3 Things I Wish I Knew Before Becoming an Instructional Designer

As a transitioned teacher, the journey was not, in any way, easy. I had to relearn a lot of things, such as adult learning theories, models, and processes. Being an instructional designer, while seemingly familiar, isn’t close to being a teacher. There’s a big shift in focus. In this article, let’s talk about three things I wish I knew before becoming an instructional designer.

These three things include the importance of collaboration and communication skills, the need for continuous learning and staying up-to-date with technology, and the significance of understanding the target audience and their learning needs. As an instructional designer, it’s important to work closely with subject matter experts and stakeholders to create effective learning experiences that meet the needs of both the learners and the organization.

Collaboration and communication skills

As an instructional designer, you must be able to explain ideas and concepts to different stakeholders in a clear way. Often, you will have to work with subject matter experts, project managers, and other team members to make sure that the instructional materials meet the learning goals and are delivered on time and within budget. In the same way, you have to keep an open mind when it comes to receiving feedback. Therefore, having strong collaboration and communication skills is essential for success in this role.

Staying up-to-date with technology and trends

Instructional designers should not only know how to use the different e-learning authoring tools, but they should also keep looking for ways to use technology in the materials they make. This will not only enhance the learners’ learning experience but also keep the content relevant and engaging. Therefore, instructional designers must stay up-to-date with emerging technologies and trends in the e-learning industry. Apart from gamification tools, simulation, virtual reality, and AI are now being widely used in e-learning. These technologies provide learners with immersive and interactive experiences that can help them retain information better and apply it in real-world scenarios.

Understanding the learner’s needs

In addition to keeping up with emerging technologies, instructional designers must also understand the needs of their learners. To do this, they have to do thorough needs assessments and make courses that are tailored to the learning goals and preferences of the people they want to reach. It is a must that we shift the focus to the learner’s perspective instead of our own.

Becoming an instructional designer after teaching for a few years is indeed one of the best decisions I’ve made, as it allows me to continuously challenge myself and, at the same time, become a part of honing other people’s learning experiences.