Beyond eLearning: Alternative L&D Roles for Teachers Making the Transition
I recently attended a fantastic webinar led by Colin Smith on 'What Can Learning Designers Learn from Facilitation Skills?' Despite the limitations of the webinar format, he did an excellent job engaging the audience and encouraging discussion.
One thing that stood out to me was the overlap between what he was discussing and what I learned while earning my teaching credential. The FAB facilitation model (forward, alongside, behind) closely resembled the 'I do, We do, You do' strategy, with a few key differences.
Another point he highlighted was the importance of having participants learn from each other and return to work with a tangible artifact, like a prototype or action plan. He also discussed distinguishing between 'must-haves' and 'nice-to-haves'—essentially, knowing what key outcomes a facilitator needs to achieve.
This reminded me of Caitlin Tucker’s work in blended learning, especially her approach to station rotations and the 'must do' and 'may do' stations. In these rotations, students work individually, in groups, or with a teacher, often creating something to demonstrate and reinforce learning.
This got me thinking about the ongoing debate about the L&D field being oversaturated with teachers. While it’s true that there were some questionable 'get rich quick' schemes promoting eLearning instructional design starting in 2020, I believe there’s still a chance to turn things around and make the most of teachers' skills outside the classroom.
Here’s the thing: while some teachers may enjoy and excel at creating eLearnings, it’s not the only path into L&D.
For those of you who want to leverage your transferable skills but aren’t keen on working exclusively with Articulate or Camtasia, I’ve put together some alternative roles and how they align with your experience as an educator. Keep reading to start exploring:
One: Corporate Trainer or Workshop Facilitator
Why: Your classroom experience translates well into training adult learners. You can design and deliver engaging, collaborative, interactive, and informative training sessions for employees, similar to how you facilitated lessons for students.
Two: Leadership Coach
Why: As a teacher, you mentored and supported students, helping them navigate their personal and academic challenges. This experience is perfect for coaching in the workplace. Just like you supported students in their journey, adults benefit from and actively seek out that same kind of encouragement and help.
Your skills in offering personalized support, giving thoughtful feedback, and cheering others on are key to helping leaders and teams reach their full potential and succeed in their careers.
Three: Learning Solutions Architect / Learning Consultant
Why: Teachers excel at assessing learning needs, which is essential in consulting roles. You can help companies diagnose learning gaps and create tailored learning strategies to address them. By leveraging your skills in analysis, problem-solving, and creative planning, you can craft strategies that enhance employee development and promote organizational success.
Four: Team Building Specialist
Why: Your background in creating community in the classroom and promoting collaborative environments translates well to guiding teams in building trust, improving communication, and working effectively together.
You can design and facilitate team-building activities, workshops, or retreats that help teams align their goals, enhance relationships, and improve performance in a corporate setting.
Five: Learning Experience Designer (LXD)
Why: In addition to your ability to craft meaningful and effective learning experiences, your background as a teacher has given you a deep understanding of your learners' needs. This parallels learner research in the L&D field, where you analyze learner behavior, preferences, and challenges to create engaging experiences.
This also overlaps with UX (User Experience) design, where the focus is on understanding the user to create intuitive, effective, and enjoyable experiences. Your ability to research and empathize with learners positions you to design learning experiences that are not only educational but also user-friendly and impactful.
This list is just the start. A key takeaway here is that teachers have A LOT to offer the L&D world beyond just eLearning. The skills you honed in the classroom—empathy, adaptability, lesson planning, assessment, and facilitation—are incredibly valuable in a variety of roles, so don’t sell yourself short.
By expanding your view of what L&D can be, you'll see that your background uniquely positions you for a career in this space, whether that's working with learners in person, building team dynamics, or shaping the overall strategy of a learning program.
For former educators stepping into this field, it will be important to figure out what you loved most about teaching and what you want to do more of in your new role. You will come across plenty of helpful advice—and a few not-so-helpful marketing pitches along the way.
But once you’re clear on your goals, you'll be able to distinguish which opportunities are worth exploring and which ones might not be the best fit for you.
Making the move from teaching to L&D doesn’t have to feel restrictive. It’s all about figuring out where your strengths shine and finding roles that not only fit your skills but also align with your passions.
The learning field is wide open, and there’s plenty of space for former teachers to bring their talents and make a real difference beyond the classroom.
