Sai C.

Storyboarding is one of the most in demand skills for any Instructional Design job. But why do you think it is integral to the design process? Let me break down storyboarding for you: ~ If a Learning Solution is a building, a storyboard is its foundation. ~ A storyboard is a prototype of what your training is going to look like. If you know about Design thinking, you would know what I mean. You begin with a storyboard and then go to and fro with your stakeholders to develop the final learning solution. ~ This ensures minimal rework at the final stages. ~ Your stakeholders are aware and at par with your development at all times. ~ Storyboarding also opens space for brainstorming, creativity, and collaboration. Remember: A storyboard doesn’t have to look like your final solution ~ you may want to finalise your content as well as it’s presentation with the SME before you develop the whole course. It can be a mind map or a rough presentation. I always always rely on my storyboards to bring my stakeholders on the same page~ such that we end up negotiating best learning solutions. Hit like if storyboards are your go too as well! Comment if you would like to take this conversation forward with me! :) #InstructionalDesigning #Storyboarding #EssentialSkills #LearningAndDevelopment #Addie #DesignThinking #LearningSolutions #Storyline #Articulate #Training

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Writing is one of those critical skills for instructional designers and LXDs. Even if you use ChatGPT, you need to know how to write well (partly so you can recognize the problems in AI writing and fix them!). However, I've noticed that a lot of IDs don't get much, if any, formal training in writing effectively. Even in graduate programs for IDs, this isn't a skill that tends to get as much explicit, dedicated focus in coursework. Kayleen Holt is offering a solution for that gap in so much instructional design training. Her new course, Smart Writing for Sticky Learning, gives participants hands-on practice and personalized feedback with the types of writing we do as instructional designers. The course starts 6/26, so register now if you want to level up your writing skills. Check out the post below for more details. Save $50 with coupon code iLXD50off. (No affiliate link here, but I've worked with Kayleen and know the quality of her work.)

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As instructional designers, we are a curious bunch who are continually learning and growing. This month, something I’m working on is agile project management. Agile project management looks different than projects that are predictive and fully planned out in advance for one big release. Agile focuses on iterative review and delivery so we continuously provide value. I've been managing the development of an internal digital product at CSG, and using what I've learned about agile project management along the way. Azure DevOps makes our features and stories visible as we work in iterations. Regular demos and creating content in batches are also part of our process. David McLachlan's project management videos have been the best resource for this, and they are free on YouTube! How about you…learning anything new? #TransitioningTeachers #CareerDevelopment #ProfessionalDevelopment #ProjectManagement #InstructionalDesign Image Description: A photo of a woman reading a book on an outdoor staircase, next to text that says “What I Learned This Month”

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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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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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Ready to leap into instructional design and wondering how to land your first job? Breaking into a new industry is scary, and trying to land that first job can feel exciting yet daunting. Whether you're shifting from a teaching position, transitioning from another field, or fresh out of school, the path to becoming an instructional designer is filled with opportunities to learn and grow. However, getting your foot in the door requires more than just the desire to succeed. It demands strategic planning and proactive steps. You'll need to understand the industry's standards, familiarize yourself with the tools of the trade, and connect with the right people who can guide and influence your journey. From crafting a compelling resume that highlights your relevant skills and building a portfolio that showcases your best work to networking both online and offline with professionals in the field, there's a lot that goes into landing that first job. But I'm here to tell you it can be done. Embrace the challenge with a positive mindset, and remember, every instructional designer started somewhere. With determination and the right approach, you'll not only secure your first job but also set the foundation for a rewarding career. Don't let the process intimidate you. I've mapped out a practical path that demystifies the essentials and prepares to break into the field of instructional design. I'll drop the link in the comments to my full guide for landing your first ID job 👇 #instructionaldesign #instructionaldesigner #elearning #jobs

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🚀 Rive has the potential to lift interactions in eLearning to a new level, but where do you start with learning how to use it? For those of you who don’t know, Rive is a design and animation tool for creating interactive assets. Let's see whats next: 🎯 1. Get Rive. Don’t worry; the first three animations are on the house. You can find it easily with a Google search. 🎓 2. Time to learn I taught myself to a certain point with the Rive 101 video playlist on their YouTube channel. (Full disclosure: I had some animation experience with After Effects, so some concepts were a bit easier for me to take in. Most beginners should be able to work through it). This gave me a baseline of skills, but I wanted to dive deeper and felt a structured course would benefit me, which is where Motion Design School comes in. Ive been trying out the first lesson of their Rive course today (for free, no less! Just create an account, I'll pop the link in the comments), and Ive learned loads more already. Check out the video attached to this post. 🎨 3. Get your creations into your eLearning There’s a few ways to do that, but Ive been using Kwantic.co to build courses with my Rive animations (check out my other posts to see one in action!) You can just drop your Rive files straight in there as an interaction, no coding is needed to make them work! (Kwantic also has 3 free projects and some cool AI tools, so give it a go!) If you have any questions about Rive let me know, or if you have ideas about how you could use this yourself, leave it in the comments! #instructionaldesign #learninganddevelopment #elearning #digitallearning

