OVERVIEW
What is a Learning Architect?
Learning architects are passionate about making learning simple, engaging, and accessible, in a variety of industries. They create experiences and training to solve knowledge, skill, and attitude gaps, and they help recipients grow personally and professionally. These recipients could be any type of employee.
They work cross-divisionally and utilize evolving HR, education, social, and design tools to build human-centered learning opportunities in primarily digital environments.
Learning architects seek the best educational content to support organizational goals and increase learning and improvement. They use a defined curriculum framework, multiple platforms, and industry best practices to validate, organize, package, promote, and deliver current and relevant content. They have an eye for visual design, a mind for content creation, and a commitment to clear, concise, and engaging forms of communication.
RESPONSIBILITIES
What Does a Learning Architect Do?
Simply put, learning architects assist in analyzing areas where growth is needed and create or institute impactful training and solutions to amplify that growth for a business or client.
Learning architects are needed in a variety of industries, and their day-to-day responsibilities can greatly vary based on their specific field. Some commonly listed duties are:
- Creating innovative, adult-oriented learning solutions that encourage employees to achieve the highest business impact.
- Designing courses and develop curricula that ensure effective learning experiences.
- Working with subject matter experts to create various deliverables.
- Leveraging problem-solving skills and frameworks to analyze client needs and to articulate relevant high-level perspectives on potential capability development solutions.
- Establishing and regularly report on baseline metrics for learning engagement, program outcomes, and ROI.
- Working with HR and key business stakeholders to integrate, assess, and report on progress and challenges.
- Championing a continuous improvement mindset and a "can-do" approach to ensure value to the business.
EDUCATION & BEST DEGREES
How Do I Become a Learning Architect?
Regardless of industry, learning architects are expected to be highly educated, confident, and informed leaders—often with a knowledge or general understanding of multiple industries or business divisions. They need a deep knowledge of instructional design, program development, analytics, learning technology, and adult learning principles.
A bachelor’s degree is almost always required, with a specialized master’s degree being the preference from most major companies. A master's degree in learning experience design and educational technology provides aspiring learning architects with a base knowledge of instructional design, research, education, methodology and instrumentation, technology integration, and measurement and evaluation.
While no specific certifications are required, there are some that go a long way in making a learning architect candidate competitive.
In addition to an advanced degree, learning architects should consider the Association for Talent Development’s Certified Professional in Talent Development certification. The CPTD is a professional certification that covers a range of knowledge from the TD capability model and focuses on skills application and decision-making for professionals. A CPTD certification is commonly listed as a desired qualification on learning architect job postings.
Best Degrees for Learning Architects
Education
Educational Studies – B.A.
These online, non-licensure educational studies degrees prepare you to...
These online, non-licensure educational studies degrees prepare you to make a difference in a field that interests you.
Based on your career goals and interests, you can choose an educational studies program in one of 10 content areas that meets your needs while working toward employment in school settings, corporate training, or instructional design. These programs do not lead to a teaching license.
- Time: Completion time varies depending on the specialty track you choose.
- Tuition: $3,825 per 6-month term.
- This bachelor's degree allows students to learn about education but does not include student teaching and it does not lead to a teaching license.
Focus areas of this educational studies degree program include:
- Elementary Education
- Elementary and Special Education
- Mild to Moderate Special Education
- Secondary Biology Science Education
- Secondary Chemistry Science Education
- Secondary Earth Science Education
- Secondary Physics Education
- Middle Grades Science Education
- Secondary Mathematics Education
- Middle Grade Mathematics Education
Education
Education Technology and Instructional Design – M.Ed.
The M.Ed. in Education Technology and Instructional Design from WGU is for...
The M.Ed. in Education Technology and Instructional Design from WGU is for instructional designers tasked with creating engaging and immersive virtual learning experiences that can substitute for on-ground instruction.
No teaching license required.
- Time: 62% of students finish this program in 10 months.
- Tuition: $4,125 per 6-month term
- Courses: 12 total courses in this program.
This program includes two tracks for students to choose from:
- The K-12 pathway
- The Adult Learner pathway
Skills for your résumé included in this program:
- Learning Experience Design
- Assessment and Learning Analytics
- Learning Technology
- Research Methodology
Develop training and instruction expertise to help you in the classroom, in educational settings, or in corporate world.
How Much Does a Learning Architect Make?
$121,106
According to ZipRecruiter, the national average salary for a learning architect is $121,106 per year or around $58 per hour. The range in salary only varies slightly in areas like California, where the cost of living is taken into effect. Qualified learning architects can easily expect to make six figures in the majority of available positions.
What Is the Projected Job Growth?
Positive
Learning architecture is a fairly new and growing field of work. Learning architects can expect positive job growth as the industry continues to flourish and more and more industries see the value of working with a learning architect.
SKILLS
What Skills Does a Learning Architect Need?
Learning architects can sometimes be described as a jack of all trades. They are comfortable in an environment where they are constantly learning, searching, and presenting new and creative solutions. They need a balance of both hard and soft skills, some of which are:
- Natural problem solver
- Eager consultant
- Excellent project manager
- Skilled communicator, writer, and visual creator
- Flexible and agile in the workspace
- Analytically-minded and comfortable with data
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Interested in Becoming a Learning Architect?
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