Online PhD in Educational Technology Programs

Educational Technology Doctoral Programs Online show you how to use technology to make learning better. Courses focus on how to make effective curriculum and analyze how students learn. Classes aim to give you a better know-how of how different students respond to new teaching methods.

As a research degree, online doctorate programs in educational technology also focus on how to do research that impacts change. Therefore, in most courses you will need to use critical analysis, research, and writing.

So let's take a look at the different educational technology doctoral programs online. This includes details on their admissions rules, common courses, and potential careers.

Did You Know?

77% of U.S. corporations report that they use online learning to enhance their employees' training and educational programs.

What Is Educational Technology?

Educational technology is the use of tools and techniques that help people to learn. The overall idea is to improve the learning experience by using technology to create effective curriculum and coursework.

Online PhD in educational technology programs address how to evaluate and assess current technologies. You will also learn how to gauge the effectiveness of current technologies and curriculum. Through original research, you will shape new solutions based on theory and research.

Educational Technology Doctoral Programs Online

Educational Technology Doctoral Programs Online: Basics

Typically, online educational technology doctoral programs require that you’ve earned a masters degree from an accredited school. Most educational technology doctoral programs online ask that you graduate with a minimum GPA as well. This is normally a 3.0 or higher, but may vary from school to school.

Most educational technology doctoral programs take two to four years for students to complete. The majority of programs are designed for part-time students who have full-time positions. However, there are some PhD programs that are made for full-time students. Upon completing all required coursework, most doctoral programs require you to propose, write, present, and defend a dissertation in front of a board of faculty.

All educational technology doctoral programs online have their own admissions and graduation requirements. Check with individual schools for their specific rules to find a perfect match for you.

Different Educational Technology Doctorate Degree Names

There are a number of different educational technology online doctoral programs. Though they have many similarities, programs come under a lot of names. All of them focus on teaching you how to use technology to improve curriculum for your future students. However, some degrees may focus on different components or technologies.

Some of the online doctorate programs in educational technology you might see include the subjects that follow.

  • Instructional Design for Online Learning
  • Educational Technology
  • Instructional Design and Technology
  • Educational Psychology and Technology
  • Distance Learning
  • Learning Analytics in Higher Education

While there are many things that are the same, every school is different. Read each program description to find a perfect match for your goals.

Educational Technology Curriculum

While you pursue an online PhD in educational technology, curriculum focuses on how to be an expert in the field. This includes teaching you how to use technology in a variety of educational settings. Courses in educational technology doctoral programs online also focus on how to asses technology-based learning models. Then, students are shown how to use those technologies to support learners’ success.

Courses typically require more independent study than lower degree programs. For instance, a Trends and Issues in Educational Technology doctorate level course normally requires more research and critical analysis than a bachelors level course with the same name does.

Some of the courses you may take while you earn your educational technology PhD include the topics below.

  • Trends and Issues in Educational Technology courses focus on the growth of current technologies. Students will look at their impact on how we learn and also at problems that stem from those trends.
  • Designing Instruction for eLearning is a class that shows you how to use effective learning experiences in the digital space. You can do this when you use mobile technologies, collaborative learning, and assessment.
  • Current Research in Educational Technology courses provide a change from learning about educational technology to contributing to the body of research in the field. As part of this course, students base their research around real questions in the field.
  • Integrating Technology and Curriculum class look at how you can plan strategies for effective leadership. This includes technology and how to choose a vendor, as well as how to do maintenance.
  • Instructional Media and Design Techniques courses teaches the types of electronic media used in instructional design projects. Coursework focuses on the basics of instructional media design to differentiate instruction and make students more engaged.

All educational technology doctoral programs online have a unique structure and different courses. Therefore, specific course names and individual courses will vary from school to school. To find a perfect match for you, do your research on each school. That should give you a better sense of how the program works and any specific course rules.

What’s the Difference Between Educational Technology and Instructional Design?

Instructional design is how we develop, design, and deliver instructional tools. On the other hand, educational technology is the use of technology to create, implement, and look at learning techniques. This includes taknig a look at instructional materials and curriculum.

Therefore, while separate, both instructional design and educational technology both have similar goals. PhD programs in educational technology typically focus on the tools to create lessons and curriculum that works well. However, most also have courses in instructional design to expose you to all of the theories and concepts.

Did You Know?

77% of teachers say technology use in the classroom helps students to learn.

List of Educational Technologies

There are a number of technologies that have been made in the last decade that has had a big impact on education and learning. Some of these include the following.

  • Mobile Learning
  • Learning Analytics
  • Cloud Computing
  • Wearable Technology
  • Virtual and Remote Laboratories

There are many others that have changed the way we teach and learn. Plus, over the next decade, many new technologies will provide the chance to improve learning in a number of different places. That’s why there may be a number of things to do for those who have earned a PhD in educational technology.

Possible Educational Technology Careers

After you earn an online PhD in educational technology, there are a number of careers that you may pursue. Most of these typically want you to have at least a masters degree.i However, some prefer candidates with a doctoral degree and years of experience.ii Now let's take a look at some of these roles as well as the median annual salary earned in 2015.

  • Postsecondary Teacher: $72,470iii
  • Instructional Coordinators: $62,270iv
  • Postsecondary Education Administrators: $88,580v
  • Training and Development Managers: $102,640vi
  • Elementary and Secondary School Education Administrators: $90,410vii

Often, specific roles vary depending on your position. Typically, they also are based on the size of the group you work for. However, most candidates need to develop academic policiesviii and modify curriculum.ix

Take the Next Step!

Click on any of the sponsored listings on this page to find a perfect program for you. There, you can find program descriptions, as well as real courses you may choose to take. You can even reach out to a school directly to get more information.

[i] bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/instructional-coordinators.htm#tab-4 [ii] bls.gov/ooh/management/postsecondary-education-administrators.htm#tab-4 [iii] bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/postsecondary-teachers.htm#tab-5 [iv] bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/instructional-coordinators.htm#tab-5 [v] bls.gov/ooh/management/postsecondary-education-administrators.htm#tab-5 [vi] bls.gov/ooh/management/training-and-development-managers.htm#tab-5 [vii] bls.gov/OES/current/oes119032.htm [viii] bls.gov/ooh/management/postsecondary-education-administrators.htm#tab-2 [ix] bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/postsecondary-teachers.htm#tab-2