Education has taken great strides over the years. In addition to the increase in online learning opportunities, we’ve seen educators and career development specialists work hard to make education more inclusive, accessible, and flexible for people with diverse learning styles. And instructional designers have played a major role in this movement.
Instructional designers are creative professionals who develop educational experiences, materials, and programs to facilitate learning for others. Their primary role is to design, develop, and implement engaging instructional methods that can be adopted–and embraced–in classroom and organizational settings. The work of an instructional designer is important for schools as well as companies. But exactly where do instructional designers work?
Let’s find out!
Common Workplaces for Instructional Designers
Instructional designers typically take one of two pathways: They may work in academia, developing learning materials and programs for students of all ages. Or, they may work in organizational settings, such as businesses and facilities, helping develop employees through engaging, curated training programs.
Let’s explore some of the specific places where instructional designers can work after graduation from college or university.
Learn how to become an instructional designer here.
1. Schools
Most instructional designers work in the education sector, including in K-12 schools and higher education institutions. In K-12 settings, instructional designers work closely with teachers and administrators to develop curricula, lesson plans, and activities tailored to a diversity of students’ needs. In higher education settings, instructional designers may help to develop online or hybrid learning courses, in addition to ideating engaging classroom experiences.
2. Corporate Businesses
Another popular place where instructional designers can work is the corporate sector. Rather than developing learning materials for students, these professionals create training programs, onboarding materials, and career development resources for employees. They may help bring new hires up to speed or bolster existing employees into leadership roles. Instructional designers may also be leveraged to create training materials around new technologies, compliance requirements, and policies within the business setting.
3. Consulting Firms
All businesses require some level of training and career development resources. However, not every company hires instructional designers in-house. Some businesses will tap into consulting services to receive recommendations or resources for instructional design. As such, instructional designers may also find work for consulting firms that specialize in career development. In this role, instructional designers continue to help organizations develop and implement training solutions for employees.
Of course, you do not need to be hired by a consulting firm to enter this type of work. You can also start your own consulting business! Many instructional designers work as freelance consultants or independent contractors, offering services to various organizations on a project basis. This allows for flexibility and the opportunity to work with a diverse range of clients.
4. Government Agencies
Another workplace option for instructional designers is government agencies, which hire instructional designers to create training programs for public workers. In these agencies, instructional designers focus on ensuring public workers have the skills and knowledge necessary to carry out their day-to-day jobs.
Within the government, instructional designers may also find work in military settings, developing training programs for personnel by focusing on must-know technical skills, leadership, and operational procedures.
5. Non-Profit Organizations
Perhaps you wish to work in a business setting, but corporate and government positions are simply not calling your name. Perhaps you have a passion for a certain cause. You might be encouraged to know that instructional designers can also find work in non-profit agencies and organizations, conducting similar duties to the jobs listed above. In non-profit settings, instructional designers work to create educational programs and materials that align with and support the organization’s mission. This might include training for volunteers, community education initiatives, or educational outreach programs to spread awareness of a cause.
6. Healthcare Industry
Another way that instructional designers can make an impact on the lives of others is through a career in the healthcare industry. And this isn’t your typical healthcare career. Instructional designers do not provide patient care, but rather, develop training programs for medical professionals. These programs often include continuing education opportunities, compliance training, technical skills adoption, and patient education materials.
Additionally, branching out to public health, instructional designers can find work as health educators and promotion specialists, creating materials that will be used to teach the public about larger health issues and preventative measures.
Some instructional designers also work for pharmaceutical companies, designing educational materials to share with consumers regarding new products, regulatory requirements, and instructions for medical use.
7. Technology Companies
We’re living in a digital world, and instructional designers are embraced more than ever in technology-focused careers. For example, with the adoption of online learning (in schools of all levels), instructional designers are being hired by ed-tech companies to develop e-learning materials, instructional software for teachers, and educational apps. Furthermore, instructional designers can find work in IT companies (or IT departments of companies), working to create digestible training materials on new software programs, to be used by organizations.
In each of these diverse settings, instructional designers play a crucial role in ensuring that learning experiences (whether received by students, teachers, employees, or businesses) are effective, engaging, and accessible, tailored to the needs of the audience.
Becoming an Instructional Designer
Instructional design is an exciting career where you can put your creativity to use, developing educational materials in a diversity of workplace settings. Whether you wish to educate the public about health issues, develop fun learning materials for elementary students, or create onboarding plans for the next big tech company, you can take your pick from an array of career options after college graduation.
And that last point is key — If you wish to become an instructional designer today, a college education is required. At the minimum, most employers will look for instructional designers with a bachelor’s degree. However, many will seek candidates with a specialized education, and some may prefer a graduate-level education.
At Goodwin University, we offer an Instructional Design Certificate program to aspiring professionals with a pre-existing bachelor’s degree. By completing this specialized certificate program, instructional design candidates can advance in their careers and qualify for titles like professional development trainer, learning coach, instructional designer, and more! The certificate is especially great for school teachers, career coaches, and training professionals who wish to take their jobs to the next level.
If you’re ready to take that next step, reach out to us today. Goodwin’s Instructional Design certificate program is designed for working professionals, with accelerated classes offered entirely online — so you can design your schedule to fit into your life.