by Matt Jenner, founder of Coursensu, the learning design platform <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Author<\/strong>:\u00a0Matt Jenner<\/a>, founder,\u00a0Coursensu<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Contrubutors<\/strong>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n This post collates insights from industry professionals who previously held positions in teaching and learning development roles and switched into EdTech product development. It encourages consideration of transferable skills for those who want to develop digital platforms and consider future career options in product development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Product development takes a user centred approach to plan, develop, and optimise a digital platform throughout its lifecycle. A key position is Product Manager, a role that connects customers, stakeholders, and development teams. Their empathetic understanding of user needs enables them to define product direction, prioritise features, and ensure alignment with business goals. Typical responsibilities include research, managing the roadmap, and team collaboration to deliver an incrementally improving digital product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s no single career track, making the move easier with transferable skills. You\u2019d join other PMs from different backgrounds which is great when dividing up product areas aligned to experience and enthusiasm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018Product management itself is a very broad field in terms of what that title means between different organisations. It’s not really a one size fits all kind of job\u2019 says Andrew. He advises that this choice also means you can explore and decide what type of PM role you\u2019re interested in, once your foot is in the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At University College London (UCL) I supported and started different digital platforms. Since then, I have led learning and product development teams with FutureLearn, PebblePad and now Coursensu. Like you, my career focuses on how people learn with suitable technologies, and it has provided numerous opportunities to work with people across the world. I have learned through my career how to adjust into new contexts, adapt ways of working and squiggle into different roles. It was never easy, but the same principle returned: If I\u2019m being paid to learn and grow, then it\u2019s good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Switching into Product Management doesn\u2019t have to mean compromises, you can change roles using transferable skills and experiences. \u2018I hadn’t come across a Product Manager role before working in EdTech but when I looked at the skills it required I saw how transferable teaching skills were\u2019 says Cassie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A traditional learning and teaching background provides strong foundations for identifying needs, considering solutions, and managing stakeholders. Cassie reminds us that \u2018technical skills can be learned\u2019. \u2018It’s a great move, EdTech requires so much specialist context that you will have coming from teaching, and there are lots of transferable skills between the two. Communication being the most obvious one\u2019 advises Tavi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You already work with cross functional teams to deliver institutional projects. \u2018Collaboration is a massive part of product management, you\u2019re not the expert on most things\u2019 says Matt. The overlap becomes clearer when you exercise this skill with projects or platforms you\u2019re working on. Consider current relationships with technology suppliers for opportunities to collaborate which can be a gateway to advanced relationships, skills development, and career opportunities. \u2018Collaboration is really missing, across organisations and beyond into product companies, but really important. There needs to be a willingness to change from all parties\u2019 says Marta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Being connected to users; learners, educators, support, is vital to success. From research, discovery, testing, production, release, evaluation, iteration, all require a user centred mindset to drive real change. When combined with business goals, it wins over any decision maker and is central to a PM\u2019s role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Universities are moving towards agile methodologies, an approach that is productive and highly visible in terms of outcomes. Breaking work down into smaller units reduces the risk of long term malalignment. Product teams avoid this, if you do too, you\u2019ll be at home with agile methodologies. Agile is also a great way to work with cross domain knowledge experts. As with universities, you can grasp other\u2019s expert domains, but you can\u2019t be an expert. You gain that T shape: broad understanding and an expert in your own space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Digital education teams regularly establish new technologies with trials, pilots, and centralising services. Integrating platforms, connecting data streams, or adding features to the Learning Management System (LMS) is all part of ensuring a coherent technology ecosystem. Working as a PM, you may be adding or connecting existing, new, or internal systems, but the aim remains similar. Our goal is to create a more refined user experience, to seamlessly connect data or services to help people get their job done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stakeholder management and your experiences in working upwards will be critical. Your task now, and in the future is to understand assumptions, make informed decisions and \u2018strengthen your voice against the HiPPO<\/a>\u2018 says Matt. This leads to empowerment, enabling others and setting them up for success. The ethos of good EdTech lives in our roles too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Think about your current platforms, how much sway do you have? It should be high. \u2018You\u2019re the buyer, you have an agreement, you should have a lot more voice in how the roadmap is driven\u2019 says Marta. \u2018There\u2019s a barrier between vendors and customers\u2019 Matt says this shouldn\u2019t be the case, \u2018partnership should be more valued\u2019. We should not live with bad tech because \u2018terrible UX for teachers, makes a terrible experience for learners\u2019 reminds Marta. You can use this to empower yourself to make changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Technology moves fast, and with so much happening. AI for example. It\u2019s worth the reminder that \u2018great things happen spontaneously and fast, teaching gave me an impression of missing out on new things, such as AI, and can see how jobs will be impacted\u2019 says Inna. There are lots of ways to be part of change, this is only one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, if you\u2019re contemplating stepping in, the first steps can feel hardest. \u2018The dynamic nature of companies can be tough, but the right person can thrive in that space\u2019 says Matt. So, you may want to look before you leap!<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are many fantastic resources about Product Management. Atlassian makes a solid start:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018Ten years ago, when I was invited to apply for a product manager position at Atlassian, I didn\u2019t know what product management was. This wasn\u2019t unusual.\u2019 Read more via Atlassian<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mansour, S. (2022). Product Manager: The role & how to master it. Atlassian.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What is Product Development?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How does someone become a Product Manager (PM)?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
My Story<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Transferable Skills<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Similarities and Differences<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Cross Functional Collaboration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
User Centric Mindset<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Agile Methodologies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Technical Development<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Leadership and Management Experience<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Why Switch?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Curious to know more?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
References<\/h2>\n\n\n\n