Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Date
12-6-2021
Abstract
Instructional design consultants provide learning and performance solutions for their clients. However, it can be difficult for instructional design students and newly graduated instructional designers to adapt to the realities of consulting in a real-world context. This difficulty is magnified by significant technological, social, and other disruptions that often occur in work and learning environments. In our observation, newly graduated instructional design consultants enter the workforce equipped with powerful tools, theories, and models for increasing learning but are less equipped to consult with their clients and other stakeholders. This article is based on our experiences as instructional design consultants, and we share key practice-based, expert-informed skills, principles, and strategies for success as an instructional design consultant. We then share strategies that can be used to overcome consulting constraints and obstacles. We share ways to maintain fidelity to principles amidst disruptions and outline strategies for ensuring that learning and performance solutions have long-term resilience and impact. We conclude with reflections on the education and practice of instructional design consulting.
College/Unit
International Institute for Innovative Instruction
Publication or Event Title
Performance Improvement
Volume
60
Issue
9-10
First Page
14
Last Page
22
DOI
10.1002/pfi.22012
Rights
This is the pre-peer reviewed version of the following article: Gardner, J.L., Snyder, D., Guilkey, J., Abbott, V. and Barclay, M. (2021). What graduate school didn't teach you about instructional design consulting. Performance Improvement, 60(9-10),14-22., which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/pfi.22012. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.
Recommended Citation
Gardner, J., Snyder, D., Guilkey, J., Abbott, V., & Barclay, M. (2021). What Graduate School Didn't Teach You About Instructional Design Consulting. Performance Improvement, 60 (9-10), 14-22. https://doi.org/10.1002/pfi.22012