Thank you, Thomas Shayon Harrell! Using e-learning authoring tools does not make someone an instructional designer—and that distinction matters. Instructional design begins long before a slide, module, or interaction is built. It requires disciplined preparation grounded in how adults learn and apply new skills in real environments. Effective instructional designers analyze performance gaps, identify business or learner needs, define measurable outcomes, and intentionally sequence learning to support transfer—not just completion. Behind every well-designed learning experience is preparation that includes audience analysis, cognitive load considerations, adult learning theory, assessment strategy, and evaluation planning. Tools are simply the delivery mechanism; the value comes from the intentional decisions made before any content is produced. Adults do not need more information—they need learning that respects their experience, solves real problems, and supports behavior change. That is the work of instructional design. #InstructionalDesign #AdultLearning #LearningExperienceDesign #LearningStrategy #PerformanceBasedLearning
I used Adobe Captivate. Built courses. Hit publish. And thought I was an instructional designer. 🤦🏾♂️ New IDs and eLearning developers, hear me out: Building training content with #eLearning authoring tools does NOT make you an instructional designer. That's like saying, "Because I use Microsoft Excel in my job, that makes me a data analyst." Not! ❌ The tool is not the craft. I know because I fell into this same trap. The wake-up call came while working at a previous employer. I was part of a small internal group collaborating with an L&D consultant to build a leadership development course. Working alongside that consultant? It exposed how poor my actual instructional design skills were. 👉🏾 She asked questions I never thought to ask. 👉🏾 She applied frameworks I'd only heard of. 👉🏾 She approached the learner experience in ways I hadn't considered. I was humbled. And grateful. That experience showed me how much I still had to learn beyond clicking buttons and arranging slides. Don't fall into the same trap I did. If you want to grow as an instructional designer, immerse yourself in: 🔹 Sound instructional design frameworks (Action Mapping, SAM, Backward Design) 🔹 Cognitive Load Theory 🔹 The science of how people actually learn and retain information The tools will always change. New versions. New features. New platforms. But the fundamentals of effective learning design? Those are timeless. 🙅🏾♂️ Your value isn't in mastering Captivate, Storyline, or Rise. ✅ Your value is in knowing the WHY and HOW of learning in the first place! #IDProThomas #NewIDCareerTips #InstructionalDesign 🤎 BE ENCOURAGED 🤎 Enjoyed this post? Help others discover it by: ➡️ Following me for more, 📝Commenting, ♻️Reposting it, and Saving it, to reread later! 😉
