Profiles in Learning, Design, & Technology

I found all the LDT positions I was interested in on Higher Ed Jobs. I also searched on Inside Higher Ed and The Chronicle of Higher Education Jobs as well as through a general Google search to discover any possible positions in Europe as well; overall, Higher Ed Jobs was the most valuable because it yielded the most results for positions that had a remote component, which is an important work feature for me to maintain a healthy work/life balance. I used typical key words such as Instructional Technology and Instructional Design. While much of my interest (and experience) remains in academia, I also wanted to include non-academic positions in my search as well as those that are part-time, contract positions. Below are the ones that I settled on:

While different job postings listed requirements particular to the positions, there were common trends across all of them. In general, the positions emphasized experience with learning design principles and technologies, communication and interpersonal skills, and leadership and problem solving capabilities. Below, I capture the shared requirements and qualifications of these positions.

Education & Work Experience

While the non-academic, contract position (iDesign) did not list a specific degree requirement, all the others listed a Master’s degree in Instructional Design, Instructional Technology, or related field as either required or preferred.
Again, while the non-academic, contract position (iDesign) was not specific about the length of work experience required, all the other positions listed a range of two to five years of work-related experience in instructional design and online education, and all mentioned a preference of work experience in higher education.

Experience With Technology

Staying current with rapidly changing technologies was a trend mentioned throughout.

Knowledge of creating learning experiences in learning management systems (LMS) featured on all positions, and while Canvas was the LMS mentioned most frequently, there was also mention of others, such as Blackboard and Moodle.
Knowledge of third-party educational technologies was also a trend, though the positions were not uniform in their examples of representative technologies. Here are some that were mentioned: Articulate, Captivate, Camtasia, and SoftChalk.
Proficiency with workplace technology, such as Adobe Creative Cloud, Microsoft Office, and Google Suite applications, was also a shared requirement.
Familiarity with gamification was mentioned in one posting.

Experience with Education Design

Knowledge of instructional design strategies, along with the current techniques, tools, and procedures used in the design, development, and evaluation of technology-enhanced and online courses and programs.
Knowledge of Universal Design and other principles and practices that meet accessibility standards

Critical Thinking & Communication

Ability to develop creative solutions to developing problems
Experience in leading and managing multiple, complex projects, and the ability to schedule, prioritize and meet varied deadlines across these projects.
Experience successfully working collaboratively on a project with multiple stakeholders.
Proven ability to work effectively and communicate with subject matter experts, peers, users and media developers

Insights from LDT Profiles

As I read through the postings, I realized that I was most confident in the qualifications that speak to the principles of designing learning experiences, proficiency in using a variety of learning management systems, and working collaboratively in teams to meet project goals and deadlines. While I do have knowledge of a handful of educational technologies, this project has reaffirmed my desire to gain working knowledge of further technologies, namely Articulate, Voice Thread, and Camtasia to start as they have repeatedly come up in my job searches. Also, the emphasis on not only collaborating on teams but leading and managing projects as a common trend among position requirements inspires me to take on more leadership roles and apply what we have learned about project management. Overall, I feel confident of managing any one of these positions and inspired to develop project management skills and continue to acquire knowledge of educational technologies.