E-learning developer

E-learning developers design and develop simpler forms of digital learning content including reference materials, slides, assessments, screen-casts, interview videos and podcasts. They write and provide content for a computer based learning application.

The following job titles also refer to e-learning developer:

eLearning developers
eLearning producer
e-learning developers
e-learning producer

Master’s degree is generally required to work as e-learning developer. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

E-learning developer is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to e-learning developer.

instructional designer
e-learning architect
ICT trainer
technical communicator
web content manager

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of e-learning developer. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of e-learning developer with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of e-learning developer.

E-learning: The strategies and didactical methods of learning in which the main elements include the use of ICT technologies.
Learning management systems: The e-learning platform for creating, administrating, arranging, reporting and delivering e-learning education courses or training programs.
Learning technologies: The technologies and channels, including digital, to enhance learning.
E-learning software infrastructure: The infrastructure properties and specifications required to set up the e-learning environment which provides learning experiences to the audience.
Authoring software: The software that provides pre-programmed elements which allow the development of interactive multimedia applications in order to edit, structure and lay out content intended for publication.
Publishing strategy: The methods, rules, media and tools of publishing content from content management systems in single sources or cross media.
Standards for web-based e-learning: The standards and specifications used for web-based e-learning, such as Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM), which define communications between client side content and a host system supported by a learning management system.
Instructional design models: The guidelines or strategies for designing and developing instructions to ensure learners achieve the intended learning outcomes.
Content development processes: The specialised techniques used to design, write, compile, edit and organise digital content, such as text, graphics and videos for publishing purposes.

These skills are necessary for the role of e-learning developer.

