Education Technology Jobs

Before knowing about Education Technology Jobs, it is important to know what Education Technology is and to which sector it is related. As you are reading, Educational Technology is made up of two words – one, ‘Education’ and second, ‘Technology’. Education means to educate, teach or train. Therefore, when a teacher takes the help of various techniques or tools to make his teaching more effective, then both teaching and learning are affected, then it is called education technology.

Educational technology is the science of techniques by which the objectives of education can be achieved. It helps in defining the objectives in practical terms on the basis of which education can be made simpler and more developed. In today's era, it has become necessary for teachers to be familiar with new technologies. Various technologies have been developed for the teaching-learning process. Which are being used by educational institutions.

What is Education Technology?

Different people in different parts of the world have defined education technology in different ways.

Leith has given a comprehensive definition of educational technology according to which when scientific knowledge of learning and learning situations is used to improve and enhance teaching and training then it is called educational technology.

J.P. According to DiCicco, educational technology is a form of extended application of the psychology of learning to the problems of practical teaching.

According to B.F. Skinner, teaching technology is that science which increases the effectiveness of education and improves the entire teaching process.

According to Toksi Sokamato, education technology is that practical or experimental study whose purpose is to produce maximum educational effect by controlling some important elements like educational objectives, textbook, teaching material, teaching method, environment, behavior of students and directors and the processes taking place between them. 

According to I.K. Davis- Educational technology deals with problems in the context of education and training and has the special ability to use a disciplined and systemic approach in the organization of sources of learning.

Education means bringing about desired changes in the behavior of the child. Through education the basic tendencies of the child are refined. Psychology, technology and science contribute effectively to the modification of basic trends in the field of education. Therefore, education is not an independent concept in itself but it is related to technical science.

The experimental form of scientific systems and techniques is technical or technical science. Today, in the age of science, scientific and technological inventions have influenced every aspect of human life, due to which education, teaching and learning have also been greatly affected. 

Concept Of Educational Technology

In these modern era, every aspect of human life is influenced by scientific discoveries and inventions. The field of education has also not remained untouched by its influence. The increasing use of projectors, computers, master classes etc. is bringing education closer to technology. In most countries of the world, teachers are teaching through video conferencing only. Now the teacher does not need to go to the classroom or to the student's home to teach.

Any part of pedagogy, be it methods and procedures, objectives, learning process or research, feels crippled without technology. Technical science is becoming so rich and powerful that without its study the teaching knowledge of students and teachers or the knowledge and skills acquired during their testing and training remains incomplete.

Educational technology has given a new form to the old concepts in the field of education by bringing unprecedented revolutionary changes with the modern context. Education technology has made both students and teachers well technical. There is no doubt that technology must be used in education, but along with this you may also need a time table.

Many students do not know how to make a time table? Having a time table makes your work much easier and your efficiency also increases. If the time table is kept properly then a lot of time can be saved in the processes of educational technology.

Objectives of Educational Technology

There are objectives behind every work, similarly educational technology also has a objectives which are as follows-

• Analyzing text so that its elements or components can be systematically arranged.
• Through this you will be able to gain complete knowledge about educational techniques.
• To improve teaching by evaluating the achievements of students in relation to set objectives.
• Will be able to explain the meaning of educational technology.
• Selecting and using techniques of reinforcement.
• Will be able to define soft craft, hard craft and systems analysis.
• To make teaching simple, clear, interesting, scientific, objective, understandable and effective.
• To accumulate, develop and disseminate knowledge.
• To bring desired improvements in the teaching-learning process.
• To increase the qualifications and capabilities of teachers by developing their teaching skills.
• Will be able to tell the difference between educational technology and instructional technology.
• To determine the objectives of teaching so that teaching and testing can be facilitated.
• Students will be able to directly apply educational technology to learning problems.
• To analyze the qualities, abilities, achievements and skills of the students.

Scope of Educational Technology

The field of educational technology is in line with its concept. If we take educational technology as audio-visual means, then its scope in education is limited only to audio-visual means.

If we take educational technology to mean computerized study, then only computerized learning study material comes within its scope. If we take the meaning of educational technology as a system approach, then its scope increases considerably. Derek Rowntra has given the following areas:

• Identifying learning goals and objectives.
• Planning the learning environment.
• Searching for materials and structuring them.
• Selecting appropriate teaching strategies and teaching media.
• To evaluate and improve the effectiveness of the teaching system.
• To get desired insights based on evaluation to increase effectiveness in future.

