Educational Technology: An Up-and-Coming Field

Educational technology may not be a term that the average person is familiar with, but it has recently become a buzzword in the education field.

What is Educational Technology

A widely accepted definition of educational technology is the study and ethical practice of facilitating learning and improving performance by creating, using and managing technological processes and resources.
 
Educational technology helps people in many different fields learn how to utilize the latest in technology to become more efficient in their careers.
 
Many leaders in the field see the educational technology concept as an important trend that will provide some of the best training and preparation for teachers in the field today. Integrating educational technology into teaching practices helps equip the younger generation, as well as individuals in the current workforce, with skills necessary to contribute to the global market and cutting edge research.

Degrees in Educational Technology

The majority of degrees in educational technology are offered at the graduate degree level, but there are some bachelor's degree programs in education that offer some coursework in educational technology. A bachelor’s degree in education or a related field is not always necessary for entrance into a master's level program, but many do require it.
 
PhD degree programs are also available, and usually take three to five years to complete.
 
Coursework in an educational technology degree program can include the following:
  • Computer Technology
  • Education Technology Strategic Visioning
  • Integrating Technology into the Classroom
  • Internet Usage
  • Multimedia Tools Usage
  • Operating Systems
  • Technology-Based Instruction.
Before you embark on a career specialty in educational technology, you will need to determine whether you want to complete your program in the classroom, or follow the popular online education route. This decision should be made based on your personal comfort level with computer software and hardware, and whether you learn best while interacting with others in a classroom setting, or working at your own pace on the Internet.

Online Educational Technology Degree Options and Costs

There are many online degree programs offered in educational technology, with varying costs. A basic online degree program for people wishing to become teachers or professional trainers in educational technology requires 36 credit hours of study. Tuition averages about $665 per credit.
 
For teachers who are already certified and who are not seeking a teaching license, a competency program in educational technology can be completed in as little as two and a half years. Tuition averages about $2,790 per six-month term for such programs.

Job Opportunities in Educational Technology

For those graduating with a degree in educational technology, there are various job opportunities to look into:
  • Administration: Media centers and institutional information hubs seek graduates in educational technology to act as directors or administrators.

  • Corporate Training and Development: Various large corporations can utilize workers on staff for staff training and development.

  • Curriculum Design: With the ever growing reliance on electronic media and technology, many institutions need people with educational technology degrees to help plan their course development.

  • Healthcare: The healthcare field relies greatly on keeping staff up-to-date, so it's advantageous to have someone with this expertise to design training modules.

  • Research Facilities: These institutions rely on the tools of educational technology to design grant applications; they also utilize technology to keep up-to-date on their own research.

  • Teaching: Many educational institutions are in need of instructors with skills in audio, video, computer science and other basic technology. Those with advanced degrees can serve as professors at the university level in educational technology.

Salary Expectations in Educational Technology

Teachers who specialize in education technology earn similar salaries to those in traditional classrooms, with an average of $45,000. Pay for a specialist in educational technology who works in both corporate and healthcare fields is normally higher than in educational settings. Pay scales in nonprofit organizations are typically lower than both.
Educational technology is a growing trend and can provide those already in the education field the opportunity to increase their marketability and knowledge base while teaching important new technological skills to others.

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