Mostly, I think you should study something that excites you. Whatever you’re passionate about will be more motivating, and then you’ll have that background to combine with a masters in instructional design when you go to look for a job down the road.

My question is, since I currently don’t have an undergrad degree and would like to pursue a career as an instructional designer, what do you think would be the best major to pursue? I checked out the local university in town and they have an education major, but it seems to only focus on elementary & secondary education, which I’m sure I don’t want to pursue… I’m not a “stand up in front of the class” kind of person, but could do it occassionally if I needed to. I’m also very interested in medicine in the informatics kind of way. I would love to be able to get that job, but right now I don’t have what it takes. Any suggestions on how to start?
Thanks very much

I think that’s actually a good sign for the future of instructional design though; people clearly will continue to need learning, maybe even more than in the past. We have to work to keep ourselves relevant, of course, and I don’t think that everything we do will continue to be discrete courses, but there are ample opportunities for creating and supporting learning.

I do, however, think that instructional designers spend more of their time learning than people in most other fields. We have to be good at picking up content quickly and without great materials, since we’re the ones making those great learning experiences. Instructional designers have to be more responsible for their own self-directed learning.

Thank you for this insightful information.

I am currently a grad student in the Instructional Design and Technology field at Walden University. For many years, I struggled with what I wanted to be “when I grew up”. After several years in the workforce, I found a job as an administrative assistant at a community college. I found that I love the field of education, so much so, that I decided to go back to school. I first finished my associate degree in 2006, my bachelor degree this past August (09), and started on a M.S. this past September (09). Like you, I enjoy learning new things.

The turning point for me, when I decided that I really wanted to stay in the field of education, was when I was asked to develop training material for a new ERP software application our college implemented. I really enjoyed developing the training material, and I enjoyed conducting one-on-one training with fellow employees. That is when the light bulb went on, so to speak, and I found the direction I wanted to go with my career.

As I read your post, it further confirmed that I am in the right field for me. I love learning and technology, and I love helping others learn new things. As an administrative assistant, I always work behind the scenes, and that is where I prefer to be.

In this article, you mention the need for continuous learning in the instructional design field. It would seem that continuous learning is fast becoming a requirement of many fields. My husband has worked in the information technology field for a decade. That field also requires continuous learning. I have also found, through my own experiences, that even the office administration field requires continuous learning. As Henry Ford said, “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty” (Quote Garden, 2009).

Thank you again for the insightful information.

Reference:

Quote Garden. (2009). Quotations about learning. Retrieved November 8, 2009, from http://www.quotegarden.com/learning.html.

Thanks a lot. I found the info extremely useful. I am into technical writing for almost 2 years and have enjoyed this field. I am looking to become a highly skilled instructional designer and always look for useful resources.

Thanks again.

Sooooo glad I came across your blog. Very excited. I finally know what to call and how to pursue the career I’ve known for some time was my ‘calling’. ID is exactly what I want to do and this blog is really helpful for someone who, like myself, needs a little push in the right direction. Thank you.