Three Key Essentials for an Instructional Designer
We could’ve said: A computer, the internet, and an instructional design program. Or, an authoring tool, word processing software, and good writing skills. But that would’ve been too easy.
Instead, we’re giving you the top three treasures Miranda Park Learning considers essentials.
#1: A Network to Tap Into
Whether you work in a corporate environment or as an independent contractor, having instructional design friends is key because:
- You can bounce off ideas from friends you trust in the industry. Calling up a friend and asking their opinion on a module, modality or learning design is huge. You may think you have the best module in the world, only to find out your ID network offered even more valuable feedback that makes your module better for the learner.
- When you feel stuck or with low motivation, your network will understand. It’s likely they’ve felt the same way. Having a network you can joke around with AND that speaks your ID language is just plain sanity.
#2: A Professional Mentor
A professional mentor is someone you respect and who’s willing to offer advice. In this case, you could have an instructional design mentor. If they know the topic and can offer insights, great!
But, a mentor doesn’t have to be in your profession. Sometimes, a mentor is there when you simply need a filter or when you need guidance. Because they’ll be hearing important information from you, trust is paramount when it comes to choosing a mentor. So, choose wisely.
#3: Continuing Education
It goes without saying that keeping up with the instructional design industry is a smart idea. Just this year, the eLearning piece has been a game changer for many companies.
Continuing to study the field, innovating for the industry itself, working on your designs, learning the upcoming technologies, and polishing up your writing is key for a working instructional designer. Not all at once, of course. One at a time will do.
In Conclusion
Perhaps this advice isn’t just for instructional designers. The truth is, having a good group of friends, a mentor, and having something to look forward to may just be good advice overall. But we know that when applied to instructional design, these three tips make us better designers.
Who Are We?
We are Miranda Park Learning, your instructional design experts. When you need professional training systems, contact us. It would be our honor to help you build the right video training, eLearning or written procedures for your team.
Picture: Photo by RF._.studio from Pexels
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