Highest Salary in Education Technology

First of all, let me tell you that employees working in education technology earn an average of $27429 in any country, mostly ranging from $17444 per year to $54136 per year. The top 15% of workers earn more than $45,715 per year.

But the salary range in Education Technology is slightly different in the United States of America. As per the latest data of 2024, the average annual salary for Educational Technology in the United States is $68,090 per year. According to a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $32.77 an hour. This is equivalent to $1,310/week or $5,681/month.

Education Technology Industries

You may think that education technology is limited to schools only but that is not the case as instruction and training is a lifelong endeavour, many industries require people who understand how to combine technology with instruction. Here are five major industries that recruit for instructional technology jobs:

1. Education - Education technology is a word related to education, hence it is important to give importance to education first. If you like teaching then there is no better place than working in the field of education.

You can find a variety of positions in schools depending on your preferences. With a recent survey showing that 75% of students prefer taking online courses, this shift in student preference for online modalities may increase the need for more educational technology jobs in education.

2. Career – Many people prefer to work in the private or corporate world, there is a wide range of possibilities for them. You can work with any online education platform.

You can work in a big tech firm like Apple or Google with education development platforms. It is being seen that even businesses that have no connection with education are interested in hiring EdTech to develop their internal training programs.

3. Government – ​​If you want to help set good edtech policy and ensure that best practices are developed for all types of education then you might consider working for the government. As governments set standards and develop new edtech initiatives, Government Educational Technology helps promote access and understanding of edtech across the country.

4. Military – The U.S. Armed Forces has some of the oldest and most famous educational institutions, such as the U.S. Military Academy. Naval Academy at Annapolis. The U.S. Army is committed to innovative use of digital technologies and modern educational practices to teach and train its personnel.

5. Organizations – Public service can also be your objective. Many non-profit organizations are committed to increasing access to education for underprivileged communities. If you want to reach underserved communities that need edtech help, consider partnering with organizations like Teach for America or Digital Promise.

Top Educational Technology Jobs

As the field of education technology has grown, so have the possibilities for educational technology jobs and career paths. If you are interested in direct instruction, curriculum design, or administration, you may find a position in education technology where you can use your skills and experience. There are nine areas with popular jobs within EdTech.

Curriculum Designer/Manager

Employees of Curriculum designers are responsible for developing educational programs and instructional materials through an understanding of learning theory and technical knowledge. They assist instructors in the presentation of teaching material and determine whether there are additional requirements or necessary adjustments.

Digital Learning Designer

Digital learning designers, also known as e-learning designers, specialize in the development, delivery, and evaluation of educational content for online or digital environments. They need to stay up to date on the latest technology and digital learning methods to determine what is best suited for specific courses.

Director of Educational Technology

Educational technology directors work with department leaders and IT teams to coordinate which digital technologies and assessment tools will be used by an organization. They oversee faculty training and performance as well as the development of education technology policies and procedures.

Educational Technologist

Educational technologists work closely with faculty and IT teams to determine how to best implement educational technologies. They are responsible for researching and implementing new software and hardware infrastructure, as well as training teachers on the best ways to use technology and collaborating on ways to integrate it with pedagogy.

Media Specialist

Media specialists are responsible for the purchase and maintenance of a school or organization's audio-visual equipment. They set up the equipment and train others to use the equipment for presentations, lectures, and meetings. They can also assist with the creation of digital content and ensure all communications are consistent and on-brand.

Technology Coach

Technology Coach focus on supporting the integration of technology within the classroom. They train teachers on how to employ the most effective strategies for the use of educational technology within the curriculum and in the classroom. They also help assess student learning and provide support to students who need it most.

Technology Coordinator

Technology coordinators have the responsibility of managing various technology projects for an organization or an entire school district. They set deadlines for projects, research appropriate technology, form teams, and schedule meetings and check-ins. They monitor computer education programs and the use of edtech in various schools.

Technology Integration Specialist

Technology integration specialists employees determine the best possible efforts to implementing and using instructional software and educational technology. They work to improve network infrastructure, system configuration, and manage system maintenance and upgrades. They monitor the use of technology in all areas of an organization and troubleshoot hardware and software-related problems.

