What Does an Instructional Technology Specialist Do?

<h3 id="section---CareerOverview">Career Overview</h3> <p>An instructional technology specialist helps integrate technologies, such as computers, hardware, and software, into educational settings. This career is very similar to an instructional coordinator position, since the job often requires you to help plan in-class curriculum. The role of an instructional technology specialist is especially valuable due to the growing use of technology in classrooms. Read on to learn more about the job, along with information on how to start an instructional technology career. </p> <h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutInstructionalTechnologists">Important Facts About Instructional Technologists</h3> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td> Required Education </td><td> Master's degree</td></tr> <tr><td> Work Environment </td><td> Office, school</td></tr> <tr><td> Key Skills </td><td> Analytics, leadership, communication, decision making, communication, interpersonal skills</td></tr> <tr><td> Similar Occupations </td><td> Teacher, principal, librarian</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i> </p> <h3 id="section---JobDuties">Job Duties</h3> <p>As an instructional technology specialist, you must be a proficient planner, problem solver, and researcher. Advanced Internet skills and computer knowledge are also needed to effectively carry out your tasks. Typical job duties that you'll hold include integrating technology into the curricula of various grade levels, from elementary school to college. You'll also focus on how to use technology to assist different types of learners, including advanced students, those with learning disabilities or English as a Second Language students. Particular emphasis is given to adapting curriculum to improve reading and math skills. </p> <p>An instructional technology specialist often oversees the online educational programs that are offered by schools and universities, including online courses or supplemental course materials posted on class Web pages. If you work as an instructional technology specialist, you'll evaluate how well other instructors implement technology into the classroom and provide suggestions on improvement, as well as educational software recommendations. </p> <h3 id="section---CareerOutlookAndSalaryStatistics">Career Outlook and Salary Statistics</h3> <p>To gain an instructional technology specialist position at a school, you typically must hold a graduate degree in education, curriculum development, or instructional technology. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS, <i>www.bls.gov</i>) reported that some public schools require their instructional coordinators to also be licensed teachers. <i>PayScale.com</i> reported that the median yearly salary for instructional technology specialists was $54,931 as of January 2023. </p> <p>The BLS stated that between 2021 and 2031, instructional coordinator positions were projected to increase by 7%. The wide majority of instructional coordinators were employed at elementary and secondary schools, and these workers made an annual mean income of $73,560 as of May 2021, according to the BLS. Universities, educational support services, and junior colleges were other popular employers of instructional coordinators, but the BLS reported that these fields offered lower salaries than Federal executive branch.</p>