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    Hand-picked Resources to Help You Become an Instructional Designer


    With the coming of the Internet, gathering information on almost everything under the sun has become easier than ever before. Just type a few words and Google will throw up tons of information. For instance, there seems to be as many web pages on instructional designing strategies and Photoshop tutorials as there are eLearning designers.

    But there's a catch. You still have to click open the websites, scroll through them, and read up pages of text to fish out information that is relevant to your needs. It is easy to get lost in the minefield of information that the Internet is. What is scarier is that not all websites house authentic information. So how can you find what you are searching for quickly and easily? How do you make sure that you learn instructional designing theories and skills only from authentic sources?

    We have put together a list of Web resources to help you get hold of the most comprehensive and authentic sources of information on eLearning and instructional design. Here they are:



    B9_Teach-Yourself-eLearning-With-These-Hand

    Grabbing the Basics of Graphic Design

    Get the low-down on graphic designing, its principles, procedures, trends, and tutorials from the following stellar resources:

    Learning User Experience Basics

    There are tons of useful learning resources out there. But don't start on them without first flipping through the pages of Don't Make Me Think, Revisited: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability by Steve Krug and The Design of Everyday Things by Donald Norman.

    After you have gone through these two primers on user experience, take your learning further with these resources:

    Writing Basics to Help Weave Magic Words 

    There are many good writers out there but not many effective communicators. As an instructional designer, you have to be both. Here are some resources to help you hone your writing to make it fit the needs of the eLearning industry:

    Learning Instructional Design Principles 

    It's a pity that you cannot jump straight into creating ID strategies or writing storyboards. You have to first learn the theories that govern instructional designing.

    • Get a hang of the jargons and get an overview of the sundry theories with this classic: Michael Allen's Guide to E-Learning: Building Interactive, Fun, and Effective Learning Programs for Any Company.
    • Then go over The Accidental Instructional Designer by Cammy Bean to get an understanding of what it takes to conceive of and create a powerful and memorable eLearning courses. This book tackles oft-neglected topics like how to interview SMEs and how to communicate effectively with your peers to enrich your skills.
    • The ABCs of Instructional Design is a free course from Udemy that gives a bird's-eye view of instructional designing.

    You are now ready to dive deeper and explore the commonly-used theories of instructional designing. Here are a few useful resources:

    • Learn about the ADDIE Model in this video.
    • Learn about Robert Gagne's multiple levels of learning from this video prepared by the Department of Instructional Design & Technology at the University of Illinois.
    • Watch this video for six pointers on adult learning.
    • Dash through these two 3-minutes videos, here and here, to pick up some ideas on the go.

    Finally, Build a Visual Portfolio 

    How can you convince prospective employers that you have the skills to create eLearning courses that bring out the wows? How can you convince them that you also walk the talk? Simple, create a portfolio to showcase your skills.

    Fortunately, you can still have a portfolio even if you have not worked with clients. Be your own client and create your own projects where you can give free rein to your creativity. Here are a few tips: 

    • Find your creative inspiration on Dribbble.
    • Do the graphic design exercises in Creative Workshop.
    • Take part in designing contests to hone your skills. You can showcase the certificates to prospective employers to convince them of your earnestness and willingness to improve your existing skills and learn new ones.
    • Recreate a favorite design and give it your own quirky twist.
    • Approach a non-profit organization and work voluntarily for them. They will be happy to use your help, and you will gain valuable work experience that will add substance to your portfolio.

    Being an instructional designer is a never-ending learning process. And the journey doesn't end after you have browsed through the above-mentioned websites or pored over the books listed earlier. You have to keep updating your skills and knowledge to keep up with competition and to keep learners hooked to your courses with innovative offerings.

    Finally, if you are considering getting a formal Instructional Design degree, check out this helpful resource: Online Master’s in Instructional Design Degree Programs: The Ultimate Guide

    Free eBook: A Quick Survival Guide for Modern elearning Designers

     

     


     

    Karla Gutierrez
    Karla Gutierrez
    Karla is an Inbound Marketer @Aura Interactiva, the developers of SHIFT. ES:Karla is an Inbound Marketer @Aura Interactiva, the developers of SHIFT.

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