I’ve been a teacher for 10 years, so why do I need a Master of Education degree?
1) To advance your career
We all want to progress our careers. For teachers, progress normally means some kind of promotion, which may look like:
- Promotion from being a graduate teacher, to proficient, to highly accomplished; or
- Promotion to a leadership role such as Coordinator, Deputy Principal or Principal.
In a competitive world, promotion doesn’t come automatically. It depends on proven professional knowledge and expertise, which can be greatly enhanced by completing a higher-level qualification such as a Master of Education degree.
2) To become a specialist teacher
Teachers with a Master’s degree are considered experts in their chosen field (or teaching domain). They are better equipped with a deeper understanding of the nexus between teaching and learning that underpins excellence in pedagogy and improved learning outcomes for students.
It could be argued that teachers will develop over time through practice and brief exposure to professional development seminars. But this is slow growth and it can lead to stagnation.
Studying a Master’s of Education provides an immediate, sustained and deep-level engagement with the kind of knowledge and skills needed to equip teachers for specialised teaching and leadership roles.
3) To remain competitive in your career
Governments around the world increasingly recognise the value of a Master’s degree and the transformational impact it can have on students, teachers, their colleagues, schools and the wider community.
Aside from enhanced knowledge and skills, there are other benefits to having a Master’s degree. A teacher with a Master’s degree is likely to earn a higher salary (often tied to position and promotion) and will be more “market competitive” compared to less qualified peers.
4) To open up new career paths
A teacher with a Master’s degree can explore new career paths and expand their professional network or collaborative learning prospects. Having a Master’s degree opens up opportunities for improving educational organisations by identifying gaps in practice and policy through research, and by delivering training and development in schools and universities.
The skills and qualifications gained through studying a Master’s degree are also highly valued in other community-based professions. This means a Master’s degree in Education is a lifelong investment that will shape a teacher’s future for years to come.
5) Because lifelong learning matters
Some teachers may say that they are not interested in promotion or specialisation. But all good teachers want to make a difference in the life, learning and development of their students.
Teachers want to see their students flourish and succeed, seeing this as fruit of their dedication, passion, and hard work. They also want to instil in their students a love of learning and commitment to personal and intellectual growth throughout their lives.
What better way to demonstrate this commitment to lifelong learning than to seek out new knowledge, explore new ideas and acquire new skills by studying a Master of Education?
Whatever their motivation, all teachers need to work towards continuously developing their skills and knowledge to achieve excellence in teaching and/or leadership. The question is, where to start?
Why study a Master of Education at Tabor?
Tabor’s Master of Education (Med) program is designed to further develop the professional capabilities of educators through enhanced critical thinking, research capability, and leadership knowledge and skills within Christian, faith-based and non-faith-based communities. Tabor’s MEd is suitable for all teachers, year level coordinators, school leaders, or anyone from a wide range of educational settings looking to enhance their educational skills and knowledge.
Available for both full and part-time study, the Master of Education offers the flexibility for participants to focus on their particular educational goals or topics of interest. Tabor’s distinctive formational and transformational pedagogies, together with contemporary delivery methods, including supportive face-to-face, online and blended learning, make the program one of a kind.
