Thirty entrepreneurial companies, all members of the Northwest Education Cluster, feel that technology is the tool to fix the education system in the U.S. Many educators are now going back to school to obtain a Masters of Education Degree in Instructional Technology, a decision based on the advancements of new technology.

Instructional Technology Innovations

The Northwest Education Cluster has already introduced new and exciting technologies. One company has developed a program that instantly analysis and generates graphs. This allows students to focus less on drawing graphs and more on the experiment they are conducting. Another company has created software to aid students in languages, math, social studies and science. What’s even more exciting is a program being developed to allow students to work with geometry and math equations interactively.

These new software technologies have been sold to educators and schools all throughout the nation. Those who graduate with a degree in Masters of Education in Instructional Technology are excited to see the how well these new products perform. Both students and teachers will gain much from the lessons learned with these new technologies. Computers could act as teaching aids to help educators develop lesson plans that complement each student’s learning style.

Going Beyond Educators - Supporting Instructional Technology

Both investors and the Government support new technology in education. The National Science Foundations has given grants to some members of the Northwest Education Cluster. Even venture capitalists are enthusiastic about the future of these technologies and bombarding company board meetings look for the next great product.

Earning a Masters Degree - Education in Instructional Technology

Want to get involved with educational technology? Complete an information request from The University of Phoenix to learn more about a Masters of Education Degree in Instructional Technology!

The continuing demand for graduate degrees is growing, online schools are more appealing now that ever before to those returning to school.

Bert Valencia is the vice president of distance education programs at Thunderbird, the Garvin School of International Management.

Valencia said Thunderbird’s Global MBA program requires students only spend four weeks in a classroom.

“Students can be located anywhere, as long as they can communicate they can be a part of the class,” he said.

Graduate degrees obtained at online universities and colleges have become more attractive because they provide the same level of education that a traditional university would, but from the comfort of your choosing. This has also become attractive to those with full time jobs and parents.

To complete an online MBA education however, classes alone are not considered sufficient. Networking is also a big party of the MBA program.

Networking is so critical to success, Thunderbird requires that MBA students spend the first few weeks at the Glendale campus. After eight monghts they will then get to travel to Genva for a week.

In addition, they may also spend a week in Beijing and a final week back at Thunderbird.

“If you have a job that requires travel, it is hard to pursue an MBA that doesn’t require you to be at a specific location,” Valencia said.

These programs improve the quality of the education by getting students enrolled that are established in their field.

Officials expect enrollment numbers to double in the next three years.

A great number of individuals do not realize that it’s possible to obtain a masters degree or graduate degree on-line. However, thanks to the Internet, obtaining a masters or graduate degree on-line is a reality. Most college graduates feel that they don’t have time to obtain a masters degree while entering the workforce and balancing a family. The benefit of an on-line masters degree is that it is flexible, more so than a degree from a traditional college or university. It allows you to study from the comfort of your own home and frees up time in your day for family and work. Getting a masters or graduate degree allows you to obtain that promotion and salary increase you deserve. Individuals with a master degree typically earn twice that of a person with a bachelors degree, and 4 times that of those with high-school diplomas.

With reasons like these, it’s no wonder why on-line master’s degree are more popular than ever!