Educational technology focuses on improving and enhancing the educational process through the integration of technology. The use of technology in education and training has increased every year and demand for professionals with this background will increase as society relies more on electronic format. Just look at the popularity of online degree programs. Educational technology professionals are found in colleges and universities, elementary and secondary schools, the armed forces, industry, museums, libraries, hospitals, and more. Educational technology is offered at the master's level or higher, so professionals generally have a bachelor's degree in a related field and earn the postgraduate degree in educational technology to advance in their careers or to change careers.

Career Options in Educational Technology / Instructional Technology:

Salaries in Educational Technology / Instructional Technology:
(Payscale.com - Salary for professionals holding a Master's Degree in Instructional Technology)

Instructional Technology Specialist - Certificate
The Instructional Technology Specialist (ITS) Certification program is available for teachers who currently possess a Pennsylvania Instructional I or Instructional II teaching certificate. The program was designed to address the dramatically increasing need in education for certified Instructional Technology Specialists at every level of K-12 schooling. Through the ITS program, teachers will become experts in technology planning, assessment, and implementation, as well as how to integrate technology into the curriculum and provide staff development and long-term support. The program can be completed as part of a master's degree program or as an independent certificate program. This program is offered by Drexel's School of Education, ranked as one of America's Best Graduate Schools 2007 by U.S.News & World Report.

Instructional Technology for Educators - Certificate
This 15-credit certificate from the UMass Boston Graduate College of Education is designed for in-service teachers who do not seek a master's degree at this time or for those who have already earned an advanced degree. The purpose of the Certificate is to prepare teachers to meet the National Technology Standards of the International Society of Technology and the Performance Indicators for Teachers and the Massachusetts Recommended Pre-K-12 Instructional Technology Standards.

Instructional Design - Master of Education
The M.Ed. in Instructional Design is an ideal master's degree for career professionals engaged in the education, training and development of adult learners in the workplace. Students experience a dynamic learning process and curriculum that meets the current educational demands of the marketplace. This unique program is a comprehensive course of study that gives equal importance to both the design and delivery of adult instruction. Applications of this process appear in every kind of organization including business and industry, educational institutions, government agencies, the military, health care, and professional societies. This multi-disciplinary academic program requires 36 credits for completion. Four core classes (12 credits) are taught on the Boston campus and all participants must be present. The remaining courses can be taken via a web-based online format that follows a semester calendar. By offering the majority of the courses online, students are better able to control their schedules as they work toward the degree. Using the principles and practices of adult education, theoretical and applied courses concentrate in three areas: building a foundation/conceptual framework for the instructional design process; developing instructional strategies and skills to facilitate adult learning; and using educational media and technology to enhance the learning process.

Instructional Technology Design - Certificate
The Graduate Program in Instructional Design also offers a certificate program in instructional technology design to meet the increasing challenges created by the high technology training needs of academic, corporate, and public educators. Through a combination of classroom and hands-on laboratory work, this certificate program provides participants with the opportunity to design and produce computer-mediated learning activities and interactive multimedia materials, and to make effective use of instructional technology in curriculum development. The program can be completed entirely online.