Job descriptions in ID (or, ISD) these days are all over the map, with very little consistency. It doesn't help that few HR and Recruiters have any knowledge of, or experience with, the field. So I'm going to propose some roles as I understand them, in the hopes that some day hiring managers will be able to articulate better what they want/need in terms of talent for their training departments or projects.
Note that one person can hold multiple roles. These are ROLES not PEOPLE. And most of the time these terms are not used with any degree of rigor or standardization. So don't get offended, but please do share your suggestions and feedback!
(Info-graphic from http://rebirthofreason.com/Articles/Setzer/Experiencing_Objectivism_through_the_Enhanced_Tri-Quation.shtml)
Instructional Designer
Capable of performing or at least managing entire ADDIE process. Primarily responsible for translating raw content into instructional content. In the ADDIE process, this means Analysis and Design: interacting with SME, defining Learning Objectives, and writing storyboards or scripts. Additionally, IDs will be responsible for Evaluation planning and review, providing that is part of the project.
Instructional Systems Designer
While this role is often used interchangeably with Instructional Designer, I think there should be some, albeit subtle, distinction. If the term "Systems" has any meaning, it should define the scope of design to be larger than a single course, involving curriculum planning and delivery/tracking information systems such as LMSs. If you need to develop new technologies, processes and templates, not just new courses, you are working on a Systems level. However, if you just need someone to turn out another course in your existing system, you would be looking for the Instructional Designer/Developer roles. This role will be most active in the Analysis, Implementation, and Evaluation phases, but would also have significant input in high-level Design and Development tools and processes. Generally this role should be strong with IT concepts as well as learning management strategies. This could be your one person training department, doing the whole thing, but even for a small organization that's a lot of ground to cover.
Instructional (Multimedia) Developer
Expert in one or more learning development and web/multimedia tools, comfortably moving between tools or learning new ones with ease (except perhaps Flash and Actionscripting, which are specialties in themselves). They are primarily responsible for creating the actual learning materials, perhaps from a storyboard or other content that has been processed by an Instructional Designer in the Analysis and Design phases. Strong graphic design skills/talents are helpful here, or you may need a Graphic Designer. In the ADDIE process they will be most active in the Development and Implementation phase. So if you need a course created from soup to nuts, you may actually need an Instructional Designer/Developer.
Instructional Technologist
This role is less commonly found. But if the term "technologist" has meaning, it is someone who uses or applies technology and existing processes to a problem (as in "medical technologist"). They may serve as Instructional Developers, but perhaps without the Graphic Design/Multimedia skills or Instructional Design background. They may operate or maintain instructional systems designed by the ISD, but you wouldn't expect them to create a new system.
Instructional Systems Developer
This is what I would call someone who can program a learning portal, LMS, or CMS, or at least can develop custom code to interface with such things. They'll need to know SCORM/AICC and whatever languages are required by your particular environment (.NET, Java, PHP, etc.). These folks are not Developing the courses, but are creating the environment in which students take the courses. Systems Developers (and Analysts) will want to follow software development processes (like RUP) instead of ADDIE.
Instructional Systems Analyst
This is also a rare beast. This would be someone who operates, diagnoses, and repairs ("optimizes") Instructional Systems, typically enterprise software like LMSs, CMSs, etc. These folks will be heavily involved in the Implementation phase, as that's when all the data begins hitting the servers.
Trainer/Training Specialist (anything with the term "Train")
These are your classroom and virtual classroom instructors. They are the extroverts who excel at going in front of people, creating an engaging atmosphere, and teaching synchronously. They adapt their lessons on the fly to changing content and audiences, and travel to various places. People in this role may be involved in the complete ADDIE process, as they are directly in contact with the students, but will generally not be involved with self-paced learning development, unless they are Instructional Designer/Trainers. [That said, I think the title "Training Specialist" as used in the wild is often a holdover from pre-ID days, with the meaning, "HR person who helps employees learn stuff." But they're probably an ID.]
eLearning/Multimedia Project Manager
"A good eLearning project manager needs to understand what makes good eLearning, so they can make decisions that positively affect the quality of the product, and leverage the talents of the project team. [...] Some organizations have split the PM role, so that instructional designers manage the project team while a PM only manages the schedule and budget." - Bob Elmore via comment on eLearning Guild LinkedIn Group: http://snurl.com/jvlft
Let me reiterate, before you get your nose out of joint or start rewriting your resume: one person can hold multiple roles. These are ROLES not PEOPLE. And most of the time these terms are not used with any degree of rigor or standardization. So don't get offended, but please do share your suggestions and feedback!
Next up, Part II,
Next up, Part II,
Great post, Jonathan. I completely agree that there are many shades to the all-encompassing term "instructional designer." You've done a good job capturing all of the variation. So where do you fit in?
