Inspire. Learn. Create
Inspire. Learn. Create
Instructional Designers help experts communicate their expertise.
When I mention that I’m an instructional designer, I often receive quizzical looks as if I’ve just revealed I’m from a distant planet. Despite its roots dating back to the 1950s, the profession remains largely unfamiliar to the general public. Yet, the role and significance of instructional design are profound, and it’s time to shed light on this often-overlooked field.
I used to ask people, “Have you ever had a job where you had to take training on the computer?” When they say yes, I say, “I make those, but not the boring kind.” It’s accurate but incomplete, and they still don’t know what I do. In recent months, I’ve re-evaluated this perspective of what an instructional designer is. I now tell people I bridge the gap between experts and novices. I help experts create learning experiences that novices can process. This explanation makes sense to most people, although they look fascinated as if I just told them I was a superhero.
Instructional Designers bridge the gap between experts and novices by helping experts share their knowledge effectively. Boiled down to its roots, our profession is about helping experts communicate their expertise. While that’s a lot of expertise in one sentence, it points to our true calling.
Instructional Design is traditionally linked with corporations or universities. Those with an instructional design skill set are sought after to create training in these environments. However, in my experience, everyone we encounter has an expertise in something. The role of an instructional designer is to facilitate this idea of expertise by asking questions. Everyone has an expertise, and instructional designers are experts in facilitating others’ expertise through sharing and learning.
Instructional Designers are experts in learning. Our entire purpose is to create experiences that foster knowledge in others. We do this by using an intentional set of tools designed to facilitate information processing, conceptual understanding, and engaged implementation.
As instructional designers, we intentionally design our models. They are evaluated based on the level of knowledge implementation demonstrated by learners. However, without reflection, there will be no long-term impact from a learning experience.
By facilitating expertise, fostering knowledge, and encouraging reflection, we connect experts and novices. Instructional design is the art of creating intentional learning experiences that make knowledge accessible and impactful.