for the portfolio, but we expect that the content will be organized around your competence in analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation of instruction.  An interactive menu that allows you to easily access any content and move to specific sections in response to questions is desirable.  The format of your portfolio itself should be representative of your design and organization skills.

You should begin developing your portfolio soon after entering the EDTC program, keeping in mind that it will evolve continuously as you move through the program.  Maintain your content in a manner that lets you reorganize and reformat it as your experience grows.   Your committee will view your final portfolio as a presentation of your skills in the field of educational technology.  Keep in mind that the portfolio should become a valuable resource for job applications.  Therefore, you should NOT organize your portfolio by the classes you took; rather, present your materials and abilities in a manner that would be meaningful to a potential employer in your career choice area.

 

2. Arrange for the exam

Schedule:  The oral exam is to be completed during your last semester. In preparation, check the Office of Graduate Studies page for the range of dates for taking your orals that semester.  Approximately two months before the exam, ask your committee chair for possible orals dates and times during that period. Then present a list of two or three possible dates and times to your committee members, to establish agreement on an optimal date and time. Once everyone has agreed, confirm the date and time with your committee chair and members, and send a message to the Academic Advising Director, Carol Wagner [c-wagner@tamu.edu] requesting that she schedule your orals.  She will also schedule a room for the exam. Once the exam is formally scheduled, inform the committee members of the final time and location.

Facilities/resources:  In preparation for your exam you will need to arrange for a computer and a projector so that you can project your electronic portfolio content.  If you have your own computer confirm that it is compatible with the projector.  If you arrange for a computer (computers and projectors can be reserved in the EREL) be sure that it has the appropriate programs and media resources for your materials.  It is your responsibility to make sure that you can present your entire portfolio during your exam.

Committee input:  Ask each of your committee members for information related to the content any type of questions they are likely to ask you.  Faculty members may generate questions in advance or provide an area of focus that you can relate to your portfolio content.  Practice relating your portfolio content to this input and, when necessary, prepare any additional resources that might be required to relate to specific questions.

Reminder:  Approximately two days before your oral exam, send an email message to remind your committee members of the place and time of the orals.

 

3. Exam format

We allow 2 hours for the exam. Your chair will begin by asking you to tell about yourself in about five minutes: what you were doing prior to the program, why you entered the program, what you have learned from it, and what you want to do with your degree.

You will then present your electronic portfolio as a representation of your skills and knowledge.  Most of the questioning will center on the content and the design of your portfolio. Your committee may also ask you questions related to your specialties and the coursework you have taken.

Your chair may ask you about any recommendations you have for us regarding the EDTC program (sequencing of courses, online courses, courses that you wish you had taken, etc.).

At the end, your chair will ask you to exit the room while your committee discusses the outcome. Subsequently, you will return for the results.

QUICK LINKS

Faculty Employment Opportunities

*Our Community*


EPSY Update


EPSY NEWS

more news »
archives »

UPCOMING EVENTS

Fri, September 05
Dr. Cecil Reynold's Retirement Party