What is your experience with instructional design?

In a nutshell… utilizing an extensive knowledge of various learning methodologies to create a measurable digital learning experience for a target audience.

Instructional design is about creating value in your learner’s life and workplace skills. Consider your client. Would you provide the same L&D consulting and support to your clients, regardless of their role and position? The people deserve a tailored and beautiful approach to their professional development. You can initiate this. It is your responsibility to empower your team and yourself with the power skills they need to thrive now and in the future. Consider this, how are you helping your employees to grow and contribute to the team? Maybe it is something we should all investigate.

Forget fancy definitions. Instructional design is simply orchestrating learning experiences that stick. Think of it like crafting a captivating story that pulls your audience in and leaves them transformed. You analyze their needs, set their goals, and design an engaging journey that delivers knowledge with a punch. It's about building bridges between the "what" and the "wow" of learning.

For me, I define instructional design as solving problems or addressing skill gaps with training or educational solutions that produce the desired behavior change that is needed for organizations to reach their goals.

Desde la perspectiva laboral, el Dise?o Instruccional es la herramienta idónea que nos permitirá desarrollar materiales didácticos para la impartición de nuevos conocimientos a los colaboradores. No obstante, desde la perspectiva académica laboral, podemos decir que el Dise?o Instruccional es la herramienta que permite facilitar el proceso de ense?anza aprendizaje del alumno en su devenir académico. Puesto que hoy en día, la realidad post pandemia nos obliga a tener presentes las diversas alternativas de la educación a distancia, el Dise?o Instruccional se posiciona como el enlace entre el alumno y su aprendizaje, pavimentando el camino del aprendizaje activo en el alumno.

My approach adapts to each project. I leverage proven models like ADDIE and SAM, incorporating agile elements for flexibility. Here's a simplified workflow: Needs analysis: I identify learner demographics, knowledge levels, and desired outcomes. Goal setting: I translate those needs into concrete, measurable objectives. Strategy selection: I choose the most effective methods and tools, from eLearning modules to immersive experiences. Development: I use authoring tools and resources to create engaging learning materials. Evaluation and refinement: I assess effectiveness through feedback, data, and testing, continuously refining the materials.

With all my students and consultations…we reverse engineer our tasks. We always start with an end-goal in mind and brainstorm what must happen immediately before the end result, and so on. This way, we are positive every step from the beginning is actually headed towards our goal. I’ve found this method also gets the students/clients to understand the entire project at a deeper level, which leads to more collaborative discussions on future projects.

For me it's like an adventure journey to create effective and engaging learning experiences with instructional design (ID): Step 1: Destination: Define clear and measurable learning objectives. Step 2: Pack wisely: Analyze learner needs to tailor the experience to their knowledge and preferences. Step 3: Choose your route: Select appropriate instructional strategies to guide learners effectively. Step 4: Pack for the trip: Craft instructional materials that are visually appealing, engaging, and easy to understand. Step 5: Take the journey: Develop assessments to measure learning progress and achievements. Step 6: Hit the road: Implement the learning experience and provide support.

Consider/identify these before creating the design of any information. 1. In terms of the Audience: a) Their Role/job b) The education level c) The geography and language d) Their understanding of technology 2. In terms of the Subject: a) Is it know-how information? b) Is it to develop a skill? c) Any target task? 3. In terms of Goals: a) Can the goals be quantified? 4. Finally, the seat time and project budget a) Time given to the learner to consume the information b) Any cost involved Now choose the training modality you want to choose to administer the learning. And, apply learning methodologies to create meaningful learning experiences. Eg: 1. ADDIE 2. SAM 3. Kirkpatrick's model 4. Bloom Taxonomy 5. Gagne's 9 events

I went back to the theoretical principles of how adult people learn. I adapted ADDIE as a model, framework, and process for designing learning experiences and developing learning resources. These helped me to discover what my target learners need as well as the gaps (knowledge, environment, motivation, attitudes, or skills) that hinder their application of learning. In addition, it helped me to have a clear vision of what could be the output of our program. Designing learning experience based on a backward design approach.

My experience is a diverse buffet of instructional design projects. I've crafted eLearning modules, built immersive VR simulations, and developed gamified microlearning programs for clients across various industries. From helping nurses practice complex procedures in a virtual world to empowering retail employees with new product knowledge through interactive games, I've seen the power of creative learning firsthand.

