The Mad Hatter: Various Hats the ID wears

Audience Level: 
All
Institutional Level: 
Higher Ed
Abstract: 

Instructional designers wear multiple “hats” depending on their specific role. Some of these roles include: Multimedia Liaison, Consultant, Technologist, Pedagogical Expert, Client/Faculty Support, as well as increasingly delving into User Experience/Learner Experience design. This session aims at providing Instructional Designers with another skill to add to their toolbox of expertise.

Extended Abstract: 

What is an instructional designer? What exactly do we do? Are we tech support? These are some of the questions instructional designers are constantly faced with. Despite these given misconceptions of our field, instructional designers are becoming sought after professionals in both higher education and the private sector. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the Instructional Design field is expected to grow over 13% over the next 10 years. Instructional designers wear multiple “hats” depending on their specific role and organizational needs. Some of these roles include: Multimedia Liaison, Consultant, Technologist, Pedagogical Expert, Client/Faculty Support, as well as increasingly delving into User Experience/Learner Experience design.

Given some of the facts that are mentioned above, why does it sometimes feel like there is an ongoing struggle to create pedagogical buy-in within organizations?  How can we better bridge this gap? We will provide scenarios as well as possible pitches that instructional designer can make to their organizations. By providing insight on the various roles that instructional designers have to play, we hope to discuss, create, and inspire a conversation. This session aims at providing Instructional Designers with another skill to add to their toolbox of expertise.

Conference Track: 
Professional Development and Support
Session Type: 
Education Session
Intended Audience: 
Administrators
Design Thinkers
Faculty
Instructional Support
Training Professionals
Technologists