Instructional Coordinators
» Education Articles » Career Profiles » Student Resources » Student Loans » Job Positions » Links

Instructional Coordinators

Friday June 12, 2009

Instructional Coordinators
Instructional coordinators, also known as curriculum specialists, staff development specialists, or directors of instructional material, play a large role in improving the quality of education in the classroom. They develop curricula, select textbooks and other materials, train teachers, and assess educational programs in terms of quality and adherence to regulations and standards.

Significant points

  • Many instructional coordinators have experience as teachers or education administrators.
  • A bachelor's degree is the minimum educational requirement, but a graduate degree is preferred.
  • The need to meet new educational standards will create more demand for instructional coordinators to train teachers and develop new materials.

Nature of the work

Instructional coordinators, also known as curriculum specialists, staff development specialists, or directors of instructional material, play a large role in improving the quality of education in the classroom. They develop curricula, select textbooks and other materials, train teachers, and assess educational programs in terms of quality and adherence to regulations and standards. They also assist in implementing new technology in the classroom. Instructional coordinators often specialize in specific subjects, such as reading, language arts, mathematics, or social studies.

Instructional coordinators evaluate how well a school or training program's curriculum, or plan of study, meets students' needs. They research teaching methods and techniques and develop procedures to determine whether program goals are being met. To aid in their evaluation, they may meet with members of educational committees and advisory groups to learn about subjects-English, history, or mathematics, for example-and to relate curriculum materials to these subjects, to students' needs, and to occupations for which these subjects are good preparation. They also may develop questionnaires and interview school staff about the curriculum. Based on their research and observations of instructional practice, they recommend instruction and curriculum improvements.

Another duty some instructional coordinators have is to review textbooks, software, and other educational materials and make recommendations on purchases. They monitor materials ordered and the ways in which teachers use them in the classroom. They also supervise workers who catalogue, distribute, and maintain a school's educational materials and equipment.

Instructional coordinators develop effective ways to use technology to enhance student learning. They monitor the introduction of new technology, including the Internet, into a school's curriculum. In addition, instructional coordinators might recommend installing educational computer software, such as interactive books and exercises designed to enhance student literacy and develop math skills. Instructional coordinators may invite experts-such as computer hardware, software, and library or media specialists-into the classroom to help integrate technological materials into a school's curriculum.

Many instructional coordinators plan and provide onsite education for teachers and administrators. They may train teachers about the use of materials and equipment or help them to improve their skills. Instructional coordinators also mentor new teachers and train experienced ones in the latest instructional methods. This role becomes especially important when a school district introduces new content, program innovations, or a different organizational structure. For example, when a State or school district introduces standards or tests that must be met by students in order to pass to the next grade, instructional coordinators often must advise teachers on the content of the standards and provide instruction on implementing the standards in the classroom.

Working conditions

Instructional coordinators, including those employed by school districts, often work year round, usually in offices or classrooms. Some spend much of their time traveling between schools meeting with teachers and administrators. The opportunity to shape and improve instructional curricula and work in an academic environment can be satisfying. However, some instructional coordinators find the work stressful because the occupation requires continual accountability to school administrators and it is not uncommon for people in this occupation to work long hours.

Training

The minimum educational requirement for instructional coordinators is a bachelor's degree, usually in education. Most employers, however, prefer candidates with a master's or higher degree. State licensing is necessary for instructional coordinators in public school systems, although specific requirements vary by State. In some States, a teaching license is needed, while in others instructional coordinators need an education administrator license. Instructional coordinators should have training in curriculum development and instruction, or in the specific field for which they are responsible, such as mathematics or history. Instructional coordinators must have a good understanding of how to teach specific groups of students, in addition to expertise in developing educational materials. As a result, many persons transfer into instructional coordinator jobs after working for several years as teachers. Work experience in an education administrator position, such as principal or assistant principal, also can be beneficial.

Helpful college courses may include those in curriculum development and evaluation, instructional approaches, or research design, which teaches how to create and implement research studies to determine the effectiveness of a given method of instruction or curriculum, or to measure and improve student performance. Moreover, instructional coordinators usually are required to take continuing education courses to keep their skills current. Topics for continuing education courses may include teacher evaluation techniques, curriculum training, new teacher induction, consulting and teacher support, and observation and analysis of teaching. Instructional coordinators must be able to make sound decisions about curriculum options and to organize and coordinate work efficiently. They should have strong interpersonal and communication skills. Familiarity with computer technology also is important for instructional coordinators, who are increasingly involved in gathering and coordinating technical information for students and teachers.

Depending on experience and educational attainment, instructional coordinators may advance to higher administrative positions in a school system, or to management or executive positions in private industry.

Employment

Instructional coordinators held about 117,000 jobs in 2004. More than 2 in 5 worked for local governments, mainly in public schools and school district offices. One in 5 worked in private education, primarily in private elementary, secondary, and postsecondary schools and educational consulting firms. About 1 in 5 worked for State governments in public colleges and universities or State departments of education. The remainder worked mostly in the following industries: Individual and family services; child day care services; scientific research and development services; and management, scientific, and technical consulting services.

Job outlook

Employment of instructional coordinators is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2014. Over the next decade, instructional coordinators will be instrumental in developing new curricula to meet the demands of a changing society and in training the teacher workforce. Although budget constraints may limit employment growth to some extent, a continuing emphasis on improving the quality of education is expected to result in an increasing demand for these workers. Also, as an increased emphasis on accountability at all levels of government causes more schools to focus on improving educational quality and student performance, growing numbers of coordinators will be needed to incorporate the standards into existing curricula and make sure teachers and administrators are informed of the changes. Opportunities are expected to be best for those who specialize in subject areas that have been targeted for improvement by the No Child Left Behind Act-namely, reading, math, and science.

Instructional coordinators also will be needed to provide classes on using technology in the classroom, to keep teachers up-to-date on changes in their fields, and to demonstrate new teaching techniques. Additional job growth for instructional coordinators will stem from the increasing emphasis on lifelong learning and on programs for students with special needs, including those for whom English is a second language. These students often require more educational resources and consolidated planning and management within the educational system.

Earnings

Median annual earnings of instructional coordinators in May 2004 were $48,790. The middle 50 percent earned between $35,940 and $65,040. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $27,300, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $81,210.

Related occupations

Instructional coordinators are professionals involved in education and training and development, which requires organizational, administrative, teaching, research, and communication skills. Occupations with similar characteristics include preschool, kindergarten, elementary, middle, and secondary school teachers; postsecondary teachers; education administrators; counselors; and human resources, training, and labor relations managers and specialists.

Suggested citation

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition, Instructional Coordinators, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos269.htm (visited July 18, 2007).


Comments

Write your own comment:

Name:
e-mail:
title:
rating:
comments:



submit cancel


Featured colleges
University of Phoenix » A.T. Still University of Health Sciences » American InterContinental University Online » American Sentinel University » Baker College Online » Colorado Technical University Online » More Colleges And Schools
Degree Spotlight
The Organizational and Human Resource Development Program On » Bachelor of Arts in Media and Communications » Bachelor of Arts, Media and Communication » Bachelor of Science - Interior Design » Graphic Design » 3D Modelling Animation Art and Design
Partners
» Military Schools » Study in England