Should You Become an Instructional Designer?

Do you have a passion for learning and helping others learn?  If so, a career in instructional design might be right for you.

Do you have a passion for learning and helping others learn?  If so, a career in instructional design might be right for you.

Instructional design is all about creating educational materials to help people learn, whether that's designing course content or making instructional videos.

If you have strong communication skills, enjoy working with people, and are creative, this could be a great career choice.

Why consider a career in Instructional Design?

There's never been a better time to get started with an instructional design career. In fact, this is the perfect moment to start; there's a growing interest in this field, with exciting opportunities across education and other industries.

With more people learning online, the industry outlook on Instructional Designers is very positive, with demand expected to grow in the coming years. So, if you enjoy working with technology or people, this could be the perfect career path for you.

What does an Instructional Designer do?

Instructional Designers are responsible for how people learn.

They do this by planning, creating, and managing educational content. This includes designing courses, training materials, and learning processes.

As an Instructional Designer, you'll use various methods and technologies to develop learning materials and processes which help people learn effectively. You may also work with experts in other fields – such as Subject Matter Experts - to ensure your content is up-to-date and meets educational goals.

Another part of the job is reviewing existing materials and finding ways to improve them; enhancing procedures and materials to ensure educational goals are met is a crucial part of the job.

Instructional Designers can work across a wide range of businesses in both the public and private sector, including:

• As part of a Learning & Development team
• Individuals delivering workforce training, e.g. Health & Safety
• Further Education
• Higher Education
• Private training providers

Many Instructional Designers work with bigger companies in Learning and Development roles, delivering internal training.

What skills and knowledge do instructional designers need?

Instructional Designers need a good mix of skills and must be knowledgeable in disciplines like learning theory, graphic design, user experience and interface (UX/UI) design, and cognitive theory.

Learning designers use many tools and systems in their roles, so it’s important for them to have a working knowledge of current educational technologies.

Key skills for instructional designers include:

• Project management
• Communication
• Collaboration
• Research
• Teaching skills
• Visual design
• Creativity

How to become an Instructional Designer

Becoming an instructional designer doesn't require a strict career path. You can enter the field with various backgrounds, but you will need certain skills and knowledge.

To get started, we recommend these steps:

• Gain hands-on experience through internships, fellowships, or volunteer opportunities.
• Complete a degree in instructional design, instructional technology, educational psychology, or a related field.
• Get certified with an approved organisation, like the Level 5 Professional Diploma in Digital Learning Design from MOL Learn (an approved partner of the Digital Learning Institute).
• Build an online portfolio to showcase your Instructional Design projects to potential employers.

Next steps

After you've gained some experience and qualifications, start applying for jobs in education or training-related fields, such as corporate Learning & Development, academic instruction, or e-learning.

Finding an experienced mentor in your field can also help you advance your skills and knowledge.

Keep learning and improving by attending educational conferences, workshops, seminars, or webinars on instructional design topics and trends.

Job outlook and salary

With the rise of eLearning, Instructional Designers are in high demand. The pandemic increased the need for designers who specialise in digital learning, and this trend is expected to continue. In the UK, Instructional Designer salaries can range from £28,000 to £55,000, depending on location and experience.

If you’re looking for a career that’s rewarding and intellectually stimulating, Instructional Design may be for you. You’ll have the opportunity to use your creative and analytical skills to help others learn, grow, and achieve their goals

With excellent job prospects and competitive salaries, this is an exciting and promising career path to consider.

To learn more about becoming an Instructional Designer, contact us and get enrolled in the Professional Diploma in Learning Design with MOL today!