Getting an IDT Position and Succeeding at It

Instructional Design and Technology Positions

Learning Technology Support Specialist

Provide support for the delivery of learning technology services in an environment that is available 24/7 with low tolerance for downtime. Respond to, analyze, and resolve learning management systems problems and other learning technology problems.

Requirements - Under general supervision, provides support for campus learning technology services with focus on the learning management system. Supports and trains faculty/staff on the use of campus software and other technology tools. Coordinates and assists with the implementation of new learning technology projects with users and other IT team members.

Qualifications Bachelor's degree required. Additional experience in the support of learning management systems and other learning technologies may substitute for the Bachelor's degree on a year for year basis. Additional consideration may be given to candidates with specific technical certifications related to systems applicable to Angelo State University. 

A minimum of one year of experience in the support of a learning management system/environment and delivery of learning technology services. Strong project management and interpersonal skills are required.

Do you have these skills?
Not quite, I have a Bachelor's degree but do not have the one year minimum experience, only 6 months experience of teaching technology applications course.

Online Course Designer/ Developer

The OC Global Online Course Designer/Developer serves as a course designer/developer for online education at Odessa College.

Requirements - 

*Bachelor's degree in education or related field required.

*A minimum of two years work experience to include instructional design, curriculum development.

*Demonstrated experience working with subject matter experts to develop content.

*Knowledge and application of adult learning theory is preferred

*Effective design abilities.

*Experience with a learning management system (particularly Blackboard).

*Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and an

*Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, faculty and staff are essential.

*Ability to adapt to changes in priorities, scheduling and personalities.

*Ability to initiate tasks with little or no direction.

*Strong organizational skills and the ability to meet deadlines, prioritize, and work on multiple projects simultaneously with great efficiency and attention to detail.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

*Masters degree in instructional design or related field

*Multi-faceted production experience in a distance education, training, or digital media environment, including experience designing and developing courses using HTML, Flash, video, and graphics.

*Higher Education Experience

Do you have these skills?

Not quite, I have a Bachelor's degree, working on Master's degree, but lack required work experience and learning management system (Blackboard).

Information Processing Consultant

Provide instructional design and support to faculty/clients to facilitate the development of educational materials for delivery in a Web-based environment.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in instructional design, educational technology, or related fields required. Master's degree preferred.
• 2-3 year of professional work experience.
• Demonstrated experience of working in a team environment developing instructional learning material.
• Working knowledge of instructional design methods and practices.
• Commitment to or experience with racially diverse populations.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with educational media development.
• Experience in digitized audio and video technologies.
• Experience in effective pedagogical application of technology to teaching and learning, with a strong educational technology background.
• Experienced with Adobe development tools, i.e., eLearning Suite.
• Experience with the design and creation of instructional graphics.
• Ability to maintain high levels of creativity and quality

Do you have these skills?

No, I do not have Bachelor's degree in areas desired or minimum work experience.

Self assessment

What I learned from doing the assessments is that it is best to try more than one.  The first one I tried was the WorkMatrix but I didn’t really care for it.  I felt that it did not provide any additional information.  Even after putting the information in a spreadsheet, I already knew what the final outcome would be.  So then I went to CareerOneStop and tried one of their assessments.  I tried the one that does a profile over a particular job and matches your information according to similar skills needed.  I found that one to be a little more interesting because if provided information about how you matched up with others.  The last assessment I tried, I liked the most, the American Society for Training and Development.  The assessment provided detailed information regarding how your answers matched up with others in the field you selected, mine was entry level specialist.  What I liked most was how it provided detailed results in a PDF format with resources that could help you make improvements in the areas that you may have scored below the average.  Although the resources they listed were at a cost, it was a great idea offering a solution.  Besides, if you decided not to make a purchase, you could still look for an alternate resource on your own.

Based on my results I need to strengthen or improve on designing learning in areas of implementation, management, improving human performance, and collaborating with other design project members.  I am competent in areas of delivering training, personal and interpersonal relationships, measuring and evaluating, and business management. 

