Do You Need an Instructional Design Degree or Certificate?

[@DevlinPeckYT]

Grab the free "Become an ID" interactive checklist: www.devlinpeck.com/become-an-id-checklist

[@DevlinPeckYT]

@@theonetrueking2685 Thank you so much for sharing your experience here! Guy Wallace definitely knows his stuff and I follow him as well. I wish that our field as a whole was more concerned with producing results (and actually had the agency to do so at our organizations). Many IDs are in a position where they're fighting an uphill battle to use more performance-oriented approaches. If you're in a position where your stakeholders will respond well to it, then definitely dive deeper into the analysis and performance consulting skillset. For something that's approachable and well respected, check out Cathy Moore and action mapping. Here's a video intro to that: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mGKViZiVe8xgr80

[@813kengarcia]

Funny story... a few years ago I spoke with an ID hiring manager and was told I would need a Masters to land the position so off I went. Turns out that is not true, but in the end it was worth it! I can speak confidently about adult learning and I have credibility with my team and clients. I'm not sure of the pay structure, but I came in with a bit of a higher title so I'm assuming there is a difference. It worked for me, BUT you DO NOT necessarily need a masters degree to break into the field. There are so many wonderful people like Devlin in our industry who help out with valuable resources and most of it is Free 99! Another great video Devlin, thanks!

[@DevlinPeckYT]

Thanks so much, Ken! The degree definitely can’t hurt 😃. Mine has helped me a lot as well. Glad to hear that yours seems to be paying off very nicely.

[@omod2793]

Go Noles! I was in the instructional design program at FSU too over 10 years ago, and you’re right. It’s great for acquiring foundational knowledge and skills. But importantly, it is great for networking. I am not a very social person, but It helped me get my first job without even trying hard. Programs like FSU, Indiana, and Penn State, as well as others can help you get your foot in the door. But you’re right, when on those programs, you have to be personally proactive in learning the relevant up to date technical skills because sometimes the focus can be more on the conceptual.

[@DevlinPeckYT]

Yes, go Noles! And thank you so much for sharing this perspective here. The strong degree programs can definitely help you get into the field, but it will still take a decent amount of work on your own :D

[@teresaredfern9158]

Thank you so much! My experience includes 14 years as a teacher with a masters in Ed. Tech and an Ed.S in Leadership and Curriculum. I have recently decided to take a new pathway in my educational adventure and migrate to the corporate environment. I appreciate you and all you do....this is some really good advice!

[@DevlinPeckYT]

Thanks Teresa! Glad to hear that you're transitioning into corporate instructional design :D. And you're welcome!

[@omanleader2020]

It's almost the same everywhere, government and Academic value the degree and certificate more than corporates. I am considering having a degree but maybe at a later stage. Thank You Dev, for the valuable info

[@DevlinPeckYT]

You’re welcome, Ahmed. And that does seem to hold true in the ID space as well 😃

[@laurenhall4941]

Thanks for this helpful video! I was looking into certificates to build skills, but now I'm going to stick with my Masters in Teaching and keep working on my skills to build a portfolio :)

[@DevlinPeckYT]

You're welcome, Lauren! Thanks so much for checking it out :D. And that sounds like a great path forward.

[@cynthiareid2374]

Thanks @Devlin I am following up your advice. I am a recently lecturer... 3 years I love teaching and design my sessions according to audience... Adult learners without and with job experience but not overwhelmed administration actions and my experience is about talent attraction. I guess thet this is a good combination because I come two worlds. Thanks Devlin again

[@DevlinPeckYT]

You're so welcome! Thanks for sharing your experience with us :)

[@JessieCarty]

As always, you weigh the pros and cons really well. I think if I didn't already have a masters (MFA), I would have considered pursuing one in ID partially because I always wanted a masters AND since I think I am leaning a bit towards the Higher Ed world (not just because of the job I got!) or non-profit work. I'm really glad you offer the Bootcamp because I tried other learn-on-your own options for other topics and for this I just really wanted an option with feedback without specifically enrolling in a degree program.Thanks as always!

