The Role of the Instructional Designer in the Creator Economy
The undeniable presence of online courses for the lifelong learner
Preface: I am currently pursuing my master’s in instructional design. The following is my response to an online lecture I watched as part of my class in Strategies for Learner Engagement. The lecture was a recording from the previous day that I was unable to attend but was required to watch and respond to. During the lecture, I noticed that when the topic of MOOCs (a course of study made available over the internet without charge to a very large number of people) and sites like Skillshare came up, the lecture participants seemed to frown upon the effectiveness of these courses.
Here is my response
After watching this week's lecture, I regretted not participating to extend the conversation regarding the self-guided learner. It's critical to understand the massive impact the creator economy is having in the field of instructional design and adapt our strategies to meet the demands of learners seeking knowledge in a less traditional capacity. During the pandemic, self-directed learning, MOOCs, and online courses increased dramatically. Coursera had over 10 million course enrollments over a 30-day period in 2020, a 644% increase compared to the previous year (Reflections on Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) during the COVID-19 Pandemic, EBSCOhost, 2022). Experienced instructional designers in standardized education may not see MOOCs or online course creation for the self-directed learner as legitimate without the credentials upon completion, however, in my opinion, that doesn't negate the enormous demand for online learning. In fact, that is my motivation for completing this master's program. I have no formal affiliations or experience in the field of instructional design. As someone who has a genuine love of learning and comes from generations of teachers, I also have an entrepreneurial proclivity. It's not all that difficult to see around the corner and recognize the potential course creation has as a business. With that said, I also respect quality education, whether it is online or on campus. I felt it necessary to formally educate myself in the field so that I could be part of the solution of providing courses of quality, instead of throwing a course together for profit, and chunking it into the cesspool at the bottom of the Internet. For curriculum designers and potential edupreneurs, failing to adapt our mindsets and methods to cater to this demographic is both premature and naive. That doesn't mean this is a simple task, quite the opposite.
A logical and systematic approach to modifying the current views on MOOCs might include addressing the following key areas:
Shift in Focus: The emergence of course creators and alternative education models has prompted instructional designers to rethink the needs of the target audience. Instead of primarily serving traditional institutions and corporations, we must now create content that resonates with a broader demographic from all socio-economic levels. This shift requires us to address all learning types and explore microlearning formats while incorporating new ways to track the learner's progress.
Emphasis on User Experience: In the creator-driven education landscape, user experience reigns supreme. Instructional designers must strengthen the development of engaging and interactive learning experiences by using various types of media. By leveraging learners' ability to provide instant feedback, we can reassess various components of the course or delivery periodically to motivate them and validate their input.
Personalization: Creators excel at tailoring content to specific niches and individual learner needs. Instructional designers must welcome this personalized strategy, and indirectly facilitate a path for learners to shape their educational journeys while accessing resources that align with their unique goals and learning styles. Personalization significantly enhances the effectiveness of educational materials for both the student and the course creator by allowing them to pursue more passion-driven topics.
Lifelong Learning: The notion of lifelong learning is on the rise, and instructional designers play a key role in crafting resources that support learners at various career stages during their personal evolution. This entails addressing upskilling, reskilling, and ongoing professional development, in line with the flexible nature of the creator economy. It should also be noted and not assumed that all learners will be mid-career while taking online courses. It is entirely possible that students of underprivileged and lower socio-economic levels may utilize online courses to supplement other unsuccessful attempts at mastering a topic.
In conclusion, the influence of the creator economy on instructional design is indisputable and transformative. We must rise to the occasion to meet the developing demands of learners in the digital age. Instructional designers must embrace flexibility, prioritize learner-centered approaches, incorporate personalization, and consider their impact on lifelong learning. By doing so, we can effectively adapt to the changing landscape of education and provide valuable, engaging, and relevant learning experiences for modern learners.
Here’s another fantastic article on this topic.
References:
Reflections on Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) during the COVID-19 Pand...: EBSCOhost. (2022). Ebscohost.com. https://web.p.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?nobk=y&vid=8&sid=45d01de3-f6fc-442d-825f-51eed7a5734f@redis