Instructional technologists design technology-based curricula for teachers and help them determine the types of technologies needed to achieve classroom goals. They also provide training and quality assurance activities, research new technologies, and stay current in industry software and programming languages. A four-year bachelor’s degree in instructional technology is typically required.
Instructional technologists are professionals who design technology-based curricula that teachers can use to achieve their goals when educating students. These individuals must be extremely computer savvy and detailed. An individual who wants to become an instructional technologist must typically complete a four-year bachelor’s degree in that field. He or she has the responsibility to help instructors determine the types of technologies they need in the educational environment and then teach educators and students how to use them. The professional also researches new technologies that he or she can introduce and must stay current in industry software.
The primary duty of an instructional technologist is to help teachers decide what types of technologies they need to accomplish their classroom goals. This type of professional meets with instructors and subject matter experts to determine which courses need to be designed or even re-engineered to deliver online courses or hybrid classes, which feature both onsite and Internet instruction. He or she must be creative and need to have strong communication and listening skills when working with faculty.
Another major responsibility of an employee in this field is completing training and quality assurance activities. An instructional technologist teaches teachers how to use the curriculum programs he or she designs. Additionally, he or she may have to educate students on using a new online course format through a workshop. The field professional further monitors the designed products to ensure that the quality of instruction provided meets established standards and that the technological systems used to deliver training continue to function correctly.
An individual in this career area must always be willing to put in the effort to improve his or her work. He or she needs to complete a survey to find out what new types of technologies are available in the market that can help their clients better complete their educational jobs. Coverage of new products such as digital cameras or digital whiteboards – the modern version of traditional whiteboards – often takes place at industry conference seminars designed for a person working as an instructional technologist.
Keeping up to date with the software and programming languages used in this professional area is also a task in this sector. For example, professionals in this line of work often use computer languages designed to create user interfaces, or points where humans and computers interact. In addition, they must master languages created for writing documents for academic purposes. Software in this field is constantly evolving; therefore, an instructional technologist needs to be willing to complete continuing education courses to stay current on developments in these programs.
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