Using Educational Technology Degrees for Careers in Higher Education

Doctoral DegreeTechnology Programs

Not that many years ago there was no such thing as the internet. There were no digital marketing careers. No multimedia designers. No web developers.

Naturally, no related degree programs existed either; there simply was no need for any type of degree within a field that didn’t exist.

With the advent of the digital age, however, came a revolution.

Digital marketing, multimedia and technology-based degrees exploded onto the scene. Previously unheard of job titles like “webmaster” and “ecommerce specialist” became commonplace.

Then even more new career opportunities came to fruition, including higher education instructors to prepare the next generation of professionals.

Such is the case with education technology or EdTech as it is more commonly known.

According to the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT), EdTech is a growing field that involves the “designing of instruction and a systematic approach to learning.”

Simply put, EdTech focuses on teaching students based on how they learn.

While this may sound similar to instructional design, here are some of key differences:

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 EdTech 

• Purpose – Teaching & Learning Training
• Audience – Students
• Methodology – Systematic & Progressive
• Outcomes – Instruction & Assessment

Instructional Design

• Purpose – Training
• Audience – Employees
• Methodology – Modules & Programs
• Outcomes – Object Lesson & Learning Environments

Perhaps the greatest need right now for colleges and universities, says InsideHigherEd.com, is improved outcomes. In fact, educational institutions are experiencing unprecedented pressure and, as such, are relying on digital-based transformation through EdTech.

Leading the way is the applied doctorate, including the doctor of professional studies, instructional design leadership.

What? No Ph.D.?

“Higher education employs a lot of non-Ph.D. instructional designers,” says Yi Yang, Ph.D., program director for Franklin University’s doctorate of professional studies (DPS), instructional design leadership. “Higher ed instructional designers work with faculty to develop curriculum. They’re not researchers constructing theory – that’s for the Ph.D. – rather, these are leaders who work with people to help other people learn.”

Dr. Yang says there are a number of growing opportunities within higher ed for EdTech professionals, especially at teaching colleges and universities.

“If you want to be a dean, a chief academic officer, or hold any position that involves curriculum oversight,” she says, “then a professional doctorate would be extremely valuable. If you want to conduct research, teach, obtain grants and publish at a Tier 1 research institution, then perhaps the Ph.D. would be a better option. The kind of terminal degree you get should be based on what kind of faculty you want to become and what kind of position you want to hold.”

No matter which type of degree you earn, EdTech holds great promise. In fact, this thriving, $10 billion industry says a study by the Chronicle of Higher Education holds the promise of opportunity for well-qualified, well-educated EdTech professionals:

“Higher education is experiencing increased demand for instructional designers who have the knowledge and skill set to help faculty members adopt new technologies and strategies in their teaching … they now play a bigger part in consulting with faculty members on pedagogy and on course design – as well as how to determine the best ways to use educational technology in all kinds of courses.”

The study found that 53 percent of survey respondents have designed courses across five or more higher education disciplines. It also discovered that instructional designers are more likely to be sought after within humanities (81 percent) and social sciences (79 percent) over STEM-related fields perhaps because lab-focused disciplines are more difficult to move into the virtual or online space.

Either way, there’s plenty of EdTech work to be done within the walls of our higher education institutions.

And like other instructional design leadership careers, working in higher ed requires instructional design professional to think about the art of teaching and the science of learning – far more than merely posting an online document or creating a technology-based quiz.

Your EdTech-focused degree should put you on course to partner with post-secondary faculty to envision, design and develop effective, engaging educational experiences.

So how does one get such an exciting, non-teaching academic career?

For many, it starts outside the college or university. From graphic designer to middle school teacher to e-learning specialist, plenty of professionals enter into a career in higher education from outside – after they’ve earned their terminal degree.

So let’s say that’s you.

Let’s say you want to impact future generations by pursuing a full-time career in higher education.

Let’s say you want to shift your career from what you’re doing now to EdTech.

The first step in making the transition is to earn your next highest degree.

Enrolling in an applied doctorate degree program such as an online instructional design leadership program like this one can equip you with such sought-after skills as:

• Applying research to impact performance
• Learning new technologies
• Designing and developing advanced curricula
• Understanding learning science and theory
• Planning strategic instructional design models

“Higher education needs innovative, interactive instruction,” says Dr. Yang. “It needs EdTech visionaries as much as it needs implementers. It needs leaders who can determine the best strategies and methods to move organizations forward.”

Most people have never heard of a career in educational or instructional technology. That’s a shame since the demand for instructional technologists, also known as educational technology specialists, is expected to grow 23 percent—much faster than average—through 2018. 

One big bonus for anyone interested in educational technology degrees and careers? Salaries earned by technologists are typically higher than those earned by regular teachers or instructors. Educational technology jobs are one of the highest paid speciality career paths for educators. Anyone who loves teaching or training and also enjoys working with computers may find instructional technology jobs to be very rewarding. Teachers, trainers, HR specialists, editors and writers are among a few of the professionals who might benefit by making a career change and re-focusing their skills in the expanding area of ed tech. 

Educational Technology Jobs & Salaries

Because ed tech specialists work in many sectors—either corporate training environments or the K-12 school system—there is no average salary for this career. In 2010, instructional technologists and instructional coordinators earned an estimated average salary of about $58,000. The middle 50 percent earned $43,000 to $76,000. The highest 10 percent earned more than $95,000. Specialists who hold master’s degrees in educational technology or instructional technology make the highest salaries.

Teachers and instructors who earn degrees in teaching online can specialize in either teaching K-12 or in using technology to develop computer-assisted learning systems for adult learners, most of whom are taught through corporate training centers.Those who work as trainers or course developers in corporate environments typically make about 10-20 percent more than those who work in the K-12 educational system.  If you are searching for great online jobs in educational technology, check out Get Educated’s free job board for online instructors, teachers and designers. Updated several times a week, these ed tech job listings range from course designers to online instructors. Most of these positions can be done remotely or at a distance. 

