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Instructional Designers find out WHAT needs to be learned, HOW the learner learns, and finally DESIGNS individualized lessons that enable the learner to accomplish that educational goal.

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According to theelearningcoach.com, IDers do the following:

Planning and Analysis

1. Conduct a needs assessment.

2. Design a curriculum or program.

3. Select and use a variety of techniques for determining instructional content.

4. Identify and describe target population characteristics.

5. Analyze the characteristics of the environment.

6. Analyze the characteristics of existing and emerging technologies and their use in an instructional environment.

7. Reflect upon the elements of a situation before finalizing design solutions and strategies.

Design and Development

1. Select, modify, or create a design and development model appropriate for a given project.

2. Select and use a variety of techniques to define and sequence the instructional content and strategies.

3. Select or modify existing instructional materials.

4. Develop instructional materials.

5. Design instruction that reflects an understanding of the diversity of learners and groups of learners.

6. Evaluate and assess instruction and its impact.

Implementation and Management

1. Plan and manage instructional design projects.

2. Promote collaboration, partnerships and relationships among the participants in a design project.

3. Apply business skills to managing instructional design.

4. Design instructional management systems.

5. Provide for the effective implementation of instructional products and programs.

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What do some "official" sources say ID is?

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What do some "official" sources say ID is?

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According to wikipedia.com, ID "is the practice of systematically designing, developing and delivering instructional materials and experiences, both digital and physical, in a consistent and reliable fashion toward an efficient, effective, appealing, engaging and inspiring acquisition of knowledge."

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Instructional Design is taking what a student or client must learn, then learning about how that client learn, then designing a personalized, individualized learning unit and delivering it to them.

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In our first look at Instructional Design, we can see how critical certain facets of the position can be to an institution. Not only is the position critical in helping students learn, but it can also be important in the gathering of data and information to understand if the lesson plans and tools are helping. The role of a instructional designer can vary from position to position, but each role seems vitally important.

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From a listing for an instructional designer position at Penn University:

"The ID will work with individual faculty members to create effective strategies in online pedagogy, including
1) use of educational technology tools within the learning management system, rich media, assessment systems, real-time platforms, and related systems;
2) design of learning objectives that lead to analysis, synthesis, and evaluation; and
3) creation of appropriately rigorous learning resources, activities, and assessments

From this listing, we can see the instructional designer need to not only assist in the creation of lesson design, but need to ensure that the designs are well-organized, can be easily monitored, and are effective.

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1. What do you think instruction design is

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1. What do you think instruction design is

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I think Instructional Design is the construction and organization of learning materials. The aim of instructional design is to maximize the efficacy and legibility of whatever medium the learning materials are in.

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2. What do some "official" sources say ID is?

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2. What do some "official" sources say ID is?

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"Instructional Design is defined as “a systematic process that is employed to develop education and training programs in a consistent and reliable fashion” (Reiser, Dempsey, 2007). In addition, it may be thought of as a framework for developing modules or lessons that (Merrill, Drake, Lacy, Pratt, 1996)" https://www.instructionaldesigncentral.com/whatisinstructionaldesign

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I'm struggling with the intangible aspects of the subject and the mass amounts of platforms required to keep up.  It's largely because I haven't grown up in the field so it will take some time for me to adjust.
As a profession, it seems to me that ID is the middle"person" between the subject material and the subject learner who uses their insight and knowledge to build the best interface. As far as what is successful, it seems like there is as much art as there is science.

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The instructional designer is responsible for working collaboratively to design, develop, evaluate, and revise online courses, workforce trainings, and educational videos. This includes determining learning outcomes, outlining, and developing written materials , and developing multimedia . The instructional designer also inputs course materials to the learning management system (LMS), edits LMS settings, and troubleshoots LMS issues.

copied from indeed posting for Penn State
Now Hiring 1,522 Instructional Designer Jobs, Employment | Indeed.com

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2. What do some "official" sources say ID is?

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2. What do some "official" sources say ID is?

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"Simply put, instructional design is the creation of instructional materials. Though, this field goes beyond simply creating teaching materials, it carefully considers how students learn and what materials and methods will most effectively help individuals achieve their academic goals. " https://online.purdue.edu/blog/education/what-is-instructional-design#:~:text=Simply%20put%2C%20instructional%20design%20is%20the%20creation%20of,most%20effectively%20help%20individuals%20achieve%20their%20academic%20goals.

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1. What do you think instructional design is?

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1. What do you think instructional design is?

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I see instructional design as building a source of learning to meet its audience's want and need to learn.

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1. What do you think instructional design is?

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1. What do you think instructional design is?

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I see instructional design as building a source of learning to meet its audience's want and need to learn.

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1. What do you think instructional design is?

I think Instructional Design is like a mode of transportation (airplane, bicycle, car) that assists the passenger in traveling from destination to destination.  In this case, it is to assist the learner through a learning journey from lacking the appropriate tools (knowledge, skills, motivation, environment, and communication) to obtaining the correct tools (knowledge, skills, motivation, environment, and communication).

