Educational technology is a growing field. You only have to look at the increase in software, Apps and platforms that support and facilitate learning over the last few years. Using technology to assist learning both in school classrooms, for corporate training, and as a crucial means for facilitating lifelong learning is becoming the norm. It’s not surprising then that edtech jobs and demand for edtech skills are on the rise as well. If this is an area that interests you, then read on to find out more about these five edtech jobs you can do with an MA in educational technology:
- Curriculum designer
- Educational technologist
- Instructional designer
- E-learning developer
- Corporate trainer
We will be looking at each of these career options in terms of what they do and how educational technology plays a part in each job role.
What is educational technology?
Educational technology, sometimes edtech for short, is the development and use of technology to help support and facilitate learning of all types of students in various learning environments.
Types of educational technology include learning management systems (LMS) such as Canvas, gamification such as Khan Academy, distance learning or e-learning, class management software such as Class Dojo, online learning platforms such as FutureLearn and LinkedIn Learning, 3D printing, AR and VR tools.
Edtech jobs you can do with an MA in educational technology
Curriculum designer
Curriculum designers are responsible for not only developing curriculum content but also how it is delivered. They are usually more senior members of teaching staff in schools and colleges but can work for examination boards as well. The types of work they do include researching final exam requirements, informing curriculum content, setting learning objectives and milestones, creating overarching lesson plans and timetables, and creating/preparing materials.
Understanding the benefits of using educational technology is important to the curriculum designer as it helps them support teachers, integrate technology with curriculum subjects and teaching, and uses technology tools to prepare materials and deliver lessons.
Learning / educational technologist
They work closely with IT teams and teachers / curriculum designers to develop and implement technology and e-learning materials to support teaching and learning. Depending on their level of expertise, they may research different types of e-learning platforms, help implement them, provide administrative and/or technical support to teaching staff and students, and create e-learning materials.
The learning technologist’s skills lie between education and technical knowledge where they need to understand the needs of teachers and students, as well as understand the tech. A master’s degree that combines education and technology can expand their skills further.
Instructional designer
An instructional designer is the ‘architect’ behind e-learning products; responsible for the design and development stage before it gets ‘built’. Their role involves analysing learning needs and understanding curriculum, creating content (such as courses, instructions, manuals etc), story-boarding the learning experience as they see it, working with others to produce assets, and evaluate the learning product. They take on a project management approach, working closely with others from teachers to e-learning developers.
It's clear that instructional designers require a comprehensive understanding of education and technology. An edtech master’s degree can help link those topics together to help instructional designers design a better learning experience.
E-learning developer
An e-learning developer takes the instructional designer’s storyboard, assets and content and essentially builds it using the e-learning tool of choice. They work closely with the instructional designer to make sure that everything the instructional designer has envisioned is possible within budget, timescale, and resources. E-learning developers will have excellent technical skills and knowledge, both in the software they use to build the learning product and web development skills such as HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
Whilst an e-learning developer’s skills lie in the technical, gaining an edtech master’s develops a methodical appraisal of the key concepts, issues, and developments associated with the application of education technology.
Corporate trainer
A corporate trainer provides training to employees. They may work for the organisation or for a consultancy firm that is hired to deliver training at various companies. Their work includes creating, writing, and delivering the training, and sometimes be involved in the wrap around administration and evaluation of the training.
Corporate trainers need knowledge of all kinds of training delivery methods. Understanding how technology can enhance their training methodologies is very useful and a postgraduate in Education with Technology can help with this.
Sectors that benefit from EdTech job roles
Education
When we think of technology in education we might immediately think about the growth in online learning through platforms like LinkedIn Learning, Coursera or Skillshare. However, it’s much more than that. Technology is used to enhance traditional teaching through learning Apps and games, tools in the classroom, and online tools to support student / teacher collaboration and classroom management. Therefore, edtech degrees can often benefit those involved in teaching and curriculum delivery, as well as technologists. Job roles in education that could benefit from educational technology master’s include teachers, curriculum leaders, IT technicians, IT managers, education consultants, education administrators.
See all our distance learning degrees in education.
Business
For commercial companies to thrive, they need to invest in their employees’ CPD through corporate training. They may also want to foster a particular culture; for example, one that is safe, healthy, and fair, investing in training such as equality and diversity, health and safety, cybersecurity. Educational technology plays a key role in corporate training in various ways from complete online delivery to supporting face to face delivery.
See all our distance learning degrees in business and management.
EdTech companies and start-ups
Public sector
Skills you need to work in EdTech
Regardless of whether you work in an educational role or a more technical role, these skills are very useful when applying educational technology:
- critical thinking
- problem solving
- research skills
- project management
- communicating with stakeholders and clients
- critical evaluation
- creative thinking
- working with others
An MA in Education with Technology course not only looks at how technology can support education but fosters these transferable soft skills.
If your job role is more technical, then IT skills and knowledge of how to use various edtech digital tools will be necessary.