So you now know the importance of having a portfolio. However, you are probably asking yourself where to get samples to build your portfolio if you do not have any instructional design experience. Here is my answer: you do need to have experience to build your portfolio and apply to jobs, but you can easily get both experience and a portfolio relatively quickly without any formal job experience. In this blog post, we will look at a number of ways to get content for your portfolio. Volunteer – You can find an online organization that does not require you to travel to the location. E-Learning for Kids is a global nonprofit foundation dedicated to free and fun online learning for kids of all ages. They now have courses for adult learners as well. E-Learning for kids is constantly looking for volunteers who can contribute their time and knowledge. The process for becoming a volunteer is simple, and they have all types of projects from basic storyboarding to … [Read more...] about How To Get Content For Your ELearning Portfolio
The ELearning Course Designer’s Blog
Do Instructional Designers Need a Degree?
Many colleges and universities offer degrees in instructional design, eLearning, and instructional technology. Most of these are graduate level programs. Very few colleges offer an undergraduate degree in instructional design. There are also certificate alternatives for those who want to break into the field of instructional design quickly and without spending much money. While these programs equip learners with theoretical knowledge, most of them do not teach how to apply theory to practice. In other words, they do not teach real world instructional design. As someone who holds a Master’s degree in instructional design, I believe that there are two sides to the coin. There are certainly excellent instructional designers out there who do not have any formal education in the field. However, potentials employers often ask for a degree. In my humble opinion, having a portfolio is a much better proof that you are a good designer than your college degree is. With that said, earning a … [Read more...] about Do Instructional Designers Need a Degree?
Do Instructional Designers Need To Conduct Needs Analysis – The Most Neglected Phase In The ADDIE Model
Analysis is the first yet the most neglected phase of the ADDIE model. Although most ISD professionals recognize its value in the overall instructional design process, they almost always skip this step. As a result, their training courses often do not bring the desired results. The main reason for skipping the analysis phase is budget constraints as well as the fact that most stakeholders do not understand the real value behind needs analysis. As a result, they come to you with what they consider real training need without even realizing that training, in fact, may not be the solution. So, why do we need to conduct needs analysis? The main reason is to determine if training is ultimately the solution to the problem, and if it is, then to find the best ways to approach and solve the problem. As we all know, training can only help if the performance problem lies in lack of knowledge or skills. If, however, the problem is related to lack of motivation, resources, or anything else … [Read more...] about Do Instructional Designers Need To Conduct Needs Analysis – The Most Neglected Phase In The ADDIE Model
How To Choose ELearning Authoring Tool That Meets Your Needs
Nowadays, there are so many rapid eLearning authoring tools on the market that selecting the best one is often challenging. At the end, it comes down to personal preference, but the following tips can help you make an appropriate selection. Make a list of functionalities important to you - As you “play” with authoring tools, see which software best meets your needs. If you are unsure, you can always call a vendor and ask questions about the required features. However, keep in mind that vendors are salespeople whose ultimate goal is to make their piece of software standout among the rest and lead you into purchasing it. Therefore, always double-check the information provided by the vendor by asking people already using the tool about their experiences. Figuring out what’s important to you should always be your first step. As you evaluate each tool, you must know what you are looking for. Consider prioritizing your list by placing the must-have features on the top of the list and … [Read more...] about How To Choose ELearning Authoring Tool That Meets Your Needs
Designing Games For ELearning: The World Of Gamification And Virtual Reality
In this modern time driven by technology, instructional designers and eLearning professionals have constantly explored virtual worlds as an effective medium for education. Since virtual worlds provide synched interactions between individuals and the environment, they are considered a powerful eLearning tool. Furthermore, users can easily customize virtual worlds to make them even more effective for online education. People play games because they are fun and engaging. Games take players to an imaginary world where they take challenges or win over opponents. Instead of just viewing games as an effective way to pass time, they can be viewed as learning events. In a game, learners can achieve high scores by taking on challenges, they are able to take different roles, as well as experiment and see the results. Gamers are also able to express feelings reflecting on certain situations. Training professionals often offer games to introduce a new learning topic to raise the learners’ … [Read more...] about Designing Games For ELearning: The World Of Gamification And Virtual Reality
How To Avoid Cognitive Overload When Designing Training Courses
Memory is the key concept when dealing with learning. When we are trying to learn something new, we store the information surrounding the concept in the working memory. Once in the working memory space, we begin to process the information. Unfortunately, memory is not infinite and its capacities varies from person to person. This means that some people are able to remember more items during a learning process than others. However, the working memory may in fact be overloaded. Cognitive load theory was first described by G.A. Miller. He stated that there is always a limit as for how many ideas we can hold at a time. He supported his theory with an experiment that showed that people may retain “seven plus or minus two digits”. John Sweller developed cognitive load theory or CLT. This theory applies to all learners and delivery methods. There are at least three main types of cognitive load: intrinsic, extraneous, and the germane. The intrinsic load is determined by instructional goals … [Read more...] about How To Avoid Cognitive Overload When Designing Training Courses
