Why become a freelance Adult Educator?
The reasons why one becomes a freelance AE vary from individual to individual. Some may be driven by the passion for developing others. Others may already be doing some form of AE work and see freelancing as a natural progression, as they have networks and ready assignments at hand.
Regardless of the motivations, it is important to know the realities of freelance AE work and its challenges. The most important requirement in starting a freelance AE career is having domain expertise (eg. manufacturing, healthcare, soft skills) that you are confident in, and which you know there will be a demand for. If you are completely new to TAE without any clear domain expertise to base your products or services on, the journey ahead may be challenging.
What does a freelance Adult Educator do?
A freelance AE may be involved in jobs or assignments that relate directly or indirectly to the development of the workforce. Areas of work may include:
- Learning-related analysis of an organisation, industry, job role, work environment and practices, and learners
- Design, development and review of learning interventions (e.g. classroom learning, workplace learning, technology-enabled learning)
- Facilitation and assessment of learning
- Evaluation of learning effectiveness
The level of engagement in these activities is dependent on your unique expertise, products and services, networks, referrals as well as industry demand.
What roles does a freelance Adult Educator typically take on?
Typical roles that freelance AEs take on include workplace trainer, trainer, learning facilitator, assessor, instructional designer, courseware developer, curriculum developer, consultant, human capital management specialist and organisational development specialist. You can find out more about these roles here.
What does it take to be a freelance Adult Educator?
You may be entering this profession purposefully, intending to craft a sustainable career or business out of TAE, or are perhaps just trying out opportunities in doing work related to TAE. As part of your exploration, it is important that you consider your value proposition, past work experiences and activities, areas that you like and dislike, and have a clear understanding of your personal attributes, values, interests, abilities and requirements in becoming a freelance AE. Having an awareness of what you can offer and how you position your product and services, as well as your professional identity and unique branding, will form a good starting point.
Here is a diagnostic tool to help you consider your possible next steps: