When thinking about instructional design and education technology, you may think it is a brand-new field full of young, recent graduates just starting out in their careers. It may surprise you to note that the field of instructional design actually dates back to World War II when large numbers of soldiers needed to be trained quickly before being deployed. Instructional design has come a long way since then, adapting and advancing alongside trends in technology and pedagogy.
(Read: What Are Educational Technology and Instructional Design?)
Not only is the field itself well established, but IDs themselves are often seasoned professionals. In today’s EdTech world, the average age for instructional designers is actually around 43 years old. In fact, many IDs have joined the field as a second career, moving from careers in education, art, or even administration.
Instructional designers can work in many different industries, including education, healthcare, business, government, and the military. They can also work as independent freelancers.
Where Can IDs Work?
Here are some places where instructional designers work:
- Educational institutions: Instructional designers can work in educational institutions from daycare to doctoral programs. They leverage online course design to help instructors create quality, engaging curricula for students.
- Healthcare: Instructional designers can work in healthcare organizations to analyze and implement training needs. They use ID methodologies to ensure the training aligns with the organizational goals and objectives.
- Businesses: Instructional designers can work for companies that provide training programs, such as in healthcare, finance, and manufacturing. They can create learning resources for employees and those the company serves.
- Government agencies: Instructional designers can work for government agencies, creating training materials and programs for a wide variety of government sectors.
- eLearning / EdTech companies: Instructional designers can work in the eLearning and Educational Technology industry, which provides educational courses and training programs virtually for students of all ages.
- EdTech Software Developers: Instructional designers can work for companies that design and develop educational software that is used in the classroom to improve learning experiences for students.
- AI Companies: Instructional designers are at the cutting edge of AI, with an understanding of its limitations and possibilities. Instructional designers can work at AI corporations to help design, train, and leverage AI in the classroom and beyond.
- As independent freelancers: Instructional designers can be their own company and help others with instructional design work.
Flexibility
Because of the wide range of jobs available to instructional designers, IDs also have the opportunity to easily change industries without changing professions. Your years of experience within the field can seamlessly transfer to a new sector. For example, an ID may start out working in a university to help create online courses but then later move on to a large corporate law firm to help with employee training. This allows for career flexibility and a wide variety of employment options.
Next Steps
You can take the next steps in your career with LAPU’s Masters of Science in Instructional Design and Technology (MSIDT). A huge advantage of LAPU’s Master’s degree program is that it is not just an education degree with an emphasis on Instructional Design, but rather, it is a program dedicated to the specific skills you need to succeed. We are also specially designed for working adults, so we understand your unique learning needs. Ready to apply? We can’t wait to share in your journey.
Advancing Your Career with a Masters in Instructional Design
Whether you are looking to pursue a career in instructional design or want to advance in your current ID career, earning a Master’s degree is a great way to advance your skills and make yourself more competitive in the job market. A Master’s degree in Instructional Design and Technology can significantly boost your career prospects. Many programs do not even require you to have specific experience or educational focus to begin the program, with any Bachelor’s degree offering a starting point.
How Can an MSIDT Degree Help Me?
Here are some reasons why a Master’s in Instructional Design & Technology can move your career forward:
1. An MSIDT will help you build a Strong Portfolio:
- Showcase your work: Regardless of your level of experience, prospective employers want to see what you can do. In an Instructional Design Masters program, you will create a portfolio of your instructional design projects, highlighting your skills in curriculum development, learning objectives, assessments, and instructional strategies.
- Use tools: A Masters in Instructional Design Program will also teach you the most cutting-edge tools of online course design. In a Learning Design Master’s program, you will utilize e-learning authoring tools to create interactive and engaging learning experiences. More importantly, you will learn how to navigate e-learning authoring tools so that as these tools inevitably change and are replaced by new tools, you will always be able to stay up to date.
2. During your Program, be sure to Network and Build Relationships:
- Join professional organizations: During your MSIDT program, you should become a member of organizations like the Association for Talent Development (ATD) or the Instructional Designers in Higher Education (IDHE).
- Attend conferences and workshops: As you begin mastering instructional design, you should begin participating in industry events that will help you connect with professionals, learn about trends, and expand your network.
- Leverage social media: Be sure to use platforms like LinkedIn to connect with professionals in your field and share your work.
3. Build your Instructional Design Resume:
- Enhance your credentials: An MS in Instructional Design will help you stand out to prospective employers. Increasingly, employers not only desire but expect their instructional designers to have an advanced degree in the field. Sometimes, employers allow you to count your advanced degree in lieu of years of experience.
- Demonstrate expertise: Your Master’s in Instructional Design will validate your skills and knowledge in the field.
4. Stay Updated on Instructional Design Industry Trends:
- Continuously learn: An MSIDT will help you keep up with the latest advancements in instructional design, technology, online course design, and learning theories.
- Attend webinars and read industry publications: Our instructors will also help you stay informed about emerging trends and best practices.
Conclusion
If you are interested in pursuing a career in Instructional Design or want to advance your ID career, we encourage you to learn more about what our MSIDT program can offer you. And yes, you can qualify with a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline or field, so apply now! We are so excited to welcome you aboard!