[@DevlinPeckYT]

You're welcome, as always, Jessie! And it is really interesting how the timing worked out with you joining the bootcamp right as you landed a new role. Still sounds like you will have time to dive into it though :D. I really am looking forward to seeing the portfolio you create.

[@id_1146]

Informative conversation. Thank you. 😊. Can you please share whether an online masters in instructional design would be a good idea for instructional design jobs in Higher Education?

[@JessieCarty]

@@id_1146 the position I recently obtained in higher ed said they preferred someone with a master's and/or teaching experience. While I do have teaching experience, my master's is not in ID.

[@id_1146]

@@JessieCarty I am very grateful.

[@mariebaker8592]

I have a masters in psychology and I currently teach, so LMSs and other software for authoring I have knowledge of. I think I find difficulty in creating the portfolio because I'm not sure what to include. I don't want to go back to school unless I'm working on my doctorate.

[@DevlinPeckYT]

That's good that you don't need to worry about getting another degree right now. Here's a video about creating your portfolio: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pl7Xc5qvqZigeMk

[@felicial7628]

The external validation aspect for me is HUGE! I am working on my MEd in Instructional Design. I felt strongly that this is the right field for me and I felt frustrated by not meeting job requirements for applications. BUT, my time is divided several ways because I am working full time in a different field AND going to school AND trying to get into ID. I have the option of a cert as a fallback in case I choose not to finish for some reason. I have just discovered this channel. And, I find it to be invaluable. I am stuck on understanding what is good enough for a portfolio. On one hand, I want to impress. On another, my time is limited. Any thoughts on the level of polish needed?

[@DevlinPeckYT]

Hi Felicia! I’m glad to hear that you’re pursuing a degree and it’s working for you. But yes, it can definitely keep you quite busy! Regarding portfolios, it definitely takes time to put together a good one (likely more like weeks / months as opposed to days). Check out the portfolio review we did of Joe’s site. I’ll also do more videos like that to help show off a range of portfolio sites. Also, thanks for checking out the content on the channel. Happy to help 😃

[@wakacicero]

Again, very helpful!

[@DevlinPeckYT]

Happy to help!

[@acyeti]

Another useful video! Thanks Devlin! Would you say there's much difference in how much you're able to negotiate for jobs as a result of your MA in ID and portfolio, in comparison to someone who has a background in education, a good portfolio but not actually trained in ID?

[@DevlinPeckYT]

That’s a really good question, and I’m not sure I have a definitive answer. I definitely leveraged my MS and portfolio to land early work, but I was kind of naive at the same (hadn’t held a full-time job before, was fresh out of school, didn’t know how important contracts were, etc). People with backgrounds in education can garner a lot of credibility from it but only if they can speak about it well. If you talk about your education background like you would to someone else in education, then it will probably work against you in the ID hiring process. But if you can frame your past experience as an educator in ID terms, then you can give the impression that you’ve been doing common ID tasks for years (which you have been). As to which one is better / would help you more in negotiations...I really don’t know. I’m a firm believer that if you create a really strong portfolio (and can interview well) then a really good job offer will follow 😃. The other stuff (degree, past experience, etc) is just icing on the cake.

[@onetruecalling]

Thanks for the insights. I see all these high priced programs and Im thinking they are not necessary for landing a position since I have years of hands on experience

[@DevlinPeckYT]

You're welcome! And yes, you can definitely land good ID roles and make a big impact on a team without any high-price programs :D

[@Sherry-fn2kb]

Hello, I'm so happy that I came across your channel. I have a Master's in ID and I'm currently beginning dissertation classes for a PhD in Education: Instructional Technology/Design. I'm trying to get ideas on creating an eye popping eLearning portfolio. I have previous work as an ID, but it was a 6 month contract. I'm currently employed as an Adjunct Professor and I love that, but I want to land more ID jobs. If you have any tips or websites to check out for any remote jobs in Instructional design, I'd greatly appreciate it.

[@DevlinPeckYT]

Thanks Skay! The content on this channel should definitely help you with your portfolio. The next 2 videos I have planned will be of particular interest to you, too 😃. One is an eLearning portfolio review, and the other is reviewing some of the best scenario-based eLearning examples I’ve seen. Regarding remote ID jobs, I was looking on Indeed today and saw 40+ posted in the past week. If you’re looking for contract / project work, LinkedIn is a great place to be.