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Hey Instructional Designers and aspiring IDs! 👋 I was randomly browsing and came across this insightful article on the importance of user feedback in Learning Experiences. Thought I'd share some key takeaways: 🔍 Identify Learning Gaps: Real-time feedback addresses gaps immediately. 🚀 Boost Engagement: Feedback keeps learners motivated and involved. 🧠 Enhance Retention: Immediate insights make knowledge stickier. 💡 Refine Content: Continuous feedback loops help tailor courses to meet learner needs effectively. Let’s harness the power of feedback to design courses that truly make a difference! #InstructionalDesign #UserFeedback #EffectiveLearning #ContinuousImprovement 👉 Read more

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Creating an effective portfolio that generates leads and helps you get job interviews can seem like a big task, but trust me guys — it isn't rocket science if you follow the right guidance. 😉 Join Holly Owens for today's iSpring webinar to learn how to create an ID portfolio that will shine bright and help you easily find a corporate full-time job or dream freelance projects! 📅 When: Thursday, May 23rd, at 11:00 AM EDT Learn how to: ✅ Create a unique brand and convey it through your portfolio ✅ Use critical elements that contribute to an effective portfolio ✅ Enhance it with interactivity or better audience engagement ✅ Explore the portfolio hosting and sharing option and ensure its compatibility across devices As usual, attending is absolutely free but seats are limited! Hurry and reserve yours:

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🔍 As we embrace GenAI tools like Runway, Luma, Haiper or Sora in Learning & Development (L&D), there's an underlying concern about the future of eLearning and instructional design. While video has been a dominant learning modality for years, the rise of AI-driven video generation poses significant challenges. These tools promise to streamline content development, but at what cost? The unique touch and expertise of instructional designers risk being overshadowed by automated processes. There's a growing fear that AI could lead to a homogenization of content, potentially compromising the depth and quality that human designers bring to the table (at least the good ones). As we navigate this shift, it's crucial to consider how we can balance AI efficiency with the irreplaceable value of human creativity and insight. #LearningAndDevelopment #GenAI #eLearning #InstructionalDesign #FutureOfWork #EdTech https://lnkd.in/dTkjkHU5

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Feeling unsure about your skills as a new or aspiring instructional designer? You're not alone! It's totally normal to question your abilities when stepping into a new field. Remember, even the most experienced professionals once stood exactly where you are right now. And even industry vets still have those moments where we question ourselves. My advice? Trust in the training you've undergone and the knowledge you've built. These are solid foundations to build upon. And guess what? You're probably doing better than you think! Employers aren't looking for perfection, they're looking for potential and a willingness to learn. Keep pushing forward, keep absorbing new knowledge, and stay open to growth. Every ID expert you look up to had to start somewhere, and they likely had the same doubts you do now. We're all a work in progress. Your contribution is valuable. You don't need to know everything to make a significant impact. What matters is your approach and your dedication to improving with each project. ----------------------------------------------- I'm Scott Winstead, a dedicated eLearning professional who helps instructional designers sharpen their skills and secure their ideal roles. Looking to kickstart or advance your career in instructional design? Download my free guide to landing your first instructional design job here: https://lnkd.in/gm5brKiN

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Are you looking to elevate your professional training materials from basic ideas to comprehensive, engaging courses? As an experienced Instructional Designer, I specialize in bringing your visions to life. Whether you're starting with detailed briefs, rough content, or just a spark of an idea, I'm here to guide your project from inception to completion. Leveraging tools like Articulate Storyline, PowerPoint, Canva, and Photoshop, I craft interactive and impactful online training courses tailored to the needs of today's professionals. My approach ensures that your training not only educates but also engages and inspires. Let’s turn your concept into a career-building course that resonates and motivates. Send me a message to see how we can elevate your content together! #elearningdeveloper #InstructionalDesign #LearningAndDevelopment #eLearningDevelopment #InnovationInEducation #InstructionalDesigner #Articulate360

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Last week, I was helping a teammate with an accessibility question. I realized some of you might have the same issue, so here's a step by step video on crafting Keyboard Accessible Accordion Interactions. 🚀 Let's make your Storyline projects more interactive and inclusive! #Accessibility #eLearning #ArticulateStoryline Articulate

