The Call for Instructional Designers Continues to Grow
Interested in a career in instructional design? We’re not surprised. This booming field ticks a lot of boxes: creative outlet, increased salary for many, the chance to impact others’ learning. Plus, it’s never boring because it’s always evolving.
Boiled down, instructional design involves developing educational materials using techniques that will increase a learner’s success. You’ve probably heard a lot about instructional designers in the last few years, courtesy of the pandemic and the resulting need for more online educational programs during the national quarantine. But truthfully, instructional designers have been around for quite a while.
Enlisting Instructional Design
In the 1940s, the military recognized behaviorist B.F. Skinner’s theory that people become more motivated and learn better when they receive positive reinforcement for desired behaviors. This became especially useful during World War II, when armed forces were tasked with turning thousands of civilians into highly skilled soldiers, pilots, mechanics and the like.
Back then, instructional designers broke complex tasks down into manageable chunks that made learning easier for the masses. As soldiers finished one section of material they were rewarded with the opportunity to proceed to the next, slightly more advanced level. Mastering the entire course meant a new badge or stripe sewn onto their uniform, informing the public and their peers of their achievement.
Instructional design today includes those same basic principles, and plenty more, thanks to advancement in the field.
But today’s instructional designers aren’t teaching people how to dig fox holes or tighten a lug nut on a propeller with a socket wrench. Today’s instructional designers hitch educational theory to cutting-edge technology, resulting in courses and training programs on everything under the sun, from human resources management to natural resources management, sociology to meteorology. Students can earn virtual badges, certificates and even doctoral degrees.
Chances are that you, and most other people, have learned or will have learned something eventually via the handiwork of an instructional designer:
- 75% of U.S. schools are offering online learning this year (MarketScale)
- 98% of universities now offer classes online (Admissionsly)
- 90% of U.S. companies offer their employees e-learning opportunities (LinkedIn)
Popularity With Students
Why the continued popularity of online learning? Why didn’t it die off once the pandemic ended? There are many reasons. Students like the flexibility of online courses. They can take them anywhere and usually at any time. Many feel they retain the information even better because they can learn at their own pace. Corporations and businesses find them much more cost effective, a benefit for their bottom line.
So with all of this popularity, who’s going to create all of these programs? Instructional designers are needed in public and private schools, on college and university campuses, in large and small businesses and even in government.
The field is growing exponentially and so is the demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates at least 20,000 job openings for instructional designers will be available within the next decade.
Preparing for a Career in the Field
Who makes a good candidate? People choose instructional design careers for numerous reasons. Some have educational backgrounds as teachers. Others have technical skills. Neither is a prerequisite, though. The best candidates are those who begin their own education by enrolling in an instructional design program. Get started today!
Charlotte Online offers several pathways for those interested in careers in instructional design:
Instructional Design Professional Certificate
Learning and Development Professional Certificate
Learning, Design and Technology Graduate Certificate
Learning, Design and Technology M.Ed
Learning, Design and Technology Ed.D