The current situation is that the Educational Technology Coordinator at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley receives numerous inquiries from both prospective students and employers about the field of Educational Technology. It seems that there is a knowledge gap in understanding what the field of Educational Technology entails, what can be learned in the program, and what the potential job prospects are. For example, potential students may not be familiar with Ed Tech job fields like Training and Development, which, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, is growing at a rate of approximately 3 times the average career field growth rate.(Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022)
We aim to connect the dots with a multimedia presentation that can educate both potential students and recruiters about the field. The Learning Opportunity we have defined is a chance to inform prospective students and employers of what a degree in Educational Technology can mean for them. According to a study on the role of digital technologies in education published in Science Direct, educational technology is a fundamental part of achieving “inclusive and equitable quality education for all.”(Haleem et al., 2022) Our presentation will highlight the role of the Educational Technologist as a key part of increasing the access to and effectiveness of learning programs.
The goal is to create an effective, engaging presentation which will inform our target audience about the field of Educational Technology and help them see the professional value it can bring to their careers and to their organizations. To measure the success of our multimedia presentation, we have the set the following targets:
1. To increase the number of students enrolled in our Educational Technology program by 5 to 10%.
2. To increase recruiter attendance in terms of number of booths at our Educational Technology job fair by 5 to 10%.
It is our belief that this learning opportunity is the perfect way to use the actual tools of the trade of Educational Technology to inform our target audience of the potential of the field. We look forward to seeing an increase in enrollment as well as strengthened partnerships with recruiting companies and organizations seeking the best candidates in the field.