2. What do some "official" sources say about what instructional design is?

According to Arizona State University, "Instructional design is a systematic process used for developing learning experiences."(https://instruction.thecollege.asu.edu/instructionaldesign)  What I got out of it is that there are a set of questions in which an ID must ask in order to know how to proceed in providing a high quality learning experience for the learner to utilize.

3. What do instructional designers DO?

According to the posting for an Instructional Designer at UPenn, the ID "will support the translation of the subject expertise of faculty to educational technology platforms for effective educational outcomes." (https://careers.insidehighered.com/job/1708872/instructional-designer/) What I got out of it is that the ID will use their knowledge of technology in collaboration with faculty and their subject knowledge, to combine for a high quality learning experience for their students to utilize.

4. Summary and Reflection!

Prior to beginning this course, my understanding of ID is that the ID would take the material from the faculty member, then locate the appropriate tech tool, and Vwala! Job Well Done!  Obviously, what I thought ID was is now what I call an incomplete summary of ID, because in this first week alone I can see that much more goes into ID, therefore now I understand the "Finished, not perfect" quote.  My reflection is that I am glad that my initial view of ID was incorrect, because now I see there is much more to ID.  This motivates me to challenge myself as an academic, designer, researcher, team oriented, etc.

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In thinking about my past experiences with instructional design and reading about what "official" sources highlight as instructional design compared to how the job market defines this role, it seems that this work is critical to the continued growth of organizations and critical to my role as an educator. Through this exercise, I learned about McCardle's (2010) instructional design model which includes analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation which highlights the importance of planning in that the actual instruction does not come until step 4 out of 5. I like that this process values the planning/designing stage because it is often my favorite part of the process and I feel as though this has given me permission to spend time in the planning stage because it is necessary to have successful implementation and evaluation.

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According to Indeed.com, there are MANY employment opportunities for instructional designers at companies ranging in field. For example, there are current openings for positions at St. Luke's, a regional health network, and Lutron, a national electronics company. In comparing the two job descriptions, the overlapping responsibilities include creating educational and training material for staff (typically in an e-learning format), utilizing multiple forms of technology ranging from recording and editing videos, overseeing the learning management systems, and web based modules. There is a need for these professionals to have degrees and years of experience while staying current on the latest trends. Essentially, instructional designers educate the staff while being part of the team that drives the company forward.

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2. What do some "official" sources say ID is?

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2. What do some "official" sources say ID is?

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According to McArdle (2010), instructional design's purpose is to "provide learners with the content and process they need, when they need it, and in a structured and standard format that they can readily use. The ISD model includes five steps: analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation" (p. 129)

McArdle, G (2010). Instructional design for action learning. AMACOM ProQuest Ebook Central. DOI: 583550

http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/lehighlibrary-ebooks/detail.action?

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Instructional design is an art where the teacher and the learners are able to exchange ideas, create understanding, and make meaning. More concretely, instructional design is how the transfer or discovery knowledge is created.

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There are clear themes amongst broad definitions of instructional design. These themes include the development of learning platforms, often online or digitized, the assessment of learning programs geared towards improvement, and the development of platforms that meet learner needs. One aspect of instructional design that I am still wondering about is how it differs from curriculum design. Can one be an instructional designer without also being a curriculum designer? I think this may be possible if an instructional designer was given the desired outcomes and then asked to design a platform around those outcomes. However, I think that an instructional designer should also be familiar with and involved with curriculum design. If an instructional designer wants to take into account the population of learners they are also a curriculum designer. I am curious to learn more about this possible distinction as well as various theories around instructional design as the class moves forward.

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A quick LinkedIn job search shows that many instructional designer (or learning design) positions include the following themes: creating and managing online learning platforms, developing online employee training modules, managing systems that help to promote learning, designing new learning platforms around specific topics, helping learners (in some cases employees, customers, or other learners) to discover something new or master a specific process.

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What official sources say instructional design is:

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What official sources say instructional design is:

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There are several different definitions of instructional design from "official sources" that each have a common thread which discuss both the process of creating learning materials and the actual materials created.

The Association for Talent Development (2022) says that instructional design is "the creation of learning experiences and materials in a manner that results in the acquisition and application of knowledge and skills" (para. 1).

Instructional Design Central (2022) says that "instructional design is the process by which learning products and experiences are designed, developed, and delivered" (para. 1).

Finally, Purdue University Online (2022) says "simply put, instructional design is the creation of instructional materials" (para. 2).

I find these three definitions helpful given their simplicity. Ultimately, each of these definitions point towards both the process of developing content for learning and the actual materials utilized within learning opportunities.

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At the foundational level, I believe that instructional design is about the process and creation of conditions for teachers and learners (often interchangeably) to discover something new, build and/or create knowledge, and develop a greater understanding about a particular topic or set of curricular objectives.

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Simply put, instructional design is how learning happens. I think of the vast history of unintentional instructional design. We have always learned; long before we evolved or argued research based theoretical models of teaching and learning. We grow up learning how to listen and communicate, immersed in the language of those around us. We see a button and we tend to push it. We copy and apply and test and discuss on a regular basis.