ReplyDeleteCool post, I can see that lots of us fulfill multiple roles; but I'm still an ID :)
ReplyDelete@Cammy: As you can probably tell, I favor the higher-level or broader vantage point of the ISD (aka Superman), although at times I have worn all these hats. ID is sort of the prototype for the other roles, as other specialties collide with training. Instructional Systems Developer = IT Developer + ID. Trainer = Motivational Speaker + ID. So all these roles are actually subspecialties of other fields, as well as subspecialties of Instructional Design.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting I have always seen these roles as very blurred with lots of cross-over in terms of work responsibilities. However, I have come across job posts with titles such as e-learning course designer/ e-learning course developer with an instructional design background required. I would be interested to read your take on that.In you work in progress do you see them as "Instructional Technologists"?
ReplyDelete@Myles: Yes, very blurry indeed, but often useful to realize that your are putting on your Systems Analyst hat to optimize your LMS (something to consider when negotiating a raise).
ReplyDelete"E-learning course designer/developer" is probably closest to Instructional Technologist in the list, as clearly somebody (an ISD?) has already decided that eLearning is the way to go and how to divide the curriculum into courses. ;-)
However, what they would be looking for is more likely an Instructional Designer/Developer with an eLearning focus as opposed to print/ILT. I would expect such a position to be producing at the course level (as opposed to Systems), perhaps working on one course at a time rather than a whole curriculum. It is more of a job description line-item than a Role, so it doesn't fit nicely with the rest of the list.
For instance, "LMS Administrator" is something an Instructional Systems Analyst would do - it is a skill set in the role. Again it is more of a job description.
Same thing as hiring an "IT Systems Analyst" (Role) versus a "Oracle Database Specialist" (Job Description).
Does this make any sense, or am I just being academic?
I would agree with that take Johnathan.It is a job description I have seen more of lately.I often wonder what the real job would be like. Again I think these descriptions are just that. I agree with your other readers generally in L&D you end up wearing many hats. Great for experience but difficult to hone your skills in one area.
ReplyDeleteIts been a great discussion so far. On the visual side you have been very creative in your layout.Well done.
How about a role as Instructional Sherpa? Often hired as an elearning developer, curriculum specialist, ID ..etc I spend much time helping chart the instructional direction of the department, educating my non-ID peers, project managing, defining vision and evaluating current instructional goals and needs. Great post - got my wheels turning this morning
ReplyDeleteHa! I didn't really get into the area of Managers, Directors, CLOs, but sometimes the best ideas come from those brought in to "just do the work." Of course, organizational change is indeed like climbing a mountain, so Sherpa is apt.
ReplyDeleteColleagues and I have been having this conversation off and on for several months now (@sherrymn & @nlw0716).
ReplyDeleteGoing a step further though... What's the step from your description of the roles to how an institution could or should approach the organization and departmental workflow?
Specifically, within those different roles, is there an identifiable career path or ladder?
As an instructional design type in the education sector, I've noticed - across many different institutions - the lack of a definable career path. I'd say there are *many* instances in educational institutions in which there's one job title "Instructional Designer" on one salary band with the expectation of serving every one of the roles you've described. It's discouraging to be a "Training Specialist" or "Instructional Designer" or "Instructional Technologist" and not see or have an identifiable career path through which to be promoted.
Are there different levels of proficiency, education and experience that could be defined for each position? Is there one or more of those roles more appropriate as an entry level position?
-cmd
twitter.com/cmduke
Thanks for the questions, Chris...ideal learning org structures, and career paths. I think I feel a new blog post or two coming on, perhaps a weekend project. Stay tuned!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post I stumbled on! Like others, I have such a hard time defining what I do --- my resume (which I've just beefed up for new career opps) is just a laundry of many things. Can't exactly put "wearer of many hats" as a subtitle to my name. Though...I like "instructional sherpa"...and I certainly liked scrolling down and see Superman (though Wonder Woman would have done much better for me). Thanks for the post and your thoughts on definitions - it will actually very much help me in the interview process coming up :)
ReplyDeleteAwsome Post! very informative indeed :)
ReplyDeletenice reference
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post and I think it should be forwarded to all recruiters! I used to come across companies that were not sure what an Instructional Designer was. All they knew the person was supposed to train others, develop training courses and create all the materials (eLearning, manuals, etc.). I did all this and my job title was Training Specialist. Now I am creating training materials and my title is Technical Trainer. I’m still a little confused as to why that is since I have not, or will not, being doing any type of training. I was recently looking for a new job as an Instructional Designer. I felt that when my resume went into a recruiter’s database, it could have been skipped over since my resume never possessed the keywords ‘instructional designer’, or something similar.
ReplyDeleteYes, the only people who seem to care about job titles are those who hold them and put them on their resumes. As an Instructional Designer, however, one must believe that words have meaning, and thus must be chosen carefully. You want your title to be broad enough to encompass all that you do while also highlighting your expertise. At the moment, I haven't found anything that works as well as "Instructional Designer." You might want to make sure that the term "instructional design" is featured in your resume immediately under the imprecise job titles. Ironic that "Training Specialist" is actually about the most general title you could have. It generally means ID, but I think derives from "HR person who specializes in training."
ReplyDeleteGreat topic! I do a lot of technical writing which at times, can be very technical because the audience is developers. I have done instrucitonal design but mainly for college level audiences or company training types of content.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone find that they have more technical or non-technical audiences when creating instructional design projects?
