Listening to my colleagues’ updates in a team sync this week, I was reminded of just how many hats we wear in L&D. While we can have strengths and specialities, depending on the project, chances are we’ve done it all.
Here are some examples of roles we play:
- Performance consultant – we identify behavior that needs changing, and how to get there.
- Translator – we take complex information and transform it into digestible content.
- Multimedia developer – we present information in a variety of formats with strong visual design and user experience.
- Administrators – we know the ins and outs of learning management systems, such as how to add users, create assignments, and upload files.
- Data analysts – we harness information from learning experiences and present the impact to business partners.
You get it; we change hats quickly in our field.
We don’t have to be an expert in every one of these categories, but I do think instructional designers need to have basic skills in each. Any of us can be asked to troubleshoot something in an LMS, double check a fact with a SME, or go back and republish a SCORM file at any given moment.
If you feel like you are lacking in one of these areas, ask your manager or volunteer for opportunities to brush up on those skills. Being a well-rounded instructional designer will make your life a whole lot easier.
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