Instructional design is recognizing what works and doing it.

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Teachers create/manage:
- course scope and sequence
- warm ups
- learning tasks (directions, materials, assessments)
- personalized feedback
- modes of communication for parents/stakeholders
- regular evaluations to communicate with team/stakeholders
- scenarios to develop relationships with students
- personal emotions/attitudes in response to student behavior
- the physical learning space (5 senses)
- expectations, rules, boundaries
- time restraints (weather/student/technological malfunction/personal disruptions to overarching or day-to-day plans)
- intrinsic rewards

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Like many, and to the detriment of many, I scour my chosen social media platform for information on personal or obscure issues. Subreddits on the Reddit app can be specific enough to build authentic and reliable communities for the sake of commiseration or inspiration; r/instructionaldesign would then serve to be the ultimate tool to guide me through this course and answer this question. Though quoted itself, r/instructional design welcomes new subscribers with:

“The practice of creating ‘instructional experiences which make the acquisition of knowledge and skill more efficient, effective, and appealing.’”

A quick google search attributes this definition of ID to Merrill, et. al., 1996. One article summarizes Merrill’s approach to ID as: demonstrate, apply, activate, integrate, engage.

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ID relates to anything that effects the learning experience:

- Environment (lighting, sound, clutter, proximity to teacher/peers/materials, history/relationship with content/teacher/peers/materials)

- Delivery Method (text, video, direct instruction, digital/hands-on exploration, attitude of teacher/peers, rhythm/pace of learning)

- Learning Products (type of assessment, choice, variety, grading scale, collaboration, time, modeling, iterative)

- Feedback (timely, personal, clear, consistent)

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This process of discovering our own definition of Instructional Design was frustrating yet rewarding all at the same time. It really made me think about everything I had read and what I really believe. I appreciate the journey to get there and in the end I learned more. As an instructional designer, that is probably why you designed this activity like this haha. Thanks.

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Simply put, instructional design is the creation of instructional materials. Though, this field goes beyond simply creating teaching materials, it carefully considers how students learn and what materials and methods will most effectively help individuals achieve their academic goals. The principles of instructional design consider how educational tools should be designed, created and delivered to any learning group, from grade school students to adult employees across all industry sectors.

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The foundation for instructional design was laid during World War II when hundreds of thousands needed to be taught very specific tasks in a short amount of time. Individual aspects of these complex tasks were broken down, so soldiers could better understand and comprehend each step of the process. This approach was later taken and built upon leading to the development of instructional design, a field of study that marries education, psychology and communications to create the most effective teaching plans for specific groups of students. This is vital because it ensures that students receive instructions in a form that is effective and meaningful to them, helping them better understand the topics and concepts being taught.

Simply put, instructional design is the creation of instructional materials. Though, this field goes beyond simply creating teaching materials, it carefully considers how students learn and what materials and methods will most effectively help individuals achieve their academic goals. The principles of instructional design consider how educational tools should be designed, created and delivered to any learning group, from grade school students to adult employees across all industry sectors.

A Master of Science in Education (MSEd) in Learning Design and Technology is one of the best qualifications for educators and administrators looking to specialize in instructional design. This degree program helps students design, implement and evaluate effective instructional materials for any type of learner, making the program appropriate for academics hoping to work in a range of settings. Students are encouraged to utilize their own work experience to create a relevant framework for the MSEd program.
Instructional Design in the Real World
Instructional designers create and deliver educational and training materials to learners from all walks of life in a variety of ways. They work with traditional paper materials, such as handouts and manuals, as well as eLearning technologies and multimedia. Their work can be seen in elementary and secondary schools to universities and adult training facilities. They're also found outside the academic sector in a range of industries including health care, retail and the military. Justin Ferriman, eLearning consultant, even goes as far as stating that, "Every company needs an instructional designer on their staff."

For the corporate sector, instructional design plays an integral role that many don't often see. When new training programs are introduced within companies, instructional designers are the ones that systematically collect, process and analysis data, determining if employees were properly educated on the new topics introduced. If an area of the training doesn't meet the previously set standards, then it's an instructional designer's duty to revamp the course to help make sure that learners are able to understand the topics down the road. This process helps ensure that companies are working efficiently and using their resources wisely.

Instructional designers often work as part of a team, but their importance can't be overestimated. Consider an eLearning course for example. An instructional designer will play a part in developing this course, along with a multimedia designer, eLearning developer and a quality assurance employee. Despite being one of many involved, studies suggest the instructional designer will be responsible for 30 to 40 percent of the project's success.

The usefulness of instructional designers across a range of industries ensures they are in high demand. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 7 percent job growth within the field by 2031.
The Benefits of Instructional Design
Instructional design is cost effective, given that it ensures students learn efficiently by creating high quality learning materials that take into account the strengths and weaknesses of students. These materials are also focused and customized to address the specific needs of educators. These experts also safeguard against training materials being created for business problems, which are better served with non-training solutions.

