Technology has been transforming education since the dawn of the Information Age. What began as a trend toward incorporating computer, Internet, wireless, and other technologies into the classroom has matured into an industry in its own right, often called “EdTech.” Organizations are working diligently to enhance learning experiences and make education more accessible at all levels, from K-12 to higher education to professional development and beyond.
Education technology has come a long way since the days of overhead projectors and mimeograph machines. By the mid 1960s, some school districts were using large computers, but mostly for administrative purposes. Hand-held calculators become commonplace during the 1970s, and in the mid 1980s, personal computers were beginning to make their way into classrooms. At first, the introduction of technology to support instruction within the physical classroom was mostly viewed as a perk for schools that could afford it.
Distance learning has long been enabled by technical innovation. UMGC was the first U.S. university to provide entire bachelor’s degrees via cable and satellite television and was a trailblazer in online education. By 1993, the university transitioned to delivering courses via its own proprietary online classroom, WebTycho, which students used to complete programs until the introduction of the university’s current online classroom, LEO.
With the advance of information age technology, UMGC was—and remains—at the forefront of the online learning revolution. The growth of online learning demonstrated the effectiveness of virtual systems, particularly in higher education. With the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of education technology quickly went from a luxury to a must-have, as the need for remote learning at all levels became more urgent.
Today, teachers and students from primary to graduate schools, in corporate, professional, and academic settings, make use of a variety of classroom technologies, including AI-powered immersive reality, to enhance learning experiences both in-person and online.
“We're seeing a global transformation in the design and delivery of education,” said Brandie Shatto, portfolio director for educational technology at University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC). “The challenges for the EdTech industry are ensuring broader accessibility, addressing personal data and privacy concerns, and adapting to support a diverse array of learner needs.”
What Is EdTech?
Education technology, broady speaking, refers to the practical application of advanced tools, systems, and scientific knowledge to facilitate pedagogy, improve classroom efficiency, and support learning at all levels. This includes the use of electronic devices, software applications, digital content, communication and media platforms, and other tools and systems used within the learning process.
A subset of that is the area of intructional technology, which refers to the design, development, and deployment of the specific systems for delivering instructional content and learning experiences to classroom settings.
What Are the Benefits of EdTech?
Incorporating technology into the classroom offers enhanced capabilities for students, teachers, and administrators to increase engagement, improve the learning experience, and provide personalized educational opportunities for all.
Some of the benefits of EdTech, as Shatto explained, include better, more organized access to information; more effective modes of study; more agile learning analytics; and broader access to education for more people.
"By enabling educators to create repositories of digital course materials, a wider variety of curated information is made available," said Shatto. "Instructional models can be more readily assessed and adopted within a digital framework. And the virtual classroom can provide a safe, satisfying learning experience and a collaborative environment for teachers and students, helping to target individual learning needs better."
These technologies are designed not to replace tried-and-true teaching methods but rather to facilitate engagement, provide access to needed information, and create seamless learning environments for students, educators, and administrators alike.
What Is the Current State of the EdTech Industry?
The education technology industry comprises companies that provide integrated AI, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR) solutions for K-12, higher education, and workforce training. Analysis by the International Trade Administration indicates that the largest market for EdTech is North America, comprising more than a third of the global market.
According to a report by Grand View Research, the demand for AI-powered immersive reality learning experiences is contributing to the growth of the EdTech market from an estimated $163 billion in 2024 to upwards of $348 billion by 2030.
What Can You Do with a Master’s in Instructional Technology?
To meet the growing demand for online and hybrid learning platforms, educational and corporate institutions are seeking skilled professionals who can integrate technology into the classroom to create more effective learning experiences. Some specific examples of the types of positions available include
- Distance Education Specialist: These professionals develop and deploy solutions for effective remote education via online learning platforms and virtual classroom environments. With a focus on instructional design, technical support, and collaborative faculty/student interactions, they work to ensure courses meet quality standards and best practices. Average annual salary is just over $124,000, according to Salary.com.
- Learning Experience Designer: Going beyond basic instructional design, learning experience designers analyze learner needs, how they interact with content, and what motivates them, to ensure that learning is intuitive, engaging, and enduring. According to Glassdoor.com, median salary is about $108,000 per year.
- Educational Technologist: Matching the right technology with desired educational outcomes and ensuring the purposeful use of technology in support of those outcomes is the job of the educational technologist. The average salary for an educational technologist is about $86,000 per year according to Glassdoor.com.
- Instructional Coordinator: These professionals oversee school curriculums, curate instructional materials, and assess teaching standards. Instructional coordinators work in K-12 public schools, colleges, and professional school settings. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for instructional coordinators is about $74,000.
“The rapid growth of online and hybrid learning has created strong demand for skilled professionals who can bridge pedagogy and technology,” said Shatto, “making educational technology not just a support role but a thriving and essential career path.”
Earn a Master’s in Instructional Technology at UMGC
At University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC), we've tailored our online Master of Education in Instructional Technology program to align with the evolving and rapidly growing EdTech industry. Developed for students with experience teaching in P–12 schools, this 33-credit online program at UMGC is designed to prepare you for work as an instructional coordinator, instructional designer, educational technologist, training/development specialist, and other positions in the EdTech space.
Clinical fieldwork experiences provide practical opportunities to apply your knowledge directly in real-world situations. Courses are delivered by experienced faculty members who bring a wealth of experience and up-to-date insights from the field of instructional technology.
UMGC's instructional technology master’s program is aligned with the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards for Educators and Coaches and may help prepare you to submit your portfolio for ISTE Educator Certification.
The program has been awarded full accreditation by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP). In addition, the program is a signatory to the Alliance for Innovation in Teacher Education Pledge, committing to expand and scale digital transformation in learning.
- Brandie Shatto, portfolio director for educational technology
UMGC is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is a constituent institution of the University System of Maryland. The university has repeatedly received awards and recognitions for our innovative educational programs and commitment to excellence.
As a leader in education technology innovation, UMGC offers online courses that you can access virtually anywhere in the world, each built to deliver a seamless, collaborative, and satisfying online classroom experience that prepares you for today's digital business environment.
We’ve also replaced bulky, expensive textbooks with no-cost digital course materials in most courses. The materials are easy to access within your online classroom and are continually updated with the latest industry information.
“This master’s program is designed and taught by industry experts to help you bridge the gap between theory and practice and to use technology to serve student needs,” said Shatto. “At UMGC, we’ve designed the instructional technology master’s program to meet the realities of today’s classrooms and workplaces, where technology and pedagogy must work hand-in-hand. Our goal is to equip educators not only with advanced technical skills, but also with the vision to lead meaningful digital transformation in learning.”
Reference on this webpage to any third-party entity or product does not constitute or imply endorsement by UMGC nor does it constitute or imply endorsement of UMGC by the third party.
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