[@Sherry-fn2kb]

@@DevlinPeckYT thanks so much for the information, I'll certainly be checking out the upcoming videos. --Sherry

[@DevlinPeckYT]

@@Sherry-fn2kb sounds good, thanks! They go live every Tuesday.

[@Sherry-fn2kb]

@@DevlinPeckYT last question, I apologize for asking so many. Do you have a video that shows just your eLearning portfolio? I'm a visual person and I like simplicity, I just want to be able to click on a video or website of a portfolio that is already completed. I've been searching with no luck so far. Thanks, Sherry

[@DevlinPeckYT]

@@Sherry-fn2kb Ask all of the questions that you need to, Sherry :). I did a portfolio review of Joe Stuben's website and I have another portfolio review video going live tomorrow. Here's the video we did of Joe's: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bGaXpGR7eqyCaJo

[@MineralFoliage]

You mention that a Masters opens doors in Higher Ed and governmental ID jobs, and mention that the corporate space is less picky about that degree level. Without a Masters or certificate, what ID jobs might one expect to be qualified for, given a strong portfolio and competency in Articulate Storyline? *Also, would you say your Bootcamp is more of a place to learn, or a place to produce a portfolio based on previous learning? I currently have no experience in Articulate Storyline and want to know where I should start.

[@DevlinPeckYT]

Hi Micah, great questions! You'd be qualified for 90%+ of the corporate "Instructional Design" job title roles out there. Senior IDs may be expected to take on a more performance-oriented role, but there is so much work out there right now for people who are well-versed in learning theory and can actually build the thing. Regarding the bootcamp, it's a place to get support while building your portfolio website. It does not teach Articulate Storyline, but we are doing a SL workshop tomorrow that teaches you how to do everything in SL that would be necessary for the flagship project. We also have weekly workshops where people come to get help and feedback, and it's not uncommon that we help people with Storyline programming there. Let me know if you have any other questions :)

[@tonycicerone]

Anyone have thoughts on the best bachelor degree programs for ID?

[@MsMelephant19]

I have just Associates of Applied Science and a Paralegal Certificate. What should I get my undergraduate in so i can work on breaking into this field? Thank you

[@DevlinPeckYT]

Hi Melanie! I'd suggest getting your undergrad in whatever you're most passionate about :D. The skills will most likely translate into ID (research, communication, technical skills, writing skills, etc). I did English Lit but there are so many that would be good!

[@bdattaraj]

Thank you 🙏

[@DevlinPeckYT]

You’re welcome 😊

[@SoloTravelCoach]

Curious, in your research did the respondents get asked about candidates with ANY bachelors degree or with an ID degree?

[@DevlinPeckYT]

A bachelor's degree in any subject tends to be the minimum education requirement. It doesn't specifically need to be ID if you can show that you have the skills!

[@SoloTravelCoach]

@@DevlinPeckYT yeah I was just curious if the survey had specified what kind of a bachelor's. Thank you for all this information. Really appreciate it. I'm reentering the workforce after a decade plus of caregiving and I was dreading going back into HR desperately looking for something that could be done partially or fully remotely that would use my talents and thank God for Reddit I stumbled upon this field!

[@abdulo8963]

I have a masters degree in Accounting. I am interested in this field, would you suggest getting a masters degree?

[@DevlinPeckYT]

Hi Mateentech, good question! If you're trying to land a corporate ID job, then your time may be better invested in building the practical skills and showing them off in a strong portfolio :)

[@abdulo8963]

@@DevlinPeckYT Those practical skills, what are they? How do I get them? I can't attend bootcamps as I don't live in the US. What do you suggest?

[@omod2793]

@@abdulo8963 Check some of Devlin’s previous videos. He explains what skills you need and how to get them.

[@DevlinPeckYT]

@Abdul O This video is a good starting point: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a57NgZxqa5iHmbc

[@abdulo8963]

@@DevlinPeckYT THANKS