What am I studying anyway?

When I tell people I’m studying instructional design (ID), I tell them, “I’m learning how to make computer programs that teach people to do things.” It’s a simplistic answer. Some people then tell me how bad they are at computers. I’m no computer genius, but it is funny sometimes to see people’s reactions.

My simple answer here comes from what I understood about ID before I applied for the program. My supervisor from my last job introduced me to ID. He is in charge of websites (specifically the user’s experience with websites) and designs websites—hence my idea that ID uses only computers as the form of delivery. After reading the introductory chapters, I realize that ID includes any kind of media, even old-fashioned print.

I also have more appreciation for the researching, planning, and evaluation stages of ID. The discussion about instruction vs. education was helpful. I learned that ID is a very planned process, with good reason too. Instructional designers are hired to help learners achieve certain goals. Designers need to make sure they understand the situation and that their work is doing what it should. Designers really do have to keep the goal in mind.

A better explanation of ID is that designers analyze a need or a problem, research how to solve that problem through instructional material, create that material, and evaluate the results. As far as explaining my degree, I like the simplistic answer. But I think I will now tell people that I’m learning to create all types of instructional materials that will help people learn what they need.