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School of Education master's program integrates technology, entrepreneurship

Peabody Hall houses UNC's School of Education.

Peabody Hall houses UNC's School of Education.

As careers in the field of education are increasingly including developing new technology and launching companies, the University’s Master’s Program in Educational Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship aims to help students transition into education-centered technological and entrepreneurial jobs. 

Two years ago, Morgan Distinguished Professor in Educational Innovations  Keith Sawyer founded MEITE within the School of Education. 

Lisa Dawley is currently the program director while Sawyer is one of several professors that teach MEITE curriculum. 

“The idea of the program is to address an emerging need and emerging audience that we saw in the education space,” Dawley said. “We work with people who would identify as educational innovators.” 

Dawley said it is very unusual for schools of education to offer degrees that target both education and entrepreneurship. MEITE students focus on the power of technology in schools and how to create and sell new educational technology. 

The program is not meant for students who are interested in becoming teachers, administrators or counselors. It is geared toward people who want to design learning environments of the future, work with leaders and be “edupreneurs,” or educational entrepreneurs. 

Derek Creason is a MEITE student who has previously studied architectural technology and philosophy and has worked for a Fortune 500 company in sales. 

“I wanted to pivot and make a career change. I started growing interested in the field of education, however I didn’t want to do a typical M.A.T. to get licensed to teach in a classroom," Creason said. "I really didn’t have an interest in going to the classroom necessarily. I was more interested in technology and how new technologies affect education.” 

Creason is interested in working as an educational consultant or an entrepreneur, specifically designing exciting learning spaces, as well as working with augmented technology to find its uses in the classroom. 

MEITE student Beatrix Hutton has previously studied art and Japanese literature, and worked as an assistant teacher. 

“I’m really interested particularly in Makerspaces and the process of building STEAM programs and finding ways to incorporate art, science, engineering and all that stuff into the classroom,” Hutton said. “So, I’m probably going to pursue educational opportunities in that realm, either in museums, or in a school system or in a Makerspace.” 

Dawley said working at the Morehead Planetarium designing educational shows is an example of a type of job MEITE graduates may pursue. 

“As technologies advance, allowing people to be creators, and builders, and producers, often along with that comes digital marketplaces where educators are selling their work,” Dawley said. 

MEITE students are preparing for a wide range of nontraditional educational jobs, such as working at consulting companies, designing technology made specifically for learning, creating virtual reality experiences for science and math or running their own companies that would serve educators. 

“The program is great because it affords students a very broad pathway to a lot of different options after graduation,” Creason said.

@caseyquam

university@dailytarheel.com

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