Site Search:
 
Get TEFL Certified & Start Your Adventure Today!
Teach English Abroad and Get Paid to see the World!
Job Discussion Forums Forum Index Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Master of Education Technology

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> General Discussion
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
LarueLarry



Joined: 05 Jul 2013
Posts: 32

PostPosted: Thu Sep 25, 2014 8:19 am    Post subject: Master of Education Technology Reply with quote

Have read a few people on here mention this degree and was wondering if anyone has completed it. I'm thinking of doing one via distance learning next year.

What doors has it opened for you outside of ESL/EFL? I'm hoping it will make me more marketable as an international school teacher. But I'm also curious if there are also opportunities outside of the classroom that anyone here has had experience with.

Thanks for any info
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
esl_prof



Joined: 30 Nov 2013
Posts: 2006
Location: peyi kote solèy frèt

PostPosted: Thu Sep 25, 2014 11:59 am    Post subject: Re: Master of Education Technology Reply with quote

LarueLarry wrote:
But I'm also curious if there are also opportunities outside of the classroom that anyone here has had experience with.


I have no direct experience in this field, but I've observed over the past few years what appears to be an increase in job ads for online course developers at the college-level. For-profit schools (e.g. U of Phoenix, et al.) have been doing that for years, but as community colleges and four-year colleges and universities (at least in the U.S.) are starting to jump on the online course/certificate/degree bandwagon, there seems to be a growing demand for folks with the technical skills to help professors transfer their course content from F2F to online classrooms. In addition to the formal training with the degree, it would probably be helpful to teach a couple of online courses, if you get the chance, to be able to demonstrate your knowledge of what the end-product looks like. You might check out the appropriate discussion forums over at the Chronicle of Higher Education website for leads on networking with folks who are productively employed in this field.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
buravirgil



Joined: 23 Jan 2014
Posts: 967
Location: Jiangxi Province, China

PostPosted: Thu Sep 25, 2014 1:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A recent study on massive open online courses (MOOCs) should increase enrollment in ET courses.
http://phys.org/news/2014-09-online-classes.html
I worked with two people so degreed in Saudi hired as department managers. One was adept at email. The other didn't understand flash drives. Course descriptions of two years ago (using a blended approach) read equal parts "leadership" and "business proposal". Somebody has to write those white papers.

I second what eslprof stated: seek the productively employed.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
nomad soul



Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world

PostPosted: Thu Sep 25, 2014 1:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

LarueLarry wrote:
Have read a few people on here mention this degree and was wondering if anyone has completed it. I'm thinking of doing one via distance learning next year.

What doors has it opened for you outside of ESL/EFL? I'm hoping it will make me more marketable as an international school teacher. But I'm also curious if there are also opportunities outside of the classroom that anyone here has had experience with.

I was one of the posters mentioning this field. I'm a year away from completing my Master of Educational Technology, so I don't have any relevant work experience to share at this time. However, MuscatGary has an Ed Tech degree; hopefully, he'll see this thread and can answer your main question. But essentially, you really wouldn't "teach" with this degree---that is, teaching EFL, physical ed, history or whatever in a typical classroom environment. Your marketability is as a specialist in the field (see the link near the end of this post). Ed Tech is pertinent to any and every industry/sector where training, teaching, and learning exists---whether on home soil or abroad. That includes k-12 schools/international schools, health care, government, nonprofits/NGOs, higher ed, security, hospitality, airlines, oil industry, publishing, telecommunications...

Keep in mind, Ed Tech degree content can vary---some programs are more theoretical while others are heavy on the technology. My program is a mix of both. For example, this semester I'm learning Adobe Photoshop (graphic design) and InDesign (desktop publishing) as well as curriculum design in relation to technology applications. Next semester's coursework is on how to design an online course followed by a semester on digital video and Web design (e.g., HTML). I've also completed coursework on instructional design systems and technology ethics. However, my courses still incorporate topics relevant to education, such as learning theories, Bloom's Taxonomy, etc., from the perspective of an educator. Anyway, carefully read the coursework for those degree programs your interested in to see if they fit your needs and career goals.

I also suggest doing an Internet search on difference between instructional educational technology; they're different disciplines yet overlap. Perhaps a Master in Instructional Technology will pique your interest more.

Additionally, check out the following link for Ed Tech trends and a long list of career possibilities:
http://www.geteducated.com/career-center/detail/instructional-technologist-and-instructional-coordinator

Lastly, do a search on educational technology jobs for a look at actual job ads in the field.


Last edited by nomad soul on Sun Sep 28, 2014 4:28 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
esl_prof



Joined: 30 Nov 2013
Posts: 2006
Location: peyi kote solèy frèt

PostPosted: Thu Sep 25, 2014 5:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

nomad soul wrote:
I'm a year away from completing my Master of Educational Technology . . .


This is interesting! Are you planning to use the degree to move in a different direction within the ESL profession, or are you planning to move out of ESL entirely?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
nomad soul



Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world

PostPosted: Fri Sep 26, 2014 2:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

esl_prof wrote:
Are you planning to use the degree to move in a different direction within the ESL profession, or are you planning to move out of ESL entirely?

I plan to transition from TEFL to educational technology/instructional design in a position overseas that serves a broader base. At the corporate level, that's usually within a training department; in academia, it would be the department tied to faculty development or elearning. My target industries are the airlines, healthcare, and higher ed, preferably in the UAE. My TEFL background will certainly come in handy for working with diverse populations.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
LarueLarry



Joined: 05 Jul 2013
Posts: 32

PostPosted: Fri Sep 26, 2014 2:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the replies and the great info. I've got a lot of research to do before deciding on something.

Nomad Soul--I hope you keep us posted in the future as to your progress. Good luck!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
nomad soul