Above all, instructional design yields results. Those in this field create lesson plans intended to engage students, so they're more likely to achieve their goals. Evaluation is a key final phase of instructional design implementation, so instructors can ensure that the learning sessions have been effective in meeting preset objectives.

Take the next step and better your career and the learning experiences of others with an online Master of Science in Education in Learning Design and Technology from Purdue University. Purdue is acclaimed around the world for its scholarly excellence, and its online programs offer flexibility to help meet the demands of the working professional.

Learn more about the online MSEd in Learning Design and Technology at Purdue University today and help redefine the way in which individuals learn. Call (877) 497-5851 to speak with an admissions advisor or click here to request more information.

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What Is Instructional Design? | Education | Purdue Online

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Instructional design combines education, psychology and communications to create the most effective teaching plans for specific groups of students.

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I think at it's core, ID is creating quality learning experiences.

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Simply put, I think ID is creating learning experiences.

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These questions were helpful for my understanding. It's a bit like a KWL chart for us. I struggled more with the first question because I didn't/don't feel knowledgable enough about ID at this point. The additional questions gave me the opportunity to review and evaluate how others are defining and explaining ID. My overall take-away is that Instructional Designers are the people designing and evaluating instructional/academic courses, programs, and content.

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Instructional Designers have to identify appropriate learning approaches to best design education and instructional materials. This can include building and evaluating  new curriculums, courses, and learning platforms. Instructional Designers also must collaborate with others and evaluate the effectiveness of the programs/curriculums/courses/materials.

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It's a little challenging to pin down a universal definition. A talent development website defines it as, "the creation of learning experiences and materials in a manner that results in the acquisition and application of knowledge and skills." There are different models, including ADDIE, Cathy Moore’s Action Mapping and the Dick and Carey Model. The basic components include: analysis, design and development, and evaluation. This website has a free e-book available.

https://www.td.org/talent-development-glossary-terms/what-is-instructional-design

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Instructional design is the creation of learning experiences and materials resulting in the acquisition and application of knowledge and skills.

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From what I have gathered so far, it seems like ID is the space between teacher knowledge and student understanding. This can include how information and content is transferred and learned by students. In the traditional sense, it was primarily the teacher being the "sage on the sage" delivering information in lecture-type formats. Now technology has created new forums for learning to take place for the teacher to be a "guide on the side", facilitating learning opportunities for students to learn.

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In summary I think that instructional design is an essential part of the eduction field and that this is something that should be taught to all educations in an undergraduate program.

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According to Perdue online  “They are tasked with redesigning courses, developing entire courses or curriculums and creating training materials, such as teaching manuals and student guides.”

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From an academic perspective, instructional design is defined as “the systematic and reflective process of translating principles of learning and instruction into plans for instructional materials, activities, information resources, and evaluation.” However, to fully understand the implications of instructional design processes, it helps to have a practical definition.

According to Instructional Design Central, instructional design is “the process by which learning products and experiences are designed, developed, and delivered. These learning products include online courses, instructional manuals, video tutorials, learning simulations, etc. The terms instructional design, instructional technology, learning experience (LX) design, curriculum design, and instructional systems design (ISD), are sometimes used interchangeably.”

Simply put, instructional design is creating learning or instructional experiences that facilitate the acquisition of new knowledge.

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How do college instructors ensure that their lessons are effective, and that students are grasping challenging concepts? How do a growing number of big companies train their employees and onboard new ones? How do a wide variety of government and private-sector organizations leverage modern tools to enhance learning and training? The processes are all different, but the ideal solution is the same: instructional design.

What was formed out of a need to provide skills training for thousands of individuals who were contributing to the war effort during World War II, instructional design today is one of the most vital and in-demand disciplines across all industries. Here is a quick guide to this exciting field and its future implications.

What is Instructional Design?

Simply put, instructional design is creating learning or instructional experiences that facilitate the acquisition of new knowledge.

Basic Components of Instructional Design

While there are many different models and theories that guide instructional designers as they develop effective learning experiences, instructional design practices calls for all instruction to include three primary components:

Once goals and objectives, learning activities and assessments have been determined, instructional design process then calls for creating learning solutions that check these boxes:

5 Examples of Instructional Design Models

There are numerous ID models that instructional designers can use as their foundation when developing various learning exercises. The five most common and widely used instructional design models are:

1. Bloom's Taxonomy: Bloom's Taxonomy is "a hierarchical ordering of cognitive skills that can help teachers teach and students learn." Bloom's Taxonomy has six levels: remember, understand, apply, analyze, evaluate, create.

2. ADDIE Model: Arguably the most important instructional design model, - analysis, design, development, implementation and evaluation - is used as a process guide when developing effective training tools.

3. Iterative Design: Iterative design calls for "incrementally developing and refining a design based on feedback and evaluation." Additional instructional design models have been spun out of iterative design including Rapid Prototyping and the Spiral Model.

4. SAM Model: SAM is short for Successive Approximation Model, and is a simplified version of the ADDIE Model. Where the SAM Model differs is that feedback is collected earlier so designers can build working models earlier in the process. Where ADDIE processes are quite linear, SAM is a recursive process.