Senior Instructional Designer

A senior instructional designer develops outlines for training and development programs or courses of study. They serve as "project managers", creating and managing all aspects of the educational technology architecture and program – from goals and scope to learning support and assessment tools.

If you're interested in learning about some of these educational technology jobs in more detail, visit the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration's O*NET online page. The positions listed will have a more detailed description of job vacancies by state, as is this page for instructional coordinators.

Skills Required for Educational Technology Jobs

There are some common skills that apply to any educational technology position, whether it's for edtech teacher jobs or instructional technology company positions.

EdTech employees must be effective at training and mentoring others in how to use technology, and be comfortable collaborating and communicating with others.

In addition to established interpersonal skills, EdTechs must have strong verbal and written communication skills and be able to communicate in technical terms across technology and education.

They should have extensive knowledge of industry standards and best practices in the use of technology in schools, including the International Society for Technology in Education National Technology Standards (ISTE NET).

Like most leadership positions, edtechs must be trained in critical thinking and have strong problem-solving skills.

EdTech positions that focus more strictly on technology development and service may require more specialized technical skills. These skills may include:

• Familiarity with basic web development and coding knowledge such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
• Knowledge of online content management and using online learning systems such as Blackboard, Canvas or Moodle.
• Understanding of how computer networks are established, operated, and transmitted with the ability to troubleshoot as needed.
• Advanced programming skills to develop software or applications for cloud-based systems or learning platforms.

Educational Technology Career Resources

If you're interested in exploring your EdTech career options, check out any of these online resources.

• Adsurge
• ITSE job board
• LinkedIn
• Schoolspring
• edtech recruitment

Top Educational Technologies

There are many technological resources and platforms that are used in edtech, from basic websites and chat boards to computer-based assessments and virtual learning techniques. Top Tools for Learning compiles a list of the 300 most popular edtech tools for each year. If you are interested in reviewing some of the more popular programs, here is a short list of resources you can read about.

Google Apps for Education: Google Education Fundamentals is a suite of free applications for eligible institutions, including widely popular cloud software like Google Docs and Google Drive. If your school has a paid subscription you may also have access to applications such as Workspace for Education Standard, Education Plus and Teaching and Learning Upgrade.

Google Arts & Culture: A large variety of multimedia educational materials that explore arts and culture through virtual tours of museums, archaeological sites, and places of cultural significance. The app includes high-resolution artworks, historical timelines, and artist biographies.

Quizlet: A tool for teachers to easily create online flashcards and games to aid in the development of custom teaching aids. Quizlet has 125 million pre-built study sets designed to help you remember more.

BrainPOP: An online learning resource for teachers and kids of all ages, with thousands of lessons, games, quizzes, videos, and more for every subject and grade-level.

Duolingo: This popular language learning app can be integrated with G Suite features, allowing teachers to make language learning fun through games and quizzes.

Tynker: Coding for Kids: A self-paced, online learning platform for kids that teaches coding for a variety of technologies like apps, games, websites, toys, and more.

Explain Everything: A whiteboard that can be used for teaching, creating animations, brainstorming, journaling, and more.

Zoom: Popular video conferencing software that offers additional features like chat, breakout rooms, support for multiple devices, and customization via API, SDK, and webhooks.

Slack: A workplace communication platform that allows sharing of messages, tools, and files, can sync with various apps and is accessible on multiple devices.

Padlet: An online notice board that allows easy sharing of links, videos, images, and document files between teachers and students.

Canva: An online graphic design tool with a drag and drop interface for simple creation and editing of social media graphics, images, required posters, documents, guides, and other visual content.

Kahoot: A game-based learning platform that allows teachers to easily create quizzes and games for students.

Jamboard: A Google app, Jamboard is a digital interactive whiteboard that allows online collaboration with support for handwriting and shape recognition tools.

H5P: Html-5-Package is a plugin tool that allows users to create, share, and reuse HTML5 content and applications.

Mentimeter: A presentation software that allows users to easily add and solve questions, polls, quizzes, slides and images through an online editor.

GoGuardian: A Chromebook management software designed to give teachers using Chromebooks for school full control over user activity, web filtering, and communications.

Conclusion

You may still be wondering what type of advanced degree is needed to work in educational technology? While some positions may require only a bachelor's degree and appropriate professional certifications, many higher-level (and better-paying) positions require either a master's degree or a comparable level of experience. If you like the information then share it with others. Thank you...