The Master of Education in Educational Technology, leading to a Technology Specialist Endorsement in IL, specifically prepares candidates to effectively lead the integration of technology into curriculum, instruction, and assessment, in addition to overall school operations, for the purpose of more effectively supporting students' immediate and lifelong success. American College of Education Educational Technology candidates work through five developmental stages during the 13 courses required to complete this degree.

With the degree’s completion, the program’s dispositions and their related values should be intrinsic to candidates. In their work as technology leaders in their schools and districts, candidates should regularly exhibit the behaviors defined by the dispositions to the students, colleagues, parents, and community they serve.

The Master of Education in Educational Technology program leading to a Technology Specialist Endorsement was designed to meet International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and National Educational Technology Standards (NETS).

Type 10 (IL) Technology Specialist - Students who complete the M.Ed. in Educational Technology will earn a master’s degree and meet requirements for the State of Illinois Special (K-12) Technology Specialist certificate. This program meets the Illinois State Board of Education and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education standards for Technology Specialist. Individuals interested in becoming a Technology Specialist (Type 10 certificate or endorsement) must also hold a valid Illinois Teaching Certificate; pass the required state tests, including the Illinois Test of Basic Skills, Illinois Assessment of Professional Teaching Skills (APT Special, for grades K-12), and the Illinois Content Area Test for Technology Specialist.

Program Candidate Dispositions

• Recognize Technology’s Value: Candidates recognize the potential of technology tools for personal productivity and student usage and are highly effective in leading others to affordable technology solutions.
• Integrate Technology into Instruction and Management: Candidates believe in, value, and are committed to ensuring that specific information technology applications will be seamlessly integrated into daily instructional and management activities of the educator within the school environment.
• Teach Students to Use Technology: Candidates teach students how to use technology to meet their individual learning needs.
• Demonstrate Leadership: Candidates will demonstrate an enthusiasm for technology and collaborate with others regarding its use to increase student achievement.
• Involved in Professional Development: Candidates assume a leadership role among their colleagues while continuing to stay abreast of the most current technological advancements and opportunities.
• Think Systemically: Candidates believe technology is a resource that will help invent new ways of managing schools and leading learning.

This program prepares candidates to serve as building technology facilitators. Specifically, candidates will acquire the knowledge skills, and dispositions to support student learning through the use of technology, and to provide professional development and technical assistance to teachers, as well as other school personnel.

Educational Technology graduates receive a Master's Degree in Education (M.Ed.) in Educational Technology.

In Illinois, the Master of Education in Educational Technology degree leads to a Type 10 Special K-12 Certificate with a Technology Specialist Endorsement.

This is an Illinois State Department of Elementary (ISBE) approved program of study for Instructional Technology leading to an endorsement. Please note that licensure and certification requirements vary from state to state. Educators interested in pursuing their graduate education through the American College of Education should check with their respective state Department of Education for determining the certification requirements of their state.