5. Learning Circle Framework: The Learning Circle Framework is an instructional design model that works in three phases: target, create and launch.

Benefits of Instructional Design

Using the theories of instructional design to build teaching exercises can elicit numerous positive benefits for learners. However, those benefits are a ripple effect from one anchoring principle - instructional design is a systematic process rooted in theory. Because of this fact, instructional designers can leverage their skills and knowledge to recommend the ideal instructional activities and assessments that align with the desired learning objectives.

So, regardless of the industry or goal of the learning exercises, instructional design will consistently deliver the same benefits . Those include:

1. Creates focused/customized programs

2. Encourages more student participation (interactive instructional design)

3. Sets clear and measurable objectives

4. Creates consistency

5. Simplifies learning for students

What is an Instructional Designer?

Instructional designers have three significant tools of the trade:

The first is process, which is the foundation of many instructional design models. ADDIE is more of an ID process, as evidenced by the development of the SAM Model. The instructional design process, regardless of which model is used, helps ensure instruction is created efficiently.

Next is theory. Theories about how people learn inform the decisions instructional designers make about designing learning experiences and developing instructional materials. Theory helps ensure the acquisition and retention of new knowledge and skills.

Third is the actual tools instructional designers use to deliver instruction. Depending on the learners' needs, tools can be as simple as paper and pencil, more advanced such as eLearning authoring tools, or cutting-edge augmented reality.

Careers in Instructional Design

Salary information from employment websites shows annual pay starting in the $65k range and tracking much higher depending on the employer and the level of responsibility. While salary figures are subject to change as new data comes in, here is a sampling of salary ranges as of the publication of this report:

ZipRecruiter lists an average salary of $80,182, ranging up to $132,500

lists an average salary of $69,395, ranging up to $100,000

lists an average salary of $69,395, ranging up to $92,820

lists an average salary of $76,390, higher in key locales such as Washington, DC ($100, 924), Charlotte, NC ($81,280), Tampa, FL ($72,860) and New York City ($71,621)

Future of Instructional Design

The COVID-19 pandemic made clear just how critical it is to find the most effective ways to reach learners. As instruction moved online, teachers were left wondering - how can I translate classroom teaching tactics to a video platform? The answer lies in instructional design; instructors can leverage ID theories and models to create effective lessons, regardless of the setting.

In terms of instructional design trends, there is one emerging concept that is gaining steam. Microlearning is the idea that instructional materials can and should be crafted in small digestible segments that learners can access wherever they are. Say you have a learner who commutes 45 minutes via train, instructional materials can be created that fit that timeframe so they can complete the training before they get to work or get home. This not only means that instructors can more effectively meet their learners where they are, they can also save on training development time and resources.

FAQs About Instructional Design

Q: What is Instructional Design? A: Instructional design is "the process by which learning products and experiences are designed, developed, and delivered. These learning products include online courses, instructional manuals, video tutorials, learning simulations, etc. The terms instructional design, instructional technology, learning experience (LX) design, curriculum design, and instructional systems design (ISD), are sometimes used interchangeably."

Q: What are some of the most popular instructional design models?
A: ADDIE is the most widely used instructional design model, but some additional models and theories to know include the SAM Model, Bloom's Taxonomy, Iterative Design and the Learning Circle Framework.

Q: What are the primary benefits of instructional design?
A: The most important benefit of instructional design is that it is a systematic process rooted in sound, research-based theory. This means that instructional exercises born from these principles have been proven to be effective. From there, there are a ripple effect of positive outcomes:

1. Creates focused/customized programs

2. Encourages more student participation (interactive instructional design)

3. Sets clear and measurable objectives

4. Creates consistency

5. Simplifies learning for students

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What is Instructional Design? [5 Examples + Overview]

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How do college instructors ensure that their lessons are effective, and that students are grasping challenging concepts? How do a growing number of big companies train their employees and onboard new ones? How do a wide variety of government and private-sector organizations leverage modern tools to enhance learning and training?

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Summary
Instructional design is the process of projecting information that is pleasing and meaningful to the audience. New ways of presenting information have to be explored at technology and people evolve. Understanding how humans learn and what they "like" is a huge part on how instructional designers will be successful.

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My basic understanding of ID, in our current society, informs me that this is an extremely important area for me to study. As a teacher myself, I see and feel the immense need for this role in our everyday classrooms for the success of students.  As new technology continues to be introduced to educators and students alike, there is a great need to assess the implementation of this technology to ensure the most effective learning outcomes. This takes extensive content knowledge of the ID, but also collaborative work in our school systems.

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"Instructional Designers engage in a theory and research-based process of designing and implementing instruction for better learning." Instructional designers are furthermore described to "perform a wide variety of tasks, from designing training materials, teaching manuals and student guides, to developing full course materials, and/or entire curricula. The multi-media formats they employ can range from operational job-aid materials ranging from simple pamphlets to online tutorials and complex interactive multi-media. The delivery system may vary from face-to-face classroom instruction to internet-based distance education, and/or blended courses."