Instructional design is the fusion of empathy and innovation. It's about understanding the unique needs of learners and tailoring experiences that cater to diverse learning styles. From my personal experience and from learners' feedback, my best remembered simulations/gamifications are on the topic of GDPR and digital security - phishing e-mails simulations, "clean desk" pick-many interactions, potential treats drag-n-drop interactions.

Instructional Design has been a valuable science for me in helping people understand a wide range of concepts, from technical to theoretical. I've used instructional design to explain tangible products, such as mechanical devices, by using videos or 3D models. I've also used instructional design to explain biomedical products and software applications. In each case, the approach I've taken has been tailored to the specific needs of the learner and the type of concept being explained.

I feel most challenging when it comes to creating storyboard for Technical coding related courses. As an ID we can beautifully design and develop anything but explanation of coding is something we need to get hold of it with the help of SMEs. Best way would be getting script for coding from Trainers will be helpful!

The main challenge while developing a learning solution is working with SMEs for whom the learning development is not the priority (Their own job is). To make it easy for your SMEs to answer your questions: 1. Add callouts in your learning design/storyboard document to highlight issues. 2. It's always great to set expectations for time for even the smallest of responses. 3. Make an effort to send soft reminders before the deadline to remind the SMEs. 4. Always appreciate any feedback to encourage and engage your SMEs. 5. Set up meetings on D-day to discuss the feedback in person if required.

I think the instructional design model you will use is important to consider. The main challenges are focus on maintaining motivation and participation in a virtual environment is challenging, creative and stimulating strategies are needed to engage students throughout the course; and assessment is another important factor, authentic and meaningful online assessments must be designed to measure the actual learning of students remains a challenge, taking into account the skills of each area, for example, in English language learning, where oral and written communication is crucial.

One potential challenge when developing a corporate e-learning program is maintaining a balance between strict brand guidelines and effective instructional design. One effective solution is to collaborate with the branding team early in the development phase. Thus, IDs can align the content with brand guidelines without sacrificing educational effectiveness. Additionally, creating a style guide specifically for e-learning materials within the corporate brand framework can provide a flexible set of rules - approved color palettes, typography, and design elements tailored for e-learning contexts. It allows for creativity within defined boundaries, ensuring the learning content stays on-brand while still engaging and effective for learners.

Como Designer Instrucional, tenho dedicado meu tempo e esfor?o para tornar mais acessível e inclusivo o produto final. O que vem a ser um dos meus pontos fortes, atender a diversidade, acessibilidade e inclus?o. Antes de iniciar qualquer projeto, realizo uma análise das necessidades principais e do público-alvo considerando diversos fatores, como estilos de aprendizagem, entre outros. E claro, a ênfase na avalia??o contínua. E no que diz respeito ao design, o de criar interfaces intuitivas e que envolva, facilitando a absor??o do conteúdo, com princípios de design centrado no usuário. Estou buscando constantemente aprimorar minhas habilidades, estou focada em me desenvolver mais na diversidade e inclus?o, e na IA Genetariva.

I'll skip my strengths but the focus area for me in 2024 (for Instructional Design) will be to learn how the implementation of AI in general learning impacts key learner studies like Behaviourism, Constructivism and Cognitivism.

2024 will demand a blend of innovative technological approaches, motivational strategies, and a continued commitment to training. Being aware of technology trends such as AI and VR, and assessing how they can be integrated to enhance the learning experience is key.

To add to the above mentioned points, I would also like to include the target audience. Knowing your target audience helps you tailor the content to their needs, background, and level of understanding. This customization makes the course more relevant and engaging for learners. Tailoring the course to the target audience ensures that the learning objectives align with their needs and goals. This alignment increases the perceived value of the course and enhances its effectiveness.

I am surprised by the emphasis on technology in current instructional design papers and how little space is given to pedagogy. I fear that there is a race ahead in terms of technology to the detriment of thinking about pedagogy, and, above all, how to make learners better understand the concepts they struggle to master. It seems to me that it is essential that young teachers keep their distance from technology, which must remain a tool at the service of pedagogy, and that they know that simple technological solutions can be more than enough. Choose solutions that are simple and reusable, by yourself or others!

In the near future, our focus must be on researching innovative methods to promote genuine learning experiences, enabling individuals to apply their knowledge effectively throughout their journey. This involves the development of educational programs designed to create tangible and lasting impact.

As a freelance instructional designer, I believe having a niche in the market you want to serve is vital to avoid being overwhelmed. Though teachers like me are very familiar with lesson planning, creating and designing visual aids, Microsoft Suites, and Google Suites, we also need to adopt and take advantage the current technology such as ChatGPT and Articulate 360 to help our clients.