Earning My Master's Degree in Computer Education

The national progression for a teacher is to earn a bachelor's degree and then continue on to a master's degree within about five years. Along with a quest for learning, the motivation includes a desire for increased salary. I have a bachelor's degree in elementary education and a concentration in early childhood education. I decided to take the plunge and earn my master's degree in computer education. The timing was right, as I had taught for a few years at that point and was comfortable in my job. I didn't have a lot of personal commitments then, so I could afford the time and effort that was required.

Many teachers want to delve deeper into particular facets of education; they choose specialty concentration areas such as math, reading, ESL, counseling, and administration for their educational master's degree programs. I was embarking on my master's degree at a point in time that paralleled the emergence of computer education into the classroom. The computer field was exciting to me, so I chose to earn my master's in computer education. Not only did I think it was a progressive field, I also knew it would open up career opportunities for me. Anyone who is working toward a master's degree should think about the potential options that will result from the degree.

My computer education master's degree was very inclusive, yet it focused on computer programming. School districts were figuring out what they wanted to include in a computer curriculum, and the teaching of programming languages seemed to be one of the focal points. It was decided that it could lead to better problem-solvers. I learned the BASIC programming language. Approximately 10% of the class dropped out early on. They found that this course of study was not for them. It's so important to research and obtain hands-on experience before deciding upon a master's degree concentration area. I enjoyed my computer programming classes more than any I've ever taken. Don't get me wrong-it's not easy to teach full time, attend classes, and complete the assignments for a master's degree program. However, I knew there was an end in sight, and that kept me going. Not to mention...I was enjoying it.

Part of my thesis requirement was to design a computer program that my students could utilize. I was a math teacher, so I created a comprehensive review program that the students could use at the end of the year as a test review. My master's degree was positively impacting my career as a classroom teacher.

I eventually landed a job as the school's computer education teacher and computer specialist. The computer education field changes rapidly. Many master's programs in computer education now focus on the incorporation of technology into the classroom. It takes effort to keep abreast of the changes. This degree gave me the initial push to jump into the latest technological innovations in education and a desire to keep up with it through the years.

Obtaining a master's degree in any spectrum of education enhances a teacher's knowledge base. If you are a teacher, and you're thinking about getting your master's degree, I would recommend that you ponder your love of the subject matter and consider the doors that might open as a result of your decision.

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