E-learning architect to instructional designer
An e-learning architect already meets 31% of what the instructional designer role asks for. The move turns on 28 required skills not yet in the profile.
76.8/ 100
1 How much of what an instructional designer is expected to do is already part of an e-learning architect’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the instructional designer role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
An instructional designer role treats 8 of its required skills as things an e-learning architect already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- authoring software
- cognitive psychology
- conduct content quality assurance
- develop digital educational materials
- identify training needs
- instructional design models
What stands in the way is 28 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.
Table 2 · What you already bring
Of the 24 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. An instructional designer role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of an e-learning architect background worth leading with.
- already held standards for web-based e-learning information and communication technologies (icts)
- already held instructional design models education
- already held learning management systems business, administration and law
- already held Absorb (learning management systems) information and communication technologies (icts)
- already held Brightspace (learning management systems) information and communication technologies (icts)
- already held Canvas (learning management systems) information and communication technologies (icts)
All 24 carried skills, including the 8 the instructional designer role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 35 missing skills fall into 7 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.
- still to learn apply ICT terminology required
- still to learn conduct educational activities required
- still to learn create script for artistic production required
- still to learn teach writing required
- still to learn apply teaching strategies required
- still to learn design web-based courses required
- still to learn proofread text required
- still to learn provide written content required
- still to learn translate requirements into visual design required
- still to learn use different communication channels required
- optional, not held build business relationships optional
- optional, not held develop creative ideas optional
- optional, not held give live presentation optional
- still to learn provide multimedia content required
- still to learn translate requirement concepts into content required
- still to learn use markup languages required
- still to learn use scripting programming required
- still to learn apply tools for content development required
- still to learn develop digital content required
- optional, not held perform ICT troubleshooting optional
- still to learn identify ICT user needs required
- still to learn compile content required
- still to learn identify customer requirements required
- still to learn manage content metadata required
- still to learn structure information required
- still to learn web programming required
- still to learn task algorithmisation required
- optional, not held AJAX optional
- optional, not held JavaScript optional
- still to learn publishing strategy required
- still to learn content development processes required
- optional, not held interactive media optional
- still to learn create SCORM packages required
- still to learn manage content development projects required
1 further area in the appendix
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries an instructional designer role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 apply ICT terminology practise this
- 02 conduct educational activities practise this
- 03 create SCORM packages practise this
Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.
Appendix · The rest of the record
All 24 skills that carry over
- already held authoring software knowledge
- already held cognitive psychology knowledge
- already held conduct content quality assurance skill
- already held develop digital educational materials skill
- already held identify training needs skill
- already held instructional design models knowledge
- already held learning management systems knowledge
- already held standards for web-based e-learning knowledge
- already held Absorb (learning management systems) knowledge
- already held Brightspace (learning management systems) knowledge
- already held Canvas (learning management systems) knowledge
- already held Edmodo knowledge
- already held Engrade knowledge
- already held Grovo knowledge
- already held LAMS knowledge
- already held Litmos knowledge
- already held Moodle knowledge
- already held Sakai knowledge
- already held Schoology knowledge
- already held Taleo knowledge
- already held WizIQ knowledge
- already held augmented reality knowledge
- already held keep up-to-date with training subjects skill
- already held perform project management skill
The 1 learning area not shown above
- still to learn instructional strategies required
7 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held AJAX optional
- optional, not held JavaScript optional
- optional, not held build business relationships optional
- optional, not held develop creative ideas optional
- optional, not held give live presentation optional
- optional, not held interactive media optional
- optional, not held perform ICT troubleshooting optional
27 held skills the instructional designer role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role CSS knowledge
- not needed by the target role ICT project management knowledge
- not needed by the target role ICT system programming knowledge
- not needed by the target role JSSS knowledge
- not needed by the target role LESS knowledge
- not needed by the target role Sass knowledge
- not needed by the target role advise on teaching methods skill
- not needed by the target role analyse the context of an organisation skill
- not needed by the target role apply systemic design thinking skill
- not needed by the target role assess employees' capability levels skill
- not needed by the target role coordinate technological activities skill
- not needed by the target role curriculum objectives knowledge
- not needed by the target role design information system skill
- not needed by the target role develop e-learning plan skill
- not needed by the target role develop learning curriculum skill
- not needed by the target role digital game genres knowledge
- not needed by the target role e-learning knowledge
- not needed by the target role e-learning software infrastructure knowledge
- not needed by the target role human-computer interaction knowledge
- not needed by the target role identify technological needs skill
- not needed by the target role learning technologies knowledge
- not needed by the target role liaise with educational staff skill
- not needed by the target role manage staff skill
- not needed by the target role monitor system performance skill
- not needed by the target role provide cost benefit analysis reports skill
- not needed by the target role provide training on e-learning skill
- not needed by the target role style sheet languages knowledge
8 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice
Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.
- still to learn instructional strategies required
- still to learn publishing strategy required
- still to learn web programming required
- still to learn content development processes required
- still to learn task algorithmisation required
- optional, not held AJAX optional
- optional, not held JavaScript optional
- optional, not held interactive media optional
Other moves recorded from e-learning architect
Common questions about this move
Can an e-learning architect become an instructional designer?
Yes, and it is a career change move. An e-learning architect already covers 31% of what an instructional designer is expected to do: 24 skills carry over, 8 of which the instructional designer role treats as required.
What skills does an e-learning architect need to become an instructional designer?
28 required skills are missing, plus 7 optional ones. They fall into 7 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by communication, collaboration and creativity. The single most important is apply ICT terminology.
How hard is the move from e-learning architect to instructional designer?
Its learning distance is 76.8 out of 100, which is the career change band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.
How this record was compiled
Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.