Interested in making a difference in the lives of students while improving their learning experiences? If so, then a career as an instructional designer may be right for you. With the right understanding of instructional design and technology principles and best practices, these professionals can confidently develop educational materials that enhance learning.
So, what exactly does it take to enter the field as an instructional designer? There are a number of technical skills, soft skills and traits that are characteristic of many successful instructional designers in today’s technology-dominated field.
What Skills Does an Instructional Designer Need?
Instructional designers need to possess a wide range of skills to do their jobs well. In many cases, aspiring instructional designers will build portfolios of their work so that potential employers can see their expertise in action. The skills of an instructional designer range from technical expertise to crucial soft skills that enable effective learning solutions.
Why Employers Value a Diverse Skill Set in IDT Professionals
Instruction design and technology (IDT) is such a broad field with methodologies that can apply to an extensive range of learning scenarios. For example, an instructional designer may work for a small public school district, a large university or even a nonprofit organization. With this in mind, employers looking to hire IDT professionals are generally looking for people with a diverse skill set that includes not just technical expertise, but certain soft skills as well.
Building a Portfolio to Showcase Skills
Creating an online portfolio can be a great way to showcase both technical and soft skills as an aspiring instructional designer. This is especially true when it comes to providing examples of f projects that you may have completed in school or in past positions. When it comes time to apply for jobs in the field, an online instructional design portfolio can really help your work stand out among the competition. Additionally, helping prospective employers to see samples of what you have done has significant visual impact and can augment descriptions and lists of technical abilities.
Technical Skills Needed for IDT Professionals
Instructional design and technology professionals need many technical skills. These include experience with e-learning tools, LMS, multimedia and coding. Below is a instructional design skills list that every IDT professional should aim to master.
E-Learning Development Tools
With more schools now relying on e-learning platforms, instructional designers need to know how to work with popular e-learning development tools, such as:
- Captivate
- Articulate
- Lectora
- Camtasia
- iSpring
Learning Management Systems (LMS) Proficiency
Instructional designers must also know how to work with different learning management systems, including:
- Blackboard
- Moodle
- TalentLMS
- Canvas
- Google Classroom
- 360Learning
Multimedia Production
Today’s students learn in a number of ways, so instructional designers using technology to enhance learning should be prepared to incorporate different kinds of multimedia to cater to different learning styles. This should include the use of graphics, audio and even video animation in instructional design.
Knowledge of Coding Languages
More often, instructional designers are also expected to use programming and coding as part of their jobs. With this in mind, aspiring instructional designers should be familiar with popular coding languages like:
- HTML
- CSS
- JavaScript
- Python
Data Analysis and Learning Analytics Tools
Adding to the instructional design skills list is the need for these professionals to know how to use common data analysis and learning analytics tools. This way, instructional designers can better assess the impact and success of their curricula and make changes to improve learning outcomes. Discover more about the impact of technology on education in this episode of “Keiser Voices.”
Hard Skills for Instructional Designers
Aside from more technical skills that instructional designers need to have, there are some additional hard skills that can be beneficial for those looking to break into this competitive yet rewarding field.
Curriculum and Instructional Design Principles
Instructional designers need to have a strong understanding of accepted curriculum and instructional design principles, including best practices for capturing learners’ attention and maximizing retention of knowledge.
Project Management and Agile Methodologies
Instructional design projects can be very complex, which is why understanding project management methodologies (such as SAM, ARCS and Agile) and how to apply them to an instructional design project can be so useful. A strong sense of project management strategy can help keep curriculum development projects on track while meeting educational goals.
Assessment and Evaluation Techniques
Instructional designers also understand that even once the curriculum is developed, the work is never quite done. Specifically, instructional designers need to be prepared to use the latest assessment and evaluation techniques to identify areas of strength and weakness. From there, they can make changes to curriculum as needed to optimize learning outcomes. Assessment is part of a continuous loop in the instructional design process. When a design is complete, you are always evaluating its success on a number of levels, and modifying the design or instruction based on those results.
Content Development and Writing for Learning
According to the Association for Talent Development, writing is one of the most overlooked yet important skills in instruction design and development. As author Sophie Oberstein writes, “every stage of the instructional design process involves writing.” From needs assessments and evaluation reports to participant handouts and communication materials, instructional designers need to be prepared to craft written content that aligns with their goals.
Soft Skills Essential for IDT Professionals
While a lot of the work in instructional design is technical in nature, there are still a number of soft skills that instructional designers must possess to thrive in this profession.
