Having a master’s degree opens more doors for leaders in schools. It also helps teachers stay informed about the best ways to teach and the latest tools available.

And, of course, it increases a teacher’s earning potential. A master’s in instructional technology is just one type of master’s degree a teacher can pursue. Read on to find out more about a master’s in instructional technology and the benefits of getting this degree.

What is a Master’s in Instructional Technology?

A master’s in instructional technology is an advanced degree designed to teach educators how to utilize technology effectively in the classroom.

To enhance students’ achievement, programs such as this explore various educational tools, and the approaches educators can take to incorporate them into their instruction.

It puts emphasis on authentic real-world application that teachers can bring straight back to their classroom. It inspires teachers to create new and exciting ways to teach. This can include single lesson plans or the entire subject curriculum.

A master’s in instructional technology will redefine the way teachers approach technology instruction in order to create and design lessons that were previously unimaginable.

Taking between one to two years to complete, this 30-36 credit hour degree has options to be completed in person or online at a variety of universities.

While the price of a master’s degree varies, The US News and World Report estimates the payout being between $8,000 and $32,000, at the highest end.    

Who Should Pursue a Master’s in Instructional Technology?

A master’s in instructional technology is a degree suited for many. Teachers frequently discover that this master’s degree is quite useful, since much of the material they study can be directly applied to their classrooms.

Instructional designers, such as professionals who create lessons and materials for instruction, are also good candidates.

Additionally, this degree would be perfect for school technology coordinators or educational technologists.

Online program coordinators and distance learning teachers might find a master’s degree in instructional technology to be a perfect fit for their roles.

Finally, any teacher at any level preschool-higher education would be able to gain beneficial knowledge by earning a degree in instructional technology. It is a master’s that is applicable, easy to implement, and adds excitement to every classroom.

There really isn’t any staff in the educational field that couldn’t gain valuable learning from pursuing this degree.

How a Master’s in Instructional Technology Can Advance Your Career

Receiving a master’s in instructional technology can advance your career in many ways. For starters, it can increase your earnings between 10%-15% or $3,000 to $7,000 depending on your experience and the state you teach in.

Based on a typical teacher’s salary, this can make a big difference in your annual income. The sooner in your career you receive your masters, the faster you can start earning this pay increase and reap the financial benefits of it.

Having a master’s degree is required for some teaching positions. A school principal, instructional coordinator, or educational consultant all often require a master’s degree to even be considered for the position. Additionally, media specialists or learning coordinators require a master’s degree.

Without this additional schooling, you won’t be able to advance your degree outside of entry level teaching positions. For some, that is right where they want to spend their career. Others may need to consider other avenues they are interested in and what post graduate schooling is required for those higher-level educator roles.

Benefits of a Master’s in Instructional Technology

There are other reasons besides the thicker paycheck to pursue an instructional technology degree. The content you learn in these courses is directly applicable to your teaching.

It is a make-and-take masters, a degree where you can practice your learning with your students in real time. It is also a master’s that is very valuable in this 21st century world.

Almost every educational setting utilizes technology in some way or some form. Without any background in technology, one would not be very marketable for even the most basic teaching roles.

Finally, a master’s degree in instructional technology will help you to engage students more effectively by incorporating technology in innovative and exciting ways in their daily activities. Instructional technology provides opportunities for modification and redefinition from old and past teaching practices.

By using the skills educators acquire in their instructional master’s degrees, students will be able to redefine how they work to master standards and meet learning targets.

There are many reasons educators set out to pursue a master’s degree. It advances their educational credentials and enhances their teaching skills. It creates leadership opportunities and makes teachers more marketable.

Not to mention it redefines approaches to instruction in ways that were previously unimaginable. Technology is the world we live in, and will be the world our students work in. It is the past, present and future, and a degree in instructional technology will only benefit everyone it touches.

Love technology? Love teaching? Love teaching people how to use technology? Love leading and working with students and adults alike? If you said yes, what are you waiting for? Get a degree in EdTech!

