Must-Have Skills to Look For When Hiring an Instructional Designer

By: Justin Ferriman • March 30, 2023
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The role of an instructional designer is critical in creating successful learning experiences. Instructional designers are responsible for designing courses that meet learners’ needs and achieve objectives.

Instructional designers do this in a few ways. First, they’ll analyze learners’ preferences and characteristics to ensure that the learning experience is tailored to their needs. Based on this analysis, they’ll design and structure the learning experience. They’ll test, gather feedback, and make revisions. They’ll use this evaluation to find opportunities for improvement.

Using an instructional designer can take the manual labor out of course building and make your courses an engaging experience. When finding the perfect instructional designer for your project, there are specific qualifications that you should look for. Here are some criteria to remember when hiring an instructional designer for your next course.

Qualifications to Look for in an Instructional Designer

An instructional designer needs a combination of education, experience, and skills to be effective. Here are some of the qualities to keep an eye out for.

Experience with instructional design tools and technology

You’ll need someone with experience using instructional design software, authoring tools, and learning management systems. For example, if you’re using LearnDash, your designer should know how to build within the LearnDash LMS. They should also be familiar with current trends in educational technology and be able to integrate new technologies. They should also have experience in project management to ensure the course-building project is executed successfully.

Strong understanding of learning theory

A strong understanding of learning theories, such as behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism, is essential. Understanding how learners learn will ensure courses are designed to promote engagement from the start. Look for evidence that designers have applied these theories to create effective learning experiences.

Ability to evaluate the effectiveness of instructional design

Instructional designers should be able to think creatively to design engaging and effective experiences. They should also be able to think critically to test their designs’ effectiveness and make improvements. They should have strong communication skills to communicate about the project with you clearly and effectively.

Where to Find Instructional Designers

While considering designers, review their portfolio and experience to ensure they have the skills and expertise needed for your project. You may also want to consider their availability and budget requirements. Here are a few places to look:

  • Job boards and career websites. You can browse job boards such as Indeed, Higher Ed, or LinkedIn. You can also find instructional designers on freelance platforms such as Upwork, Freelancer, or Fiverr. These platforms allow you to post your job listing, review proposals, and hire a designer that best fits your needs and budget.
  • Referrals from colleagues and industry contacts. You can ask for referrals from your network or colleagues who have previously worked with instructional designers. If you see a well-designed course out in the wild, get in contact with the owner to see if they can send you a referral. 
  • Contracting with a dedicated instructional design agency. LearnDash has a network of certified experts who know how to build on WordPress and can provide custom development and consulting services. These experts can help you with instructional design, content development, learning experience design, and course creation.

LearnDash can help

Instructional designers play a crucial role in creating successful learning experiences. It’ll help to have a dedicated team member who can define learning objectives, develop learning materials, test and revise the learning experience, and evaluate learning outcomes.

It’s easy to find an instructional designer familiar with LearnDash, the number one LMS on WordPress. When you work with LearnDash for instructional design, you’ll find:

  • Experienced and highly qualified instructional designers
  • A customized approach to instructional design
  • Wide range of design and development services, including WordPress LMS customization
  • Reputation for creating compelling and engaging learning experiences that you own

If you’re ready to find an expert in course design, LearnDash experts are a click away. We recommend checking out the LearnDash LMS Tips & Tricks Facebook group. With over 26,000 members, you can easily connect and find LearnDash instructional designers from community members

Justin Ferriman

Justin started LearnDash, the WordPress LMS trusted by Fortune 500 companies, major universities, training organizations, and entrepreneurs worldwide. He is currently founder & CEO of GapScout. Justin’s Homepage | GapScout | Twitter