Section 6: Getting an IDT Position and Succeeding at It

Section 6: Getting an IDT Position and Succeeding at It Due 12/09/2011

Section 6 of your textbook focuses on how to get a job in the profession of instructional design. These rules can also apply to educational technology as well since the two are so intertwined.

• Chapter 24 takes a look at lessons learned from the chapter's author for obtaining a position in instructional design. Take a look at a few of the sources provided for job openings from lesson 1 and search for at least 3 positions that are of interest to you. Describe the general nature of the positions and list the skills required for the job. Do you have these skills?

 Senior Workforce Performance Consultant
     This is a position at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.  "While a Sr. Workforce Performance Consultant doesn't necessarily respond to all issues uncovered in the gap analysis they conduct, they are accountable for identifying improvement recommendations that encompass the many variables in the performance support model (including designing instructional programs) and implementing solutions pertaining to the delivery of education and knowledge."  Basically, the person in this position is responsible for finding gaps in instruction and closing them.
Required Skills: critical thinking skills, team building, mentoring skills, leadership skills, experience in instructional design; Bachelor's degree +3 years experience.


Personally, I have all of the required skills, except for experience in instructional design.  This position does sound interesting, because one of the things I do already in my teaching position is look for gaps in learning TEKS objectives.

Curriculum Designer

     This is a position at Meijer Stores.  This position is for someone to design curriculum across various areas (office, retail, distribution) through many means of instruction (web-based, classroom, mobile, etc.)
Required Skills:  knowledge of ADDIE process, ILT, elearning, knowledge in adult learning principles; Master's degree preferred.

Personally, I have some basic knowledge of elements in this area, like the ADDIE process, but the position does look interesting.  I worked in retail a number of years in college, and I enjoyed it very much.

Performance Consultant

      This is a corporate position at DirecTV.  This position works with the Learning & Development, Quality Assurance & Analytics, Communications, and Online Learning teams to identify and make recommendations to enhance performance opportunities and improve training effectiveness.  A Performance Consultant works with Training Managers, Corporate and/or Care Project Managers, Program Managers, and business owners.
Required Skills:  accreditation in instructional design, experience in a call center, Bachelor's required, Master's degree and MS Project Software experience a plus.  

Personally, I don't have any of these skills, but the description sounded challenging and interesting.

• Remember that the field of instructional/educational technology is not just focused on education, but on business and industry as well. Look at the resources provided on page 258 in chapter 25 and select one of these links and complete the self assessment. What did you learn about yourself from the assessment?

From the self-assessment, I learned that my strengths/interests lie in education and public service areas.  Considering I am a teacher, I guess I am in a career field that is suitable to my strengths.

• Chapter 26 lists several websites for professional organizations and websites for professional publications. Visit 2-3 websites for professional organizations and 2-3 websites for the professional publications and address the following:
  • • Professional organizations:
    • Mission
    • ASTD: Empower professionals to develop knowledge & skills successfully.
    • ISTE: ISTE advances excellence in learning and teaching through innovative and effective uses of technology.
    • SALT:  not one to be found.
    • Cost of membership
    • ASTD: 12 month individual $199
    • ISTE: $219 individual for 1 year
    • SALT: $100 per year
    • Publications
    •  ASTD: T+D Magazine, ASTD ePublications
    •  ISTE: Learning and Leading with Technology Magazine, Journal of Research of Technology in Education
    • SALT: Journal of Applied Learning Technology, Journal of Education Technology Systems
    • Conferences and meetings
    • ASTD:  TechKnowledge 1/25-27/2011, 2012 International Conference 5/6-9/2012
    • ISTE:  ISTE 2012 Conference 10/3/2011
    • SALT: New Learning Technologies Conference 2/15-17/12
    • Opportunities for professional development
    •  ASTD: I didn’t find any area strictly labeled professional development, but ASTD does have several conferences tied to their publications every year.
    • ISTE:  NETS Leadership Academy 11/28/2011
    • SALT: Conferences, other than that, none listed.
    ~
    • Professional organizations:
    • Mission
    • ASTD: Empower professionals to develop knowledge & skills successfully.
    • ISTE: ISTE advances excellence in learning and teaching through innovative and effective uses of technology.
    • SALT: not one to be found.
    • Cost of membership
    • ASTD: 12 month individual $199
    • ISTE: $219 individual for 1 year
    • SALT: $100 per year
    • Publications
    • ASTD: T+D Magazine, ASTD ePublications
    • ISTE: Learning and Leading with Technology Magazine, Journal of Research of Technology in Education
    • SALT: Journal of Applied Learning Technology, Journal of Education Technology Systems
    • Conferences and meetings
    • ASTD: TechKnowledge 1/25-27/2011, 2012 International Conference 5/6-9/2012
    • ISTE: ISTE 2012 Conference 10/3/2011
    • SALT: New Learning Technologies Conference 2/15-17/12
    • Opportunities for professional development
    • ASTD: I didn’t find any area strictly labeled professional development, but ASTD does have several conferences tied to their publications every year.
    • ISTE: NETS Leadership Academy 11/28/2011
    • SALT: Conferences, other than that, none listed.
  • • Professional publications:
    • Focus/Goals of the journal
    • Books2read: keep industry leaders at the forefront of new technology.
    • CJLT: The Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology is a peer-reviewed journal that welcomes papers on all aspects of educational technology and learning. Topics may include, but are not limited to: learning theory and technology, cognition and technology, instructional design theory and application, online learning, computer applications in education, simulations and gaming, and other aspects of the use of technology in the learning process. Manuscripts may be submitted either in English or in French.
    • Submission guidelines
    • Books2read—no due dates.  Just submit your work.
    • CJLT: As part of the submission process, authors are required to check off their submission's compliance with all of the following items, and submissions may be returned to authors that do not adhere to these guidelines.
    • Is this a peer reviewed journal?
    • Books2read—sometimes.
    • CJLT—Yes
    • Is the journal online?
    • Books2read no
    • CJLT: yes
    • How is the journal and organization useful to you and your career? Were you aware of the organizations/journals that you researched?
    Journals and organizations help to keep educators apprised of any laws or policy changes made throughout the year.
  
  
• Chapter 27 looks at competencies for instructional design and technology professionals. If you were responsible for identifying the domains, competencies, and performance statements for a performance technologist, what would they include and why?

Domains:  1.  Design, 2. Development, 3. Utilization, 4. Management, and 5. Evaluation. 

I would use these domains (also found in Table 27.7), because I think these competencies fit the requirements for a performance technologist.

Competencies:  From pg. Table 27.6, I would use all 10 of the 2004 ISPI/ASTD competencies, because I think these are all extremely important areas for PTs to concentrate on, though I think number 3 (Add value in how you do the work and through the work itself) should be the first competency in every job profession.