What Is Instructional Design and Why Do You Need It?
Stripped to the basics, instructional design is the creation and delivery of a system of training and/or learning.
If you want to know more, it also includes:
- Working with the relevant learning modalities of today
- Understanding what skills your team already has and what new skills you want them to gain
- Creating the materials needed for your team to learn this process
- Establishing metrics by which your team’s achievement can be gauged
- Ensuring the learning program itself can be evaluated
That was a mouthful, but it’s true. Do you know what else is true?
Your trainer can’t do it alone
I’ve ran across people who believe creating a training program is something to be delegated to their trainer. The thing is, this is not a winning strategy. Trainers are supposed to do just that – train. They’re skilled at being in front of the class, walking your team through the training materials, understanding who’s “getting it” and quickly adjusting for those who don’t.
While trainers are skilled in presentation and facilitation, instructional designers are the ones who create the training curriculum. Your instructional designer will likely work with your trainer to gather information. But expecting your trainer to create curriculum, and then deliver it can put a million miles of pressure on them (and therefore, your operation).
Why? Because you’re taking your trainer away from their job and outside of their skillset.
A structured learning program isn’t something that can be jotted down quickly when there’s time, and then effectively presented to your team later.
The Instructional Designer
Instructional designers are well versed in learning theory, with a solid understanding of the varied tools, technologies, and methods through which learning can be achieved.
We know how to translate your company’s voice, culture, and procedures via a training program, and seek to make documents compliant with your company’s standards along with instructional design standards. When needs change in your industry, you don’t have to wait until a team member has a free moment to update your training. Your instructional designer can help evaluate your existing program and implement changes to keep your team’s skills on the cutting edge.
When you’re ready to systematize your training materials, contact Cassy Huidobro at 720-722-9998 or via email at [email protected] to discuss options for developing your organization’s training program.
Pictures:
- 1st picture: Startup Stock Photos from Pexels
- 2nd picture: Man Working Using a Laptop by Oladimeji Ajegbile from Pexels
This text was created by Miranda Park Learning and it’s been verified as unique by Copyscape.
