What is Educational Technology and Why is it Important?

Student using virtual reality glasses in the classroom

Note: Recognizing the need to adapt to the evolving field of educational technology and meet the needs of learners of all ages in our digital world, Loyola’s School of Education has revamped the M.Ed. in Educational Technology program to offer a fully online M.Ed. in Learning Design & Technology.

What is Educational Technology?

Educational Technology is the field of study that investigates the process of analyzing, designing, developing, implementing, and evaluating the instructional environment, learning materials, learners, and the learning process in order to improve teaching and learning.

Why is Educational Technology in Education Important?

Educational technology in education is important because it helps today’s teachers to integrate new technologies and tools into their classroom. Teachers are able to upgrade and improve the learner-centeredness of their classroom. It enables teachers to engage their students in unique, innovative, and equitable ways. Teachers are also able to expand their network and connect with other teachers and educators nationally and globally.

What can I do with a Master’s in Educational Technology degree?

Many teachers pursue a Master’s degree in Educational Technology because they want to improve their use of educational technology—they want to learn how to more effectively integrate the use of 1:1 devices, or how to teach in a hybrid or fully online setting, or how to improve student engagement and achievement with technology. Not only do they learn all of these skills and more, they also learn how to integrate research-supported strategies to improve their teaching and how to coach their peers to do the same.

Graduates of a Master’s in Educational Technology degree have gone on to become:

National Board-Certified Teachers
School Administrators
Technology Facilitators and Coordinators
Personnel at Ed Tech Start Ups
Instructional Designers (both within and outside of education)
Online preK-12 Teachers
STEM Teachers and Coordinators
Professional Learning Leaders and Liaisons
Curriculum Developers

Here are some of the recent promotions that 2020 graduates of Loyola University Maryland’s Master’s in Educational Technology program have accepted:

Technology Teacher and Musician Joanna Edwards accepted a new position as Technology Teacher at Elizabeth Seton High School.
With her MEd in Educational Technology, Julia Goffredi started a new position as Coordinator of Educational Technology at Notre Dame Preparatory School.
Michele Baskin recently accepted a position at Great Minds to be a Digital Curriculum Developer on their PhD Science program.

What are the Top 5 Advantages of Loyola’s Educational Technology Program?

Create engaging and transformative online instruction
Learn multimedia design for the classroom
Become a technology leader in your school
Understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of technology, and how to address both in the classroom.
Active professional networking with other teachers and educators nationally and globally.

Learn more about Loyola University Maryland’s fully online M.Ed. in Learning Design & Technology (formerly M.Ed. in Educational Technology) program.