The key to effective educational technology use is ensuring that tech-driven educational systems function properly and actually achieve their goals. This is what makes educational technology specialists so essential to schools and school districts.  

Individuals considering pursuing a career as an educational technology specialist can benefit from earning an advanced degree in education. However, before deciding to embark on this career path, it’s important that they understand the role of the educational technologist and why these professionals can have such a significant impact. 

What Is Educational Technology? 

Educational technology, sometimes referred to as ed tech, encompasses all technological assets such as software and hardware that are used for teaching and educational purposes. Ed tech draws from disciplines that include: 

• Computer science 

• Educational observation 

• Learning theory 

• Instructional design 

Ed tech strategies strive to create more efficient learning and skill development opportunities for students. Ideally, they can also enhance students’ learning experiences by providing them with outlets that encourage them to dig deeper into subjects they find especially relevant or interesting. 

The History of Educational Technology 

Technological innovation has been key to the educational process since the 15th century, when Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press and kicked off a massive proliferation of knowledge and literacy through more efficient book production. From the dawn of the 20th century to today, key tech-driven inventions have caused significant disruptions to the educational process. 

Key 20th- and 21st-century ed tech developments include the following: 

• 1895: The first film projector hits the market. By the 1910s, educational films are being used in classrooms. 

• 1924: Psychologist Sidney Pressey invents the mechanical automated teaching machine, a typewriter-like device designed to allow students to push buttons to answer multiple choice questions. The device also features a chute that dispenses candy for correct answers. The device is considered the first automated learning system. 

• 1960: PLATO (Programmed Logic for Automatic Teaching Operations) debuts. Considered the first computer-aided instruction tool, the device uses a time-sharing system that simultaneously sends individual lessons to multiple students. These lessons typically contain a combination of text, graphics and multimedia content. 

• 1981: IBM releases its personal computer, a device that offers students new ways of learning. 

• 1989: The World Wide Web becomes accessible to the public, laying the foundation for online learning opportunities.  

• 1990: FirstClass, the first commercial learning management system (LMS) platform, is released. 

• 2007: The iPhone makes its debut, ushering in modern mobile learning. 

• 2016: Virtual reality (VR) headsets become mainstream, allowing educators to integrate VR technology into their lesson plans.  

• 2019: Artificial intelligence (AI) programs start to become integrated into various learning systems. 

Benefits of Educational Technology 

Educational technology software and hardware tools such as Google Classroom, Blackbird and Kahoot offer a range of benefits, including some that go beyond classroom instruction. Key advantages of using effective ed tech include: 

• Better student engagement 

• Improved student collaboration 

• Greater access to information 

• Enhanced technology skills development 

• Personalized learning opportunities 

• Improved classroom equity and inclusion 

Integrating technology into the classroom enables educators to offer a more equitable approach to learning, with high-quality educational experiences accessible to a broader spectrum of students across various learning environments. Tech tools can also make each student’s learning more personal, allowing educators to construct lesson plans that meet individual students at their specific level of understanding. This can increase students’ engagement and encourage a greater interest in learning, leading to lifelong positive effects. 

The education sector has embraced this integration. A 2023 ed tech survey by the software company NetSupport found that 93 percent of education professionals felt that educational technology boosted both teaching and learning. Additionally, 54 percent reported that they would like more time and training regardingtechnology use in the classroom. 

What Is an Educational Technologist? 

Educational technologists, also known as educational technology specialists, oversee the technological assets of schools and school districts. They design educational tech strategies, implement ed tech tools and software, and evaluate new and existing forms of ed tech to ensure their effectiveness. 

Ed tech specialists also provide ongoing support and training to educators and students alike, optimizing their technology usage to improve the students’ educational and learning experience. 

Several factors can shape an educational technologist’s approach. For example, the school setting can determine the appropriate role of tech. In elementary schools, short video or audio clips might be used to enhance a lesson, or devices such as Chromebooks might be employed to allow students to practice math operations. In high schools, educators may use virtual reality and collaborative documents to create more complex learning experiences. 

