University of the People Review | Master of Education | Is it worth it?
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- čas přidán 2. 06. 2024
- I finally did it! My Master of Education is done, and I want to share my experience with the University of the People Master of Education program and provide insight into its value, cost, quality, actionable, and accreditation.
After spending two years in the program, I will discuss whether or not I was satisfied with it in this video.
Video Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:49 PART 1: Program & Cost
2:15 Why it took me so long
3:32 PART 2: Quality & Applicability
4:40 Resources Structure & Guidance
5:22 Peer Assessment
7:10 Instructor Quality
8:19 Writing Only
9:00 Little Interaction
10:10 Actionable
11:11 Is the University of the People worth it?
12:39 Pros & My Future Plan
15:36 Cons
16:51 We don't know the future
17:36 Share, Comment, & Subscribe
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I'm so glad I came across this video. I'm about 70% through with my M.Ed with UoPeople, and I keep being hesitant about continuting it. I absolutely hate the peer assessment system and group project and how much weight is given to it. Most of my feedback is overly critical or not helpful at all. I would also have appreciated something like a weekly video lecture, as I'm a visual learner (visual+auditory input), and I agree completely with you that this course feels very isolating.
Yeah, we pretty much get what we pay for. There does need to be something done about the peer assessments, but in order to keep it cheap, I think that's the way that they have to go.
In the end, it really depends on your goals for the future use of your MEd. In my opinion, you've made it 70% through the program, which is quite far. Having the MEd will probably open up many opportunities for you even if you don't plan on teaching in the classroom. I'd say finish it if it aligns with your goals.
That's exactly why I won't be enrolling. And they also made me think I was enrolled in the program....paid to transfer ALL my courses and then told I was in a NON-degree program....something about Foundation Courses that require MORE FEES and then MAYBE they would be put towards a Degree IF I pass. I thought that wasn't clear when I paid all the fees. So I've lost that money. I don't know how they can TRANSFER credits and take the money from someone who hasn't even been enrolled officially. It felt like a scam. I certainly don't want PEERS to mark my work. I don't have time to Mark Someone else's work either. WHO AM I to judge someone else? I'm not the expert. It doesn't seem right to me.
@@jacqueline4749 you didn't get a refund for any of the fees you payed??
@ss4s44 to answer that, you definitely don't get a refund once you pay the fees and thereafter decide to drop out.
Congratulations on getting the M. Ed.! I started the program and then backed away but am still thinking about going back. It's good to hear from someone who finished it. Good luck in your future!
Thanks for the congratulations 🎊 I hope that if you do finish it, that it will be beneficial for your career. Let me know if you have any questions about the program.
Congratulations!!! Yes, the course instructors are volunteers but they don’t get Stipends, they get Honorariums. It’s like an allowance to help cover the costs of using online equipments such as iPhone, iPad, laptop and/or computer and other items necessary for teaching the course during the terms.
Thanks for the correction! Also, I appreciate the congratulations 🎊 it is a great accomplishment. Have you got your masters? If so, in what?
@@BookMattic I have an earned EdD.
Thank you very much for this one. I will be signing up next term for MEd.
Congratulations on signing up. And I really do hope that your studies go well and that your experience is better than what you expect. Hopefully, you get a great outcome after finishing the program as well. Please let me know if you have any other questions down-the-line. And I will do my best to answer them.
Thanks for the informative video, Matt! And congratulations for your degree!
Hey Donald, great to hear from you and thanks for your wishes 😀 were you considering taking this program or you already have a masters degree in something else? There's an MBA program as well.
I already have a masters degree in computing, but I'm glad to learn about this program :) @@BookMattic
Thank you for this video. I just started to study. I will tell them about video calls. It’s a great
idea.
True, it really could benefit the online campus experience, even if it's just once a course; it would be better than nothing.
Very good analysis of the program. I am smiling 😊 and can relate to what you said. A lot of truth about peer assessments, vs. Instructor assessment and feedback. Thank you for adding value with the what to do after... Congratulations 🎉.
Thank you so much for watching and commenting. I knew I wasn't the only one who thought the same way about the peer assessment.
Thank you for your honest review. I'm new at university of the People.
That's great to hear well. I hope your experience there goes well and that it's worth while Of your time and money.
I was thinking about enrolling in the M.Ed program and this video was exactly the type of critique I was looking for. Thank you.
Great, I'm glad it was helpful 😀 I hope it all works out for you.
