In 2005, now Emeritus Professor, Richard Schwier, Educational Technology and Design, USask and Dean Emeritus at the Faculty of Extension, U of A, Katy Campbell, along with two other authors, published a literature review of What Instructional Designers Do.

In this post we attempt to summarize and demystify some of those findings as they relate to the work of the Instructional Designers (ID) here at the Distance Education Unit. We’ve condensed the multitude of roles that an ID performs into 4 categories:

1. 1. Change agency
   2. Professional Development Facilitator/Coordinator
   3. Quality Assurance
   4. Project Coordinator

Continue reading on the DEU Blog What IS Instructional Design Anyway?

Photo by RODNAE Productions from Pexels

I am a USask alumna, having earned an M.Ed. (Educational Technology & Design), as well as a B.Ed and B.Sc (Biology). In 2017, at the tail end of my graduate studies, I joined the Distance Education Unit in my current ID role. Previously, I worked in Adult Basic Education as a math and science teacher, and as a Graduate Teaching Fellow and seminar instructor in the College of Education. In my spare time I keep busy as a musician, occasional music writer, and Golden Doodle walker.

My Approach to Instructional Design

My favourite thing about working as an Instructional Designer is the relationships I get to build with faculty and instructors (or “SMEs” – subject matter experts), and collaborating with them to make their best ideas for their online courses come to life. I also really enjoy de-mystifying educational technologies and answering questions related to “what tool to use?” and “how to use it?” Overall, I really like to “grease the wheels” of a course development in whatever way necessary so that the great teachers I work with can more simply do what they do best – teach.

When working on course developments, I often consider myself as a proxy for future students. I’m looking for potential spots of student confusion or frustration in the various elements of the course – the content, learning activities, assessments, and navigational scheme – and can recommend ways to remove those issues or barriers before students ever see them. I consider this an extension of my role as a student advocate – I am always looking to empower learners with more flexible, user-friendly, interactive, and socially-engaging online learning experiences.

Some Cool Stuff I’ve Worked On

I’ve had the opportunity to work on some very interesting and unique projects in my time at DEU. A few that come to mind are:

• • Supporting Dr. Jorden Cummings and Lee Sanders in the development of their PSY 120/121 open textbook.
  • Supporting Dr. Carrie Prefontaine in the use of student blogging for WGST 210.
  • Online program design and incorporation of longitudinal eportfolios for the Health Professions Education graduate program.
  • Working with Dr. Harold Bull to create a boatload of H5P interactive learning activities to improve his BMSC 210 online course (here’s one fun example).