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Are you designing a new course or thinking about redesigning an existing one? Need help with planning your teaching methods, strategies or course activities? What about exploring alternative assessment techniques or implementing new technologies?

If your answer is "yes" to any of the above, you might find collaborating with an Instructional Designer helpful.

So-You Might be Asking: What exactly is Instructional Design and what exactly do Instructional Designers do? Good questions, and with good reason. People often mishear the word instructional. Easily mistaken for industrial, the ensuing confusion often leads one to conclude that Instructional Design must have something to do with mechanical and/or architectural engineering and drafting.

Such is not the case. Instructional Design has nothing to do with the engineering of any product or structure, nor any building, construction, or fabrication process. And it has nothing to do with computer programming or graphic design, either, though such skills are very helpful and people who have them are typically included on a course-design team.

What Instructional Design has everything to do with is translating pedagogical research and practice into instructional curriculum specifically crafted to produce desired learning outcomes. That said-here's an important sidebar: Though technology may be helpful in many cases, implementing technology is not the goal of instructional design-good instruction is.

Instructional Designers engage in a theory and research-based process of designing and implementing instruction for better learning. The Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) defines this as "the theory and practice of design, development, utilization, management, and evaluation of processes and resources for learning" (Reiser, 2002, p.1).

Though there are many models for designing or redesigning a course, the creative process employed by Instructional Designers, is based on improving learning and generally always includes the following:

Assessing overall curriculum needs

Analyzing learners background knowledge and instructional needs

Determining course goals

Determining course objectives and the sequence in which to address them

Developing and implementing instructional content, teaching strategies, and assessments

Conducting formative and summative course evaluations

Overall, Instructional Designers perform a wide variety of tasks, from designing training materials, teaching manuals and student guides, to developing full course materials, and/or entire curricula. The multi-media formats they employ can range from operational job-aid materials ranging from simple pamphlets to online tutorials and complex interactive multi-media. The delivery system may vary from face-to-face classroom instruction to internet-based distance education, and/or blended courses.

Most Instructional Designers have an M.A. in Education, Educational Technology, Curriculum and Instruction, Training and Instruction or some such related area and are employed in colleges and universities, K-12 schools and school districts, educational software and textbook companies, as well as in business, government and the military.

Regardless of whether they work individually or in collaboration with subject matter experts (SME's)-such as faculty members or in-the-field technicians and professionals-the common thread in every professional context is improving content comprehension and learning outcomes for students and/or trainees.

At Colorado State University the Instructional Designers' backgrounds in The Institute for Learning and Teaching (TILT) include classroom teaching, creating environmental educational programs, designing interactive K-12 multimedia educational software, developing industry training materials, designing and teaching online distance education courses, and conducting workshops on improving pedagogical practices. They can assist you with:

Designing new and redesigning existing undergraduate-level courses

Facilitating the development of online RAM CT-based courses

Developing and maintaining relevant Web content on the TILT Web site

Creating educational podcasts and writing online teaching tips and guides

Helping instructors add audio, video, and multimedia to existing courses

Implementing clicker response systems into classroom assessment strategies

Translating face-to-face classroom courses into online and distance courses

Facilitating and coordinating a mid-semester student feedback program

Providing GTA training through the College Teaching Certificate Program

If think you could use a partner to help you brainstorm ideas for improving your course, contact an instructional designer-we'd be happy to assist you. We do make "house calls!" Contact us at TILT@ColoState.EDU or 970.491.3132.

Reiser, R.A and Dempsey, J.V. (Eds.)(2002). Trends and Issues in Instructional Design and Technology. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill Prentice Hall.
Additional Instructional Design Resources:
Association for Educational Communications and Technology. (1997. Educational technology: Definition and glossary of terms. Washington, DC: Author.

Commission on Instructional Technology. (1970). To improve learning: An evaluation of instructional technology. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office.

Ertmer, P.A., & Quinn, J. (2003). The ID Case Book: Case Studies in Instructional Design. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill Prentice Hall.

Seels. B.B., & Richey, R.C. (1994). Instructional Technology: The definition and domains of the field. Washington, DC: Association for Educational Communications and Technology.

Contributors:

Peter Connor - TILT Web Content Writer and Editor

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What is an Instructional Designer? – TILT – Colorado State University

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To me instructional design is the process of creating every thing needed in the learning process such as lessons, projects, materials, tools and, the way it is presented.

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2. What do some  "official" sources say ID is?

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2. What do some  "official" sources say ID is?

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"ID uses a systematic process, informed by theory and research, to develop learning experiences. These experiences can take place in a variety of settings (formal or informal), use various modalities (online, face-to-face, or hybrid), and take the form of courses, trainings, tutorials, instructional games, and more. The ID process typically includes analyzing the needs of the learner, defining instructional goals, developing instruction then evaluating its effectiveness. There are multiple instructional design models but many are based on a common “ADDIE” model which comprises five phases: analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation."

