Exciting Curriculum Development Careers (Beyond the Classroom)
When you think of curriculum development, you might associate it solely with classrooms and schools. But there are many types of curriculum development careers across a variety of industries.
As a classroom teacher, you’ve likely designed countless lessons and activities for your students or school. But you can make an even wider impact in education by creating curriculum that students use around the U.S. and even the world– and do it all from the comfort of your own home!
There are so many curriculum development jobs for teachers that allow you to make a meaningful impact on education while enjoying the flexibility of remote work (part-time or full-time).
In this blog post, we'll explore a variety of careers in curriculum development. From working for nonprofits and museums to collaborating with education companies and textbook publishers, you’ll discover the exciting world of curriculum development and determine which path might be right for you.
What Is Curriculum Development?
Curriculum developers or designers create materials to improve student learning and support teachers. This includes everything from designing textbooks or worksheets to creating lesson plans or even full learning units.
Curriculum developers may also advise organizations on developing learning plans that support their product, mission, or service.
While there are many ways to work as a curriculum developer and stay in the classroom or within a school environment, there are also many opportunities to find curriculum development jobs from home.
Where Can Curriculum Developers Work?
If you're already working in curriculum development or want to be, consider these exciting curriculum development careers that allow you to shape the future of education in new and innovative ways.
Nonprofits
Nonprofit organizations play a crucial role in shaping education and curriculum development, often with a focus on equity, accessibility, and social impact. Large organizations like Khan Academy, National Park Foundation, National Geographic Society, along with local nonprofits, hire curriculum developers to create high-quality learning materials. Working for a nonprofit allows you to make a significant impact on education while enjoying the flexibility of remote work.
Museums and Cultural Institutions
Museums and cultural institutions offer a unique avenue for curriculum development careers.
National organizations, such as the Smithsonian Institution (including Smithsonian Education, Smithsonian Learning Lab, Smithsonian Science Education Center, National Museum of American History, and National Air and Space Museum), and local organizations develop educational programs, materials, and curricula to engage students in experiential learning.
As a curriculum developer, you can create engaging lessons and resources that inspire curiosity and discovery.
Education Technology Companies
Education technology, or EdTech, is a booming industry that relies heavily on curriculum development. Companies like IXL Learning, Newslea, Nearpod, BrainPOP, Prodigy, and Adventure Academy hire curriculum developers to design lessons and interactive content.
By exploring EdTech curriculum development careers, you can contribute to cutting-edge educational technology and reach learners worldwide, all from the comfort of your home.
Education Publishers and Textbook Companies
Companies like EL Education, Pearson, McGraw-Hill Education, Amplify, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt employ curriculum developers to create comprehensive educational materials. This could include anything from leveled readers to comprehensive units, assessments, worksheets, games, and digital resources.
Curriculum developers in this field can help create culturally sensitive and inclusive educational materials. By infusing culturally responsive pedagogy and utilizing Universal Design for Learning (UDL), you can provide equitable learning experiences to all learners.
Education Agencies and School Districts
Education agencies and school districts often hire curriculum developers to design and align their educational programs with curriculum standards and educational goals.
Curriculum developers may develop, evaluate, and refine instructional materials, courses, and curriculum frameworks. They often collaborate with other educators, administrators, and subject matter experts to create engaging and effective curricula that meet the diverse needs of students and foster innovation and continuous improvement in teaching and learning.
Online Learning Platforms
The rise of online learning platforms like K12 and Udemy for Kids has opened up exciting opportunities for curriculum development jobs from home. These platforms offer various courses on diverse topics, and curriculum developers play a pivotal role in designing the content.
Whether you're passionate about a certain subject or niche, there's likely a need for your expertise in online course development.
Children’s Media
Curriculum writers are valuable to children’s media outlets, like Sesame Workshop and PBS Kids. They craft engaging and age-appropriate materials, including lesson plans, scripts, interactive activities, and assessments designed to meet specific learning goals.
These education writers conduct thorough research to ensure that their content aligns with educational standards and incorporates best practices in education. In working with a children’s media outlet, you’ll help deliver high-quality educational content to young learners.
These are just some of the countless opportunities for curriculum developers!
Ready to Get Started With Curriculum Development Careers?
If you want to start a career in curriculum development (full or part-time), Educator Forever can help.
We love helping educators go from teacher to curriculum developer (You can check out some of our many success stories here!).
Our Curriculum Development Foundations Program is a 5-week flexible and empowering program designed to give you everything you need to develop engaging curriculum, stand out in the job market, and take your curriculum development career to the next level.
You'll also be assigned a curriculum coach, an experienced curriculum developer, who will give you support and personalized feedback on your work. You'll walk away from the program with a polished portfolio of curriculum samples and an amazing community supporting you as you step into working as a curriculum developer.
At Educator Forever, we don't only teach about curriculum development, but we're actively working in the field through our Educator Forever Agency. If you choose to become a certified curriculum developer during Curriculum Development Foundations, you'll get even more access to job opportunities from our agency, as well as from other educational organizations looking for experienced curriculum developers.
Have questions? Contact Educator Forever any time!