What is Educational & Instructional Technology?

Educational technologists work in some capacity helping tie computer or web-based technology to learning. There is surging demand for instructional technologists who can “teach” teachers how to integrate technology into the residential classroom. Some of the jobs open to educational technology specialists include:

• Course developer or designer 
• Technology coordinator 
• Online learning specialist 
• Web-based learning manager 
• Multimedia designer 
• Technology integration specialist 
• Computer learning lab coordinator 
• Instructional designer 
• Learning applications (apps) designer 
• Virtual reality specialist 
• Flipped classroom developer 
• Web instructor 
• Online teacher, mentor or trainer 
• Computer mediated learning metrics manager 
• Distance learning director 
• Educational software consultant
   

Educational technologists sometimes work as curriculum specialists. They may help train instructional coaches or work as quality directors for instructional materials. When working as curriculum specialists, they may evaluate how well a school or training program’s curriculum meets students’ needs. They may author multimedia educational materials and textbooks. They may engage in research and observe instructional practices to recommend methods for improving curriculum or converting traditional course materials to web-based delivery and assessment systems. Instructional technologists may develop curricula, select textbooks and other materials, train teachers, and assess educational programs for quality and adherence to federal and state regulations and standards. They often assist teachers in integrating technology in the classroom. Some work as directors of computerized learning labs. They may purchase, install, implement and troubleshoot all factors that affect the integration of technology in the classroom. In addition to developing curriculum and instructional materials, those who work as instructional coordinators may plan and provide on-site education for teachers and administrators. Instructional coordinators mentor new teachers and train experienced ones in the latest instructional methods. At the primary and secondary school level, instructional technologists often specialize in specific subjects, such as reading, language arts, mathematics or science. An increasing emphasis on the quality of education is driving demand for instructional technologists who can adjust local curricula to meet state and federal mandates for accountability. These same educational technologists are often responsible for implementing and interpreting web-based metric systems that provide reports of educational efficacy or success levels. At the K-12 level, educational technology career openings will be best for those who specialize in special education, reading, math or science. For more on careers in educational technology at the K-12 level, check out the resources and professional networking opportunities offered by the International Society for Technology in Education. 

Online Degrees in Educational Technology

The minimum educational requirement for most instructional technology coordinator positions in public schools is at least a master’s—usually in education—plus a state teacher or administrator license. Instructional coordinators should have training in curriculum development and instruction or in the specific field for which they are responsible, such as mathematics or history. Licensed teachers can often add a certificate at the graduate or undergraduate level to qualify for state licensure in this educational field. 

Instructional coordinators must be licensed to work in public schools. Some states require a teaching license, whereas others require an education administrator license. Licensing is not usually required in private education or to train adults in corporate settings. Study the licensing requirements for the state in which you wish to work. Typically the path to becoming an instructional coordinator follows the same path as either becoming a teacher or becoming an educational administrator.

Educational Technology Career Change

Many people begin working in instructional technology jobs after working for several years as teachers or trainers. Writers sometimes specialize in education or curriculum writing. Working in education as an administrator, such as a principal or assistant principal, or in an advisory role as a master teacher is another great way to gain experience.To bypass licensing, which may be required to work pre-K-12 in public schools, consider an entry-level job at a private school or take work as an adult educator in corporate environments.

Still deciding where to earn your degree? Our rankings for the Best Master’s in Educational Technology Degrees and Best Online Master’s in Educational Technology Degrees can help.

A degree in educational technology can take you many places. Most commonly, graduates with an ed tech degree work in a K-12 setting. Many technology integration specialist jobs and instructional technologist jobs are at the building or district level.

However, there are plenty of other possibilities. An ed tech degree could also translate into providing training for a nonprofit or a corporation. It could also mean working with a college, university, or town library.

Considering the wide variety of positions available in instructional technology, there’s no single average salary that’s representative of all these occupations. Job titles commonly held by ed tech graduates include:

• Instructional Coordinator
• Chief Learning Officer
• eLearning Developer
• Training and Development Specialist
• Instructional Technologist
• Interface and Multimedia Designer
• Performance Support Specialist
• Curriculum Development Specialist
• Training Director
• Technology Integration Specialist
• Teacher (K-12 classroom)

And the list goes on. While all of these are viable options with an ed tech degree, many people in one of these degree tracks begin their academic program as a practicing classroom teacher. A large number of these teachers will continue in the same role after graduation. In the Michigan State University Master of Arts in Educational Technology program, for example, fully 75 percent of the students start and end their degree program as classroom teachers.

But the other occupations in ed tech also have great potential. Based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job openings for instructional coordinators are expected to increase by 10 percent between 2016 and 2026. For training and development specialists, that figure is 11 percent. Both of these are faster than the projection for all occupations, which is roughly 7 percent.

Some educational technologists will focus their skills on the design and development of learning software or applications. This is an area of particularly high growth. The number of job opportunities for software developers is expected to increase 24 percent by 2026.

The average salaries for these occupations vary widely. As any teacher can tell you, K-12 teaching is not a get-rich-quick profession. The median salary for elementary, middle school, and high school teachers is $55,800, $56,720, and $58,030 respectively.

For positions outside of K-12 classrooms, the pay is generally higher. Training and development specialists have a typical yearly salary of $59,020. For instructional coordinators, the median salary is $62,460 per year.

Software development and training management are the most lucrative areas of ed tech to pursue. As a software developer, you can expect to earn, on average, $102,280 per year. As a training and development manager, you can earn an average of $105,830 per year.