Conduct content quality assurance: Carry out validation of content by reviewing it according to formal and functional quality, usability and applicable standards.
Create scorm packages: Develop educational packages for e-learning platforms using the Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM) standard.
Design web-based courses: Create web-based training and instruction courses using dynamic and static online tools to deliver learning outcomes to the audience of the course. Web tools used here can include streaming video and audio, live internet broadcasts, information portals, chatrooms and bulletin boards.
Identify training needs: Analyse the training problems and identify the training requirements of an organisation or individuals, so as to provide them with instruction tailored to their prior mastery, profile, means and problem.
Develop e-learning plan: Create a strategic plan to maximise the outputs of educational technology both within the organisation and externally.
Compile content: Retrieve, select and organise content from specific sources, according to the requirements of the output media such as printed materials, online applications, platforms, websites and video.
Manage content metadata: Apply content management methods and procedures to define and use metadata concepts, such as the data of creation, in order to describe, organise and archive content such as documents, video and audio files, applications and images.
Manage content development projects: Plan and implement the creation, delivery and management of digital or printed content, develop a system that describes the entire editorial content development and publishing process and use ICT tools to support the process.
Develop digital educational materials: Create resources and instructional materials (e-learning, educational video and audio material, educational prezi) using digital technologies to transfer insight and awareness in order to improve learners’ expertise.
Provide written content: Communicate information in written form via digital or print media according to the needs of the target group. Structure the content according to specifications and standards. Apply grammar and spelling rules.
Integrate content into output media: Compile and integrate media and text content into online and offline systems, such as websites, platforms, applications and social media, for publishing and distribution.
Structure information: Organise information using systematic methods such as mental models and according to given standards in order to facilitate user information processing and understanding with respect to the specific requirements and characteristics of the output media.
Identify ict user needs: Determine the needs and requirements of ICT users of a specific system by applying analytical methods, such as target group analysis.
Provide multimedia content: Develop multimedia materials such as screen shots, graphics, slide shows, animations and videos to be used as content integrated in a broader informational context.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of e-learning developer. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Wiziq: The computer program WizIQ is a e-learning platform for creating, administrating, arranging, reporting and delivering e-learning education courses or training programs.
Sass: The computer language Sass is a style sheet language that conveys the presentation of structured documents. These documents have to adhere to style sheets, a set of stylistic rules such as font, color and layout.
Adobe photoshop: The computer program Adobe Photoshop is a graphical ICT tool which enables digital editing and composition of graphics to generate both 2D raster or 2D vector graphics. It is developed by the software company Adobe.
Engrade: The computer program Engrade is a e-learning platform for creating, administrating, arranging, reporting and delivering e-learning education courses or training programs.
Less: The computer language LESS is a style sheet language that conveys the presentation of structured documents. These documents have to adhere to style sheets, a set of stylistic rules such as font, color and layout.
Adobe illustrator: The computer program Adobe Illustrator CC is a graphical ICT tool which enables digital editing and composition of graphics to generate both 2D raster or 2D vector graphics. It is developed by the software company Adobe.
Javascript: The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in JavaScript.
Php: The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in PHP.
Schoology: The computer program Schoology is a e-learning platform for creating, administrating, arranging, reporting and delivering e-learning education courses or training programs.
Gimp (graphics editor software): The computer program GIMP is a graphical ICT tool which enables digital editing and composition of graphics to generate both 2D raster or 2D vector graphics. It is developed by The GIMP Development Team.
Lams: The computer program LAMS is a e-learning platform for creating, administrating, arranging, reporting and delivering e-learning education courses or training programs. It is developed by the LAMS Foundation.
Brightspace (learning management systems): The computer program Brightspace is a e-learning platform for creating, administrating, arranging, reporting and delivering e-learning education courses or training programs. It is developed by the software company D2L Corporation.
Web programming: The programming paradigm that is based on combining markup (which adds context and structure to text) and other web programming code, such as AJAX, javascript and PHP, in order to carry out appropriate actions and visualise the content.
Sketchbook pro: The computer program SketchBook Pro is a graphical ICT tool which enables digital editing and composition of graphics to generate both 2D raster or 2D vector graphics. It is developed by the software company Autodesk.
Microsoft visio: The computer program Microsoft Visio is a graphical ICT tool which enables digital editing and composition of graphics to generate both 2D raster or 2D vector graphics. It is developed by the software company Microsoft.
Jsss: The computer language JSSS is a style sheet language that conveys the presentation of structured documents. These documents have to adhere to style sheets, a set of stylistic rules such as font, color and layout.
Ict software specifications: The characteristics, use and operations of various software products such as computer programmes and application software.
Multimedia systems: The methods, procedures and techniques pertaining to the operation of multimedia systems, usually a combination of software and hardware, presenting various types of media such as video and audio.
Graphics editor software: The field of graphical ICT tools which enable digital editing and composition of graphics, such as GIMP, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator, to develop both 2D raster or 2D vector graphics.
Litmos: The computer program Litmos is a e-learning platform for creating, administrating, arranging, reporting and delivering e-learning education courses or training programs. It is developed by the software company CallidusCloud.
Sakai: The computer program Sakai is a e-learning platform for creating, administrating, arranging, reporting and delivering e-learning education courses or training programs. It is developed by the software company Apereo.
Synfig: The computer program Synfig is a graphical ICT tool which enables digital editing and composition of graphics to generate both 2D raster or 2D vector graphics. It is developed by Robert Quattlebaum.
Ajax: The techniques and principles of software development, such as analysis, algorithms, coding, testing and compiling of programming paradigms in AJAX.
Moodle: The computer program Moodle is a e-learning platform for creating, administrating, arranging, reporting and delivering e-learning education courses or training programs.
Style sheet languages: The field of computer language that conveys the presentation of structured documents such as Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). These documents have to adhere to style sheets, a set of stylistic rules such as font, color and layout.
Taleo: The computer program Taleo is a e-learning platform for creating, administrating, arranging, reporting and delivering e-learning education courses or training programs.
Css: The computer language CSS is a style sheet language that conveys the presentation of structured documents. These documents have to adhere to style sheets, a set of stylistic rules such as font, color and layout.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of e-learning developer. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Use markup languages: Utilise computer languages that are syntactically distinguishable from the text to add annotations to a document, specify layout and process types of documents such as HTML.
Deliver online training: Provide training by using online technologies, adapting the learning materials, using e-learning methods and communicating online. Instruct virtual classrooms.
Optimise choice of ict solution: Select the appropriate solutions in the field of ICT while taking into account potential risks, benefits and overall impact.
Keep up to date with subject knowledge: Gather the latest information on the know-how which is related to the subject of the training process.
Utilise content types: Use MIME types and subtypes as standard identifier to indicate the type of data that a file contains such as the type of link, object, script and style elements and the media type.
Plan learning curriculum: Organise content, form, methods and technologies for delivery of study experiences that occur during educational effort which leads to gaining learning outcomes.
Create script for artistic production: Develop a script describing the scenes, actions, equipment, content and realisation means for a play, film or broadcast.
Apply ict terminology: Use specific ICT terms and vocabulary in a systematic and consistent manner for documentation and communication purposes.
Integrate system components: Select and use integration techniques and tools to plan and implement integration of hardware and software modules and components in a system. Apply specific testing techniques to ensure integrity during system integration.

2359 – Teaching professionals not elsewhere classified

 

 

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References

1. E-learning developer – ESCO