Quest for the Golden Unicorn: What Instructional Designers Really Aim to Do in the Workplace

Audience Level: 
All
Session Time Slot(s): 
Institutional Level: 
Higher Ed
Special Session: 
Research
Abstract: 

Is the grass greener working elsewhere? Or is your work environment the golden unicorn everyone desires? Come learn about the competencies instructional designers expressed are needed in the field, those they are actually using in the workplace, and ways instructional designers would prefer filling their capacity in the workplace. 

Extended Abstract: 

Instructional designers (IDs) are an integral component of online learning operations. Yet employers do not seem to agree on what an ID actually does from workplace to workplace - and neither do IDs! Likewise, IDs' workloads and aspirations of their roles often do not sync up. The authors will present findings from a study of 104 ID respondents informed by a literature review of ID competencies. Based on the literature, the authors created a survey that asked, "How do instructional designers view the profession of instructional design?"

The results of the study imply that there were seven constructs ranked as most important from among the 20 competencies presented in the study. These are: Program Evaluation, Theory, Top Down Leadership, Bottom Up Leadership, Faculty Problems, Course Design/Editing, Technology/Media. The highest ranked competencies from the survey were collaboration and design. The presenters will explore the findings and implications of the findings in more detail. 

Based upon the data from this study, you will learn how your daily workload stacks up against that of your peers, and walk away with a concrete list of core competencies and tasks you can adopt in your current role. 

In this presentation, you will:

  • Explore how instructional designers view the profession of instructional design.
  • Review the identified competencies that were rated as most important by respondents.
  • Discover the identified competencies (consulting, designing, content creation, collaboration, training, etc) that IDs regularly use on the job.
  • Discuss ways in which IDs are actually spending their time in the workplace.

The authors will present similar questions posed in the survey to compare audience perception against actual findings. You will engage in discussions throughout the presentation.

Notes: 

track change by rec of chairs

Position: 
2
Conference Session: 
Concurrent Session 6
Conference Track: 
Leadership and Change Management
Session Type: 
Emerging Ideas Session
Intended Audience: 
Administrators
Design Thinkers
Faculty
Instructional Support
Students
Training Professionals
Technologists
All Attendees
Researchers