Career Chat with Hazzan Mohammed

Hazzan Olusegun Mohammed is a University of Ibadan-trained Instructional Design and Educational Technology Specialist who has been involved in the provision of various EdTech learning solutions for schools across Nigeria.

He is currently a Learning Experience Designer in a global technical support firm and has recently been awarded a fellowship worth over $60,000 to pursue a graduate degree at Harvard University.

In an exclusive interview conducted by Rachael Omidiji, Hazzan Mohammed shared insights into his career journey, his contributions to EdTech innovations, and his future aspirations.

Rachael: Tell us about yourself.

Hazzan: I am Hazzan Olusegun Mohammed. I am an Instructional Designer and Educational Technologist with extensive experience in education, instructional design, and technology.

I hold a bachelor’s in science education from the University of Nigeria and a master’s degree in Educational Technology from the University of Ibadan. Over the years, I’ve combined my passion for teaching with technology to create impactful learning experiences for schools and organizations.

Rachael: How did you get into the field of instructional design?

Hazzan: I started my career in the classroom as a Chemistry and Mathematics teacher, where I always wanted to identify opportunities to improve learning outcomes for my students through the use of new methodologies or media.

I was constantly perturbed by regular complaints from my students about how ‘boring’ some of their other classes were.

That was what led me to pursue a master’s degree in educational technology and to further develop competencies that have enabled me to automate assessment systems for schools, create digital learning content of various modalities, and integrate school management systems, among others.

These experiences further improved my interest in instructional design and guided me toward specializing in crafting effective, technology-driven learning experiences for both young learners in schools and adults.

Rachael: Apart from getting a related degree, what else does one need to do if one is transitioning from teaching into instructional design?

Hazzan: Teaching has a lot of skills that are transferable into instructional design, but in addition, a teacher wanting to transition must develop additional skills to become a competent instructional designer.

While a teacher may have previously planned a lesson, they still need to learn how an instructional designer will approach the design of a course or a training.

In addition, they must learn how to use some eLearning authoring tools to create digital learning content of different types.

In my case, I did all of these and pursued additional related certifications on instructional design, gamification, learning and development, and followed the work of other professionals.

Over time, I developed a robust portfolio and competencies, which helped me move into the field seamlessly.

Rachael: What other advice do you have for others who want to make such transitions?

Hazzan: Start by identifying the skills you already have, teaching skills like lesson planning, learner engagement, assessment design, and content creation are highly transferable. Then, focus on gaining knowledge in instructional design methods and tools through courses or certifications. Get a mentor if possible to get the necessary guidance in developing the most useful skills and building a portfolio to showcase your work.

Rachael: You have been in the Instructional Design and EdTech field for about eight years now… what are your future career plans?

Hazzan: I will go on study leave in a few months for my second graduate degree at Harvard Graduate School of Education. After that, in addition to my full-time engagement, I plan to further upskill my free mentoring efforts by creating structured online programs and resources for aspiring professionals and educators who want to transition into Instructional Design and Educational Technology. My goal is to empower professionals to thrive in this field.

Rachael: Thank you for your time and the insights. All the best in your future endeavors.

Hazzan: Thank you, and you too!