Chantelle Murray, Director of Avatar and Associates and Deputy Director and Skills Development Facilitator at the University of the Witwatersrand, is a highly skilled learning materials  developer. “I love communicating with people – whether verbally or in written form. I am passionate about learning and the continuous development of every person during a lifetime. I believe that meaningful learning materials and high-quality delivery and assessment constitute the core of uplifting South African society in terms of personal growth, reducing unemployment and becoming more globally competitive. I thrive on the satisfaction that comes from a job well done – learners actively working with my materials and improving their understanding and performance!”

 “People wanting to enter this field need to possess not only the subject matter expertise to create relevant learning materials in their occupational discipline, but they also need to possess the language ability  to communicate messages effectively – irrespective of format. They must also have the ability to make use of various computer software packages   to compile high-quality learning materials that offer impact, both in terms of content and layout. The ability to make use of relevant sequencing approaches, so that learning materials unfold in a systematic and logical manner is also important.”

 “The National Qualifications Framework has two generic Design and Development unit standards that are suitable for developing skills to create learning materials, namely NLRD 123401 and NLRD 123394. Accredited training providers in the marketplace typically offer these two unit standards as one integrated skills programme, or as two separate and follow-on skills programmes. Individuals interested in becoming developers should undertake learning in relation to these unit standards.”

“An average day in this job depends on a number of variables, such as the context in which one works, for

example, a small training provider versus a large established firm, and whether appointed as a full-time or freelance developer. Many learning materials developers work on a freelance contract basis for a variety of different training providers. This kind of network allows the individual a certain degree of freedom and autonomy, whilst still providing them with variety and financial reward. It is, therefore, difficult to state with confidence how much one can earn in a career such as this. However, at a guess, I would say that an entry-level developer can expect to earn anything between R5 000 and R7 000 per month.”

“The downside to this job is that developers are often asked to work miracles within unrealistic deadlines, amidst unrealistic expectations and     a lack of sufficient resources. They also have to deal with technical glitches and lost information – as is always the case when working with information technology, and, as Murphy would have it, right before deadline. Therefore, back-ups and contingency measures will be the order of the day in this career.”

“The ultimate job satisfaction that comes from looking at and working from newly-developed learning materials is that you have literally created something from nothing! Nothing beats this feeling! Learning materials developers are in demand, as there is a shortage of people within the required level of skill and competence. Therefore, opportunities should always exist for this skill, thereby opening doors in both full-time and freelance capacity.”

“There are no shortcuts to any place worth going to. If you really want to get involved in this line of work, do it properly. Expose yourself to the necessary training and development experiences, complete the assessments and gather the evidence of your competence. Speak to people in the field. Be like a sponge – use any opportunity to soak up new information! Knowledge is power –  what you learn today will help you on your path tomorrow.”