Lesson 2: Being an Instructional Designer

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Workshop Scenario:

Please think of yourself in the following scenario as you complete this workshop.

As a recent college graduate, you're keen to explore the field of Instructional Design. Having completed the first lesson of the introductory workshop, you now understand the basics of what instructional design is and the role of an Instructional Designer.

Eager to learn more, you're excited to start the second lesson and delve deeper into what a typical day in the life of an instructional designer looks like. You're also keen to learn about the different types of jobs and salaries available in this field.

In your second lesson, you’ll learn about being an instructional designer and possible job prospects. Please take notes as you make your way through this workshop since you will be applying your new knowledge in a final project.

Your objective for today is to gain a understanding of the field of instructional design and job and salary expectations.

Important Questions to Answer While Reading:

In order to be successful in this lesson, you must be able to answer these important questions.

• What does a typical day look like for an instructional designer?

• How does instructional design impact eLearning?

• Bonus: How is being an instructional designer drastically different from being a teacher?

2.1 A Typical Day of an Instructional Designer

As an instructional designer, a typical day can be varied and may involve collaborating with a diverse range of stakeholders. One of the primary responsibilities of an instructional designer is to design and develop effective learning experiences that meet the needs of the learners and align with the organization's goals. To achieve this, instructional designers work with subject matter experts, project managers, and other stakeholders to gather and analyze data, identify learning objectives, and design content and assessments.

In addition to designing learning experiences, instructional designers are also responsible for creating and managing project timelines, budgets, and resources. They may work with content developers, graphic designers, and other team members to create engaging and interactive learning materials, such as e-learning modules, videos, simulations, and assessments. Throughout the design and development process, instructional designers also need to ensure that the learning experience is accessible and inclusive for all learners, including those with disabilities.

Instructional designers also interact with learners and trainers to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of the learning experiences they have designed. They may conduct needs assessments, surveys, and focus groups to gather feedback and data on the learners' needs and preferences. Based on this feedback, instructional designers revise and refine the learning materials, and work with trainers to develop effective delivery strategies that align with the learners' needs.

Overall, the responsibilities of an instructional designer are diverse and require a wide range of skills, including instructional design, project management, communication, and collaboration. By combining these skills, instructional designers are able to design effective and engaging learning experiences that help learners achieve their goals and organizations achieve their objectives.

2.2 Instructional Design in Academia and Corporate Settings

Instructional design is an essential component of both academic and corporate environments. In academia, instructional designers work closely with faculty members to design and develop courses and programs that align with learning objectives and engage learners. They may use various instructional design models and technologies to ensure that the learning experience is effective and inclusive for all learners. Instructional designers in academia also collaborate with researchers to evaluate the effectiveness of the learning experience and make any necessary revisions.

In the corporate world, instructional designers design and develop learning experiences that align with the goals and objectives of the organization. They collaborate with subject matter experts and stakeholders to identify learning needs and develop content that is engaging and relevant to the learners. Instructional designers in corporate settings may also use various instructional design models and technologies to ensure that the learning experience is effective and efficient. They evaluate the effectiveness of the learning experience and make any necessary revisions to improve its impact.

Overall, instructional design plays a vital role in both academic and corporate settings. It involves collaboration with stakeholders, using a range of instructional design models and technologies, and evaluating and improving the effectiveness of the learning experience. Instructional designers in both settings use their skills to design and develop effective learning experiences that meet the needs of learners and align with the goals of the organization.

2.3 How Does Instructional Design Impact eLearning (Online Learning)?

Following the principles and steps of an instructional design model is now more critical than ever, given the rise of remote work and increased demand for e-learning content. It forces you to identify the purpose of your training endeavors and why you are doing it before you begin to develop the training. Failure to do so can result in missing the target audience and wasting valuable resources.

In remote settings, instructional design is essential to online learning, given the lack of physical trainers, making it challenging to gauge learner involvement and tailor delivery style accordingly. Therefore, instructional design resources must be developed in a way that overcomes the trainer's absence and provides an effective and efficient learning experience.

Instructional design is also critical to online learning's efficiency, given the abundance of information available and the need to streamline and structure it to make it easy to learn and applicable to learners' daily lives. Additionally, instructional design approaches help create engaging and interactive courses, making them more memorable and representative for the learners. Finally, the instructional design must help learners use the learning environment and all available resources as effectively as possible, given that they are responsible for their learning in online courses.

Given these factors, there is no denying the need to incorporate instructional design strategies in the development of online courses.

2.4 What are the job prospects for someone with an ID certification or degree?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment outlook for instructional designers is strong, with an 11% increase in positions expected between 2016 and 2026.

The recent movement towards online teaching and training due to COVID 19 has given a tremendous boost to this field. Currently, Inside Higher Ed (IHE) considers instructional designing to be the ‘hottest job’ in Education. 

There are multiple prospects for a graduate of ID, in terms of industry and roles. These include, but are not limited to, education, corporate, healthcare and insurance, technology, and government agencies (including National Guard, Army, NASA, Border Security and NSA) with roles involving leadership, teaching, coordinating, consulting, facilitating, and service (providing design services).

2.5 What salary can I expect as an Instructional Designer?

The expected salary range for instructional designers can vary depending on several factors such as job title, experience, and location. According to PayScale, the average salary for instructional designers in the United States is around $63,000 per year. However, entry-level instructional designers can expect to earn less than this, while more experienced designers or those in managerial positions can earn significantly more.

Factors such as industry and location can also impact salary range, with those in the technology or healthcare industries typically earning more than those in education or nonprofit organizations. The location can also have a significant impact on salary, with urban areas or regions with a higher cost of living typically offering higher salaries. In summary, while the expected salary range for instructional designers varies depending on several factors, those with experience, advanced degrees, and certifications can earn significantly higher salaries than those just starting in the field.

Bonus Reading:

Read the following article to learn how being an instructional designer is drastically different from teaching.

2.6 Lesson Activity:

In this lesson activity, you will look up instructional design positions in your area and compare job requirements and salary ranges. Follow these steps to complete the activity:

Note: This assignment does not need to be submitted. However, you will use this activity to answer the discussion question below.

Step 1: Find job postings in your area.

Step 2: Take note of the necessary skills and qualifications that are required for each role.

Step 3: Make a list of the skills that you already possess and compare them to the required skills listed in the job descriptions.

Step 4: Record the salary range for each of the positions you researched.

Step 5: Reflect on your findings and identify any patterns or insights you gained.

Closing Assessment:

Select the Assessment button below to answer the following questions:

1. What is the role of instructional design in academic and corporate settings?

2. What factors affect the salary range for instructional designers?

Discussion Question:

1. Please answer the following question in the comment section below and interact with learners from around the world.

• How might you utilize the information you gathered on salary and needed skills for instructional design positions in your location to strategically plan your career path in this field?

2. Please read and reply to other learners’ answers in the forum by stating if you agree or disagree with their answers and why. Your replies should offer new substantiated ideas or thoughtful questions.