Online Educational Technology Degree Programs

A teacher showing her students how to create a business brochure using publishing software is applying technology to help students learn. A corporate trainer preparing a training module on new health care information protocols is also applying technology to help students develop their career skills. This combination of teaching and technology is called educational technology, and it is one of the most significant trends in education today.

Education technology, though often associated with computers, goes much beyond the use of technical gadgets in education. Educational technology deals with the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of new methods in learning and teaching. The aim of educational technology is to improve the quality of teaching and learning in school environments that have become increasingly diverse, over-crowded, and under-funded.

Online Educational Technology Degree Programs

Most educational technology programs are offered at the graduate level, and lead to a Master of Education or Master of Science in Educational Technology. Online schools offer the full range of available qualifications, from bachelor's degrees to PhD programs.

A bachelor's or master's degree in educational technology will help you develop the skills you need to work with the latest technologies in education. The Internet, multimedia tools, and computer technology are just a few of the major areas you might cover in a standard program. Sample course titles include:

• Educational Media and Technology
• Developing Multimedia Materials
• Educational Hardware Systems
• Distance Education
• Computer Interface Design for Learning
• Instructional Design
• Integrating Technology into the Classroom

Educational Technology Careers

A graduate with an educational technology degree can work in any number of fields, ranging from teaching to school administration to curriculum development. Educational technology graduates also find opportunities in the private sector, as corporate training specialists. Businesses and health care organizations use educational technology to train personnel in the latest advances in their field.

Salaries vary widely depending on job title. According to a May 2007 report issued by the Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, curriculum designers earned a median salary of more than $58,070 during the same period, and corporate trainers earned $90,300. Teachers averaged $52,450 in annual salary, and administrators made $82,120. Many schools also provide salary bonuses for teachers or administrators who complete a master's degree in educational technology.

A graduate degree in educational technology prepares you to deal with the changing demands of the education sector by training you to prepare and implement newer, more effective and efficient learning experiences. Job prospects in educational technology should be quite favorable as school districts develop a greater need for new technologies in today's hyper-connected global landscape. In addition, many Baby Boomer educators are expected to retire in the next ten years, opening up even more jobs in the industry. And lastly, new technologies come out every year, requiring even more qualified people to help meet the country's growing demand for tech-savvy educators.

• Education