With information easier to access, you might assume that eLearning is something you can do with your existing team members. Sure, it may save you time and money if you don’t hire an instructional designer but this often results in a flop.

Learning projects can fail even as the experts are there, the content is arranged, and the training materials are prepared. Participants won’t come away with new skills or knowledge. The resources just go down the drain. It’s similar to handing students textbooks and telling them to learn on their own.

The importance of instructional design can’t be overestimated.

However, you shouldn’t get someone for a freelance or part-time arrangement. It shouldn’t be a minor task left to the HR department either. Hire a specialist full-time instead.

Why Every Company Needs an Instructional Designer

• They work with your subject matter experts to develop a training program.
• They create content that matches your objectives and suits the target audience.
• They edit the materials according to the changing needs of the team.
• They’re readily available to address training-related questions or concerns.
• They help people learn more efficiently through high-quality learning materials.
• They remove the need to hire outsiders for re-working or maintenance.
• They offer a fresh perspective to keeping training fun and engaging.

What to Look for in an Instructional Designer

Now that you know the value an instructional designer can bring to your company, it’s time to begin your search for one to add to your team. But don’t pick just any candidate; find someone who has the following essential skills:

Communication

They must be capable of expressing their thoughts concisely. These should convey the purpose of the program while keeping the audience engaged.

How they craft the content will have a major effect on the quality of the training. Good writing skills are a must to deliver the right materials, so they need to practice proper punctuation and grammar.

People skills

To gather information for their content, a good instructional designer needs to be comfortable with conversing with others. They must be able to ask the right questions and understand the answers they receive. This helps them connect with subject matter experts and the training materials.

Having knowledge about body language and tone is especially important for a specialist who is remote. It’s more challenging to get the correct message when conversations are done online, after all.

Creativity

Choose a person who knows how to think outside the box. Though the content may be the same, they can present the information in a fresh and appealing way to the audience. Visual aids are especially helpful for boosting interaction on technical topics.

Conducting activities (such as games) also draws the attention of learners and help them retain what they’ve learned. Even if sessions are held online, there are plenty of games that can be done through a video conference as well.

Flexibility

Projects don’t always work out as they should, so find an ID specialist who can adjust to any changes. You’ll want someone who can handle a glitch and have a backup plan so time won’t be wasted on waiting for things to be resolved.

Flexibility is about knowing that problems may pop up and maintaining a good outlook despite this. They must be able to use their time wisely to keep the project moving forward regardless of issues.

Research skills

They must stay updated on the latest trends and incorporate that in their program. They study activities to encourage critical thinking and retention. They also think about how they can make their audience learn more effectively.

In being up-to-date on trends, they ensure that they’re following the current standards of the industry. They study how competitors train their teams to know about the best practices.

Time management

Usually, instructional designers have to juggle multiple projects at a time. Someone who knows how to properly manage their time will ensure that each project is progressing and deadlines are being met. They maintain a calendar to track all of their tasks.

There are plenty of apps available for time tracking these days. Project management tools like Trello or Teamwork are particularly useful so it helps if the ID specialist is familiar with them already.

Assessment

Pick someone who’s able to evaluate their lessons or the entire program properly. They need to recognise when a method isn’t working and consider different techniques. They should prioritise the learning of the audience over their own preferences.

It’s hard to work with someone who’ll insist on following a program that isn’t working. Opt for a person who is open to suggestions and can acknowledge if they need to do better.

Where to Find an Instructional Designer

Even the best managed training projects can get sidetracked, be it by unrealistic timelines, scope changes, or reassigned resources. To get your whole team ready to perform, we recommend hiring an instructional designer to handle the matter of eLearning.

Not anyone can handle the responsibility so make sure that you choose the right person. We at Remote Workmate can help you in finding candidates to consider for the role. Not only do we have a wide talent pool but also we’re connected to remote specialists from many locations.