The use of technology in the classroom is one of the fastest growing educational trend today. In order to facilitate the growing demand for technology use in elementary and secondary schools, the U.S. Department of Education created the Enhancing Education Through Technology State Program, a program that establishes federal grants for educational technology.
The primary goal of this program is to improve student achievement through the use of technology in the classroom and to help students become technologically literate by the end of eighth grade. Along with this growth in technology use is the need for professional educators who are trained in innovative, technology-integrated instructional methods.
A beneficial way for educators to stay ahead of the growing trend of technology in the classroom is to obtain a Masters in educational technology from a major research institution known for discoveries in science, technology, engineering and math. Here are three of the fasted growing educational technology and tools that educators need to be aware of:
Interactive Whiteboards
Large, interactive display systems are gaining ground in the K-12 environment because they allow teachers and students to work together in ways that traditional chalkboards could not. Federal funding has advanced the use of interactive whiteboards, which serve as a catalyst for engaging students and facilitating active participation rather than passive learning.
Netbooks
One-to one computer initiatives are proliferating throughout U.S. schools and are expected to become even more popular as netbooks become more affordable. These small, relatively inexpensive computers are helping bridge the technology gap that exists in schools where students don’t have access to their own laptops.
Netbooks open the door for students to access the Web as a learning tool, along with learning general computing, and help streamline technology initiatives in the classroom.
Tailored Curriculum
New student assessment tools are being developed to provide educators and administrators with a tech-based way to assess, record and track individual student performance in the classroom. These programs will allow teachers to track a child’s progression through the K-12 years on a weekly basis to ensure that students are progressing according to plan.

These assessment programs will also integrate benchmarking data for measuring a student’s progress compared with other children, allowing for more individualized, customized curriculum options.
To stay ahead of these growing trends in educational technology and obtain a knowledge base for educating students using the latest tools and devices, many educators are choosing to get a Masters in educational technology. The best Masters in educational technology degree is found at a university that has a reputation for innovation and technological discovery.