 *Updated February 2025

The post What is a Master’s in Instructional Technology? appeared first on Graduate Programs for Educators.

In order to implement technology appropriately and use it to its greatest capabilities, teachers are turning to, as well as turning into, instructional technology coaches. Instructional technology coaches are able to develop curriculum, train teachers in educational programs, and assist in integrating technology into the classroom.

While sharing many similarities to a master’s in educational technology, a master’s instructional technology degree is slightly different. It provides teachers with many skills they can use to amplify students’ learning experiences and gives these educators options for different career paths.

What is a Master’s in Instructional Technology?

A master’s degree in instructional technology provides its graduates with skills and abilities needed to integrate technology into classrooms, the confidence to train teachers in best practices and implementation processes, and the leadership skills needed to promote the district-wide vision for technology.

This is similar yet different from a degree in educational technology, where the main goal is to support a student’s academics through the use of technology tools. An instructional technology degree develops a variety of essential skills that help one become a leader in the technology field as well as the skills to support staff and students in effectively using technology to enhance student achievement.

What You Will Learn in an Instructional Tech. Program

There are many skills that one will develop through an instructional technology degree program. Not only will educators learning this field gain understanding of new technology tools and best practices; but they will become guides and leaders that other staff can lean on. Instructional technology skills one will develop through a master’s program include how to:

• Integrate technology into educational classrooms or environments
• Facilitate digital learning
• Address diverse needs of learners
• Use theories, standards, and frameworks to select appropriate technology tools for classrooms and districts
• Demonstrate mastery of evidence-based concepts through the modeling of best practices in educational technology
• Effectively manage digital resources
• Establish cultures of 21st century learning and growth mindsets
• Understand principles and theories of curriculum design through the use of technology

Career Outcomes

Instructional technology degrees open up a range of career opportunities for educators. Teachers with this degree can become technology coordinators, technology integration specialists, district-level technology specialists, mentor coaches, or media specialists. Instructional technology degrees shape educators into experts in the technology field, including how to effectively implement various technology tools or programs to amplify student learning.

They are well versed in research on how technology can connect to teaching and learning. They can troubleshoot and assist teachers when technological glitches arise. Along with these things, people with this degree stay on the forefront of innovative technology tools and practices.

Why Now is the Right Time to Get an Instructional Technology Degree

Education has undergone many changes over the past year and a half with the COVID-19 pandemic overtaking the world. Students learned in ways they never had before, most of which included technology either partially or, much more common, completely.

Teachers and students alike had to pivot to online learning without any sort of notice or preparation. Some teachers, the ones with instructional technology degrees, more than likely felt somewhat confident in this abrupt learning switch. Others, those teachers unfamiliar and not comfortable with technology, describe that transition as one of the hardest moments in their career.

Whether teachers were comfortable or not with the online learning environment, the pandemic taught us that students can, in fact, learn in a variety of ways and even from a variety of places. This realization is going to forever change how we look at educating a child. Is a student gone on vacation? They can still submit their assignments through Google Classroom or Seesaw. Are you having a handful of snow days that are interrupting learning?

Students can meet virtually with their teacher to attend lectures or stay caught up on work. If there is one thing the pandemic has taught the world of education, it is that we don’t have to be in the same physical space to see learning and growing happening.

If you were hesitant before about getting an instructional technology degree, proof of the importance of this additional education should be clearer than ever. Technology is the language students speak; they were born with it, learn with it, and will likely have jobs where technology is a necessary part of completing their day-to-day work.

Instructional technology degrees are available in person and online, making it easy to choose the format you can learn best in. Some even offer “go-at-your-own pace”, which can be helpful if you have little ones at home or other obligations that make it hard to find the time to fit it all in.

Conclusion

Technology is used in classrooms on a regular basis, which means it is important to have staff who are experts in implementing, developing, and educating others on best practices. Instructional Technology degrees develop valuable skills educators can use to support 21st century learning and amplify students’ learning experiences.

Harness the power of technology in your class with the expertise gained from one of our instructional technology degrees! Explore our available programs to get started.

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