Congratulations, sir! 💐♥️
Thanks so much! I'm so grateful to be done ✔️ 🙏
@@BookMattic I'm so happy for you 🙂👍🏽
Seems like a great program for me. I was a HS STEM Director for 3 years (taught physics for 7), and I recently finished a PhD in philosophy. I just moved higher education to teach philosophy, and I'm looking to move into administration. Some of the Ed.D. programs I looked at would like an M.Ed. of some kind, but it seems strangely unimportant. A few Ed.D. programs even told me the "requirement" of an M.Ed. wasn't firm, but more of a "would like," so U of P might be a good fit.
True, if you're looking for something just for 'attaining a requirement', UoPeople M.Ed program is probably the best one for you. The writing is intense but not as intense as some other programs I heard of.
Congratulations on graduating from UoPeople! Keep up the great work 💜💜
Thanks so much for providing the program! It's been valuable. Hopefully, UoPeople can continue to improve the quality of its programs and credibility.
Congratulations on getting your MEd!
I appreciate your kind words. Was it really worth it probably? But I still have yet to benefit from it other than gaining the knowledge. Which I guess is a benefit in itself. But oh my, it was 2 years out of my life. Let's make the best of it.
The group activity assignment is made for interaction, many students discuss their challenges and possible ways of improving oneself
True that the group work experience could be different for each person than it was for me. Most of my interactions were through WhatsApp, which is definitely more personable than email but not nearly as good as a group video call at least once during the process. During my entire two years, I only had one of those. It was kinda nice! What were your group interactions like?
Now that's it's been a few months, are you still happy you did it? Congratulations!
Yes, it opens up many opportunities for jobs in the US as I'm planning on moving back. At least, that is my assumption as it makes me more qualified. Now, it's also about the skills that I have and trying to find a job that lines up with that and my morals and purposes.
Congrates !!
Amm i have a question!
For non english speakers is its difficult that much?? I mean the M.ed
I know that for non-native English speakers. There is a course which is extra that you have to take at the very beginning. When you get into the main courses you're English will have to be double checked. I would say use something like Grammarly, Or even ChatGPT to help you to fix any errors in your English. It may be a challenge but I think it's worthwhile trying.
Good luck sir, may it be usefull,
Insha Allah, may it be so. I've tried my best. Have you taken the program?
@@BookMattic Not yet sir, I try to study it first, and may it possible to me join the program, do you have any advise for me?
@@harwantosukro8378 As a second-language speaker of English, you will definitely need to achieve TOEFL-level proficiency in writing. Practice a lot, get a tutor, and do your best. Let me know if you need help with that. I could set you up with a tutor.
Hi, I'm from Indonesia, M. Ed program, too. I am taking Research this term. I couldn't agree more. It's worth it. I'm lucky to get full scholarship. You are right, Indonesian government officially accepts the degree after some verification process in the Ministry of Education. Some of my Indonesian friends confirm about it after a few months process.
Wow, that is really good to hear that it is accepted here. Obviously, working at an international school myself, Sampoerna Academy in Surabaya, I was able to use the Master of Education program from the University of the People to get the job. I hope that you are able to experience something similar and get some great job opportunities that will help increase your pay and your experience.
Hi diyah i am planing to take this couse can you guide me? Do u have any IG or email adrees to reach you? Thanks u
@diyahpuspitan1n9s1s Hi i am looking for some financial help info also for indonesian. Can you share some info? May i contact you with ig or fb?
Hi kak Diyah saya jg ada rencana ambil disitu,btw kak Diyah bisa bantu mengarahkan atau ada sosmed or email yg bisa dihubungi?
Terima kasih
Very informative video. Thanks. I applied MEd at UOP this week. I am thinking of 2 specializations to better understand the whole view of students. How many credits did you earn and do you recommend 2 specializations? I am a freelancer so I may consider at least 5-10 hours of study per week.
Congrats on applying and getting into the program. I personally only took one specialization for secondary. It really depends on what you want to get out of the program and how you are going to apply it. You said that you do freelancing So I'm curious if you teach both younger kids and older kids and in what context do you teach them?
@@BookMattic I teach university students mostly. However, I intend to extend my teaching experience to Kids, middle/high school students soon. I teach how to start a global career, leadership, personal branding, etc.
@@briancoach Great. Well. I do think that the program will probably help you to have a better understanding of learning theories and Different ways of managing classrooms. However, the credibility of the program is not highly recognized. But it does work well in some countries.
@@BookMattic thank you for your kind reply and advice!
Congratulations 🎉
Thanks so much for the continued support 😀
Just to add, I did an education program before this one and in comparison the quality of course content is on par, but far lighter than what I did in Jamaica for my post grad. Up people generally require 3-4 pages max per assignment, with 4 assignments each week. My other program our papers were like 6-10 pages. With final assignments and group projects. So, overall this program has serious rigor.