Educational Technologist Tools 

Educational technologists use several tools to add to the learning experience. Common examples include the following. 

Educational apps 

Educational applications for phones, tablets and laptops promote learning through direct student engagement via techniques such as quizzes and gamification. These apps can typically be customized to create personalized experiences that target specific areas of improvement for each student.  

Types of educational apps include: 

• Learning games, such as quizzes and puzzles 

• Language applications that allow users to speak and hear different languages 

• “Study buddies” that help with memorization-based learning 

• Video lessons that provide deeper explorations of specific subjects 

• Online tutoring 

• Exam preparation 

Interactive Whiteboards 

Sometimes called smart boards, interactive whiteboards are digitized iterations of the traditional whiteboards seen in classrooms. These tools allow teachers and students to present ideas, messages and data, incorporating multimedia sources. Smart board sessions can be saved as files, shared with students remotelyand edited by teachers and students.  

Artificial Intelligence Adaptive Programs 

Artificial intelligence (AI) techniques such as machine learning and algorithm-based analytics are used in programs that gauge students’ learning progress. These programs gather information to create personalized learning pathways for each student that adjust in real time to account for the students’ strengths, vulnerabilities and support needs.  

Virtual Reality Programs 

Virtual reality (VR) programs make static lesson plans more immersive and engaging, allowing students to “experience” events and environments rather than simply read about them in a text. This immersion can keep students engaged and help them develop a deeper level of understanding of key concepts, ideally leading to heightened interest in the topics and better academic results.  

These systems typically allow teachers to access real-time feedback to gauge each lesson’s effectiveness with individual students. This data makes it possible for teachers to adjust their lesson plans to match each student’s learning speed and processing. 

Learning Management Systems 

Learning management systems (LMSs) are broad-based system applications that allow teachers to deploy their current evaluation and engagement strategies more efficiently. Areas where an LMS can enhance teaching include: 

• Content delivery 

• Performance assessment 

• Student participation 

LMSs can be web-based programs or software applications. In addition to improving teachers’ strategies, they may also help save schools time and money in the long term, as they automate administrative tasks and quantify students’ progress. 

Enhanced Communication Tools 

Videoconferencing innovations such as Zoom and Google Classroom allow students and teachers to engage in learning opportunities outside traditional classroom settings. Some of these tools can be integrated with LMSs along with multimedia sources and the internet. These tools can also help mitigate students’ learning loss due to extraneous circumstances, such as long-term illnesses that may otherwise prevent students from attending school. 

Why Educational Technologists Are Beneficial 

Educational technology specialists oversee various processes designed to help teachers operate more efficiently. They implement and oversee tech designed to simplify attendance tracking, grading, communication and other administrative tasks. Cutting down on the time taken up by repetitive tasks gives teachers more time to focus on students. 

By teaching students how to use advanced technological tools, educational technology specialists also benefit students by enabling them to develop foundational tech skills that are increasingly required for modern careers. Technology drives today’s business landscape, from computers and information technology (IT) systems to software applications for organization, delegation and collaboration. With experience using tech tools in the classroom, students enter their postgraduate careers with a solid foundation of technological competence. 

Educational Technologist Work Environments 

Educational technology specialists typically work in offices rather than in classrooms. They work in elementary, middle and high schools, as well as colleges and universities. 

Some educational technology specialists are employed in corporate training roles in the business sector. Others embrace entrepreneurship and start their own ed tech-based businesses or become ed tech consultants. 

How to Become an Educational Technologist 

Educational technology specialists combine technical knowhow with knowledge of educational strategies and the education system. While there is no single path to this position, these steps prepare aspiring technologists for their unique role. 

Education Requirements 

A bachelor’s degree in education or a related field is typically the minimum requirement for educational technologists. However, many choose to pursue an advanced degree to develop further expertise, open new opportunities and stand out to prospective employers. Earning a master’s degree focused on education can help prepare individuals for the role. 

