How to Become an Instructional Designer

The journey to becoming an instructional designer differs from person to person. For me, it started with a genuine curiosity about adult learning and the goal of being able to provide learning opportunities for adults. Some likely have figured out their passion for the field and taken a degree in ID. This article will discuss how to become an instructional designer, the skills you need to hone, and what you can expect in the field.

Instructional design serves as the backbone of learning and development. It is a field of study focused on the design and development of instruction and materials for all learners, including those with physical, cognitive, and behavioral disabilities. With this, more and more companies are opening their doors and hiring instructional designers.

What Skills Do You Need To Become An Instructional Designer?

As someone who creates learning materials, instructional designers also need a set of skills to develop effective and efficient learning solutions. Instructional designers must possess a wide range of knowledge and skills, such as understanding adult learning theories and strong writing and communication skills.

Other skills of an instructional designer are the following:

– Knowledge of instructional design principles, theories, and models.

– Ability to translate complex information into easy-to-understand language.

– Skill to create and use graphics, animations, videos, and other multimedia elements.

– Ability to work with different types of learners (adults, children).

– Strong organizational skills.

– Good communication skills for developing a clear plan with the client and managing expectations.

How to Become An Instructional Designer with These 5 Steps

As we mentioned earlier, the journey to becoming an ID varies. However, here are five steps you can use to ensure success on your journey:

1. Get a degree or certificate in instructional design.

2. Learn about the design process and how to create a learning plan.

3. Learn about the different instructional design models, such as ADDIE, Gagne’s 9 Events of Instruction and more.

4. Learn how to apply technology in the classroom, such as gamification, augmented reality, and virtual reality.

5. Become familiar with various software programs for designing courses, including Captivate and Articulate Storyline 360

Becoming familiar with instructional design processes and models can help those entering this field gain the knowledge and skills necessary for success. If you are a teacher planning to transition to instructional design, you should start understanding how adults learn. This is important, especially if you plan to become a corporate ID.

Conclusion: Why Become an Instructional Designer?

Becoming an ID will improve your career in the future as it is a creative and innovative profession. Instructional designers can create designs for various purposes and use them to promote businesses. You will be allowed to include more than just a specific industry or type of design or work with companies from any sector. You will also have the opportunity to work on projects that require creativity and imagination. The best thing about being an ID is that, most of the time, you can set your hours and work remotely if you want to.