Professional organizations

• Professional organization: Society for Applied Learning Technology (SALT)
• Mission – professional society, designed for individual membership participation with classes of membership keyed to the interest and experience of the individual.  Provides a means to enhance the knowledge and job performance of an individual through meetings and publications.  Enables one to achieve knowledge for work in the field of applied learning technology by association with other professionals in conferences.
• Cost of membership - $55.00 per year
• Publications – Journal of Instruction Delivery Systems (JIDS), Journal of Interactive Instruction Development(JIID) and Journal of Education Technology Systems(JETS)
• Conferences and meetings – sponsors conferences which are educational and cover areas such as elearning, web-based training, mobile learning, interactive multimedia in education and training, learning management systems, instructional systems design and performance support systems
• Opportunities for professional development – Provide resources related to Applied Learning Technology and conferences during the year

• Professional organization: Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education
• Mission – international association of individual teacher educators and affiliated organization of teacher educators in all disciplines interested in the creation and dissemination of knowledge about the use o information technology in teacher education and faculty/staff development. 

The Society seeks to promote research, scholarship, collaboration, exchange, and support among its membership, and to actively foster the development of new national organizations where a need emerges. SITE is the only organization that has as its sole focus the integration of instructional technologies into teacher education programs.

• Cost of membership – Professional $115, Student $35
• Publications - Journal of Technology and Teacher Education(JTATE) and Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education (CITE)
• Conferences and meetings – has yearly conferences that are about a week long, also offers virtual presentations
• Opportunities for professional development – participates in Special Interest Groups, offers several presentation types, collaboration with peers and other organizations, leadership and mentoring opportunities

Professional publications

• Professional publications: Learning and Leading with Technology (L&L)
• Focus/Goals of the journal -
• Submission guidelines – A query must first be submitted that includes a brief description of your article idea and why you think the information would be useful to their audience.  After approval has been received from the editor manuscripts should be in first person and writing should be lively and engaging.  Identify all adults mentioned in examples or as sources of information by first and last name, position and/or job title, school or district, and city and state/province, and/or country.  Identify minors by first name only unless written permission has been given to use their full name.  Any hypothetical situations should be referenced as such.  No more than two authors, reference list not required but include a list of resources mentioned in the article.  Types of articles accepted include: Learning Connections articles, Reviews, Tips, and Supplementary Materials.
• Is this a peer reviewed journal? - No
• Is the journal online? Yes

• Professional publications: International Journal of Instructional Media(IJIM)
• Focus/Goals of the journal – source of research and commentary on all forms of instructional media used in instruction and training such as computer technology, distance learning and media research.  Bridges the gap between theory and practice.
• Submission guidelines – Electronic and hard copy submissions accepted, hard copies must be mailed in triplicate and printed on 8 ½” by 11” white paper one side only, double spaced and accompanied by a CD_R disc in MS Word format, no longer than 15 pages, original articles only, abstracts of 100 to 150 words required to introduce each article, footnotes places at end of article under works cited, figures referenced in text to appear in numerical sequence starting with Figure 1, tables must be cited in text with numerical sequence starting with Table 1.
• Is this a peer reviewed journal? - Yes
• Is the journal online? - Yes

The journals and organizations are useful to me and my career because they provide a current resource for what is happening in my field and provides a way for me to stay an active learner and participant.  These organizations offer an opportunity to network with others by attending conferences, seminars and/or workshops, and by providing current job information or openings. 

Most of them were new to me except SITE, I had heard of it before but never really looked that much into it.  I have researched other organizations on my own just to see what was available.  Most of the ones I found leaned more toward technology teachers in Texas.  I also have a few other organizations that I follow on Facebook or their website.

Performance technologist

Domains -

1.     Analysis

2.     Development

3.     Management

4.     Evaluation

Competencies –

1.     Use partnerships or collaborate with clients and other experts as required.

2.     Manage an environment that fosters learning and performance.

3.     Design instructions that reflect an understanding of the diversity of learners and groups of learners.

4.     Use media and technology to enhance learning and performance.

5.     Look at situations systematically, taking into consideration the larger context including competing pressures, resource constraints and anticipated change.

6.     Identify and resolve ethical and legal implications.

7.     Provide clarification and feedback.

Performance statements-

1.     Protect the privacy, candidness and confidentiality of client information and communications

2.     Use the highest professional standards of ethics, honesty, and integrity in all facets of their work

3.     Use PT only in support of humane, socially responsible, and life-fulfilling ends for both the individual and organization

4.     Share skills and knowledge with other professionals

5.     Give and get support and professional aid from colleagues

These domains, competencies and performance statements provide a guideline to help promote optimal standards for performance technologists.  They reflect a responsibility to the profession, society, the learner and others.  They also encourage a high moral and ethical standard along with skills necessary in this environment.