Reflections

What the heck is an instructional designer? – Part 1

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Being thrown back into the job hunting market has made me acutely aware of the fact that nobody understands what I do.  Methinks it’s time for an intro to my world and what it is I actually do.  I do not design software.  I do not fix computers.  I do not produce marketing materials.  And I am not restricted to only working in the industry of my last job (healthcare).

I am an instructional designer.  What exactly does that mean?  I get a lot of blank stares and misinterpretations about my profession.  First question posed to me: So, you are like an architect/interior designer?  Half the time it’s architect, the other half it’s interior designer.  Not so much.

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On being an ID: A cautionary tale

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I am an instructional designer. I am a multimedia developer. I have my Master’s degree in Instructional Design & Technology and have been working in the field for five years. I’ve seen plenty of learning examples, from paper to CBT to rapid e-learning and everything in between. I think I have a pretty good sense of what works stylistically and from a UX point of view. I have a fairly good grasp of the technology and the theory behind instructional design. With that being said, it’s hard sometimes not to be a little smug and sit on top of my Vygotskian throne dispensing wisdom to the inept SMEs who cross my path. “You want to do THAT? Oh, well, {insert choice learning theory here} states you should do THIS…”, or “we tried that approach 4 years ago and they didn’t get it” (as if it is the exact same approach with the exact same learners, tools, time frame, etc.).

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I’m a Luke in a Han World

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I recently moved to a new state and made the switch from working at the office to working from home.  While unpacking I came across a rolled up poster from my childhood.  Turns out it was a movie poster for The Empire Strikes Back.  Yes, I am a Star Wars fan boy.  Still have my action figures, ships, etc.  I decided to hang the poster over my desk in the new home office.

The Empire Strikes Back

The poster shows Luke looking off into the distance, maybe towards a better future?  Maybe towards his destiny?  Who knows?  He was chastised by Yoda for always looking for adventure instead of keeping his mind on the present.  Yoda had a good point.  Luke did spend a fair amount of time fantasizing about his future rather than focusing on the task at hand.  But, I would contend that he was just forward thinking.  He was looking for a better life, a life where he could make a difference.

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