What AECT does

The Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) is a nonprofit professional membership association founded in 1923 and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana (relocated from Washington, D.C. in 1999). It serves instructional designers, educational technology researchers, educators, and graduate students across higher education, K-12, corporate training, government, and cultural institutions (museums, libraries, hospitals). The organization operates with a small staff (1-10 employees) and is governed by an elected Board of Directors under bylaws last updated June 10, 2025.

AECT's core offerings are publications and professional community services rather than technology products. Flagship journals include Educational Technology Research and Development (ETR&D) and TechTrends, published in partnership with Springer Nature, alongside the International Journal of Designs for Learning, the Journal of Applied Instructional Design, and the Journal of Technology-Integrated Lessons and Teaching — supplemented by book series with Routledge and Brill. The AECT Reference Library aggregates journals, proceedings (2000-2023), books, webinars, and videos for members. Professional development is delivered through the annual AECT International Convention (2026 at The Palmer House, Chicago, November 3-7), the International Publishing Summit (Dún Laoghaire, Dublin, July 13-17, 2026), division-based communities (Learner Engagement, Teacher Education, International Affairs), and the Addie Kinsinger Leadership Development Internship Program with named tracks.

The business model is diversified across subscription/recurring membership dues, transaction-based event and convention registration ($220-$880 per attendee depending on member status and timing), transaction-based Publishing Summit fees (€1,200-€1,900), and pay-as-you-go job board listings ($195 for members, $275 for non-members, per 60-day posting). Distribution is direct via aect.org and the ConnectedCommunity member portal, with social media promotion (LinkedIn, X, Facebook, Instagram) bundled into paid services. Recent leadership transition following the March 18, 2026 passing of long-tenured Executive Director Dr. Phillip Harris is the principal near-term organizational risk.

Name

AECT

Legal name

Association for Educational Communications and Technology

Website

https://aect.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1923

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AECT is a 100+ year-old nonprofit professional association serving instructional designers, educational technology researchers, and educators worldwide through peer-reviewed journals (ETR&D, TechTrends), an annual international convention, and division-based professional development communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services for Educational Communications and Technology

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (81392), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Continuing Education (CE/CPD) & Provider Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAF)

Keywords

• Professional association services
• Educational technology research
• Scholarly journal publishing
• Professional development programs
• Instructional design community

Headquarters

HQ city

Indianapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees providing access to publications, events, divisions, and professional network
2. Convention and Event Registration: Revenue from annual international conventions, workshops, and one-day registration fees
3. Publishing Summit Registration: Registration fees for the International Publishing Summit in Dublin, Ireland (€1,900 full program, €1,200 summit only)
4. Job Board Listings: Job posting fees: $195 per 60-day listing for members, $275 for non-members, includes social media promotion

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AECT is a nonprofit professional membership association founded in 1923 that serves as the professional and intellectual home for educational communications and technology. It delivers member subscriptions, peer-reviewed scholarly journals (ETR&D and TechTrends published with Springer Nature), an annual international convention, an international publishing summit, leadership development internships, a job board, and division-based professional communities for instructional designers, researchers, educators, and educational technologists.

Product overview

AECT (Association for Educational Communications and Technology) is a professional membership organization, not a technology product company. Its core offerings consist of publications (journals and books), annual conventions, professional development programs, and member services. The flagship publications include Educational Technology Research and Development (ETR&D) and TechTrends journals, alongside the Reference Library containing multiple journals (International Journal of Designs for Learning, The Journal of Applied Instructional Design, Journal of Technology-Integrated Lessons and Teaching) and books published through partnerships with Springer Nature, Brill, and Routledge. Professional events include the annual AECT International Convention and the International Publishing Summit. The Addie Kinsinger Leadership Development Internship Program provides mentorship to graduate students. The organization also operates a Job Board and two Centers of Excellence for Publishing and Event Planning. There is no unified software platform or modular product architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AECT Membership Annual membership subscription granting access to peer-reviewed journals (TechTrends and ETR&D), the AECT Reference Library, divisions, networking, conference discounts, leadership development programs, and the job board. Available in multiple tiers for students, retirees, regular members, international members, and institutional members.
• Educational Technology Research and Development (ETR&D) journal Flagship peer-reviewed research journal published in partnership with Springer Nature, covering research and practice in educational communications and technology. Available to AECT members as a membership benefit.
• TechTrends journal Practitioner-focused journal covering trends, practices, and research in educational technology for professionals in the field, published in partnership with Springer Nature. Available to AECT members as a membership benefit.
• AECT International Convention Annual international convention bringing together educational technology professionals, researchers, and practitioners for networking, presentations, workshops, and professional development. Registration includes early bird, regular, and late pricing tiers as well as one-day passes.
• AECT International Publishing Summit Writing and publishing retreat held in Dublin, Ireland for mid-career and established scholars to advance manuscripts, receive editorial feedback, and build publication pathways. Includes Writing Studio and Convening tracks.
• Addie Kinsinger Leadership Development Internship Program Competitive internship program providing hands-on leadership training and mentorship to graduate students and early-career professionals in educational communications and technology, including named sub-awards (Earl F. Strohbehn, Cochran, Harris, Jenny Johnson).
• AECT Job Board Online job board connecting employers with professionals in educational communications and technology, with postings shared across AECT's social media platforms (LinkedIn, X, Facebook, Instagram). Pricing: $195 per 60-day listing for AECT members, $275 for non-members.
• AECT Reference Library Online repository of AECT publications including journals, books, convention proceedings (2000-2023), webinars, and videos available to members as a membership benefit. Also hosts partner journals such as the International Journal of Designs for Learning, The Journal of Applied Instructional Design, and the Journal of Technology-Integrated Lessons and Teaching.
• Center of Excellence for Publishing Advisory board supporting AECT publishing opportunities, contracts, and preparing the next generation of authors and editors. Advises on journals and book series published with Springer Nature, Routledge, and Brill.

