Positions in educational leadership are not limited to building principal, dean or superintendent of a K-12 school system. These challenging positions are not even limited to the field of education. A master’s degree in educational technology leadership provides the skills necessary to pursue opportunities in the areas of curriculum development, learning applications, distance learning and educational software in both school and corporate settings.
Curriculum Specialist
Curriculum specialists or developers are in demand in both the field of education and the public sector. Some of the responsibilities of the curriculum specialist, working in either a public school or large corporation are:
- Designing and developing programs for learners of all ages, including employees, staff members, teachers and students.
- Serving as a consulting specialist on course content.
- Tracking performance and overall effect of the program.
- Analyzing outcomes.
- Recommending continued or different training as needed.
The average base salary for curriculum specialists in the United States is $72,169, with a $64,000-$80,000 range, according to Salary.com as of November 2018.
Learning Applications Designer
Due to a growing trend toward one-to-one devices for K-12 students, learning applications for educational programs are becoming more integral to classroom instruction and e-learning. Enhancing and supplementing instruction with applications that provide the most efficient support for students of all ages gives teachers and instructors the ability to fine-tune learning experiences for each student.
Salary expectations for designers range from about $50,000 to $65,000 per year, and can reach over $95,000 per year, depending on experience and responsibility.
Distance Learning Director
According to a 2017 report by the Babson Survey Research Group, the number of enrollments for online learning classes increased for 14 years straight. In most cases, the curriculum and expected outcomes are determined by the specific department of the university, college or institution offering the classes.
Creating a web-based program to deliver these courses, however, is work for a technology expert focused on distance learning and instruction. Students who need or prefer to earn a degree online expect course information to be delivered seamlessly, consistently and in a user-friendly format.
Salary.com places the average yearly earnings for distance learning directors at $96,448 as of November 2018, with salaries ranging from $78,562 to $115,626.
Educational Software Consultant
Schools at every level are integrating technology into each part of the school day, from physical education science and attendance to learning center materials checkout.
With the advancement of school software and the growing practice of assigning a portable device to each student, information, assignments and support systems are available no matter where students are working. With the growing number of uses for technology in the classroom, keeping software current with curriculum and user expectations has created a demand for educational software consultants.
According to Salary.com, the salary range for education consultants is $87,419 to $109,274 per year, as of November 2018.
Become a Leader in Educational Technology
According to Karen Cator, director of the Office of Educational Technology, “As we transition to a digital learning environment and each learner has his or her own device, we will be able to facilitate personalization, participation, interaction, and collaboration — with people who might be right there in the classroom or people who might be across the world.”
By earning a Master of Education in Educational Technology Leadership from the University of Louisiana Monroe, you may find yourself an integral part of making the world of technology more accessible and meaningful to students of all ages.
Learn more about the ULM online M.Ed. in Educational Technology Leadership program.