Guest: Alyssa Coiro In this episode of Become an IDOL, Alyssa Coiro shares her journey from teacher to instructional designer. Tune in to hear: Alyssa's story of how she discovered instructional design during the COVID pandemic and decided to pursue it through IDOL. Details about Alyssa's experience building her portfolio within 8 weeks of the IDOL program and starting to apply for jobs. An overview of Alyssa's career progression so far, including her roles at Lowe's and a large construction company. Listen to this episode below:    Subscribe to Become an IDOL Podcast: A ..read more

Leaving the Classroom: A Transitioning Teacher Podcast Leaving the Classroom 43: Matt Gjertsen-ID Hiring Manager  In this episode, Matt Gjertsen, former Air Force pilot and owner of Better Every Day Studios, shares advice for transitioning teachers looking to become instructional designers.   Tune in to hear:  Advice for interviewing successfully and highlighting one's skills in a resume  Tips for standing out in a competitive job market and creating an effective portfolio  How to ask the right questions in an interview to determine career growth opportunities&nb ..read more

Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing our everyday lifestyle; from companionship to gaming and home automation to productivity, there’s no escaping its role in the digital era. Artificial intelligence is a technology that allows computers or machines to simulate problem-solving and other human intelligence capabilities. You’ve probably heard of things like ChatGPT or generative AI. These tools, relatively new to public use, reportedly make life easier but also strike fear in those who worry about how it can (or should) be used ethically. But we’re not here to discuss that just yet. We’ve ev ..read more

Guest: Jessica Evans In this episode of the Become and IDOL podcast, Jessica Evans shares her journey from classroom teacher to freelance instructional designer.  Tune in to hear:  Jessica's career path from teacher to instructional designer and how she started her freelance business  Tips on networking, building relationships, and generating referrals as a freelancer   Advice for aspiring instructional designers on getting training, asking questions, and dreaming big  Listen to this episode below:    Subscribe to Become an IDOL Podcast: Apple Po ..read more

Leaving the Classroom: A Transitioning Teacher Podcast Leaving the Classroom 41: Former Teacher Turned Instructional Designer with Sarah Bainter In this episode of Leaving the Classroom, former teacher Sarah Bainter discusses her journey from the classroom to a career in instructional design. She shares her experience going through IDOL courses Academy. Sarah reflects on translating her teaching skills to her new role and the differences between developing content for children and adults. On this episode Kristi shares: Sarah's background as a teacher for 13 years and her decision to pursue in ..read more

What would eLearning be without instructional design? Boring. Ineffective. Outdated. eLearning without instructional design would be like delivering a 100-page training manual typed in Times New Roman font on white paper with no graphics, charts, or imagery. It is just stale information that students must simply read to absorb. Would you be able to learn effectively using this training method? We don’t think so. That’s why we’re such huge fans of instructional design for eLearning.  If you’ve ever been bored to tears reading through plain training manuals or sitting through a long, drawn ..read more

Leaving the Classroom: A Transitioning Teacher Podcast Leaving the Classroom 40: You Don't Need Another Degree In this episode, Kristi Oliva shares her journey transitioning from teaching to a career in instructional design. She discusses initially pursuing a master's degree with the goal of becoming a professor. Kristi highlights how she discovered IDOL Academy and gained far more practical skills and knowledge applicable to her new career through their program compared to her master's degree. Tune in to hear: Kristi's initial thought that she needed another degree to change careers How she ..read more

Guest: Chris Skees In this episode, Robin Sargent interviews Chris Skees, a Learning Product Manager at Cisco, about his career progression in the learning and development industry. He provides insights into career development and upskilling strategies, emphasizing mindset, curiosity, and stretch projects. Tune in to hear: Chris Skees discuss his career journey from content creation to learning product management and the various roles and industries he has worked in.  Strategies for career development and upskilling, including taking online courses, reading, conferences, and stretch proj ..read more

Are you considering an instructional design career? You’re in good company. Demand for Instructional Designers and related learning and development professionals continues to grow at an impressive pace, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic forced training and education experiences to be taken online. Not only did a new, virtual way of learning become the norm, but training and education materials had to adapt to become even more engaging and effective without the in-person, hands-on learning experience students and trainees once knew. Now, as companies and institutions learn how to take trai ..read more

In today's rapidly evolving world, where technology plays a pivotal role in education, instructional design has emerged as a crucial field. Instructional design involves the systematic approach to creating effective and engaging learning experiences. It combines the art of teaching with the science of learning to ensure that learners can acquire knowledge, skills, and attitudes effectively. This comprehensive guide aims to provide you with a deeper understanding of instructional design, its key principles, the tools and technologies involved, the role of instructional designers, and various in ..read more