Education Specialist in Instructional Technology

The Education Specialist Instructional Technology degree is a cohort, 100% online degree program. There are two tracks available for educators:

Certification Track - This track is designed for you if you are an educator who is not currently certified in Instructional Technology.

• In Georgia: The Certification Track leads to the new S-6 certification (service field) in certificate upgrade and salary increase (based upon your employing school system), you must pass the GACE assessment in Instructional Technology and add the new field to your certificate.
• Other Educators: You can also choose this track if your career does not require Georgia certification (e.g., educators in independent, charter, or IE2 school districts; and educators outside of Georgia), but you who want to earn an advanced degree in Instructional Technology based on the ISTE Standards for Educators (ISTE).
• The Online Specialist degree in Instructional Technology will prepare you to effectively integrate technology into your teaching practice and assist other educators in utilizing technology to improve the teaching and learning process. The program also prepares you to model best practices in the use of instructional technologies and to provide high-quality professional learning experiences for others. When you graduate, you will be prepared to leverage technology for learning in the classroom and serve in the role of a Technology Coach for a school or district.

Advanced Track – This track is for you if you already hold or aspire to hold a technology leadership position at the school, district, or state level.

• In Georgia: The Advanced Track is designed for you if you already possess the initial Georgia certification in Instructional Technology and only need to improve your certificate level from an S-5 to an S-6 and your teaching certificate from a T-5 to a T-6 (if applicable).
• Other Educators: You can also choose this track if your career does not require Georgia certification (e.g., educators in independent, charter, or IE2 school districts; and educators outside of Georgia), but want to earn an advanced degree in Instructional Technology based on the ISTE Technology Director Standards and the CoSN Framework of Essential Skills for K-1CTOs.
• The Ed.S. in Instructional Technology is entirely online and designed for you if you currently hold or aspire to hold a technology leadership position at the school, district, or state level. The Education Specialist degree in Information Technology will deepen and broaden your educational technology leadership knowledge and skills. The program is based on the ISTE Standards for Technology Directors and the CoSN Framework of Essential Skills for K-1CTOs.
• Today's educational technology leaders are known by many different titles, such as Technology Director, Chief Technology Officer (CTO), and Chief Information Officer (CIO). No matter the title, educational technology leaders have dual leadership roles--both instructional and technical--and according to CoSN, these roles encompass a broad range of skills, including:
  • creating a vision for the role of technology;
  • implementing strategic planning and policy development;
  • having an understanding of teaching and learning, assessment, and professional development;
  • managing technology and support resources; and
  • possessing the political and interpersonal skills to work with all stakeholders effectively.
• The Ed.S. in Instructional Technology will prepare you for these roles and challenge you to grow as an educational technology leader!

Listen to Dr. Jo Williamson discuss the Education Specialist degree in Information Technology

Georgia Educators - The Instructional Technology Specialist Degree satisfies requirements for an S-5 certification (service field) in Instructional Technology and increases a T-4 certification to a T-5. However, to qualify for the new S-certification and the certificate upgrade, you must pass the GACE assessment in Instructional Technology and add the new field to your existing GaPSC teaching certificate.

• This program will NOT lead to initial GaPSC teacher certification.
• Please check with the GaPSC to ensure you will receive an upgrade upon graduation. You should also check with your school/district to determine if you will receive a salary increase.
• You do NOT need to be working in an Instructional Technology position to receive the upgrade, and you can remain teaching in the classroom. Please check with your district for any restrictions.
• You must "pass" the GACE to add the new ITEC certification and upgrade your existing Georgia teaching certificate.

Effective for Cohorts Starting FALL 2021

Kennesaw State University School of Instructional Technology & Innovation has been recognized by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) as an ISTE Certification Provider.  Kennesaw State is the first (and only) higher education program in Georgia to be awarded this distinction.

What does this mean? You will develop a portfolio based on the ISTE Standards for Educators (ISTE). Upon graduation, you may choose to submit your portfolio for $250 to ISTE for ISTE Certification.  

KSU is the only institution in Georgia offering the opportunity to become certified by both the GaPSC and ISTE!

You must either be working in a classroom or have access to a classroom to implement class projects and complete the field experiences and capstone project. There will be a few ONLINE synchronous sessions per class each semester.

Also, as a part of the program, you will be required to purchase a two-year subscription for a Chalk & Wire account (~$105) online from the KSU Bookstore if you do not already have an active account.

Ed.S. Georgia Certification - Georgia Educators

The Certification Track is designed for you if you are not currently certified in Instructional Technology. The Certification Track leads to the new S-6 certification (service field) in Instructional Technology and increases a Georgia T-5 certification to a T-6. To qualify for a certificate upgrade and salary increase (based upon your employing school system), you must pass the GACE assessment in Instructional Technology and add the new field to your certificate.

• Please check with the GaPSC to ensure you will receive an upgrade upon graduation. You should also check with your school/district to determine if you will receive a pay increase.

The Advanced Track is designed for you if you are a Georgia educator that wants to upgrade your Georgia certificate. You must already possess initial Georgia certification in Instructional Technology to improve your certificate level (5 to 6). The Ed.S. increases a Georgia T-5 to a T-6 and an S-5 to an S-6 IF you already have certification in Instructional Technology. Please check with the GaPSC to ensure you will receive an upgrade upon graduation. You should also check with your school/district to determine if you will receive a pay increase.

Admissions to the Masters of Education in Secondary and Middle Grades Education degree program are separate from Kennesaw State graduate college application. Refer to the Masters of Education degree Secondary and Middle Grades Education graduate college page for details.

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