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Instructional design (ID) is the theoretical basis for the LTEC Master's program. ID uses a systematic process, informed by theory and research, to develop learning experiences. These experiences can take place in a variety of settings (formal or informal), use various modalities (online, face-to-face, or hybrid), and take the form of courses, trainings, tutorials, instructional games, and more. The ID process typically includes analyzing the needs of the learner, defining instructional goals, developing instruction then evaluating its effectiveness. There are multiple instructional design models but many are based on a common "ADDIE" model which comprises five phases: analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation.

Instructional designers (IDs) use each phase of the ADDIE process to ensure learning experiences are efficient, effective, and meaningful:

1. Analysis: clarify the learning goals and analyze learner characteristics such as demographics and prior knowledge.

2. Design: consider which strategies are most effective to effectively reach the learning goals.

3. Develop: build the learning materials and consider which tools best support the learning strategies.

4. Implement: support carrying out the instruction asking how to engage learners in the learning process.

5. Evaluate: assess how the instruction is working and identify how it can be improved.

ID is practiced in every industry, and instructional designers come from a wide variety of backgrounds including education, government, technology, military and the arts to name a few. Graduates with a degree in ID can immediately apply what they have learned in a corporate, K-12, or higher-education context.

Most instructional designers have a master's degree in Learning Design & Technology or Educational Technology.

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Instructional design (ID) is the theoretical basis for the LTEC Master's program. ID uses a systematic process, informed by theory and research, to develop learning experiences. These experiences can take place in a variety of settings (formal or informal), use various modalities (online, face-to-face, or hybrid), and take the form of courses, trainings, tutorials, instructional games, and more.

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My understanding of instructional design is that it is the ongoing process of:
1. identifying content and learner needs in order to
2. continue to develop materials that are personalized and effective to
3. deliver in an engaging and motivating setting for all learners

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In today's ever evolving and extremely fast paced tech based workplace, instructional designers are in high demand. A proficient designer could greatly streamline essential business practices and training. By creating more interactive, real world learning scenarios, employees can better prepare themselves for what they will encounter on a day to day basis.

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In a job posting for US HealthConnect they are looking for a designer to create audio and visual content to help inform and train their medical teams through simulated health care scenarios. The Designer would meet with administrators to pinpoint areas where their staff needs to improve (ex. patient intake process) and design learning tutorials to help train during the job onboarding process.

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What do ID do?

Utilize multimedia design software to develop lesson plans, visual aids,, guides, videos and animations

Explore and make recommendations for for the purchase and adoption of multimedia software

Be flexible and adaptable to changing markets

Be an innovative thinker

Be customer focused

collaborates with individuals

designing and developing a variety of classes - video, classroom, online instructor

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What do some official sources say ID is?
The goal of instructional design is to make learning as accessible as possible for the learner. The core of the instructional design process is the learning objective. This learning objective is the desired outcome for the learner.
(from www.ohiostate.pressbooks.pub)

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What I think ID is.
I think instructional design in the way material or information is presented to a person with the goal of it having meaning to them to help them retain the information. Each persons interaction with the material may be different which means what is learned from the material may be different.

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Since beginning my TLT courses, I have developed and utilized many skills related to designing training sessions and facilitating meetings with cognitive load, creativity and intrinsic motivation in mind. I do not believe I would be the manager I am right now without the foundation these courses have provided, and I am confident that this intro to ID will be a cherry on top. I began this certificate with a goal in mind to pivot into higher education, but after scrolling on job descriptions for longer than expected, I know that my knowledge in this field would help me regardless of the industry in which I work. It excites me to large companies with Instructional Designer openings and to read how integral they are to the success of the individuals within the organization. I am starting to think that a lot of young people who think they want to go into HR actually probably really want to go into Instructional Design. Speaking from experience, I found my post-grad HR position to be so dry and have since felt fulfilled working with students and managing people at a non-profit, the best of both worlds if you will. However, ID captures all of those people skills in-depth with its roots in psychology and allows the facilitator to engage and problem-solve to close the gaps with creative twists.

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Many of the job postings I came across located in Austin, TX were for Tech companies including Apple, Oracle, Workday, etc. (fitting). There is a lot of common language used to sell the position as one that "drives" transformation and profitable outcomes. Instructional designers in essence integral to the success of the organization at large due to the design development, implementation and evaluation of effective learning resources including e-learning modules, job-aids, webinars, etc. that all employees need in order to do their jobs.

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Purdue University contextualizes instructional design by sharing its roots as a method to teach WWII soldiers a lot of tasks in a short amount of time. They go on to describe instructional design as a "field of study that marries education, psychology and communications to create the most effective teaching plans for specific groups of students. This is vital because it ensures that students receive instructions in a form that is effective and meaningful to them, helping them better understand the topics and concepts being taught."

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The foundation for instructional design was laid during World War II when hundreds of thousands needed to be taught very specific tasks in a short amount of time. Individual aspects of these complex tasks were broken down, so soldiers could better understand and comprehend each step of the process. This approach was later taken and built upon leading to the development of instructional design, a field of study that marries education, psychology and communications to create the most effective teaching plans for specific groups of students. This is vital because it ensures that students receive instructions in a form that is effective and meaningful to them, helping them better understand the topics and concepts being taught.

