Career changes are hard. I have been working in academia for over 15 years now, but not in the field of Instructional Design. Since I began the M.S. program in Learning Technologies, in August of 2019, I have been searching for my unique path in Instructional Design. As I peruse LinkedIn jobs in the field, I can’t help but to notice that there are many technologies, certifications, years of experience, or work history that seems to be missing from my resume. I came into this program determined to succeed, and I have actively challenged myself with opportunities that pushed me further, throughout the duration of this program. Currently, I am participating in an internship with Dallas College, which has afforded me the unique opportunity to explore different facets of career paths within an academic instructional design team. I’ve been able to write scripts for video production. I’ve shadowed the ID’s while meeting with their SME’s on new course design projects. I’ve also had the opportunity to collaborate creatively about hosting webinars, and I will be meeting with the creative team next.
When I entered into the program initially, I found many parallels between my current job duties and that of an instructional designer. While there are many differences, I see myself in a support role to educators, and I feel confident working in the space where I create a dependable bridge between my skills and their goals. This masters program has provided me with expertise in learning theory, educational technologies, pedagogies, and the impacts of psychology and behavior towards learning.
As I continue to develop my skills in this field, I find that I am drawn towards two key areas of Instructional Design. With my background in graphic design, I am challenged by the idea of removing the designer from my self-identity. I have always enjoyed working creatively, and I feel that I would sincerely enjoy working as part of a creative team, developing multimedia content for educators. Throughout this program, I have always enjoyed the workflow of audio and video development for multimedia. In addition to content creation, I thoroughly enjoy working collaboratively with educators, on course design. One of the projects that I developed in this program, is currently used as an eLearning presentation in a UNT Ecology course. I enjoy the process of conducting in-depth research on a wide range of topics, which is necessary to design a full course. The ability to continue learning through every project, is an exciting prospect to a lifelong learner!
While I’m still seeking out the perfect path for the next chapter in my career, I feel excited by the opportunities that his degree has brought to me. I enjoy the process of learning, and feel confident that I will find the intersection where my knowledge will align with educator and students learning needs, and I’ll be able to use my expertise to improve learning outcomes for students. I want to use my voice as a life long learner, to help others find their unique journey towards success. My goal is to use technology to bridge the gap in accessibility in the classroom. I also want to add depth of knowledge and confidence to the students learning from my course designs.
My Journey Through Instructional Design 
Shelby,
I appreciate how you are honest about what you do not know. After four years in Instructional Technology, I now realize that I am merely on the edge of the vast technology ocean. I know enough to carry my through certain currents, and Google or colleagues will certainly help me navigate even more.
It’s how we apply what we know to the next project or question we approach. It is changing how we see our skill set, our work identity, and how we can be an asset to others. Thank you for putting this into words – it is something that many can relate to. I think that because we are in a master’s program that looks to enhance the world by integrating technology, we know that leveraging skills to create the next step can be enough to just get started. I look forward to hearing about your journey making accessibility more than just a word but an action.
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