Instructional designers take on different roles to enhance the efficiency of eLearning. The designers redesign courses, develop curriculums, and create training materials. In brief, instructional designers design excellent study materials using theory and research.
This article explores the basics, roles, and prominent people in instructional design, a role that indirectly impacts voice actors more than you would think.
In this article
- Background on Instructional Designers
- What Instructional Designers Do
- Creates Courses
- Chooses the Instructional Strategies
- Streamlines Study Materials
- Examine Study Materials
- Administer LMS
- Trains Learners
- How Instructional Designers Work With Voice Actors
- Defines Objectives
- Ensures an Ideal Environment to Record the Voice Over
- Create Reasonable Breaks
- Enhance Naturalness
- Popular Instructional Designers (Some Recognizable Names in the Industry)
- B.F Skinner
- Robert F. Mager
- Bloomberg Benjamin
- Robert Glaser
- Robert Gagne
- Conclusion
Background on Instructional Designers
Instructional designers use a systemic approach to design and develop content. Such content includes training, learning activities, and solutions to support skills acquisition. Besides, the designers create all instructional materials for training programs. Examples of the materials are participant guides, presentation aids, job aids, and handouts.
The designers also assess if the solution leads to a measurable behavioral change. Before content design and development, instructional designers consider the following key elements:
- Learner needs and characteristics to design content that meets existing needs
- The necessity of the training to ensure that the content is relevant in the industry
- Organizational goals and needs to meet set requirements
- The knowledge, skills, and attitude required for tasks and competencies
- What the training helps the learner know to post check for efficiency
Course creation begins once the instructional designer analyzes and understands the above information.
Read our success story with eLearning giant, Interplay. They explain how they used Voices to help build VR eLearning courses for the construction and HVAC industry in Africa.
Exceptional instructional designers usually have the following soft skills:
- Curiosity and a strong urge to research different topics
- Excellent communication and project management skills
- Ability to listen to learners’ concerns
- Capability to derive learning moments during an interview
- Detailed skills in various instructional multimedia tools, eLearning tools, and LMS systems
- A strong belief that knowledge makes the world a better place
Instructional designers usually have a master’s degree in learning experience or instructional design.
What Instructional Designers Do
Instructional designers work with voice actors, project managers, teachers, and other experts.
The following instructional roles are crucial to creating and delivering valuable content:
Creates Courses
Instructional designers look for knowledge gaps to assess how learners learn best. First, the designer seeks to understand the audience and sets goals. Then a plan is set to achieve the goals. Finally, the designer develops content that closes the gaps.
Chooses the Instructional Strategies
Instructional designers use audience and content analysis to select ideal instructional strategies. The designer also selects the media formats suitable to train learners. For example, some plans include simulations, stories, guided learning, and case studies. In brief, instructional designers develop content ideal for diverse learner segments.
Streamlines Study Materials
The materials that instructional designers create should ensure learners remain engaged. Information retention is also a key consideration in the design of study materials. So, designers focus on the smooth flow of information. Instead of complexity, the content usually has simple and elaborate concepts. So, learners get the morale to learn new things daily.
Examine Study Materials
After course creation, instructional designers review the suitability of content for learners. The materials must be competent for personal and professional growth. Besides, instructional designers usually check clarity, language, and consistency. The designer also confirms that the course meets the visualized needs.
Administer LMS
Instructional designers administer eLearning platforms like fixed and linear eLearning. Some administrative duties include user enrollment, system reviews, and system updates. The designers also instruct on the appropriate learning strategies, methods, and models.
Trains Learners
Instructional designers usually develop the materials used to train learners. So, they are in an excellent position to teach others.
Nonetheless, another trainer, besides the instructional designer, trains the learners in some instances.
How Instructional Designers Work With Voice Actors
Instructional designers work with voice actors to create voice overs for presentations. Below are ways in which instructional designers enhance quality voice overs.
Defines Objectives
Goals and objectives are vital aspects that help plan what to include in the voice over. Instructional designers give insight into the tone and detail of the voice over. The objectives also ensure the voice actor has everything needed to record.
Ensures an Ideal Environment to Record the Voice Over
Some items like fans and Air Conditioners create ambient noise in the recording space. Even if the room is quiet, white noise can still distract learners. Instructional designers offer detailed guidance on the suitable environment to prevent any disruptions. In brief, the quality and value of the voice overs remain top-notch.
Create Reasonable Breaks
Periodic silence allows learners to absorb, process, and keep more information. So, voice overs need breaks to give learners time to process new knowledge. Designers instruct voice actors when to pause to enhance the materials’ efficiency.
Enhance Naturalness
Learners learn better if the voice over portrays friendliness and compassion. Instructional designers balance professionalism and naturalness in the tone of the voice over. The designer also ensures authenticity so learners can connect with the voice.
Popular Instructional Designers (Some Recognizable Names in the Industry)
Below are some designers who have left significant marks over the years.
B.F Skinner
The above instructional designer is the pioneer of programmed instructional materials. B.F Skinner authored the book ‘The Science of Learning and the Art of Teaching’. He is also known for his impact on behaviorism.
Robert F. Mager
The designer above designed the framework to prepare learning objectives. The framework emphasizes the benefits of assessments and desired behavior in written objectives. He was also keen on student evaluation, motivation, educational change, and goal orientation.
Bloomberg Benjamin
Bloomberg identified six major categories in the ‘Taxonomy of Educational Objectives’. The framework has served generations of teachers and college instructors. With the taxonomy, trainers understand learners’ weaknesses and abilities. In brief, the trainer can help students climb the hierarchical scale with less strain.
Robert Glaser
Glaser invented the phrase ‘criterion-referenced measures’ to assess behavior. The assessment compares learners’ entry-level behavior to post-training competency. That way, the effectiveness of learning methods and materials can be examined.
Robert Gagne
The designer above highlighted vital areas in learning hierarchies and hierarchical analysis. Robert Gagne’s nine events of instruction convert traditional courses into an eLearning model. The model increases opportunities for perennial learning to accommodate modern corporate learners.
Conclusion
Instructional designers are indispensable in the eLearning space. Also, more institutions now rely on eLearning and tech to interact with customers. In brief, the increased demand creates more need for instructional designers.
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