What exactly do instructional designers (IDs) really do? When we ask our Clients this question, it’s surprising the number of answers we get back.
Some people believe an ID’s main task is similar to that of a graphic designer. They find images to illustrate content, work with Web developers to make Web sites come alive, and wrap it all up in a pretty package. And yes, IDs do this.
Others believe that IDs are wordsmiths. They edit content so it suits the format of delivery, whether it’s video, custom eLearning, or classroom training, and write multiple-choice assessment questions. And yes, we do this, too.
But these two tasks don’t offer a complete the picture.
Instructional design is a process. The ADDIE model of instructional design is the standard: Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation.
Very much a collaborative process, we work with you to ensure the desired result.
- An ID acts as a teaching and learning specialist and will help you to determine:
- The learner you want to reach and his or her characteristics
- The new behavioral outcome you want to meet
- The business goals for the training as a whole
- The teaching and learning strategies that will help learners process the information
- The combination of media that would suit the content best
- The interactions that will keep the learner engaged
Our challenges as IDs are very similar to your business challenges: trying to do more with less, getting more productivity from fewer team members, higher profits from fewer resources, and more efficiency with less training time.
We share a common goal with our customers: ensure performance improvement through effective and creative training developed and delivered on time and on budget.
