Forum Discussion
Best Certification for Breaking into Instructional Design field
I was a certified teacher for 12 years, teaching students from 1st grade to 12th grade, holding an M.Ed. However, the program that prepared me the most, nailing my first interview as an ID, is getting an MS in Instructional Design & Technology from Full Sail University. It was a one-year program I took online, and I was able to maintain my regular teaching schedule. Most of the classes were asynchronous, allowing me to complete them at my convenience, usually at night. More than knowledge, I was in the practice of producing projects every week. When I had my interview as an ID in a field I had zero experience in (restaurants & hospitality), I was able to turn an Articulate project on food safety the next day. My interviewers later told me this impressed them the most. It was something they didn't ask for, but that program forced us to produce e-learning projects consistently, so it was no big deal for me. It's interesting to note that many graphic designers apply for ID positions. However, having a teaching background, combined with impressive graphic design skills, will help you stand out.
This is super interesting! I'm curious, in your online program from Full Sail, how big of a factor was learning to use tools like Articulate vs. the amount of time spent training more on things like, say, adult learning principles? I'm always curious about the breakdown between technical and practical skills.
Ironically, Full Sail did not train in ID-specific tools such as Articulate. They focused mainly on Online Learning strategies, project collaboration, and research-based methodologies. Articulate templates made it easy enough for me to whip out a quick e-learning module by applying these principles.
Oh interesting!