Careers in Technology Education
Technology education, or instructional technology, is an emerging vocational field that has continued to grow in the last decade, largely due to the influence of the Internet. Various career options are available in this field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of jobs for instructional coordinators is expected to grow by 23 percent between 2008 and 2018.
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Types of Careers
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Instructional coordinators can handle a variety of roles in the field of technology education. St. Joseph's University notes 10 different high-paying careers in this field. Software consultants, for instance, advise schools on how to best use various types of instructional technology. Course developers work for software companies, creating different types of software packages that instructors can use to teach online courses or in a traditional classroom. Other careers include training specialists, assistive technology coordinators and educational technology support specialists.
Qualifications
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The qualifications for the various career options in technology education vary, depending on whether you are an educator or work on the software side, developing the new technologies used in education. Those who work as instructional coordinators must have experience and education in the field of curriculum development. Many schools offer master's degrees in instructional technology that can provide an adequate background for working in this field. Those working on the software and technological side will need degrees in areas such as computer science or information technology.
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Job Outlook
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The 23 percent job growth predicted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics stems from the the continued growth of the importance of technology in education. The bureau notes that some job growth might be limited by budget cuts. But for the most part, improving education quality and meeting the needs of students -- including those with disabilities or adult learners -- will be driving forces behind job growth. The bureau reports that 133,900 were employed in this field nationwide in 2008. The number is expected to increase to 165,000 by 2018.
Pay and Employment
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The median salary of instructional coordinators was $58,780 a year, as of May 2009, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The highest paid professionals in the field made more than $93,340 a year. The largest number of instructional coordinators worked in elementary and secondary schools, earning an average salary of $67,610. The next largest group of instructional coordinators worked in colleges and universities, earning on average $55,580.
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References
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