AECT members enjoy a wide range of valuable benefits. Those listed are included in the annual individual membership fee—except as noted, where discounts are provided for additional opportunities. It is noteworthy that AECT is governed by an elected board of directors. All members also are encouraged to participate in the governance process, particularly by voting in officer and representative elections, both at the association level and within the various divisions.
Professional and Staff Development and Connections
- The Annual International Convention (member discount) is a gathering of members and interested professionals each fall at a selected location.
- A Research Symposium (biennial) is included at selected annual international conventions.
- A Career Center (online and at the convention) is provided to assist job seekers and prospective employers.
- IT Forum is an electronic forum where individuals around the world can discuss theories, research, and practices in instructional technology.
- Additional online discussion forums, both general and by division, offer opportunities for discussion and collaboration.
- A Member Directory (online) helps keep colleagues connected.
- Walden University collaboration lets AECT members qualify for a 10% tuition discount.
- Opportunities to participate in research initiatives are published on the website.
- A Collaborative Research Grant program provides funding opportunities for developing research collaboration among researchers, institutions, and AECT.
Publications and Resources
- TechTrends(bimonthly) provides a vehicle for the exchange of information among professional practitioners concerning the management of media and programs, the application of educational technology principles and techniques to instructional programs, corporate and military training, and any other kinds of information that can contribute to the advancement of knowledge of practice in the field. (Print and online)
- BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT PROGRAM - The Member Book Announcement Program will provide AECT members with opportunities to announce their recently published academic and scholarly books in the pages of TechTrends
- Educational Technology Research and Development (ETR&D) (bimonthly, discount) is the only scholarly journal in the field focusing entirely on research and development in educational technology. (Print and online)
- Online access to a variety of additional journals, newsletters, and books is included without additional fees for members:
- The International Journal of Designs for Learning (annual) provides a venue for designers to share their knowledge-in-practice through rich representations of their designs and detailed discussion of decision-making.
- Journal of Applied Instructional Design (biennial) bridges the gap between theory and practice by providing reflective scholar-practitioners a means for publishing articles related the field of instructional design.
- Instructional Science (bimonthly) is an interdisciplinary, refereed scholarly journal aimed at promoting a deeper understanding of the nature, theory and practice of the instructional process and of the learning to which it gives rise.
- iTECH DIGEST: International Electronic Newsletter (quarterly) is designed to keep members connected to important AECT member publications and other key membership information.
- Educational Media and Technology Yearbook (annual) is for media and technology professionals in schools, higher education, and business contexts. Topics of interest to professionals practicing in these areas are broad.
- Handbook of Research on Educational Communications and Technology (most recent editions) is intended for graduate students and their professors, instructional designers and researchers in educational communication and technology plus the libraries that serve them.
- International Journal of Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning (quarterly) is an official publication of the International Society of the Learning Sciences and fosters a deep understanding of the nature, theory, and practice of computer-supported collaborative learning.
- Educational Technology: A Definition with Commentary (2007), published by Routledge, begins with the one-sentence definition of educational technology and proceeds with a rationale for each of the major terms in the definition.
- Distance Education: Towards a Definition and Glossary of Terms (2003) enables students to be current in their understanding of distance education terms and current definitions.
- Degree Curricula in Educational Communications and Technology: A Descriptive Directory (updated periodically) provides collected information on degree programs in educational communications and technology.
- Proceedings and papers from various conferences and symposia also are available, along with incidental papers on topics relevant to AECT members.
- Professional books from Spring Publications are available at a 25% discount.
- Discount subscriptions are available for a variety of additional journals, such as Quarterly Review of Distance Education.
Opportunities for Students (and Educators)
- Awards and scholarships (selective) are available through the Educational Communication and Technology (ect) Foundation.
- Paid internships (selective) are offered at the AECT Annual International Convention.
- Mentoring opportunities can be arranged.
Additional Benefits
- Members qualify for a discount on Geico automobile insurance.
- Use of the AECT online Career Center