Good to hear that the quality stands up to your other experiences. I think everyone gets a bit worried about the credibility of UoPeople but in the end the quality comes down to how much we get out of what's offered.
Hey can you please explain the admission terms? And the general terms? Would it be academic suicide to take up 3 courses per term?
If you are already working a full-time job, taking 3 courses per term may be way too heavy for you. I did it once and was able to pass all 3 courses, but it left little time for anything else in my life. So the terms afterward, I either took 1 or 2 courses. Mostly 2.
As for the admission requirements, this is taken directly from Google search:
-High school diploma: Applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent, such as a GED
-English proficiency: Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency through standardized tests like TOEFL or IELTS
-Internet access: Applicants must have access to a reliable internet connection
-Application fee: Applicants must pay a non-refundable application fee of $60
I hope this helps and let me know if you have any other questions.
Wow! You made it!
Yes, I did. But now the question is, was it worth it as almost a 40 year old. Probably, but that was 2 years of my life. All I can do now is leverage it to the best of my ability.
I like the library 📚 behind u. Helpful information.
Yeah, for sure, that is one of the reasons why I can learn so well. As because I read so much. Books really do help.
BTW, does anyone have video of the user interface for U of P?
I personally didn't take one, but it uses Moodle. Maybe there's some other videos on CZcams if you search for UoPeople Moodle interface.
Did they send you your degree certificate? Or do you have to print it out?
They will send the certificate free the first time, including your transcript. However, it comes in a flimsy envelope, so if you're living abroad, like me, it'll get bent up a bit. If you lost your transcript or certificate, you can order another for $25.
@@BookMattic How about to use through DHL? And did they also provide English proficiency and letter of recommendation?
My experience thus far working toward my Bachelor's: the peer assessment has been awful (but then, I believe wholeheartedly students should never grade and critique other students' work. That's why we have professors.) Also, I looked into the requirements to be a volunteer instructor and all one needs is a B.A. That irritated me a lot; I can't imagine someone having less than a Master's grading my coursework. But I guess it's what you get with a tuition-free institution.
... and most students I interacted with barely spoke English. Let's just say "proficiency" is pretty loosely defined with regards to requirements to apply for admission.
Hi David, I didn't know that about the volunteer instructors. That doesn't make sense to me if it's for a Master Degree, but you're working towards your bachelor's degree. I also don't like that the discussion and written assignments were only peer assessed, let alone by someone with less than par English abilities. I guess that's what we expect from a tuition free online university.
What are you afraid of in peer assessment, if you can survive peer assessment, that means you will survive any where you find your self in this globe
I think, discussion forum assignment has an interactive aspect.
It's somewhat interactive when peers are genuinely reading and responding with relevant and insightful comments that spark discussions.
Whoa local here, where are you teach now? I also still learn at University of Maine at Presque Isle online 🙏 😊
Oh, that's great. You get a chance to study abroad and Maine. Surprisingly, I've never been over to the East Coast. How is it living there? I'm teaching at Sampoerna Academy in Surabaya. Where are you from in Indonesia?
@@BookMattic not abroad but online. Whilst my son attend college in Edmonds College in Lynnwood near Seattle, Wa. Do you like it in Surabaya? I'm in Cilacap, Central Java.
@ishady27 Oh, very nice Seattle. Such a nice place which is not too far from my Hometown in Portland Oregon. Oh, yeah, definitely doing a degree online is usefull as you don't have to be all the way over in the other location.
Surabaya is a good place to live, however, it's a bit hard for me to move up in position as a foreigner. I've got to find a place to live that's more collaborative and active in the edupreneur area.
@@BookMattic I hope all will be going well for you
@ishady27 thanks for the encouragement 🙏 I'll do my best and same goes to you!
Congratulations!
Is this university an accredited one?
Thank you very much for your words of encouragement. Yes, the university is accredited for distance learning, and for sure, it is applicable around the world.
It is not accredited by one of the regional accrediting agencies in the US which is a big red flag!
@@erickarch169can you tell me more about this. I'm currently a 1st year student at the 2nd term.
@@erickarch169 Great point. You won’t be able to use this degree for advance pay if you’re a teacher and you will not qualify for Educational Doctorate programs due to the national accreditation unfortunately!
Where we can go to work after this degree
My instructor lower my grades ,what can I do ??