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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 something I truly believe -- the best instructional designers are also great marketers. As an instructional designer, you're not just creating learning experiences, you're also marketing them. Why? Because motivation is key to learning, and it's important to get buy-in from your learners (not to mention from your stakeholders in the project). Especially in corporate settings, where the enthusiasm for mandatory training is often lacking, the role of an instructional designer often mirrors that of a marketer. Your ability to market the training effectively becomes as important as the design itself. You're tasked with selling an idea internally, ensuring that your courses are not only educational but also appealing. This overlap between instructional design and marketing offers a unique advantage. By adopting marketing techniques, such as understanding audience needs, crafting compelling messages, and engaging users through storytelling and persuasive design, you can enhance the effectiveness of your eLearning courses. Effective instructional design requires a blend of creativity, pedagogy, and marketing savvy to truly engage and motivate learners. So, if you're stepping into instructional design, think of yourself as part marketer. It's about making learners see the value and relevance of the content, much like consumers deciding to buy a product. -------------------------------------- 📘 Looking to advance your career in instructional design? I'm Scott Winstead, an eLearning pro dedicated to helping instructional designers sharpen their skills and land their dream jobs. Don’t miss out on my free guide to landing your first ID job: https://lnkd.in/gm5brKiN

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Working as a technical instructional designer in customer education has some unique challenges. IDs in talent development or internal enablement may not engage in some of the following tasks: 🖥 Sales Process: We are included when the sales team drafts bids. Clear communication is key as we need to understand the exact solution for the client, as that might impact the learning experience they require. 🖥 Training Estimates and Proposals: Based on the solution for a potential client, we put together a training estimate and proposal that includes learning pathways, cost of goods sold, and course descriptions. 🖥 Customized Learning Solutions: Some clients buy a customized version of our software instead of out-of-the-box software, in which case training will look different as well. We may need to create a customized learning solution where we swap out screenshots to show the client’s interface, as well as use cases relevant to their workplace. 🖥 Product training roadmaps: Customer education teams work closely with the product teams to make sure we are aware of upcoming customer deliveries, releases, and new functionality. Our work should always be proactive, and it is up to us to build a roadmap of education needs, and the impact of business plans to our approach. 🖥 Training versions: Each course, vILT or on-demand, supports a unique version of the software. For each version that is released, we need to update training. This support cycle should be maintained over time. Jumping industries can fundamentally alter the nature of your job as an instructional designer. These last few posts of mine highlight some of the nuances of ID work in tech. #InstructionalDesign #eLearningDevelopment #CustomerEducation #TechnicalTraining Image Description: A group of tech workers gather around a table, and an Asian woman leads the conversation PS: Check out my Gumroad shop linked at the blog below for budget-friendly career transition resources!

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I talk a lot on here about the different qualities it takes to be a good instructional designer, but while there's a lot that goes into it, what it all boils down to is this -- Can you create learning experiences that truly resonate and achieve results? What's the point of knowing all the ins and outs of instructional design if the content you produce doesn't engage or educate effectively? Okay, cool you know all the theories and how to use the popular tools, but if you're not creating content that learners can connect with and apply, then what are we really doing? Ultimately, it's not just about the ability to use sophisticated software or follow the latest trends in eLearning. It's about understanding your audience deeply — what challenges them, what engages them, and what helps them retain information. The real skill of an instructional designer lies in weaving these insights into every aspect of the course design, from the overarching structure to the minutiae of interactive elements. Each decision should contribute to a cohesive and effective learning journey that not only informs but also inspires. So, whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your craft, remember that at the heart of instructional design is the ability to develop content that isn't just informative, but transformative. ------------------------------ I'm Scott Winstead, a dedicated eLearning professional who helps instructional designers sharpen their skills and secure their ideal roles. Looking to kickstart or advance your career in instructional design? Download my free guide to landing your first instructional design job here: https://lnkd.in/gm5brKiN

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Want to know one of the biggest problems new instructional designers have? It's overthinking... As new instructional designers, it’s natural to second-guess every little decision in your projects. But here’s something I’ve learned -- not every detail requires endless deliberation. The eagerness to perfect every element can lead to analysis paralysis. Remember, while attention to detail is crucial, excessive overthinking can stall your projects and hinder your growth. Trust in your training and instincts. They're your most powerful tools. Often, your first instinctual solution to a learning challenge is more aligned with your learner's needs than you might think after hours of second-guessing. So, how do you strike the balance between diligence and overthinking? 1. Set clear goals: Start with the end in mind. What do you want learners to achieve? 2. Simplify: Don’t clutter your design with unnecessary complexity. Focus on what’s essential. 3. Feedback: Regularly consult with peers or mentors. Fresh perspectives can confirm your instincts or offer new insights without overcomplicating things. Remember, the goal is to create effective and engaging learning experiences, not to get bogged down by every minor detail. ------------------------------------------------ I'm Scott Winstead, a seasoned eLearning professional dedicated to helping instructional designers develop their skills and confidently step into their roles. For those new to the field or looking to sharpen their instincts, check out my free cheat sheet to landing your first instructional design job. Get your copy now: https://lnkd.in/gm5brKiN

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Including marginalized communities in product development enhances creative access and innovation. By centering their unique stories and needs, we build more inclusive and representative products. This article provides a framework for meaningful co-creation partnerships. #InclusiveDesign #CoCreation #ProductInnovation #communitybuilding

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