What job could I get in the computer technology field?

How can I enter the field of educational games and technology?

• I want to create (or help create) educational games, but I don't have a design or programming background. I'm more interested in the education/learning side of things. How do I make this happen? I'd like to study educational technology. Specifically, I'm interested in serious games and other interactive technologies for classroom use. My employment background (7 years of working) is museum/arts/media education. I worked as a classroom teacher for a year and I've spent the last four years in public programming at a television museum/archive. I have a BA in film, but no MA or teaching certification. My long term goal is to work for a game developer or a tech company as an education consultant or possibly design my own games at some point. I'm not planning to be a classroom teacher (in the long run, at least) or a PhD. I would, however, like to build up my credentials in the field of education, and study the science of learning. My current plan is to get a masters degree in education from a school that has a program focusing on technology. I'm wondering if this seems like a good plan, especially since I'll have to quit my job and likely take out loans. (And unfortunately this means that I can't afford the top-ranked programs at places like Harvard and Stanford.) Basically this would be a big life change, which is not unwelcome, but is a bit daunting. In researching this field, it seems like people have really varied backgrounds, like computer science or programming or communications or philosophy or cognitive science. There doesn't seem to be an "obvious" path, which makes sense, but I want to spend my money and time wisely. I don't want to take the education path, only to find that I would have been better off focusing on, say, game design or media studies. To be frank, I have a slight fear that an education degree isn't taken that seriously in the tech world. I've done the basic research and I'm planning to talk with faculty and current students in the programs I'm considering. But I'd also like to get some perspective from people who are working in this field. Are they any mefites who have some experience in this area or have some suggestions?

• Answer:

  Hi! You're me, right down to the BFA in Film. :) Yay for educational gaming! I am currently in an M.Ed program and though I am more likely to do some classroom teaching in the long run than you are, I am still the odd person out because I was upfront about my desire to translate my love of education into a career that does not involve schools directly. Here's the cool thing, though; depending on the program you choose, you're going to learn a lot of interesting stuff about what it means to be a teacher in a classroom. That's actually going to be incredibly beneficial, because if you can design tools that a teacher will actually use and truly benefit from, it will be because you know firsthand what it means to be a teacher and what sort of resources are vital to the success of a classroom on a given day. Plus you'll have theoretical and practical knowledge to back up any ideas you have in regards to helping students learn. If you have any questions about the M.Ed/Credential program I am in, I would be happy to hook you up with some info. MIT also has an incredible program called Lifelong Kindergarten which is basically the coolest thing to hit education since, well, I don't know what, but it's awesome. Also, if you quit your job, you may be able to make a claim that your EFC will be low, and that could help with the $$.