Getting Started in Instructional Design and Digital Learning Design - Part 4
Updated: Feb 23
This is the fourth part of a series of blog posts aiming to cover some aspects of getting started in the field of instructional design and digital learning.
This part is going to be about the importance of continously developing your skills, networking and possibly trying yourself out in real-life projects.
Here are the posts available so far and feel free to browse through the other blog posts on the website if you would like to check out other content.
4. Keep learning about the industry via being active online, networking, asking questions and attending training sessions if there’s a need while applying to jobs / doing small projects
Collecting information
As discussed throughout the previous posts, identifying what path you would like to take to be able to make more informed decisions is one of the most important parts getting started in instructional design.
You can look for tips related to updating your profile, advice on sites to use for finding opportunities, tricks about setting up triggers in Storyline, feedback on something you created or just general ideas and experiences about how others got started.
There are various ways to gather information starting from joining communities (offline or online) to attending workshops and reaching out to people to ask for help. Similar to learning a new tool, it can be a good idea to have a variety of these, so that the different forms of exchange keeps you engaged and shows new perspectives.
Networking
While this might not be the best term to use for all the interactions, networking online or in person is a crucial aspect not only at the beginning, but throughout your journey in the industry.
LinkedIn and other platforms
You can find new connections on LinkedIn who can share valuable information about a trick related to the tool that you are learning about or who can share a job opportunity that you might be a good fit for. Some online communities also have specific categories on their forums, so you can personalise the content that you would like to know more about.
Meeting new people online can also help you to customise your feed (or more likely that the algorithm will do this for you), so that it matches your interest and needs. For example, with the extreme speed of the spread of AI in the field of digital learning, it's great to see how other people think about the possibilities and the possible dangers of utilising this new technology.
Meet-ups, conferences and workshops
People deciding to specialise in the field of online / digital learning probably feel even more need to meet fellow professionals to share ideas and solutions to the issues they face.
Attending conferences, workshops and meet-ups is a great way to educate ourselves about the latest trends and to be able to build relationships with people who are either in the same shoes or who have more experience.
Meeting face-to-face brings great opportunities to ask people about their experiences and also to understand what they do in their job. This can further diversify your views about what exactly it means when someone says that they do e-learning development or instructional design. Or the variety of things it can mean to be precise as you will soon notice that many times there's an overlap between the roles and job functions.
If you're interested in digital learning meetups in the UK, feel free to get in touch. I regularly organise events in London and Cambridge to bring like-minded people together with a shared excitement for learning and development.
Where to find opportunities?
By this stage of your process, it could be an idea to check if there are any small projects either at your current workplace or in the area where you could start utilising your newly learnt skills and the skills that you developed in your earlier roles.
Advice related to new opportunities might be an evergreen question in most of the industries out there. There are a lot of different opinions and tactics depending on background, expertise, currrent situation, rates, geographical status and so on.
Some think it's better to focus on developing and showcasing skills which can attract work opportunities. Others believe it's good to actively reach out and apply to jobs and freelance opportunities.
In summary, here are a few methods to consider:
Traditional job sites, for example: Indeed
LinkedIn job search - for both full-time and freelance opportunities
Agencies specialising in digital learning
Establishing online presence for potential clients / employers to notice
Freelancing sites: UpWork, Fiverr
Are UpWork and Fiverr bad?
Again, mixed views on this, but there's some kind of agreement regarding the fact that it can be a good start for most people while building their portfolio or looking for something on the side. These sites usually require minimal investment in terms of setting up your profile and getting started with applying (bidding) for opportunities.
As mentioned in a previous post, having a few small projects through UpWork or Fiverr (probably lower hourly rate/project fee) can help you to get an idea about the requirements and the "feel" of some of the projects that are out there. However, it's important to note that these sites are dangerous lands as it's sometimes a bit difficult to understand why someone is picked or not picked for an opportunity.
How it worked for me
When I got started, the first opportunities came through UpWork, Fiverr and LinkedIn and it was a combination of someone finding me on the site or me reaching out to
find out more about opportunities. The work from these allowed me to gain some insight, earn a bit of money on the side and become more confident while I was developing my understanding related to the requirements and some of the tasks that could come up during these projects. I'm still in touch with some of the clients from there, so these sites can be a good place to build longer relationships too.
In terms of collecting information and networking, I found LinkedIn to be a great place where I met with a lot of friendly and helpful people who were happy to share their perspectives and give me tips. Later on, as mentioned above, face-to-face get togethers which have been great to gather a wide variety of views and experiences.
This is the end of the fourth part of the series of blog posts. The next part is: 5. Find a job / look for opportunities to get some experience in the field while continuing to improve the skills that are required related to landing the position you would like
Let me know in the comments where you are with your journey! If you are interested in any other topics in the world of instructional design, e-learning and digital learning, check out the other blog posts on the page.
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