Communication and Collaboration
Working in instructional design may seem like a solitary job, but this is actually far from the truth. In reality, instructional designers must be in constant communication with educators, learners and subject matter experts and other team members to do their jobs well. With this in mind, instructional designers with strong written and verbal communication skills, as well as solid collaboration skills, tend to perform the best.
Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving
Instructional designers are constantly running into challenges and obstacles, whether it is deciding on the right technology to achieve a learning outcome or finding a way to make learning materials more accessible. This is where having strong critical-thinking and problem-solving skills can pay off, empowering instructional designers to come up with creative solutions to obstacles.
Adaptability and Flexibility
The scope of an instructional design project can change quickly and without much notice, so instructional designers need to be prepared to pivot and adapt as needed. Being able to think quickly on your feet and remain flexible will serve you well in this unpredictable line of work.
Time Management and Organization
Instructional designers are often under tight deadlines, working on projects with many moving parts (or even multiple projects at the same time). As a result, they need to have excellent time management skills and be able to maintain organization in their work at all times.
Industry-Specific Skills for IDT Professionals
Some instructional designer skills are very specific to the educational field, so these are important to keep in mind as well.
Knowledge of Learning Theories and Pedagogy
Understanding the different ways in which students learn and the theories surrounding instruction/learning can go a long way in informing your own instructional design.
Corporate Training and Development Strategies
For instructional designers who plan to work for organizations/corporations, having a solid understanding of corporate training and development strategies is also important.
Understanding Compliance and Certification Requirements
In some contexts, instructional designers must follow certain compliance standards and certification requirements in their work. For instance, a curriculum may need to be developed with certain accessibility standards in place (known as 508 compliance). A solid knowledge of these requirements can go a long way in avoiding issues down the road.
Remote Learning and Virtual Classroom Management
As remote and virtual learning becomes increasingly common, instructional designers must also understand the nuances that come along with managing classrooms and working with learners in these unique settings.
Personal Attributes That Enhance IDT Effectiveness
Aside from all of these industry-specific, technical and soft skills that make up a successful instructional designer, there are some basic personality traits and attributes that can help you set yourself apart from others in the field.
Passion for Innovation in Education
If you feel passionate about using technology to enhance instructional design and optimize learning outcomes in education, then you may be well-suited for a career in IDT.
Attention to Detail and Quality Assurance
Even the seemingly smallest of errors or oversights can have a significant impact on learning outcomes, so instructional designers need to have a keen eye for detail and a commitment to quality assurance. If you are the type of person to “sweat the small stuff,” then the detail-oriented work of IDT might be right up your alley.
Leadership and Team Facilitation Skills
It is easy to overlook how much leadership and management goes into working as an instructional designer. However, at the end of the day, the success of your own work is often dependent on how well you can lead, motivate and inspire others to do their jobs well. With this in mind, the most successful instructional designers are often those who are natural leaders.
How to Improve Instructional Design Skills
Professional development and growth should be a top priority for anybody looking to get into instructional design and technology. Fortunately, there are many practical ways to improve upon these skills and competencies.
Workshops and IDT Conferences
For instance, consider attending any of the numerous workshops and professional IDT conferences held throughout the year. Some examples of popular industry events include:
- Association for Talent Development International Conferences and Exposition
- DevLearn and Learning Solutions Conference and Expo
- Learning Technologies Conference
- TechLearn Conference
- Training Industry Conference and Expo
Online Courses and Certifications
You might also look into taking some standalone online courses in instructional design and technology or related fields. Some courses may even prepare you for a professional certification, though a formal degree (such as a master’s degree or even a terminal doctorate degree) is ideal if you want to stand out as a thought leader in this evolving field.
Mentorship and Guidance from IDT Experts
Another excellent way to learn more about instructional design while building upon your skills in a hands-on setting is to pursue a mentorship or other professional guidance from established IDT experts. Having a mentor can also give you the chance to build a professional relationship that can lead to other opportunities for growth down the road.
Pursue a Graduate Degree at Keiser University
Instructional designer skills play a crucial role in enhancing education and training environments. As you can see, there are many instructional designer skills that you will need to develop and sharpen to make a difference in this dynamic field. In addition to having the essential skills of an instructional designer, you will also need the appropriate credentials.
At Keiser University, we offer the advanced degree programs that can help you build upon these foundational skills in a student-centered environment. From our Master’s Degree in Education Instructional Design technology to our Doctor of Philosophy in Instructional Design and Technology, you can find the program that best suits your needs and professional goals. Reach out to request more information from a graduate admissions counselor or start your online application today!
