What does an Educational Technology Specialist do?

An Educational Technology Specialist enhances digital learning environments by supporting faculty, staff, and students in the integration and effective use of technology in education. The role researches, implements, and maintains instructional technology solutions that align with institutional goals and promote innovative teaching and learning strategies.

Operating at the intersection of pedagogy and technology, the Educational Technology Specialist is both a practitioner and a consultant: someone who understands how people learn, knows which tools actually support that learning, and can translate both for faculty who are time-pressed and skeptical of change. It is a collaborative, service-oriented role with genuine influence over how a Tier 1 university delivers education in an increasingly digital environment, part of the broader higher education technology function.

Who does the Educational Technology Specialist work with?

Key responsibilities of an Educational Technology Specialist

• Assist faculty and staff in selecting, piloting, and implementing educational technology tools that enhance student engagement, participation, and measurable learning outcomes.
• Evaluate new and emerging platforms for instructional fit, usability, accessibility, and alignment with institutional goals before recommending adoption.
• Stay current on trends in educational technology, AI-powered learning tools, and digital pedagogy, translating emerging research into practical institutional recommendations and documenting pilot outcomes.

• Develop and deliver workshops, group training sessions, and individualized coaching to help educators incorporate technology into their curriculum and course delivery.
• Create training resources, how-to guides, and self-service documentation faculty can reference independently between sessions.
• Build relationships with faculty across departments to understand discipline-specific challenges and tailor technology recommendations accordingly.

• Provide day-to-day support and troubleshooting for the institution’s LMS, ensuring seamless course delivery, system reliability, and an optimized user experience.
• Manage LMS configurations, course templates, third-party tool integration, and term setup in coordination with IT and academic affairs, monitoring performance and generating usage reports.
• Assist faculty in creating digital learning materials, applying instructional design principles so content is pedagogically sound, visually clear, and aligned with learning objectives.

• Ensure digital learning materials meet accessibility standards including WCAG guidelines and institutional ADA policies, auditing existing content and helping faculty remediate gaps.
• Work with faculty, IT, instructional designers, and administrators to assess needs and evaluate solutions, serving as a liaison between academic departments and central IT.
• Provide responsive troubleshooting for instructional technology, escalating unresolved issues to the appropriate IT teams and following through to resolution.

What qualifications does an Educational Technology Specialist need?

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Educational Technology, Instructional Design, Information Technology, or a closely related field. Graduate-level preparation in learning theory or instructional design is advantageous.

• Minimum of two to three years of experience in instructional technology, digital learning environments, or faculty technology support within higher education, with a track record of successful faculty adoption initiatives.

• Proficiency with learning management systems (Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, or equivalent), multimedia creation tools, and instructional design software, plus familiarity with video production, screen capture, and accessibility auditing tools.
• Strong communication, problem-solving, and instructional coaching abilities, comfortable working with educators across a wide range of technology proficiency levels. Patient, service-oriented, and genuinely committed to faculty success.

• Experience with AI-driven educational tools, adaptive learning platforms, or emerging applications of machine learning in academic settings.
• Background in virtual reality, augmented reality, or immersive technology in higher education learning environments.
• Experience designing or managing online or hybrid course development from initial consultation through final launch.
• Certifications in instructional design, LMS administration, or accessible technology (such as Quality Matters, CPACC, or equivalent).

Why is the Educational Technology Specialist role important?

Digital learning technology has moved from a supplemental resource to a core component of how universities deliver education. The Educational Technology Specialist is the person who makes that transition work for faculty, translating institutional technology investments into actual classroom impact by supporting adoption, building capability, and solving the problems that otherwise quietly undermine digital learning quality.

At a Tier 1 research university, faculty range from highly tech-savvy early adopters to experienced educators who have taught the same way for decades. The most effective specialists meet faculty where they are, earn trust through demonstrated helpfulness, and create change through relationships rather than mandates.

A hiring note from Excelon

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