Tricia Jones, MS

I have seen so many job postings for learning/instructional designers that require content-area expertise--only learning designers with experience with this-super-specific-enterprise-software will be considered. Why isn't it more common knowledge that it's usually better if your learning designer doesn't have a lot of prior knowledge in the content area? That's what the SME is for. The SME-ID relationship depends on the SME to be the holder of the content expertise and the ID to be the holder of the learning expertise. Then we become greater than the sum of our parts. Then the magic happens.

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Here's my prediction for the future of Instructional Design! Subject Matter Expert says the content or provides the content and within minutes an Instructor Guide, Participant Book and a Slide Deck will be ready for review. The role of Instructional Designers will be to finetune the AI through example Slide Decks, Participant Guides and Instructor Guides as well create style guide instruction prompts for the AI to develop the materials as desired. Next growth area is automation of instructional design! #aiforid #instructionaldesign #genAI

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Back again with some cool books for my fellow instructional designers! 🔥 Thanks so much for your feedback — I really appreciate it! 🤗 Here's another batch of awesome reads for you to check out. And if you missed the first post with my top book recommendations, just scroll down a bit! 📙 The Accidental Instructional Designer: Learning Design for the Digital Age, by Cammy Bean This is definitely one of the greatest books for people who have decided to change their profession and become an ID quickly. Cammy will guide you through nearly every aspect of the eLearning design and share some insights from her personal experience. 📙 Michael Allen’s Guide to e-Learning: Building Interactive, Fun, and Effective Learning Programs for Any Company This book is a collection of invaluable insights from one of the key experts in the eLearning industry! Michael will take you through the 3 pillars of online learning, show you common pitfalls, give some tips, and show you the path that led him and his company to success. 📙 Learning Experience Design Essentials, by Cara North A must-read for new instructional designers, this book breaks down the key parts of creating a learning experience. It covers everything from analyzing tasks to testing usability while stressing the significance of explaining the “why” behind the learning journey. As always, share your recommendations in the comments! 🤗 #instructionaldesign #education #elearning #bookrecommendation #books #design #designbook

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Next Tuesday, I'll finally get the chance to pull back the curtain on a project that has been over a year in the making. Our new website for The eLearning Designer's Academy is a testament to what a small team of talented individuals (which I'll tell you about in a future post) are capable of creating. I went into this with a very specific vision in my mind for what I wanted...and I'm so happy to see it come to life. The power of manifestation is a real thing. But it doesn't mean you aren't required to put in the work to make what you want come to fruition. Having a clear vision is really just the first step. Our new website is really the culmination of a bunch of other hard work that had to take place first. From redefining our brand, creating a formal style guide, updating my video studio, taking new photos, creating new course content, implementing new community features, filming new videos, and so much more. So, if you've been following along with me on this journey as I've dropped hints and previews...thank you for cheering us on! 👉 And, of course, stay tuned for the new website to go live next week here: https://lnkd.in/ea7DzjN4 #eLearning #InstructionalDesign #LearningAndDevelopment

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🚀 Embracing the Hybrid: Why Being Both an Instructional Designer and an eLearning Developer Makes You Better at Both! 🎓💻 🤔 Recently, I stumbled upon a post suggesting that being both an Instructional Designer and an eLearning Developer is an impossibility, akin to trying to be a plumber and an electrician simultaneously. As someone deeply immersed in both worlds for over two decades, I couldn't disagree more. 💡 Let me tell you why I firmly believe that not only is it possible, but it's also incredibly advantageous. 🎯 First off, wearing both hats doesn't dilute expertise; it enhances it. Understanding the intricacies of instructional design informs every aspect of eLearning development, from crafting engaging scenarios to fine-tuning interactive elements. Conversely, delving into the nitty-gritty of development sharpens the designer's eye, ensuring seamless translation of concepts into captivating digital experiences. 🔄 Secondly, the synergy between instructional design and eLearning development streamlines the entire process. From Action Mapping sessions to storyboard approvals, the seamless transition between roles minimises confusion and maximises efficiency. Stakeholders can breathe easy knowing that what they see on paper will seamlessly translate into the final product. 🎨 But it's not just about efficiency—it's about unleashing creativity. I live for the 'aha' moments in Action Mapping sessions, where stakeholders grasp the potential of interactive learning. Equally thrilling is the solitary journey of bringing those ideas to life, harnessing animations and variables to create immersive experiences that resonate with learners. 📊 And let's not forget the satisfaction of seeing performance stats roll in, validating the impact of our combined efforts. 🤝 Yet, despite the undeniable benefits, I've encountered scepticism from companies seeking specialists in either instructional design or eLearning development. Over the years, I've been passed over for work in both capacities simply because of my dual expertise—a phenomenon I find baffling. In reality, this multidisciplinary background equips me to ask more informed questions, fostering deeper collaboration with subject matter experts and ensuring that every aspect of the learning experience is meticulously tailored to meet the needs of both learners and stakeholders. 🌟 I'm curious to hear from my network: What are your thoughts on this? Do you believe in the power of the hybrid role, or do you think specialisation is the key to success?

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Instructional designers operate in all sorts of corporate environments. My work currently fits in the realm of B2B SaaS customer education. What’s that, you say? Let’s clear up these terms for those interested in jumping over to technical instructional design. B2B is business to business, as opposed to B2C, or business to consumer. A random individual off the street wouldn’t necessarily use our products. Our software is intended for other businesses who use our products to manage customer experiences and billing. SaaS is software-as-a-service. Now, my company sells a range of technical products, but SaaS is a part of our offerings. SaaS offerings are solutions that are cloud-hosted and typically accessed through web browsers. How does that impact instructional design? Instructional design comes in the form of education services the sales team includes in bids and proposals. We have to stay on top of versions of the products, and how the new releases are rolled out to clients. I’ll go into more detail about this process next week, but know that technical instructional design is an exciting space to be in. #InstructionalDesign #eLearningDevelopment #CustomerEducation #TechnicalTraining Image Description: A young officer worker sits at a desk and types on her laptop

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📣 Calling all Instructional Designers 📣 Do you use these accessible technologies in your work? Many of these technologies are used cohesively and interchangeably. Here's a bit more information: Screen readers: Are you tabbing through your documents and eLearning to assess if they are being read properly? Alt text: Descriptive captions for images, giving them a voice for screen readers. Closed captions: The on-screen subtitles for videos, a must-have for deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers. Keyboard navigation: No mouse? No problem! Navigate websites and apps smoothly using just your keyboard. Voice control: Speak your commands! This feature allows hands-free interaction with devices and applications. Color contrast: Highlighting text and images with clear contrast against the background ensures readability for everyone. Font size and styles: Clear, readable fonts in appropriate sizes make information clear and legible. Don't forget these bonus considerations! Reading Order: Using those accessibility checkers to confirm information is read by screen readers in a clear and logical order. Seizure safeguards: Flashing lights or animations can be avoided to protect users susceptible to seizures. Do you use any of these accessibility enhancing technologies? Save this post for later so you can incorporate them on your design. #InclusiveDesign #AccessibilityBingo #DigitalAccessibility Want to learn more? Follow for more tips! 🌐alphabeth.me

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