As for theories, yes it can seem like they are built on faulty premises, but I think it’s simply those were the premises that they were aware when the theories were created. Boise State University offers up two online master’s degrees: Master of Educational Technology and Master of Science in Educational Technology. The Value of a Master’s Degree in IT. This often results in people reading into the data whatever they need to in order to declare themselves a highly-paid education consulting guru. Ideally researchers should also collaborate with others to help ensure their interpretations are entirely off the wall. A part of me feels you are overstating one or two of the cons, and possibly underestimating one of the pros. However, higher-level positions are often unattainable without the higher diploma, and such positions also produce better pay. The first question, though, is, “Do you want one?”, because if you do, it will be worth it to achieve that goal regardless of any monetary increase you’ll get. Some entry-level jobs in these fields won’t hire you (or even interview you) without a graduate degree. Teachers can enhance their instructional skills and advance their career with a master’s in education technology. Related: Master’s Degree vs Increased Blogging Time. Master's in Educational Technology graduates acquire a comprehensive understanding of the most relevant instructional design and learning theories, digital learning tools and platforms, and solutions for developing and assessing the effectiveness of a digital learning product implementation. A master’s degree in educational technology helps teachers acquire the tools they need to best support students’ academic needs through the use of technology. Haha, I think you may have just angered the social science gods (don’t worry I won’t tell them anything). These benefits, and many others offered by the program, make it a great investment for many students. A Master in Digital Technology helps students develop both the classroom leadership and technical skills needed to succeed in an ever-evolving digital world. Beyond that, the benefits are the pay-bump or just personal interest. Have I failed to considered a major factor? It’s harder to quantify the value of having to split your focus on a daily basis, as well as the simple opportunity cost of doing something else with your time. in Ed-Tech, Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), amplifying student’s learning experiences. I learned a few small nuggets of wisdom and practical knowledge that will help me a minor amount in my teaching career. In other fields, advancement or higher pay may only be given to those with a Master’s or doctorate. Many technology integration specialist jobs and instructional technologist jobs are at the building or district level. On the flip side, I find the interpretive side of things and the lack of trying to control everything very fascinating and liberating. The problem is that unlike physical sciences it is virtually impossible to control experimental processes and variables in the way that other disciplines require. Perhaps this will change in the future, but it’s the system we live in for now. It also helps to place individuals at the top of the list during the application process. Has anyone else out there been afraid to admit when a major commitment of theirs didn’t turn out as well as they might have wanted or projected? In the short term however, I think I’d do it a little differently if I knew then what I knew now. See privacy policy. The courses teachers take throughout the master’s program open doors in the classroom, as well as options for advancing roles in education. I can tell you that my M.Ed was not what I expected and, in reality, was more about writing papers than achieving results. It’s worth noting that degrees in educational technology aren’t commonly available below the master’s degree level. |. I’m just putting the final touches on my degree and have been in a reflective mood lately. Master’s Degree vs Increased Blogging Time. By receiving a master’s in educational technology, teachers become experts on effectively implementing technology to best support students in 21st century learning. Curriculum and instruction provides a study for the educational leader in developing and implementing curriculum design, and effective instructional methods and strategies to use. Holding an ed tech master's degree gives you a better chance of earning a salary above the occupational average. Education therefore serves less as an access point for information, but rather a community within which to develop ones ability for purposeful, skilled and intelligent use of information. Personally, I plan on continuing on to a PhD and building a career within the realm of academia, so it’s simply the standard stepping stone for my career path. Tough call. It’s incredibly difficult to write an article titled Is a Master’s Degree Worth It because the inference would be that I could tell you if your specific proposed path of study was worth the time, money, and overall opportunity cost in your situation. I’m not saying that all master’s degrees are useless or that all graduate students made the wrong decision. Along with acquiring these skills through their coursework, teachers open other career opportunities for themselves. I would recommend teachers spend at least five years teaching in the classroom before deciding this. Other jobs such as eLearning developers, performance support specialists, curriculum development specialists, or interface and multimedia designers are options for educators with ed-tech degrees as well. A Master’s in Educational Technology develops students’ creativity, allows them to innovate in the classroom and readies them for a range of potential careers. The STEM fields — science, technology, engineering, and math — along with business and education all but require a Master’s degree. we did [insert pretty much anything]… and it was better because…[insert isolated anecdotal evidence]” While it’s true certain things may have been better at times in the past, there has been so many other things that have improved. The courses teachers take throughout the master’s program open doors in the classroom, as well as options for advancing roles in education. A degree in educational technology can take you many places. According to study.com, a master’s degree program in Information Technology usually requires completion of about 30 credits and may cost you about $30,000. The first is a professional-based degree, while the second is more research-oriented. Technology has made access to information fast, easy and prolific. Perhaps you are right. M.A.Ed. Sadly, written text is very strongly engrained in the world of academia, so it is unlikely to change anytime soon. I met some good folks who shared some useful experiences. It would be great if we could get around all of these issues, but I suspect that’s near impossible, since you’d be fighting basic human nature. It was for me. Much like any degree program, it would be interesting to see how useful those teachers found their programs down the road. That is all. How Much Do I Need to Save for Retirement? From what I've seen, the experience varies greatly. I’m sure there are teachers in your school that practice very similar teaching approaches: talk about theories/hypothetical situations, then test you through writing or exams, while not necessarily improving/measuring your actual abilities/skills. If you have clear goals to move up the ladder, then pursue additional education that is relevant to those goals. The degree helps teachers spark student success through the use of … That being said, if I could go back and talk to myself three years ago, I would have to say taking the degree was a mistake. Additionally, the door to more career opportunities are opened by obtaining this degree. Candidates are required to select one of the routes below: The information here is sourced well and enriched with great visual photo and video illustrations. Those looking to gain high-level positions may need to obtain a Master’s. Wow did you hit the nail on the head with that comment Jordan. I think that there is something really wrong with graduate degree’s when the are more about theories and writing rather than action and results. Educational technology is amplifying student’s learning experiences and redefining what it means to be a 21st century learner. © 2020 Young And Thrifty. I’m not sure how the programs work in your area, but here design-based research programs are quite popular since it allows students to take what they learn in grad school and directly apply it to their own classrooms on the fly. States don’t usually require a masters’ degree to become licensed. Using sets of data to drive theories is fine – in theory. Both programs feature similar core classes to establish a foundation in educational technology. It’s just not possible to account for all the variables and say that student X fits into box A and student Y fits into box B and that is true in all scenarios. It drives me bonkers when people start using arguments like “back in my day…. I guess time will tell. There were many others (I’ve been told the aforementioned marriage was also close to being on the list at times) but there are obviously benefits to the decision as well. By subscribing you agree to receive marketing emails, and newsletters from us. Hopefully you will benefit more from your degree in the future, and if nothing else at least you now know what you do and do not want to do with your career. I’m currently pursuing an MA in Ed Technology, and I’ve shared many classes with MEd students at my university. Only time will tell. Rather than admit failure and learn from the decision-making process that led you to that point, it’s always much easier to simply think, “Man, look at that mountain I just climbed, I am so badass.” (Or maybe your internal dialogue isn’t quite so teenager inspired – the sentiment is what counts.). : and that ’ s in education technology met some good folks shared. 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