What is Instructional Design?
This microlearning course is designed to provide a brief overview of the field of Instructional Design
Audience: Aspiring Instructional Designers
Responsibilities: Instructional Design, eLearning Development, Script writing, Video editing
Tools Used: Animaker, Microsoft Word, YouTube
The Problem
Many individuals are interested in transitioning into the field of Instructional Design, but struggle to find a clear starting point. While there are plenty of articles and videos available that describe the field, there is a lack of a concise and accessible resource that consolidates all the questions that job seekers typically have.
The Solution
I produced a concise and informative 3-minute video that provides essential knowledge for individuals aspiring to become Instructional Designers. The video covers a range of topics, including the definition and core responsibilities of an ID, the types of instructional materials that are in high demand in today's companies, the hard skills and tools that companies seek in proficient candidates, as well as the job outlook and average starting salary in the field.
My Process
To create a valuable resource for individuals seeking to transition into the field of Instructional Design, I first conducted research to identify the most frequently asked questions. With these questions in mind, I acted as the subject matter expert and provided thorough answers to each query. I knew that I wanted to create a short video to convey the information, thus I crafted a script that addressed the key points in a conversational tone. I utilized Animaker to bring the video to life and then posted the final product on YouTube to ensure accessibility to all.
Script Writing
Following the Microlearning theory, I wrote a concise and informative script that addressed the key questions of those seeking to enter the field of Instructional Design. I wanted to convey a conversational tone that would engage learners while effectively delivering the essential information to achieve the desired learning outcomes.
Visual and Auditory Design
I utilized Animaker to create custom visuals for the video, incorporating characters and graphics into the scenes. To maintain a consistent look and feel, I chose a calming color palette that flowed seamlessly throughout the various scenes. In order to differentiate between the two speakers in the video, I used two different text box colors, pink and blue, for the male and female characters, respectively.
When selecting the background music, I wanted to choose a track that was positive and uplifting, in order to instill a sense of hope and empowerment in the learners.
Video creation and editing
When creating the video, my primary objective was to ensure that it had a cohesive flow. To achieve this, I incorporated various transitions and zooming effects to provide smooth transitions between scenes.
My second focal point was making the conversation between the two characters more natural. Specifically, I used zooming to shift the focus between the two characters having a conversation and edited the video to align the transitions with the changing dialogue. By doing so, learners were able to follow the conversation more easily and the video flowed more like a natural conversation.
Final Product
After completing the video, I uploaded it to YouTube and shared it with individuals who were interested in transitioning into the field of instructional design. The feedback I received was positive, with many saying that the video provided them with a solid foundation of the steps they need to do to enter the field.
Results and Takeaways
This project provided me with valuable insights and learning opportunities. As someone with a passion for video creation, I was able to apply my knowledge of learning theories to the video design process.
If I were to repeat this project, I would like to create visual mockups of the characters and background images using Adobe Illustrator to create a more engaging and story-like feel. In addition, I would consider adding a voice-over of the characters speaking so that learners could benefit from both reading and listening to the information provided.