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Springer NaturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpringer Nature is the publishing partner for AECT's flagship journals Educational Technology Research and Development (ETR&D) and TechTrends. This partnership has been foundational to AECT's scholarly publishing since Dr. Phil Harris established the initial contract. AECT members receive full access to both journals as a membership benefit.
• RoutledgemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoutledge is a publishing partner providing books and academic resources for AECT members. The partnership expanded AECT's publishing opportunities following the initial Springer Nature contract.
• BrillmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrill is a publishing partner for AECT's Leadership and Best Practices in Educational Technology Management series, expanding international scholarly publishing opportunities.
• Kennesaw State UniversityminorOthersKennesaw State University is listed as an Institutional Member of AECT, supporting faculty engagement with the educational technology professional community.
• University of Cincinnati OnlineminorOthersUniversity of Cincinnati Online is listed as an Institutional Member of AECT, supporting faculty engagement with the educational technology professional community.
• Dr. Dirk Ifenthaler (University of Mannheim, Curtin University)minorOthersDr. Dirk Ifenthaler serves on the Center of Excellence for Publishing Advisory Board as At-Large member (2024-2027), contributing expertise from University of Mannheim and Curtin University.
• Dr. Ahmed Lachheb (University of Kansas)minorOthersDr. Ahmed Lachheb serves as Interim Chair of the Center of Excellence for Publishing Advisory Board, representing University of Kansas and overseeing journals (2024-2027).
• Dr. Stephanie Smith Budhai (University of Delaware)minorOthersDr. Stephanie Smith Budhai serves on the Center of Excellence for Publishing Advisory Board as At-Large member (2025-2028), representing University of Delaware.
• Dr. Vanessa Dennen (Florida State University)minorOthersDr. Vanessa Dennen serves on the Center of Excellence for Publishing Advisory Board, representing Florida State University.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• EDUCAUSE: EDUCAUSE is a direct peer as a nonprofit membership association serving higher education IT and technology leaders. Both organizations serve higher education institutions with members, conferences, publications, and professional development, making them highly comparable for institutional memberships and individual member overlap.
• Online Learning Consortium (OLC): OLC is a direct peer focusing on online learning and digital education in higher education. Both organizations serve instructional designers and educational technology professionals with memberships, conferences, and professional development, with significant overlap in target audience (instructional designers, EdTech researchers).
• American Educational Research Association (AERA): AERA is a direct peer as a major research-focused professional association in education. Both organizations publish peer-reviewed journals, host annual conferences, and serve educational researchers with significant overlap in ETR&D's research community and AERA's scholarly publishing mission.
• ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education): ISTE is a direct peer as a professional membership association serving educators and educational technology professionals. It offers comparable membership benefits, annual conferences (ISTE Conference), peer-reviewed journals, and professional development programs, directly competing for institutional and individual members in the EdTech space.
• Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE): AACE is a direct peer as an international nonprofit educational organization promoting computing and educational technology. Both organizations publish peer-reviewed journals, host conferences (AACE runs EdMedia and E-Learn), and serve educational technology researchers and practitioners with substantially overlapping member bases.

Broad incumbents

• Association for Computing Machinery (ACM): ACM is a broad incumbent serving computing professionals with a similar membership, peer-reviewed journal, conference, and Special Interest Group (SIG) structure. AECT's division-based community model parallels ACM's SIG structure, and both serve computing/technology-adjacent researcher communities.
• National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE): NCTE is a broad incumbent comparable professional association in education with a long history, large membership base, and similar publication/conference model. While focused on English language arts rather than EdTech, it operates on a comparable membership, publishing, and convention model that AECT's digital counterparts might resemble at scale.

Regional players

• British Educational Research Association (BERA): BERA is a regional peer as the UK-equivalent professional association for educational researchers. Both organizations publish peer-reviewed journals, host annual conferences, and serve educational researchers with comparable member services, though BERA primarily serves UK-based members while AECT is US-based.

Emerging players

• Web Professionals Association (WebPA): WebPA is an emerging peer professional association for web professionals and educators. Both organizations serve educational technology professionals with memberships, certifications, and professional development, though WebPA focuses more on web/digital skills while AECT covers broader EdTech.
• International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL): iNACOL (now Aurora Institute) is an emerging peer focused on K-12 online and blended learning. Both organizations serve educational technology professionals in K-12 and higher education settings with policy advocacy, conferences, and research dissemination, though Aurora is more policy-focused.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AECT
• Facebookfacebook.com/AECT1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aect1
• Instagraminstagram.com/aect_org

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AECT