Resources To Get You Started
You will find a list of terms that you should talk to others about, research online, and be able to have a decent understanding of if you are looking to enter the Learning & Development field.
NOTE: Just because something is listed below, it does not mean I am in support of it. Instead, I want to stress the importance of having an understanding of each. Chances are, you may need to communicate about these or with others who use these terms.
- Steps To Take
- Terminology Toolbox
- Books To Read
- Podcasts
- Learning Management Systems
- This vs. That
- Elearning Authoring Tools
- Project Management
- LinkedIn Help
- Resume Lingo
- More Resources
- Learn the Industry, People, & “Lingo”
- Join professional associations: local & national
- Attend conferences: local & national
- Join Facebook & LinkedIn L&D groups
- Get involved on Twitter
- #lrnchat, #guildchat, #nextchat and more
- Ask questions: Interview those doing what you want to do
- Create an L&D LinkedIn Profile
- Update Your Resume
- Using L&D terminology
- Develop Your Skills
- Certificates
- Certifications
- Degrees - View a list of Instructional Design and Technology Degrees crowdsourced by Enilda Romero-Hall (@eromerohall)
- Volunteer
- Informal learning - YouTube, LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, and more
- Networking is Key
For more information, view a full presentation webcast recording on an overview of these steps.
Below, you will find a list of various terminology and resources for industry research.
- Instructional Design Models/Processes commonly discussed
- Adult Learning Theory
- Elearning Design Principles
- Storyboarding
- Design Thinking
- Learning Style Myth
- Personality Tests
- Myers Briggs, DISC, Enneagram, Tetramap, Holland Codes 6 domains
- Buzzwords "Trends in Instructional Design and Technology Database"
- Microlearning
- Augmented Reality (AR)
- Virtual Reality (VR)
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Synchronous and Asynchronous
- Flipped, Hybrid, Mixed classroom
- Learner analytics: Scorm, xAPI, Tincan
- Chatbots
- Open Educational Resources (OER)
The following links provide some insight into various topics, concepts, and knowledge within the industry.
- This book is often referenced when referring to ADDIE as a waterfall approach and SAM as an agile approach
- These books discuss some principles for elearning design and include research studies to support them as well as support of cognition in elearning.
- This article by Tim Slade discusses 3 books for new Elearning Designers
- This book is a great read for the history of the field, trends over time, and the commonalities in trends over time.
The following will include the list of some podcasts you may want to browse in the L&D industry.
- TLDCast Podcast - by TLDC
- eLearning Coach - by Connie Malamed
- Instructional Redesign - by Cara North and Joseph Suarez
- Dear Instructional Designer - by Kristin Anthony
- Nerdy Shop Talk - by Julie Dirksen and Julie Dirksen
- The Talent Development Hot Seat - by Andy Storch
- The Lounge - by Jacqueline Hutchinson
- Ultimate L&D Podcast Guide - Enjoy SEVERAL podcasts located on this spreadsheet
- #FemEdTechVOICES - Enjoy SEVERAL podcasts located on this spreadsheet; list created by Laura Pasquini (Twitter: @laurapasquini)
The following are only a few of the many Learning Management Systems (LMS) that you may hear people talk about and refer to or ask that you have experience using.
WIthin the industry, you may find people very particular with the terminology they use whereas other people may terminology interchangeably. The following are some comparisons to be aware that you may encounter.
- Training vs. Education
- Andragogy vs. Pedagogy
- ADDIE vs. SAM
- ADDIE as a "Model" vs. ADDIE as a "Process"
- Listen from about the 4min 30-sec mark to the 7 min mark of the video
- Performance Improvement vs. Change Management vs. Instructional Design
- Instructional Designer (ID) vs. User Experience Designer (LxD)
- Learn(er) Experience Design vs. Learn(ing) Experience Design
- User Experience (UX) vs. User Interface (UI)
- Waterfall vs. Agile
- Learning Styles (a myth) vs. Learner Preferences
- Learning vs. Education vs. Instruction
- Augmented Reality (AR) vs. Virtual Reality (VR)
- AR keeps you in your current reality but adds things to your view that really do not exist
- VR shuts off your view of your surroundings and takes you to a virtual land/world/place
The following are only a few of the elearning authoring tools that you may hear people discuss or they may ask you if you have experience with.
- Adobe Captivate
- Articulate 360
- Storyline 360
- Rise 360
- TechSmith Camtasia
- Trivantis Lectora
- Project Management Phases by PMI
- Agile Project Management
Feel free to reach out to the following contact(s) for assistance with setting up a LinkedIn account.
- Teddy Burriss: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tlburriss/
Pay special attention to the lingo you use in your resume. Use "ID Lingo" rather than "Teacher Lingo" in your resume if you are searching for a Learning and Development (L&D) role. Below are some common examples of changes you may want to consider making.
Teaching vs. Instructional Design Resume Lingo
How to Transfer Your Chronological Teacher Resume into a Functional Skill Based Resume for Teachers
Additional Resources
- Christy Tucker: Adapting Resumes from Teaching to Instructional Design
- Resume Genius: 15 Reasons Why Your Perfect Resume Was Rejected
- Resume Genius: How To Write a Good LinkedIn Summary: Examples and Tips
- Resume Genius: The Functional Resume: Writing Guide + Templates & Examples
Article by Devlin Peck: How to become an instructional designer
