What Is an E-Learning Developer and How to Become One

As an eLearning developer, you design and implement the structure of online courses using eLearning tools, such as instructional software and applications. You take the blueprint for the course, including content that has been created by an instructional developer, and design and code the lessons. Your duties and responsibilities are to make the lessons visually appealing and engaging while effectively conveying the lessons to students or users. As an eLearning developer, you may work for an education company or a company that designs instructional tools and solutions for employee training.

To become an eLearning developer, you need a mix of technical skills, training, and educational qualifications. Some employers require a bachelor’s degree in IT systems, computer science, or instructional design, while others may consider candidates with an associate’s degree. You should have strong graphic design capability, experience with user experience design, and a familiarity with numerous design tools, such as the Adobe Creative Suite. You need to have good verbal and written communication skills and the ability to work independently.

The major difference between an eLearning developer and an instructional designer has to do with the stage in the curriculum process at which you work. Instructional designers typically design the broad outlines of the course, researching pedagogical approaches and determining what types of skills or knowledge the learner needs to know. The eLearning developer then takes these ideas and creates the actual instructional material, following the recommendations of the instructional designer. In some cases, a developer or a designer may perform similar duties to the other or collaborate closely.