Educational design is a broad and growing field of professional practice in Australia and abroad. Encompassing a range of specialisations – including curriculum design, learning design and assessment design – a qualification in educational design is an ideal fit if you are looking for a career in education that steps out of the classroom and behind the scenes of the education sector.
The growing importance of educational design
Educational design is, in many ways, the cornerstone of the education sector. Curriculum designers play a key role in developing and revising the Australian Curriculum – which standardises what students learn at primary and secondary school levels – and ensure that all young Australians, regardless of their location in the country and their socio-economic background, receive an equitable and high-quality education.
Jobs in educational design are expected to grow by 21.7% over the next five years as the education sector seeks to meet the vision set out by the Department of Education of Training in the National Career Education Strategy to better prepare students for the future workplace.
Educational designers will have a fundamental role to play in delivering the strategy, especially in areas such as curriculum development and the cultivation of innovative educational design models.
Career pathways in educational design
Careers in educational design are diverse. Skilled educational designers and learning designers are highly sought-after, particularly those who combine pedagogical expertise and specialised knowledge with an adaptable project management skill set.
How you specialise – whether it be in a field like curriculum development or assessment design – will place you on an established career path instead of a path that you are forced to cling to. In fact educational designers chart dynamic careers through the education sector, with the possibility of transitioning between primary and secondary, the tertiary sector, and other fields within the education sector such as vocational education and private education.
Specialised careers in educational design
We’ve compiled a list of just a few of the areas you can specialise in within the broad field of educational design.
Curriculum development
A lot of behind-the-scenes work goes into curriculum development. By working in curriculum design – whether that be for the Australian Curriculum, or at another education provider – devising a comprehensive and engaging curriculum is an exciting endeavour. One that involves extensive research, strong stakeholder engagement and a sound foundation of pedagogy and educational design models.
Learning design
Learning designers – or educational designers – are skilled professionals who plan and build educational programs for students, especially in the growing online space. With a strong pedagogical knowledge base, learning design is a varied career in which you will construct meaningful and engaging learning experiences following a proven educational design process.
Assessment design
Working in assessment design is a challenging but rewarding field in the education sector. There are many ways to assess a student’s knowledge and capability. What skilled assessment designers do is push the envelope of assessment design to not only gauge students’ abilities accurately but more importantly ensure that the students receive meaningful feedback on their learning through the assessment process. In the digital era, there is also exciting work happening as assessments are increasingly moved into online spaces.
Educational design through Monash online
Monash Online’s Graduate Certificate of Educational Design places you in a position to shape the classrooms of the future and, in doing so, make a meaningful difference in the lives of students all over Australia and even abroad.
Acquire a practical toolkit that allows you to develop innovative educational design models, grounded in the pedagogical principles that continue to guide nuanced educational design.
You will also explore the emerging possibilities that online education offers students and the best practice methods that guide the educational design process.
Ultimately, where you decide to take your career in educational design is up to you, and depends on the unique strengths you bring to the challenge. Whether you see yourself designing programs for adults or children, online or in-person, there are countless opportunities for a career in educational design. Completing a Graduate Certificate of Educational Design is the first step towards a life-defining career choice.
Discuss how a qualification in educational design can open doors for your career, and contact one of our dedicated Course Consultants on 1300 272 509 today.
