What do you do if you're torn between pursuing a career in instructional design or educational technology?

Instructional Design and Educational Technology are both vital in education but focus on different aspects. Instructional Design involves creating effective educational programs and materials by applying learning theories, developing curricula, and designing assessments. It is perfect for those who enjoy the pedagogical side of teaching. Educational Technology centers on integrating and managing tech tools in education, including selecting solutions, training users, and evaluating their impact. If one is passionate about role of technology in education, Educational Technology might be the right choice. Both fields offer unique opportunities to enhance learning and innovation.

Given my background and strengths, I believe instructional design is the better fit for me. I enjoy creating content and designing activities that help people learn. My experience in the hospitality industry is especially relevant. However, as a professional in learning and development, it's important to be well-rounded. I plan to continue exploring both instructional design and educational technology. I see how educational technology can benefit my work, especially through online training. People who choose a career in educational technology can also benefit greatly by understanding adult learning theory. This knowledge can help them create effective learning experiences."

Reflect on your own skills- for Instructional Design, are you an organized and cohesive communicator? Can you synthesize or expand ideas for different audiences with a variety of learning styles? Can you capture attention and make connections to the real world and why this content impacts the learner? For EdTech, you will be focusing on a product or service, and should be detailed, knowledgable, and convincing. You should be able to walk through a demo and understand the intricacies of usability and technology best practices, while expanding and offering solutions for pain points that the edtech will solve.

It is okay to desire to have competency in bothareqs. In the instance of choosing Between the two roles quality of work comes into consideration. Look at the time requirement, contract length, team dynamics and employee descriptions of their leaders

Instructional design and educational technology are complementary in modern learning. Designers create engaging content aligned with organizational goals, using frameworks like ADDIE and Bloom's Taxonomy. Technologists transform designs into interactive digital experiences. Collaboration between these roles is crucial for effective learning programs. Designers should be curious, involve stakeholders, and create clear storyboards, while technologists bring these to life with interactive elements. Together, they create engaging and impactful learning experiences that drive success in today's evolving educational landscape. This synergy produces programs that are engaging and effective, shaping the future of instructional content.

I would encourage you to add both of these roles to your toolbox as a generalist. Both of these roles are in an industry that is currently being disrupted by AI. Your ability to merge technology with the more typical instructional design work will be vital to your success and will be a prominent feature of your job. I would also suggest considering a third option as a learning experience designer. While you will continue to use both instructional design and experience design, it is important to note that experience design is less likley to be replaced by AI – only enhanced.

Within the field of instructional design- it's important to look carefully at job descriptions. As an instructional designer for one company you may design learning experiences but then ultimately pass your plans off to someone else to develop. You may be asked to build one-course trainings or large scale training curriculums. You may work largely independently or very interdependently. Some ID roles also require you to manage the organization's learning management system which is much more of a educational technology-related aspect of the job. In summary- read the job description because any given organization may utilize a "standard" role quite uniquely to meet their needs.

Both of these fields will likely require you to do some amount of upskilling- but the amount needed will derive from your current level of experience. Consider crafting a resume that details your experiences for each type of role and see where you have more strengths. Compare your skills with the skills listed on job descriptions for each role. This can help you identify where your skill gaps are so that you can then research to see the amount of time and money it might take you to address those gaps and realistic become competitive within that field.

When facing this crossroads, considering your educational background can help guide your decision: 1) Assess Your Foundation: If your education leans heavily toward pedagogy and curriculum development, instructional design may be a natural fit. If you have a tech-centric education, EdTech could be your calling. 2) Expand Knowledge: Take online courses or certifications in both fields to gain a deeper understanding of the skills required. This can clarify which path aligns better with your expertise. 3) Blend Both Disciplines: If your education spans both areas, consider roles that integrate instructional design with EdTech, offering a unique combination of skills to employers.

When deciding between these two fields, gaining practical experience can provide valuable clarity: 1) Try Both Fields: Seek internships, freelance gigs, or volunteer opportunities in both instructional design and educational technology to get hands-on exposure. Experience will give you a real sense of each career. 2) Shadow Professionals: Spend time with experts in both roles to understand the day-to-day challenges and opportunities. Observing their workflow can help you determine which resonates more with your interests and skills. 3) Short-Term Projects: Take on short-term projects related to both fields, like designing a course or helping implement an EdTech tool, to see where your strengths and passions align.

Consider if there are any volunteer or paid opportunities within your current role that might help you gain some insight into these two fields. For example, when I taught public school before transitioning into corporate instructional design, during the summer I often worked for the division to develop curriculum and build training experiences for the teachers that needed to learn how to implement what we developed. You can also consider approaching a local non-profit organization to offer your services to help them modernize or expand their educational resource offerings- either building learning for them or helping them manage their online learning content.

Networking is a fantastic way to make connections with IDs and ETs to better understand the differences in career paths. Networking also helps to better understand the industry and what types of roles and opportunities are out there. Having a background as an instructional designer for a decade and moving forward into an educational technologist role, I can assure anyone pursuing these paths that networking leads to opportunities both paid and volunteer; both remote and on-site; both senior and entry-level. Cast your net and move forward unafraid to send messages to people, chat about the industry, go to the in-person event, write an article, join a group, and get involved. :O)