I'm interested to see what others in the field work with.
Thahnks!
Natalie Harris
http://www.qualitytechnicalwriting.com
Jonathan, you've done all of us in the e-learning field a valuable service by clarifying these roles. Thank you for a lucid, well-written post.
ReplyDeleteCurt Zilbersher
http://www.elearningbuzz.com/cv/
Hi
ReplyDeleteTks very much for post:
I like it and hope that you continue posting.
Let me show other source that may be good for community.
Source: Database job descriptions
Best rgs
David
This was really helpful. I know that many distance educators are performing multi-roles and as you mentioned, these are definitions of roles that do not necessarily reflect the number of people performing them. I have always thought the ISD was also involved in the application of the ADDIE model. Are you suggesting that unless an ID works on developing courses for a program they are not doing ISD? Don't all courses offered in the distance program fall under the subsystems of design, development, and delivery? Therefore, the ID is working within a systems framework even if the courses they design do not fall under the same program. What are your thoughts on this?
ReplyDeleteID and ISD are generally interchangeable as titles, as they are used in the real world (i.e., jobs). Anyone can use ADDIE if they want to, although there is rarely time and budget to do a thorough job on each phase. I am proposing that the word "Systems" in ISD be imbued with meaning that incorporates delivery and evaluation technology as well as ID approaches. In that case, a label of ID would imply primarily Analysis and Design in the ADDIE model. If you are an ID who is involved in the entire lifecycle of a training program, such as a complete distance learning program, then you would be more accurately called an ISD in my opinion. However, if you are just putting PowerPoint slides online with narration and animation, you are pretty much just doing the bare minimum of ID. A "system" would entail the whole process of SME to learning to outcome as a repeatable framework.
ReplyDeleteWhen do we see PART II
ReplyDeletePART I was great!
Thanks! Part II is here:
ReplyDeletehttp://jonathansid.blogspot.com/2009/07/organizational-roles-of-instructional.html
I'm working on some new content, getting into ADDIE.
Terrific topic! Career path seems to be whatever you can make of it. I see no clear cut path in any of the organizations I've worked. I want to take my passion for the Analysis and Evaluation phases of ADDIE and apply to a role as a Change Manager. Is that going to require that I earn an MBA? I feel that change management is a natural component of the work I've done as an instructional designer.
ReplyDeleteI don't think an MBA is necessary, just some work experience if you can get it. There are also Organizational Development (i.e., HR) degrees that may be closer to Organizational Change Management. Industry focus is generally helpful as change involves culture, and higher ed is quite different from public sector, utility, or oil and gas. If you have a strong background in one industry, that would be a plus for OCM. The A&E phases of ADDIE are going to be found primarily on the client side, not the vendor side. So that would be Managers in L&D generally.
ReplyDeleteIn my experience, there is a lot of confusion and lack of a clear understanding of the roles involved in the design and delivery of instruction.
ReplyDeleteI have worked with individuals who are experts in creating web-based presentations from PowerPoint, using tools like Articulate Presenter/Engage. However, some of these individuals had no idea how to conduct a Needs Analysis, or decide the best strategy when the objective is to train employees to learn a procedure. Despite their lack of knowledge, these individuals were assigned the role of ‘Instructional Designer’.
On the other hand, I have also worked with individuals who can successfully use educational theories to train employees but lack the skills to effectively use technology (tools) to create professional-level eLearning objects. Even their skills in using PowerPoint are minimal.
Which role is appropriate for the Education + / Technology – professional?
Which role is appropriate for the Education - / Technology + professional?
Which role is appropriate for the Know-it-all guru? Education + / Technology + professional?
I am not even considering the fact that some Instructional Designers are also working as Instructors and Facilitators.
Great article. Lots of room for discussion.
Paulo @FullMind_Design
@Paulo If I understand you correctly, here are my suggestions: (Ed + Tech - Pro) = junior instructional developer; (Ed - Tech + Pro) = Instructional Designer (traditional); (Ed + Tech + Pro) = ISD, or Instructional Designer/Developer role for smaller projects (or eLearning Instructional Designer).
DeleteI often call myself an Instructional Designer/Developer to show that I can cover the Ed and the Tech parts. Alternatively, I may go with eLearning Instructional Designer if I feel that the focus is online and classroom is not in play.
The ISD role is rarely invoked, and I tend to steer away from that as it implies by-the-book traditional ADDIE with all the steps and documents, and most organizations don't want the expense or time involved in thinking something out in advance on a per-project basis.
On the other hand, I feel that large organizations need to think of training as a long-term strategy and have people in-house who can steer the pedagogical and technological direction beyond just one project at a time (or hire a consultant to kick-start this program). This is how I envision an ISD.
Hi there, nice post and a good source of information. It really shows that you're an expert in this field. Thanks for sharing. Keep it up!
ReplyDeletemultimedia specialists
I am doing a course on project management and instructional design, and found this blog a great useful tool for understanding and grasping what each does, and how they are similar and dissimilar. Thanks.
ReplyDelete