My online portfolio - any feedback appreciated
Nov 04, 2019
I just finished making an online portfolio. I'm still fairly new to ID though I think a lot of my current work is relevant to it. I'm teaching myself ID software and this portfolio is the beginning of trying to market myself as an ID. I'd appreciate any feedback on how I can improve it.
You can see it here. Keep in mind I'm a beginner so there isn't a lot. There is maybe one more project I can add but it is quite similar to one already up there.
My main challenges were highlighting my work as instructional design when I don't actually have that title. My title is often "Content Author" though I work with SMEs to design courses. I didn't always work on the projects from start to finish, so the needs analysis or evaluation of the project were sometimes done without me. Did I market my skills well while avoiding the fact that I am not an official "instructional designer"?
Another challenge is that most of my projects are protected by NDAs, so I made mock-up pictures to illustrate the processes I used or to imitate the final products. Do my mock-ups work well?
Thank you for any help with this!
3 Replies
While needs analysis and evaluation are important aspects of instructional design, so is the ability to translate "SME speak" into engaging learning experiences. That's what you're doing, so I'd say you are an Instructional Designer.
Full disclosure: I started out "just writing" courses. But because that included determining where/how interactions would work, as well as the overall flow of the courses, my clients started to refer to me as an ID. Now I use that title, too. When meeting with a potential new client, I do make it clear that I don't have a degree in ID and that I focus on the content-prep aspect of the process (as well as eLearning development with Storyline). So far, no one has complained about my lack of official credentials.
BTW, I've seen some official IDs (i.e., people with degrees/certifications) who weren't good at performing the actual content work. They understood the overall ID process, but they simply didn't have the skills to grasp new content, organize it, and present it in a meaningful and engaging way.
Good luck, Instructional Designer Natalie!
Hi Judy,
Thank you so much for the insight and words of encouragement. It's good to know I have a shot :)
You have performed the duties of an Instructional Designer. I too, have never had it as a title, but my website has samples and articles written about ID that I have completed for a number of projects that I have worked on.
I'd suggest a good reading of a book entitled "The Accidental Instructional Designer". It's a great read.
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