Experience Requirements 

Many educational technology specialists begin their careers as classroom teachers. This allows them to experience the mechanics of teaching and education firsthand, which can help them design successful ed tech strategies as technologists. 

Becoming a teacher in Missouri involves the following steps: 

• Completing a postgraduate teacher preparation program 

• Completing a student teaching experience 

• Passing supplemental exams 

• Applying for an Initial Professional Certificate (IPC) 

Other states have their own state-specific requirements for teachers. 

Essential Skills 

An educational technology specialist’s skill set combines technology and teaching competencies. This includes a host of fundamental hard skills in areas such as: 

• Technology 

• Ed tech systems and applications 

• Teaching 

• Project management 

Required core competencies also involve several soft skills in areas that include: 

• Written and verbal communication  

• Teamwork 

• Presentation 

• Organization 

• Time management 

Educational technologists also must be skilled at regularly monitoring educational trends and technological innovations throughout their careers. 

Licensing and Certification 

Educational technology specialists aren’t required to hold a special license. However, obtaining a relevant certification can allow technologists to demonstrate their expertise with specific areas of ed tech and help them stand out to prospective employers.  

Popular certifications include the certified education technology leader (CETL) and the International Society for Technology Education (ITSE) educator credentials. Individuals acquire these certifications by enrolling in a specific certification program offered by an organization such as ITSE or the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) and passing an exam. 

Educational Technology Specialist Salary and Job Outlook 

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data, training and development specialists, including educational technologists, had a median annual salary of $65,850 in 2024, with the top 10 percent of earners making more than $120,190. Several factors can affect an individual’s salary, including their education level, years of experience, location and type of employer.  

The BLS projects that positions for training and development specialists will increase 11 percent between 2024 and 2034, and that an average of about 43,900 openings will be available each year. This is far higher than the 3 percent job growth projected for the labor market as a whole. 

Help Create a Brighter Future 

Becoming an educational technology specialist is an impactful, rewarding way to help move education forward. It is an ideal career path for those who have a passion for technical innovation and creating learning experiences. 

SEMO Online’s Master of Arts in Secondary Education program, which offers an educational technology concentration, can help prepare you to pursue this uniquely important educational role. Our online program is designed to help you strengthen your teaching skills through deep study of technical innovation in education and educational leadership, enabling you to establish the foundation you need to create real, lasting change.  

Find out how SEMO Online can help you build a brighter future for yourself and for others. 

Recommended Readings: 
Benefits of Trauma-Informed Teaching 
Career Paths in Higher Education 
7 Essential Teacher Skills 

Sources: 

Ars Technica, "PLATO: How an Educational Computer System From the '60s Shaped the Future
AWS Marketplace, AI-Powered Adaptive Learning 
Consortium for School Networking, CETL Certification
Creatd, "Empowering Learning Through Technology: Careers in EdTech"
EBSCO, "Education Technology"
ECampus News, “How Technology Has Changed High School Education” 
EdTechReview, "93% Educators Feel EdTech Makes Learning and Teaching Better: Survey"
ELearning Industry, “How Educational Apps Are Driving Innovation in Learning” 
ELearning Industry, “How Virtual Reality Is Transforming Education” 
ESchool News, "Education Technology" 
ESchool News, "What Are the Benefits of Using Technology in the Classroom?"
ESchool News, "Why Is Education Technology Important in the Classroom?"
ESchool News, “Why Is Technology Important in Teaching and Learning?” 
Growth Engineering, “The Evolution of Learning Technology: A Complete History (1440-2025)” 
Indeed, “What Is Business Technology? (Definition and Advantages)” 
International Society for Technology in Education, Educator Certification 
National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs, Educational Technologist Job Description 
National Science Teaching Association, Educational Technologist Overview 
Smithsonian, Pressey Teaching Machine 
TechTarget, Interactive Whiteboard 
TechTarget, “What Is a Learning Management System (LMS)?” 
21K School, “What Is Remote Learning? Definition and Benefits” 
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Training and Development Specialists 
ZipRecruiter, What Is an Educational Technology Specialist and How to Become One