ProgramsInstructional Design Practicum: Applied Learning in Educational Technology (Spring 2026)

Instructional Design Practicum: Applied Learning in Educational Technology (Spring 2026)

Program Overview
Program Title Instructional Design Practicum: Applied Learning in Educational Technology (Spring 2026)
Organization SUNY Potsdam
# of Students Enrolled
0
# of Projects Running
0 Project/s Added (of 10 Projects Expected)

Program Timeline

Project Duration

Start Date: 01/20/26      End Date: 05/08/26

4 months
Collaboration Overview
About Students

Students participating in this program are graduate-level learners enrolled in SUNY Potsdam’s Educational Technology, Instructional Design, and Curriculum & Instruction programs. These students bring a mix of professional backgrounds, including K–12 education, higher education, instructional support roles, training and development, and emerging instructional design careers. 

Participants have prior exposure to instructional design theory, educational technology tools, and learning frameworks, and are ready to apply those concepts in authentic, practice-based contexts. While students define and scope their own projects based on professional interests or practicum placements, all participants are expected to engage in structured design, reflection, iteration, and documentation. 

Students work independently or in small teams, with faculty guidance, and are prepared to collaborate with external partners when appropriate. Emphasis is placed on professional judgment, ethical design, accessibility, and reflective practice rather than producing a single standardized deliverable. 

Student Level:   Graduate Degree

Student Time Commitment:   Full Time

Team Structure:   -

Program Goals
The primary learning objectives of this program are to enable students to: 

  • Apply instructional design and educational technology principles to real-world or near-real-world learning challenges
  • Design, facilitate, and evaluate instructional experiences aligned with defined learning outcomes
  • Conduct needs analysis, audience analysis, and research-informed planning
  • Iterate on instructional designs using feedback, reflection, and evaluation data
  • Document both process and product in a clear, professional, and reusable format
  • Translate academic learning into professional-ready instructional artifacts
Where external partners are involved, students learn to balance partner needs with pedagogical integrity, learner-centered design, and feasibility within an academic timeline.
Format Structure

Multiple Projects Multiple Teams
Format Title Capstone
Format Description
Students develop individual practicum projects, which may include: 
  • Online or hybrid workshops
  • Discussion-based learning experiences
  • Professional development sessions
  • Instructional materials or learning activities
  • Technology-supported learning interventions

Rather than prescribing a single deliverable, the program provides:
 
  • A shared process framework
  • Common reflection prompts
  • Documentation expectations
  • Opportunities to learn from peer projects

Selected projects are curated as exemplar cases in the Instructional Design & Education Technology Case Library.
Benefits For Industry Partners
This program is designed to support a wide range of authentic learning contexts, including external partner organizations, students’ own classrooms or schools, practicum placements, and future teaching or training environments. 

Depending on the context, benefits and outcomes may include: 
  • Thoughtfully designed instructional materials, curricula, workshops, or learning experiences tailored to real learners
  • Research-informed approaches to instructional challenges identified by educators or organizations
  • Practical insights into learner engagement, participation, and instructional effectiveness
  • Documentation of instructional design processes, iterations, and reflections that can inform future practice
  • Opportunities to pilot, refine, or reimagine instructional approaches in a low-risk, reflective environment
Whether the project is situated within an external organization or a student’s own professional context, the work contributes to a broader instructional mission by emphasizing intentional design, learner-centered practice, and continuous improvement. Exemplary projects may also be preserved as instructional design cases to support future students and educators.
Project Modality Hybrid
Industry Partner Requirements to Participate
Project Topics Education Quality and STEM Education Innovation Product Design & Development Research, Analysis, Evaluation Training & Development
Target Industries Education Non-Profit
Skills & Expertise Accessibility & Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Assessment Design Curriculum Design Data Collection & Analysis Digital Tools for Instruction Documentation & Case Writing Educational Technology Integration Formative & Summative Evaluation Instructional Design Iterative Design & Feedback Incorporation Learner & Audience Analysis Learning Experience Design (LXD) Learning Objective Development Lesson & Activity Design LMS & Classroom Technology Tools Needs Assessment Online & Hybrid Teaching Professional Communication Project Planning & Time Management Reflection & Metacognitive Practice Survey Design UX/UI for Learning Workshop Facilitation
Location Information & Preferences

Located Anywhere

Sponsorship

No Sponsorship Required
Compensation

No Compensation Required

Other Requirements
Expected Time Commitment For Project Managers 1 Hour per week
Key Program Dates Due Date
Request for Proposal published

Collaboration request published. Industry Partners may express interest in participating.

Jan 08 2026, 04:35.50 PM
Interview

Educators will begin interviewing interested Industry Partners to discuss project ideas.

Jan 09 2026, 04:35.50 PM
Proposal Application Deadline

Final date for Industry Partners to express interest in participating.

Jan 16 2026, 04:35.50 PM
Finalize Project Charter

Educators and Industry Partners finalize project charters, legal documents, and background materials.

Jan 17 2026, 04:35.50 PM
Official Program Launch

We’ll find a time on this day for you to meet with the students to kick off your project.

Jan 20 2026, 12:00.00 AM
Official Program End

We’ll find a time on this day for you to meet with the students to wrap up your project.

May 08 2026, 12:00.00 AM

Program Timeline

Touchpoints & Assignments Date Type

Program Kickoff

 01/20/2026 Event

Projects

Filters
Project Organization Topics

Program Managers

Name Organization
Anthony Betrus School of Education & Professional Studies

Teams

Team Name  Project Name  Team Members 
No Teams Available