How can an entry-level professional prepare for a career in Digital Learning?

Digital learning is a field that combines technology, education, and design to create engaging and effective learning experiences. Whether you want to work as an instructional designer, an e-learning developer, a learning consultant, or a digital learning manager, you need to prepare yourself for a career in digital learning. Here are some tips to help you get started.

1 Learn the basics

The first step to prepare for a career in digital learning is to learn the basic concepts and skills that are essential for the field. You should familiarize yourself with the principles of adult learning, instructional design models, learning theories, and learning analytics. You should also learn how to use common tools and platforms for creating and delivering digital learning content, such as authoring software, learning management systems, and web conferencing tools. You can find online courses, books, blogs, podcasts, and webinars that cover these topics.

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☕Ferdi Lethen-Oellers

Der M365 Röstmeister mit Tipps 💡 und Tricks rund um Microsoft 365 | Microsoft MVP | Microsoft 365 Enthusiast 💛 | Ich möchten den Menschen🧑🤝🧑 hinter dem Computer 💻 helfen | 🎙️Speaker |☕ Kaffeefreak | #gernperdu
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What it is like driving a car. If we don't know the basics, such as road signs or how the car works, then we won't be a good driver. We can certainly override some things with talent or skills. However, in the end it always shows which person has understood the basics and which has not. In my field of #microsoft365 consulting, it's important to know the basics. Without the basics, we use the solutions and options incorrectly and may annoy third parties.

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John Kinyanjui

Project Officer at Windle International Kenya
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A content entry level professional must be able to write clearly and concisely, as well as edit the work of others. From experience, I have seen it is necessary for producing high-quality digital learning content. This digital learning content must be well-written, accurate, and error-free. It is also crucial that the content is engaging and informative so that learners will want to stay on the site and continue reading.

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Elizabeth G.

Instructional design and eLearning development - Focus on emergent technologies. Let's connect!
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Consider your target audience! Although this article is aimed at digital learning for adult learners, it may be beneficial to work with pedagogical concepts instead if that is where your interests lie. You could search LinkedIn Jobs to gain insight into the types of positions that are available and what they require. This could serve as a research outline to learn the basics.

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2 Build a portfolio

The second step to prepare for a career in digital learning is to build a portfolio that showcases your work and skills. A portfolio is a collection of digital learning projects that you have created or contributed to, such as courses, modules, videos, games, simulations, or assessments. A portfolio can help you demonstrate your creativity, problem-solving, and technical abilities to potential employers or clients. You can create your own portfolio website or use a platform like LinkedIn or Behance to display your work.

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John Kinyanjui

Project Officer at Windle International Kenya
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A digital portfolio creates a platform to showcase your created work as well as showcase your skill level and expertise. This is a must-have for any person wishing to develop his skills in digital learning

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3 Network with peers

The third step to prepare for a career in digital learning is to network with peers who share your interests and goals. Networking can help you learn from others, find mentors, get feedback, discover opportunities, and stay updated on the latest trends and best practices in the field. You can network with peers by joining online communities, forums, groups, or associations related to digital learning. You can also attend events, webinars, workshops, or conferences where you can meet and interact with other digital learning professionals.

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4 Seek feedback

The fourth step to prepare for a career in digital learning is to seek feedback on your work and skills. Feedback can help you improve your quality, effectiveness, and relevance of your digital learning projects. You can seek feedback from your peers, mentors, instructors, clients, or learners. You can also use tools like surveys, quizzes, ratings, or analytics to measure and evaluate your work. You should be open to constructive criticism and willing to learn from your mistakes.

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John Kinyanjui

Project Officer at Windle International Kenya
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Feedback is a valuable source of information for any content developed for use and that wants to improve its online presence and reputation.

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5 Keep learning

The fifth step to prepare for a career in digital learning is to keep learning and developing your skills. Digital learning is a dynamic and evolving field that requires you to stay on top of the new technologies, tools, methods, and standards that emerge. You should be curious and proactive in exploring new ideas, innovations, and solutions for digital learning. You should also be flexible and adaptable to changing needs, expectations, and preferences of your learners. You can keep learning by taking online courses, reading books and articles, watching videos and podcasts, or enrolling in certifications or degrees related to digital learning.

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Edward Sandhu

Aerospace Engineering B.S. | Ex-Elite Athlete | Founder @ Brainee | Executive & Youth Performance Coach | Digital Nomad | 39/50 CCAT (top 3%)
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Fostering a growth mindset is essential. Be open to learning and adding to your currently skill set, be curious and seek answers. A great way to stay familiar with feelings of users to be learning something new yourself, and being aware of the feelings and mind tricks that can occur.

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6 Find your niche

The sixth step to prepare for a career in digital learning is to find your niche and specialize in it. Digital learning is a broad and diverse field that offers many different roles, domains, and industries to work in. You should find your niche and focus on the areas that match your interests, strengths, and goals. You should also identify the gaps and needs in the market and position yourself as an expert or a leader in your niche. You can find your niche by researching, experimenting, and collaborating with others in the field.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can an entry-level professional prepare for a career in Digital Learning?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Learn the basics

2 Build a portfolio

3 Network with peers

4 Seek feedback

5 Keep learning

6 Find your niche

7 Here’s what else to consider

Digital Learning

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How can an entry-level professional prepare for a career in Digital Learning?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Learn the basics

2 Build a portfolio

3 Network with peers

4 Seek feedback

5 Keep learning

6 Find your niche

7 Here’s what else to consider

Digital Learning

Rate this article

Thanks for your feedback

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