Becoming a digital learning

content designerClive Shepherd,

Onlignment

Josh

Meet Josh, a classroom trainer looking to revise the induction programme he runs. He’s under pressure to reduce time and cost and to provide more in terms of reference resources for starters. Josh would also like to produce better classroom slides and videos, perhaps even some quizzes.

Miranda

This is Miranda. She left uni two years ago but is not really enjoying her new job as a trainee accountant. She’s a good communicator and she really likes making stuff. At the moment, she’s seriously considering a change of career to something more creative and people-orientated.

Celia

And then there’s Celia, a learning and development manager. She’s increasingly working with external contractors to produce e-learning, videos and websites. She wants to make sure she stays in control and gets a good deal. She’d also like to keep as much of the work in-house as possible.

Josh Miranda Celia

What do these three have in

common?

You’ve guessed it! All three have a good reason to learn about digital learning content design. For Josh, it is to bring his skills as a trainer up-to-date; for Miranda, it is to start a new career; for Celia, to become a more knowledgeable buyer of services.

Josh’s daughter

Meanwhile, Josh’s daughter is doing her school project, making use of resources on the Internet such as Google and Wikipedia.

Miranda’s mother

And Miranda’s mother is not being left out. She has started reading e-books on her Kindle. And she is studying online for a history degree. All her lectures and study materials are in the form of digital content.

Celia’s husband

Finally, there’s Celia’s husband. He’s a keen do-it-yourself enthusiast and is currently checking out how to hang wallpaper properly using YouTube videos.

Welcome to the age

of digital content

What does a digital learning

content designer look like?

If, like Miranda, you’re looking for a career in digital learning content design, you’ll need to be a good

communicator, both in writing and visually.

You’ll also need to be well organised(to keep track of all those digital files).

You’ll be enthusiastic about technology and able to concentrate for extended periods

(but without being a loner).

Above all, you’ll have an empathy for learners,because they will be your end users.

What does a digital learning

content designer look like?

But not everyone wants to spend their life making stuff. Josh likes to work directly with his learners.

Celia is first and foremost a manager.

Every learning professional needs to have an awareness and some basic skills in digital learning content design,

just as, 30 years ago, every teacher and trainer would have been comfortable with a flip chart and an

overhead projector.

Videos, slides, podcasts, quizzes, tutorials, web articles and PDFs are your new tools of the trade.

Learn to love them.

(part-time)

The digital learning design

programme

www.cipd.co.uk/training/digital-learningor call +44 (0)20 8612 6202

designed and delivered by Clive Shepherd