E-learning developer to e-learning architect
An e-learning developer already meets 61% of what the e-learning architect role asks for. The move turns on 8 required skills not yet in the profile.
45.4/ 100
1 How much of what an e-learning architect is expected to do is already part of an e-learning developer’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 e-learning architect role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
An e-learning architect role treats 10 of its required skills as things an e-learning developer already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- develop digital educational materials
- develop e-learning plan
- e-learning
- e-learning software infrastructure
- identify technological needs
- identify training needs
What stands in the way is 8 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 33 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. An e-learning architect role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of an e-learning developer background worth leading with.
- already held develop e-learning plan management skills
- already held standards for web-based e-learning information and communication technologies (icts)
- already held e-learning software infrastructure 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)
All 33 carried skills, including the 10 the e-learning architect role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 18 missing skills fall into 9 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 design information system required
- still to learn liaise with educational staff required
- optional, not held provide training on e-learning optional
- optional, not held advise on teaching methods optional
- optional, not held apply systemic design thinking optional
- still to learn analyse the context of an organisation required
- still to learn provide cost benefit analysis reports required
- still to learn digital game genres required
- still to learn monitor system performance required
- still to learn curriculum objectives required
- still to learn cognitive psychology required
3 further areas in the appendix
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries an e-learning architect role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 design information system practise this
- 02 digital game genres study this
- 03 monitor system performance 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 33 skills that carry over
- already held develop digital educational materials skill
- already held develop e-learning plan skill
- already held e-learning knowledge
- already held e-learning software infrastructure knowledge
- already held identify technological needs skill
- already held identify training needs skill
- already held instructional design models knowledge
- already held learning management systems knowledge
- already held learning technologies 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 CSS knowledge
- already held Canvas (learning management systems) knowledge
- already held Edmodo knowledge
- already held Engrade knowledge
- already held Grovo knowledge
- already held JSSS knowledge
- already held LAMS knowledge
- already held LESS knowledge
- already held Litmos knowledge
- already held Moodle knowledge
- already held Sakai knowledge
- already held Sass knowledge
- already held Schoology knowledge
- already held Taleo knowledge
- already held WizIQ knowledge
- already held augmented reality knowledge
- already held authoring software knowledge
- already held conduct content quality assurance skill
- already held develop learning curriculum skill
- already held keep up-to-date with training subjects skill
- already held style sheet languages knowledge
The 3 learning areas not shown above
- optional, not held coordinate technological activities optional
- optional, not held assess employees' capability levels optional
- optional, not held manage staff optional
- optional, not held perform project management optional
- optional, not held ICT system programming optional
- optional, not held human-computer interaction optional
- optional, not held ICT project management optional
10 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held provide training on e-learning optional
- optional, not held ICT project management optional
- optional, not held ICT system programming optional
- optional, not held coordinate technological activities optional
- optional, not held human-computer interaction optional
- optional, not held advise on teaching methods optional
- optional, not held apply systemic design thinking optional
- optional, not held assess employees' capability levels optional
- optional, not held manage staff optional
- optional, not held perform project management optional
34 held skills the e-learning architect role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role AJAX knowledge
- not needed by the target role Adobe Illustrator knowledge
- not needed by the target role Adobe Photoshop knowledge
- not needed by the target role GIMP (graphics editor software) knowledge
- not needed by the target role ICT software specifications knowledge
- not needed by the target role JavaScript knowledge
- not needed by the target role Microsoft Visio knowledge
- not needed by the target role PHP knowledge
- not needed by the target role SketchBook Pro knowledge
- not needed by the target role Synfig knowledge
- not needed by the target role apply ICT terminology skill
- not needed by the target role compile content skill
- not needed by the target role content development processes knowledge
- not needed by the target role create SCORM packages skill
- not needed by the target role create script for artistic production skill
- not needed by the target role deliver online training skill
- not needed by the target role design web-based courses skill
- not needed by the target role develop digital content skill
- not needed by the target role develop inclusive communication material skill
- not needed by the target role graphics editor software knowledge
- not needed by the target role identify ICT user needs skill
- not needed by the target role integrate content into output media skill
- not needed by the target role integrate system components skill
- not needed by the target role manage content development projects skill
- not needed by the target role manage content metadata skill
- not needed by the target role multimedia systems knowledge
- not needed by the target role optimise choice of ICT solution skill
- not needed by the target role provide multimedia content skill
- not needed by the target role provide written content skill
- not needed by the target role publishing strategy knowledge
- not needed by the target role structure information skill
- not needed by the target role use markup languages skill
- not needed by the target role utilise content types skill
- not needed by the target role web programming knowledge
6 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 digital game genres required
- still to learn cognitive psychology required
- still to learn curriculum objectives required
- optional, not held ICT project management optional
- optional, not held ICT system programming optional
- optional, not held human-computer interaction optional
Common questions about this move
Can an e-learning developer become an e-learning architect?
Yes, and it is a moderate move. An e-learning developer already covers 61% of what an e-learning architect is expected to do: 33 skills carry over, 10 of which the e-learning architect role treats as required.
What skills does an e-learning developer need to become an e-learning architect?
8 required skills are missing, plus 10 optional ones. They fall into 9 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by communication, collaboration and creativity. The single most important is design information system.
How hard is the move from e-learning developer to e-learning architect?
Its learning distance is 45.4 out of 100, which is the moderate 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.