It's important to keep your grades up in order to graduate. After you graduate, I suggest applying for a variety of jobs in the field of education. Schools in Asia for sure recognize this degree, but in America or England, it will be tougher. You can also check out curriculum coordinator or instructional design jobs.
Can I transfer my credits to another university in US?
I tried looking this up and found minimal results. UoPeople website mentions partnerships with other universities. I'd recommend checking directly with the university you're interested in transferring to. It's possible to order a transcript from UoPeople with the specific courses you've taken.
Is this institution regionally accredited?
Hi, was it a course based M.ED or thesis based M.ED
You've got 11 courses, and then the final 2 courses are doing your applied research paper.
Luckily, all my instructors gave me pretty good feedback. However, peer assessment is what I hate the most. Some of them gave me a very low score without any constructive feedback.
That's the major problem with this program. Hopefully, they're going to figure out a way Instructors can give feedback more often.
I usually ask for grading appeal to the instructor. Indeed, peer assessment is a problem. Though the rubric actually helps us to assess. In my experience, the more you take the course, the more "friendlier" they peer assessed you😊😅.
I am so glad for you. Peer assessment should be controlled. Instructor are up to the task according to me!
It's good to hear the instructors you had were up to par. Some of mine were very active and even made videos for us. Others only did the bare minimum, and feedback was virtually useless. I hope the feedback form at the end of the course is taken seriously by UoPeople.
Where is it located if I may ask🙏
The head office is in Pasadena, California. But of course, all the student body are from around the world.
Congratulations
Thank you very much! Are you taking this program?
@@BookMattic I graduated from the computer science program in 2021. I am considering taking the Health Science program as well.
@@AfriscopeTV congratulations to you too! How beneficial has the degree been for you?
@@BookMattic I was able to do a national mandatory internship which ended three months ago. I am still searching for a job. I live in Ghana where graduate unemployment is over the roof. Still, searching for remote jobs as well but I think I've been constrained by my location. I'm still looking for a way out...
@AfriscopeTV at least one required thing is out of the way. Sorry to hear about it being tough to find a job that aligns with what you set out to do. Hopefully you can find one soon. Have you tried searching for jobs on LinkedIn as well?
Me too doing health science from Nepal
Cool, and how is that working out for you?
It is difficult to register.
What sort of problems are you having with registration?
The program is really worth it.
Good to hear you thought it was worth it. Which aspects were the best for you?
Are you working? Is your paper accepted by the institutions you applied to work??
I've been working at in the international school in the Indonesia since I got the master degree. However, I have tried applying for some learning design work and unfortunately, this particular degree did not match up with the company. So I think you just have to start searching and applying once you get the masters degree to see where specifically it will work and where it will not.
I've been through 6 courses so far.
how many courses have u done at a time?
That's great! You've finished about halfway. Stay strong
But course instructor re-garde it if you got misgrading
I totally agree and I never had any problems with that. Because anytime I needed a speak with the instructor they were always very respondent.
Though I’m sure you can learn there UoP is not highly regarded in most major companies.
True, the recognition is not there for companies that may require an M.Ed. from better recognized universities, however, if they're looking for experience, it'll depend from person to person.
Peer reviews are part and parcel of higher education esp those who want to “bring you down”
This may very well be. It doesn't make it right. But exactly what should be done about it? I'm not sure.
The group projects require interacting with other people.
True, however, I found that 70% of the time, the comments were very general. The other 30% has valuable suggestions and ways to improve. I even connected with half a dozen alumni on LinkedIn. So when there are valuable people, there is definitely valuable connections and interactions.
@BookMattic If you are doing group projects from comments, then you are doing it wrong. All of mine we started a Google drive share, and I would divide up the project among team members. We would then work on a shared document and collaborate to build out the group project. Our communication would be on whatsapp, and we would have to meet and talk regularly to discuss where things were at. It was very collaborative.
@webactivex1 Oops, my mistake. I was thinking about the discussion posts. But yes, you're right. The group work would usually be through WhatsApp for my groups as well and then we would collaborate on a Google Docs. I think this is also where I made some LinkedIn connections that still stand strong today.
Uopeople is extremely time consuming. More time consuming than other universities I believe.
In your opinion, what makes it more time-consuming than other universities?
It was also pretty time consuming for me but after a lot of practice. I was able to get the formula down for writing the papers in a decent amount of time But I don't have anything to compare this too. As I have not taken any other master's program from any other University.
Free plastain
I pray that all will be free.
sdsa
Meaning?
“University of the People” sounds like a college George Costanza would make up in an episode of Seinfeld. there is no way this looks respectable lol
Could be true, but it helped me get the job I've got now at an international school. It is what you make of it.