Before online learning, stepping away from the classroom might have felt like stepping away from education altogether, but thanks to the ability to work remotely, a growing number of educators are finding new ways to put their skills to work beyond the school gate.
One area attracting increasing attention is learning design – a field focused on creating engaging online learning experiences that actually help people learn.
With demand rising across universities, training providers, government and industry, it’s emerging as a career pathway that allows teachers to stay connected to education while taking their expertise in a new direction.
What adult learners really want
Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Online’s Senior Curriculum and Learning Designer, Angela Carden, has worked with many learning designers who are former school teachers. She says they bring deep empathy for the learner experience and strong intuition about how people engage with learning.
"In my experience, and as a former teacher myself, many are drawn to learning design because it lets them focus on the creative side of designing learning, without the ongoing stress of managing learners, assessment and reporting," Carden told The Educator.
"It’s often the chance to stay in education, but step away from the parts that wear you down. For school leaders, it highlights the value of giving teachers more agency and space to be creative, and reducing administrative load."
Carden said one of the biggest lessons from learning design is that adult learners don’t really value learning that is spoon-fed or overly didactic.
"What tends to work better is engaging people in peer-to-peer conversations, case-based learning, and other active approaches that draw on their experience," she said.
"Learning is also more effective when it’s problem-centred and connected to real-life tasks and challenges."
Carden said adults want it to feel relevant, and for their experience and input to be valued.
"Choice and flexibility matter too, so building that in, such as allowing people to select topics or formats, can make a real difference to engagement."
The skills every educator will need next
QUT Online Academic Delivery Lead Dr Bianca Frost said learning design can help Principals future-proof their staff with key skills and mindsets.
"I would point them toward the core habits that sit behind strong learning design. As more learning shifts online or becomes tech enabled, educators need to think like designers who plan for clarity, engagement and diverse learner needs." Dr Frost told The Educator.
"The most important mindset is learner centred thinking. Education designers who can analyse learner needs and make intentional choices about digital tools will adapt far more easily as technology evolves."
Dr Frost said critical thinking about new platforms also matters, because not every shiny tool adds value.
"Collaboration is another capability worth building. Online learning has shown that great learning experiences come from teams, not individuals."
Dr Frost said the educators who excel in online learning design tend to bring a strong design mindset to their work, combining creativity with a strategic focus on how people learn.
"They enjoy solving problems, shaping learning experiences and stepping back to see how people engage and stay motivated. Many move into learning design because it lets them focus on creativity and strategy rather than daily classroom pressures," she said. "What sets them apart is their reflective, iterative way of working."
These educators are constantly refining their approach by considering learners' needs, identifying ways to make learning more accessible and designing experiences that support a diverse range of students, Dr Frost added.
"These habits translate well into leadership, curriculum roles and other pathways."