Job Listing

This job listing just jumped out at me. It is DEFINITELY something I would be interested in pursuing someday. The job is Director of Instructional Technology and Media for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. This is a leadership position with MANY responsibilities. Some of the main ones are:

-Lead and supervise all instructional technology and media programs in the system.
-Acts as supervisor of the districts media specialists and instructional technologists.
-Works as a technical consultant.
-Develops curriculum for K-12 technology education.
-Evaluates and recommends hardware, software, and other technology equipment for purchase
-Provides staff development in instructional technology

The qualifications for this job are:
-Master's Degree required; Master's in Instructional Technology or Library Science preferred
-Must have worked successfully as a classroom teacher.
-Experience working in the leadership aspect of Instructional Technology.

I would definitely apply for this position upon completion of my degree and a few years of experience in the field. My plan, at this point, is to remain in K-12 Education, and this could be the dream position in that area. Although this job is definitely NOT an easy position, I do think that it would allow the person who fills the position to have a huge impact on technology in the schools. Although this position is not at the top of the "chain of command", it is obviously one with a great deal of power and responsibility. I think it would be an awesome, and sometimes overwhelming, job to take on.

More information can be found here:
http://www.jobtarget.com/c/job.cfm?site_id=136&t735=153&jb=4729312

Definition of Instructional Technology

To me, the definition of Instructional Technology is the use of technology in a "formal" education setting. That setting could be in a school, university, corporation, hospital, and most recently, in one's home. Teachers use technology to enable their students to create detailed, attractive graphic organizers to show what they have learned, computer programs to create "virtual models" of things such a molecules, animals, etc. At the university level, students may be asked to create a webpage to share their knowledge with others, and instructors expect that students will be proficient in using technology. Now, with the increase of distance education, technology is used to allow people to access courses and school programs that may have been out of their reach previously. The instructional technology field also encompasses the creation of the programs and materials that can be used in an instructional setting. I see this field as being one that will allow people to experience things that might be impossible without technology. It links us to far-away people and places and ideas, which can enrich our educational experiences.