What do Instructional Designers ACTUALLY Do?

TL;DR

This video provides an overview of what instructional designers do, including their roles in creating logistical training, the importance of feedback, working with subject matter experts, following the ADDIE process, and utilizing various skills and tools.

Transcript

Scott: If you're looking to become an ID, you may have been drawn to the field because the job descriptions look really, really good on paper. But one question we get all the time in the community is, what do IDs actually do? In this video, I'm going to share with you some of the details of the work environment and the types of tasks I complete dai... Read More

Key Insights

• 👨‍🏫 Instructional designers in school districts primarily focus on creating logistical training for various roles within the district, excluding teachers.
• 😤 Feedback plays a crucial role in the instructional design process, and instructional designers actively seek feedback from team members and subject matter experts.
• 🚚 Following the ADDIE process is common practice among instructional designers to ensure effective training development and delivery.
• 💦 Instructional designers have the flexibility to manage their work time and have a good work-life balance.
• 🧑 Important skills for instructional designers include adult learning theory, communication, storyboarding, and proficiency in eLearning development tools and software.
• 🎨 Teachers transitioning to instructional design have an advantage as they already possess the mindset and skills needed for designing learning materials.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the main role of an instructional designer in a school district?

Instructional designers in school districts focus on creating logistical training for HR, payroll, transportation, food service, and custodial staff, among others. They work on eLearning courses, knowledge base articles, and new employee orientation.

Q: How do instructional designers gather feedback for their training materials?

Instructional designers gather feedback from team members and subject matter experts throughout the process. For major projects, feedback is required from all team members, while smaller projects may involve feedback from one or two team members. They also gather feedback from subject matter experts as they work on developing the training materials.

Q: How do instructional designers follow the ADDIE process?

The ADDIE process is a framework followed by instructional designers. It consists of five stages: analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation. Instructional designers brainstorm the best training format, create outlines and storyboards, build the training materials, deliver them to learners, and evaluate their effectiveness.

Q: What skills and tools are important for instructional designers?

Instructional designers should have a good understanding of adult learning theory and the ability to identify the best training methods for learners. Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, are essential. They should also be familiar with eLearning development tools like Articulate Rise and Storyline 360, and proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, particularly Illustrator, Premiere Pro, and Audition, is beneficial.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The video discusses the role of an instructional designer who creates and delivers training for various roles within a school district, excluding teachers. They primarily focus on creating eLearning courses and knowledge base articles while also delivering new employee orientation.

• Feedback is essential in instructional design, and instructional designers constantly seek feedback from team members and subject matter experts to improve their training materials.

• The video also explains how instructional designers follow the ADDIE process, which includes analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation. They rely on various skills and tools like adult learning theory, communication, storyboarding, and eLearning development software.