With the continued proliferation of eLearning and distance education in K–12 education, higher education and within corporations, instructional designers – also called instructional developers or multimedia designers – will be in constant demand to help bridge instruction and technology. From the onset of the use of visual aids in the classroom to multimedia learning aids that consist of multi-faceted technologies that aid teachers, instructors and developers, the transformation of instructional technology has blossomed.

So how do you become an instructional designer?

Falling Into It
Ironically enough, many instructional designers fell into their jobs during the initial development of distance education and eLearning. Even today, many teachers are tagged to champion eLearning at their schools and provide education in a variety of ways.

Many instructional designers began as classroom teachers in a school district or as faculty at colleges. They were early adapters when new technologies began to emerge. They experimented with the technology, integrating it into their curricula and discovering that students enjoyed the newness that came with technology. As new technologies continued to emerge, eLearning and distance education started to take off, and these early adapters convinced their school districts and colleges to invest in the technology and in them. Soon, various states and the U.S. Department of Education began to sponsor grants to help institutions develop distance-learning courses utilizing the newest technologies.

Education
For the past couple decades, many college and universities have been developing a variety of courses and degrees to accommodate the onslaught of students demanding degrees and experience in instructional technology and design. These undergraduate and graduate programs include programs such as Instructional Design, Visual Communications, Graphic Design, Computer Science or a combination of degrees.

Many teachers are also returning to the classroom for graduate degrees that focus specifically on instructional design. They generally work on projects involving what they are currently teaching or would like to teach in the classroom. They are able to utilize learning management systems (LMS) such as Blackboard or Angel to take contemporary curriculum and convert it to the newest media.

What Employers Require
Before making a decision regarding an instructional design position or earning an educational degree in instructional design, review the requirements that colleges or corporations look for in a candidate. For example, in a recent online issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education, an educational job resource for professionals in higher education, one job description highlights the typical skill sets required of an instructional designer:

• Experience with ANGEL or Blackboard
• Demonstrated experience in building the capacity of faculty to appropriately and effectively design, develop, and implement quality online and hybrid courses
• Website development experience
• Knowledge of emerging technologies
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills

Plus, a master’s degree in instructional design is generally preferred.

Internships
An important aspect of earning a degree in instructional design is gaining the appropriate experience. If you are planning on earning a degree in instructional design, ask questions about potential internships or opportunities for hands-on experience before you enroll. Many universities and colleges highly encourage students to take internships in a variety of departments or programs and work with faculty and staff to develop instructional programming. By working on real curriculum and content and with content experts, instructional design students experience the applicability of the instructional methods and technologies that they're studying in their coursework and learn from those who have gone before. Plus, students can follow through the entire process from concept inception to actually seeing students go through an entire course.

One caveat to understand before selecting a college or university is that you should learn whether it is accredited by an appropriate accrediting body. Many institutions offer degrees or courses in many areas, including instructional design, that are not accredited. If you decide to work for a college or university, most, if not all, require you to hold a degree from an appropriately accredited institution.

Whether you gain your experience as an instructional designer through the hands-on approach of beginning as a classroom teacher and going back to school to become an instructional designer or focus on that degree while  in college, you will feel great satisfaction working with faculty and content experts to develop courses and programs that enhance the learning process for students across the country and around the world.