From Classroom to Curriculum: Your Guide to Transitioning from ELT to Instructional Design

Anna CD
Jul 21
6 min read

For some it’s the never-ending grading or the lack of school resources to support our learners. For others, it’s cobbling together adjunct gigs all over town, never knowing when your class might get dropped due to low enrollment or what your income will look like one month from now. Whatever the case, the system isn’t there to support you. Sound familiar? So many English language teachers have been here. Burnout.

That’s how I felt when I first made moves from English Language Teaching (ELT) to my current career in Learning & Development (L&D).

Hi, I’m Anna—co-creator of The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast by night 🌛 L&D Manager by day ☀️

In the most recent episode of the podcast, guest Sharon Tjaden-Burkes, founder of the Instructional Designers and Educators Alliance (IDEA), echoed these feelings when discussing her move from ELT to her Instructional Design role at Sinclair Community College. After 13 years in the adjunct grind, Sharon was fed up with the instability, emotional toll, and limited growth opportunities. And she was fascinated by this field called Instructional Design.

So many teachers, especially during the pandemic, found themselves shopping for other career options. One major area teachers are drawn to is Instructional Design (ID) and Learning & Development (L&D). And it’s no wonder—teachers are masters of crafting learning experiences for their students. Couldn’t they apply this elsewhere?

Indeed, they can. Between my own experience and Sharon’s, I’ve compiled a list of tips and considerations to get you—a burnt out teacher—on the path towards a new career.

Explore the Instructional Design Landscape and Identify Your Fit

There’s a reason I’m using both the terms L&D and ID here: the landscape is vast, with skillsets varying broadly from one role to the next. L&D/ID roles exist across a spectrum of industries and organizational structures. You'll find instructional designers in corporate settings, from tech giants to financial institutions, focusing on employee training and development. Educational institutions, from K-12 to higher education, also heavily rely on ID professionals for curriculum development and online learning. Furthermore, government agencies, non-profits, and even healthcare organizations are increasingly hiring L&D specialists to meet their unique learning needs. This wide array of environments means that the specific tasks and challenges an ID professional faces can vary significantly, offering diverse career paths.

So the first step in understanding if L&D/ID is right for you is to research job postings and get a sense of the titles and roles you might be interested in. Look beyond just "Instructional Designer." Explore related roles like Learning Consultant, Training Specialist, E-learning Developer, Learning Experience Designer, Media Developer, and even Technical Writer. Read job descriptions carefully to understand the required skills and daily tasks. Ask yourself: "Does this sound interesting to me?" Choose something that genuinely excites you.

Also consider what kind of work environment and mission align with your personal values. Corporate roles will typically offer higher salaries, but you may not be interested in designing or facilitating learning for, say, healthcare professionals. Higher education (where Sharon works), on the other hand, can provide deeply gratifying work, even with a lower pay scale compared to corporate roles. In Sharon’s words, “ We all have one life. Choose something you'd want to do during the day.”

“ We all have one life. Choose something you'd want to do during the day.” - Sharon Tjaden-Burkes

I personally have found a happy medium as Learning & Development Manager at English Language Programs, where I develop orientations and continuing professional development (CPD) courses and events for participants and alumni in teaching exchange programs worldwide. The role allows me to serve my community and amplify learning opportunities, but without a hyper focus on, say, e-learning authoring tools. I can flex my range of skills across a broad set of projects, from asynchronous course design using a custom LMS to organizing and facilitating online and in-person learning events.

Consider Your Learning Gaps

So many skills you have as a teacher transfer beautifully from education to L&D/ID—from lesson planning to interpersonal skills to crisis management. But that doesn’t mean the switch from teaching to L&D/ID will be automatic.

A huge part of transitioning from teaching to L&D/ID involves learning the lingo. While many pedagogical principles from the classroom directly apply to instructional design, the terminology used to describe them often differs significantly. For instance, what a teacher might call a "lesson plan," an instructional designer might refer to as a "learning module" or "course outline." Similarly, "student engagement" in teaching might translate to "learner experience" or "user engagement" in ID. It’s important to familiarize yourself with these new terms to confidently navigate the L&D/ID landscape.

