Level up or get left behind: Build your classroom tech skills and secure your future

Learn more about how technology is transforming education and how you can develop the knowledge, literacy, and skills you’ll need to help your students navigate the future by earning a master’s degree in Education Technology.

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, technology was steadily taking a more prominent role in the classroom, changing the way students from kindergarteners to college kids complete homework, study, and even learn. The pandemic only helped to accelerate these changes, and the new wave of AI tools is reshaping the landscape of education in ways no one could have imagined.

While these changes can be beneficial, Assistant Professor of Instructional Technology at Touro University Graduate School of Technology Jacob Gutnicki believes that reaping those benefits requires an intentional approach. “For better or worse, more students are using technology. If they’re left to their own devices, they’ll miss out on an opportunity to better their learning.”

Jacob says that now more than ever, teachers need a deep understanding of technology – or “technology literacy” – to support their students and build capacity in their schools. An MS in Education Technology can provide educators at all levels and across all subjects with the foundational knowledge they need to help both students and teachers get the most out of the latest tech tools, making themselves an invaluable resource in the process.

The need for tech literacy among teachers

There’s never been more information or resources available for educators – but as Jacob explains, that can be a double-edged sword. “Teachers have to know what’s qualitative and what’s quantitative,” he stresses. “There’s so much good stuff out there, but the internet is the wild wild west, and much of what you find is not aligned. You need tech literacy to know what is worth using, or you’re shooting blanks.”

Even after teachers find good information or relevant tools, they also have to understand how to connect it to students in a meaningful way. “One of the purposes of technology is to tap into multiple modes of learning, where it’s audial, visual, or something else,” he expresses. “It shouldn’t just be an e-version of what a student can see on paper – it needs to close gaps. Is it adaptable? Can it support a student who’s struggling or speaks Spanish or has special needs?”

On top of understanding how to assess tech resources and finding the most valuable tools, teachers need to have solid computer skills themselves that they can pass along to their students and to fellow teachers. They also need at least a basic awareness of the dangers that come with using tech tools – and how to protect their students and their schools from cybersecurity threats. It’s a tall order, but a master’s in ed tech can help.

The benefits of earning a Master of Education Technology

As technology continues to transform our world, teachers can level up their knowledge and stay on top of the tools and tech that can best help their students by earning a master’s degree in education technology. “We want to make sure tech tools are being fully harnessed,” Jacob emphasizes. “The internet offers an abundance of learning resources beyond traditional teaching methods such as ‘skill and drill.’ These include discovery and inquiry-based learning, primary resources, and scholarly tools that encourage higher-order thinking skills. However, to fully utilize these resources, it is crucial to provide teachers with proper training.”

Additionally, teachers in New York State may qualify for a salary differential if they earn a second master’s degree or complete 30 credits in addition to their first master’s degree. The salary increase not only applies throughout their teaching career but also includes retirement benefits. In New York City, teachers who complete a second master’s degree are eligible for the NYC Department of Education salary differential.

Touro Graduate School of Technology’s MS in Educational Technology

Of course, earning a master’s degree can feel a bit a daunting, particularly for those who are already working as teachers or in another profession. That’s why Touro University’s Graduate School of Technology designed its MS in Educational Technology (ETP) with convenience in mind. The program is available for in-person or online learning, so students can work at their own pace and on their schedule.

The ETP program at Touro is an NYSED-approved teacher education program that advances NYS teacher professional certification and is available for anyone who already holds a NYS initial teacher certification in any subject area. Through this STEM certified master’s degree program, graduates will learn to effectively utilize and implement ed tech tools and curricula in K-12 schools, colleges, and universities.

As Jacob explains, Touro’s ETP master’s degree covers a wide range of knowledge, from tech integration to specialized learning to technology leadership. “What Touro does really well is to survey many different skills.” Along with covering the basics, like how to set up a network and troubleshoot problems, he says Touro’s program also provides students with the knowledge they need to:

use data to understand strengths and weaknesses as a way to drive instruction and customize curricula
write tech grants, from completing a needs assessment to writing an objective to developing a budget to get funding
build capacity within their school by developing and training other staff
create a technology plan that considers hardware needs, repair cycles, upgrades, tech repurposing, and more

Career opportunities for Ed Tech Specialists

While Touro’s ETP program does prepare graduates to become New York State certified Educational Technology Specialists, that’s just one of the many ways that professionals can choose to use this degree. “You can actually make a case that all teachers should have an ed tech background,” Jacob asserts.

He says that there’s always a high demand for math, science, and special education teachers, and the growing migrant population has also created a high demand for English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers. These are all areas where technology can make a significant impact, and knowing how to implement those tools can make a teacher an invaluable asset. “Schools want their teachers to have strong tech backgrounds,” Jacob says. “Any teacher with a tech master’s degree is more desirable.”

Of course, graduates will be fully qualified to work as computer lab or computer cluster teachers, but earning an MS in Education Technology from Touro GST can also open career doors like:

Professional Staff Developer – Staff developers earn an average of $104,000 annually and develop training programs that enhance the knowledge and skills of other employees, including teachers and administrators.
Instructional Technology Coordinator – Averaging a salary around $76,000 per year, an instructional tech coordinator works in K-12 schools and provides guidance on the best use of technology is classrooms.
Director of Technology – Director of Technology – A technology director for a school district or university oversees the technology needs for an entire school or district, and in the New York area, many earn salaries between $126,000 and $158,000 annually.

No matter how you choose to put your degree to work, a master’s in Education Technology won’t just benefit you; your enhanced knowledge will also benefit your students, your fellow staff, and your school itself. If you’re ready to take the next step in your career and embrace a tech-filled future, contact Touro GST to learn more about our Educational Technology master’s program and apply today.