Making the shift from a teaching role to a career in instructional design can appear very challenging at first glance. However, teachers bring a wealth of skills and experiences that are invaluable for a position in instructional design, particularly within higher education. This blog post will attempt to clarify this transition process, emphasizing how to capitalize on your teaching expertise to forge a successful career in instructional design.
Understanding Instructional Design
Instructional design is the art of creating educational programs and materials that facilitate effective learning. In the context of higher education, this often entails developing engaging, efficient, and accessible online courses, workshops, and other educational resources for a diverse set of adult learners.
Core Skills Teachers Already Possess
Teachers excel in crafting learning experiences, evaluating student understanding, and tailoring content to meet varied needs. Here are some of the competencies are directly transferable to instructional design:
Curriculum Development: Teachers are proficient in organizing learning objectives, crafting lesson plans, creating grading rubrics, and generating content that adheres to educational standards. This expertise is invaluable in instructional design, where course objectives must be explicitly defined and aligned with desired outcomes.
Understanding of Pedagogy: Teachers have a deep understanding of how students learn, which is crucial in designing effective learning experiences. This knowledge can guide the selection of instructional strategies and technologies in higher education settings. Teachers making the transition from K12 to higher education will need to do some research on theories of andragogy or adult learning to bridge this minor gap.
Assessment Design: With experience in developing and administering assessments, teachers can leverage this skill to design pre-assessments, formative assessments, and summative evaluations for online courses.
Adaptability and Problem-Solving: Accustomed to adjusting lessons spontaneously and resolving challenges creatively, teachers are well-suited to the flexibility required in instructional design. This involves tailoring solutions to specific learner needs or technological constraints.
Translating Skills into Instructional Design Competencies
To pivot successfully from teaching to instructional design, it's important to consider how your teaching skills translate into the competencies in this new field.
As an instructional designer, you will be able to draw upon your experience in assessing student performance to analyze learner needs and the effectiveness of courses in instructional design. This involves examining course analytics, gathering learner feedback, and evaluating success rates to guide continuous improvement. This is a task that most teachers are very familiar with and a skill that lends itself very well to an instructional design role.
While teaching may not demand extensive technical skills, instructional design frequently involves using learning management systems (LMS), authoring tools, and multimedia software. Embrace your comfort with educational technologies and dedicate yourself to mastering new tools prevalent in instructional design. Some higher education institutions will also use a variety of other technology tools that may require some on-the-job training. But that will be on an individual basis. The majority of instructional design project in higher education utilize only the LMS and common office applications.
Managing classrooms and lesson planning parallels managing instructional design projects. Skills in organization, scheduling, and coordinating resources are critical for overseeing course development projects from inception to launch. Teachers are also used to planning for future needs including creating substitute lesson plans and are fairly skilled in many different types of planning and project management.
Similar to how teaching involves collaboration with colleagues, parents, and students, instructional design requires working alongside subject matter experts (SMEs), faculty, and other designers. Your capability to communicate effectively and collaborate as part of a team is a significant advantage. In higher education, collaborating with SMEs is a common and regular activity. Being able to develop cordial working relationships with faculty SMEs is an essential skill for new instructional designers to nurture.
Building Your Instructional Design Portfolio
Making the transition to instructional design also means presenting your capabilities in a new context. A digital portfolio has become an expectation rather than an option. All applications for an instructional design position in any sector should include a link to a digital portfolio. Your digital portfolio should include the following assets:
Sample Learning Modules: Utilize your expertise to design several short learning modules. Simulate a common online course environment. You might want to consider creating a short 3–4-unit course that incorporates several interactive activities, assessments, and multimedia content.
Design Documents: Showcase at least one design document that details your instructional strategy, such as a detailed course outline, video content scripts, and the rationale behind your design choices. Design documents should also provide design standards for an instructional design project such as choices in font style, colors, and graphic elements.
Feedback and Reflections: Demonstrate your iterative process and ability to improve by including feedback from peers or mentors, along with your reflections on what was successful and what could be enhanced. After creating your initial project, have a trusted colleague review your work to provide suggestions for improvement. Then, based on their feedback, make edits to your project and document this process as a way to reflect on the design experience.
Embracing the Transition
Moving from teaching to instructional design isn't about leaving behind your teaching skills but building upon them. By recognizing the value of your existing skills, learning new technologies, and actively seeking opportunities to apply your knowledge in instructional design, you can navigate a smooth and successful transition into this fulfilling field.
Remember, the gap between teaching and instructional design is narrower than it might seem. With your foundational education background, passion for learning, and dedication to professional growth, you're well-prepared to bridge that gap and excel as an instructional designer in higher education.