Image retrieved from: https://www.instructionaldesign.org/

Online instructors have to write curriculum, upload curriculum, help navigate student inquiries and ensure the platform is user friendly. Because of the amount of work the instructor has to do, it is easy to forget (or even dismiss) the instructional designers that were their from the ground floor. To understand the importance of instructional design, I feel we need to look more at the competencies created by the designers to ensure both the instructor and learner can navigate a user friendly platform. I felt quite ignorant when reading though “Instructional Designer Competencies”, as being an instructor, I had not considered the beginning stages of the design process. Instructional designers are not only used to manage, analyze and consult on a project, but they also research, write, develop, evaluate/assess and put everything together to create an online, cohesive program.

While working through assignment A with my partners, I see the amount of work that goes towards adding a specific component, which gives me a new appreciation for instructional designers as they create an entire program from scratch. Because technology is in a constant state of growth and evolution, so should be the designers learning and thought process. Reading this article made me want to explore and understand the world of instructional design a little more, which was a confusing and interesting rabbit hole. There are so many layers when it comes to instructional design and I for one had no idea why I am so detached from the initial design phase or the designers as an online instructor? “An instructional design model is a tool, a framework to develop instructional materials. It helps instructional designers provide a structure and meaning to the learning material. It allows them visualize the training need and break down the process of designing training material into steps” (Instructional Design Model, 2019).

I know that when I return to work in July, I will be requesting to work more closely with the designers, as I have been quite detached from the building processes. I feel it would be a great thing to work hand in hand with the deigners, as we both have different perspectives from working within a course and can bring new and interesting ideas to the table. From what I am taking away from my readings, the entire instructional design process works well as a collaboration and there are so many ideas and competencies that are underutilized. Being able to assist in the development of a course with OER-based e-Learning is critical to an instructor, as it would help enable not only their success, but the success of the student.

References:

Instructional Designer Competencies. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://ibstpi.org/instructional-design-competencies/.

Instructional Design Model – What is it & Why Use it? (2019, January 28). Retrieved from https://blog.commlabindia.com/elearning-design/what-is-instructional-design-model.

Karunanayaka, S. P. & Naidu, S. (2015). From OER to OEP: Shifting practitioner perspectives and practices with innovative learning experience design. Open Praxis, 7(4), 339–350. doi: 10.5944/openpraxis.7.4.252