Beyond mastering the lexicon, the transition to L&D/ID will likely require some upskilling. While ELT professionals possess a strong foundation in pedagogy, curriculum development, and understanding learner needs, the L&D/ID fields often require specific software proficiency, a deeper understanding of adult learning theories, and experience with various learning technologies. Identifying and addressing these learning gaps through credentialing programs, self-study, and practical application of tools like Articulate Storyline, Adobe Captivate, or video editing software is crucial for building a competitive portfolio and successfully navigating the career change.

Both Sharon and I found it useful to pursue a certificate in instructional design to get our bearings. For me, it wasn’t so much about learning how to do my job—I already worked in L&D at the time. It was more about structuring the knowledge and experience I had gathered into a more robust framework and filling in gaps where needed. A certificate program isn’t a requirement, however. There are so many ways to build your skillset—from YouTube videos to LinkedIn Learning courses (get a free trial subscription for one month!) to just tinkering around with tools.

Find Your “In”

It’s important to remember there is no direct path from teaching to ID/L&D—or at least, there rarely is. So think about how you might find your “in.” What existing skills could help you bootstrap into the field?

Sharon took her video editing hobby and leaned into that to get her first job. I personally found my “in” by saying yes to a part-time gig facilitating an online teacher training course and then offering my support in a course redesign. From designing colorful and engaging handouts to creating animations for lecture videos to working with software developers to pinpoint the specifications for a custom Learning Management System (LMS), I took every chance I could to showcase my skills and learn, learn, learn. The opportunity was entirely unexpected, and it led to the full-time role I am in now.

Everyone’s path is different, but keep this in mind: You may not be able to find a full-time job right away. Give it time, build your skillset, and don’t say no to volunteer work or part-time work. You never know what might come of it.

Build Your Portfolio—if needed

One of the main pieces of advice you’ll get from instructional designers is to build a portfolio showcasing your work. But it doesn’t need to be complicated. As a starting point, you might create a screen capture tour of a course you've developed on Canvas or Blackboard, highlighting your understanding of learning theory, content structure, and assessment.

Once you start building your skillset in L&D/ID, you might add some more work samples—things you’ve built out in the process of learning and experimenting with different tools. The important thing is to show evidence of the outcomes of your work and the reasoning for your choices.

But let me set the record straight. I don’t have a portfolio. And Sharon didn't have a formal e-portfolio when she started, either. I’ve made several attempts at creating one, but I’ve always gotten lost once I try to put virtual pen to paper. Shame on me? Perhaps. But a portfolio isn’t always necessary, depending on which area you’re aiming to get into.

If LXD (Learning Experience Design) is your jam, then you’ll definitely want a portfolio to demonstrate your skills with common authoring tools—Articulate Storyline and Rise, Adobe Captivate, etc. For positions that lean more towards strategy, consulting, or project management within L&D, direct project outcomes and transferable skills might hold more weight than a formal portfolio. Understanding the specific needs of the roles you're targeting will help you determine the emphasis to place on portfolio development.

Network, Network, Network

The job market can be volatile, as Sharon notes, especially with recent layoffs in tech and government changes. However, networking remains incredibly helpful.

We’ve talked about PLNs before, and it bears repeating: Your professional learning network is everything. Connect with people in the field, attend events, and share your interests. Sharon's monthly IDEA networking sessions are a fantastic example of a community where individuals support each other through their transitions. Join the groups Teaching: A Path to L&D and Global Learning and Development Community (GLDC) on LinkedIn. Meet people. Ask for advice. Attend events. Gain as much exposure as you can to better understand the field and connect with individuals who can mentor you and guide you towards your new career.

The path from ELT to Instructional Design or L&D may not always be a direct line, but with a strategic approach, a willingness to upskill, and a recognition of your immense transferable skills, you can absolutely make a successful leap. Your experience in the classroom has already prepared you for a rewarding career beyond it. When considering a career transition, just remember Sharon’s words: “ It's hard, but don't give up. If this is something you really want to do, it will happen.”