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Education Specialist Comprehensive Exam

The comprehensive examination for the Ed.S. program should be completed after the Ed.S. Project is defended. It can be completed during the same semester as the final defense or in subsequent semesters (you will need to enroll in at least 2 semester hours credit each semester). Rather than a written exam, Ed.S. students will be required to produce an online portfolio of their products and write a reflective summary of their competencies. Specifically, this exam will include the following components:
  1. Web-based Portfolio that highlights a minimum of 8 products and a maximum of 20 products, that serve as a demonstration of your skills in Instructional Technology. The portfolio may include products you created for courses in the Ed.S. program and/or any products you created during your enrollment in the Instructional Systems Ed.S. program (such as work-related products).
  2. Competency Analysis Report in which you reflect upon the skills you acquired during your studies.

Web-Based Portfolio

Your web-based portfolio should consist of approximately 8 - 15, and no more than 20, products you have produced during your tenure in the Ed.S. program. Select items that represent your best work and demonstrate a broad range of the competencies. 

Using your USF webspace, or any server of your choice, create a Table of Contents that branches to each of your products. These products can be papers (please use PDF or RTF formats), images, websites, interactive programs, etc. For each product in the table of contents include the following:
  1. The semester during which the product was produced.
  2. The course (or job) for which it was produced;
  3. Your role in the producing of the product (for example, indicate if you responsible for the Design or the entire product).

Competency Analysis Report

After your portfolio is complete, compile a report with the following items:

Introduction section: In approximately one page, reflect upon the experiences you have had in the Instructional Systems program. Include both positive and negative aspects. Also describe your future professional plans. 

Competency Checklist: Using items 1-14 of the Competencies and Skills for Instructional Designers, select the competencies that are reflected in your portfolio. Try to include competencies from at least six of the major 14 categories.  Create a matrix, with the product in the first column, followed by a list of the relevant competencies (you can number them 1.5, etc. to make it easier to fit in a column). Note that any one product may reflect more than one competency. In the next column, assess your competence, using the following scale:
  • Highly Skilled
  • Moderately Skilled
  • Minimally Skilled
  • Not at all Skilled
In the last column, write a brief statement about how that product demonstrates your competence. When the portfolio and competency report are finished, send the report to your Major Professor (electronically).

Evaluation of Competency Analysis Report

The products in your portfolio will not be evaluated. They have already been evaluated in your various classes, etc. The final assessment of your performance will be based on the format of the portfolio and the content of the Competency Report.  Possible outcomes include: pass, not-yet-passing, or retake the "examination."
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