Simply put, instructional design is the creation of instructional materials. Though, this field goes beyond simply creating teaching materials, it carefully considers how students learn and what materials and methods will most effectively help individuals achieve their academic goals. The principles of instructional design consider how educational tools should be designed, created and delivered to any learning group, from grade school students to adult employees across all industry sectors.

A Master of Science in Education (MSEd) in Learning Design and Technology is one of the best qualifications for educators and administrators looking to specialize in instructional design. This degree program helps students design, implement and evaluate effective instructional materials for any type of learner, making the program appropriate for academics hoping to work in a range of settings. Students are encouraged to utilize their own work experience to create a relevant framework for the MSEd program.
Instructional Design in the Real World
Instructional designers create and deliver educational and training materials to learners from all walks of life in a variety of ways. They work with traditional paper materials, such as handouts and manuals, as well as eLearning technologies and multimedia. Their work can be seen in elementary and secondary schools to universities and adult training facilities. They're also found outside the academic sector in a range of industries including health care, retail and the military. Justin Ferriman, eLearning consultant, even goes as far as stating that, "Every company needs an instructional designer on their staff."

For the corporate sector, instructional design plays an integral role that many don't often see. When new training programs are introduced within companies, instructional designers are the ones that systematically collect, process and analysis data, determining if employees were properly educated on the new topics introduced. If an area of the training doesn't meet the previously set standards, then it's an instructional designer's duty to revamp the course to help make sure that learners are able to understand the topics down the road. This process helps ensure that companies are working efficiently and using their resources wisely.

Instructional designers often work as part of a team, but their importance can't be overestimated. Consider an eLearning course for example. An instructional designer will play a part in developing this course, along with a multimedia designer, eLearning developer and a quality assurance employee. Despite being one of many involved, studies suggest the instructional designer will be responsible for 30 to 40 percent of the project's success.

The usefulness of instructional designers across a range of industries ensures they are in high demand. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 7 percent job growth within the field by 2031.
The Benefits of Instructional Design
Instructional design is cost effective, given that it ensures students learn efficiently by creating high quality learning materials that take into account the strengths and weaknesses of students. These materials are also focused and customized to address the specific needs of educators. These experts also safeguard against training materials being created for business problems, which are better served with non-training solutions.

Above all, instructional design yields results. Those in this field create lesson plans intended to engage students, so they're more likely to achieve their goals. Evaluation is a key final phase of instructional design implementation, so instructors can ensure that the learning sessions have been effective in meeting preset objectives.

Take the next step and better your career and the learning experiences of others with an online Master of Science in Education in Learning Design and Technology from Purdue University. Purdue is acclaimed around the world for its scholarly excellence, and its online programs offer flexibility to help meet the demands of the working professional.

Learn more about the online MSEd in Learning Design and Technology at Purdue University today and help redefine the way in which individuals learn. Call (877) 497-5851 to speak with an admissions advisor or click here to request more information.

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What Is Instructional Design? | Education | Purdue Online

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Instructional design combines education, psychology and communications to create the most effective teaching plans for specific groups of students.

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To me, instructional design considers the students' perspectives and experiences while deciding what information to present and what vehicles, platforms or activities to use in order to share said information. ID is similar to servant leadership in the sense that it includes and empowers learners in the information sharing process.

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Instructional designers have various tasks within a training project:
1) Do an analysis to gain an understanding of the target audience and their learning needs.
2) Develop learning objectives that are properly targeted to the audience.
3) Provide a recommended training approach that best meets the specific audience needs.
4) Develop content and assessments for the training.

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The practice of systematically designing, developing and delivering instructional materials and experiences, both digital and physical, in a consistent and reliable fashion toward an efficient, effective, appealing, engaging and inspiring acquisition of knowledge. (from wikipedia)

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I think instructional design is the process of determining learning objectives, developing content that helps teach to those objectives, and then providing activities/assessments that map to the objectives to help ensure the learner has understood the material.

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In summary, instructional design is creating learning materials for others to use to gain knowledge. It sounds like a fun job to create all the different resources for people to use.

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Work closely with business subject matter experts to:
• Drive the development of instructional design projects and deliverables
• Collaborate with various engineering and the Services group to define, design and execute the development of all instructional materials including:
• Web-based modules
• Software simulation
• Instructional Videos
• Performance Support Tools
• Develop and maintain solid relationships and encourage a collaborative approach with departmental team members.
• Manage client and departmental expectations
• Stay current on trends in eLearning / Instructional Design...

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Instruction Design is "the process by which learning products and experiences are designed, developed and delivered" (sandiego.edu). This includes online courses, instructional manuals, video tutorials, etc.

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I think that instructional design is the way that materials are presented to people so that they can interact with it personally, and not just read it. Its the ability to be more involved in the materials.

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ID is the creation of instructional materials while carefully considering how students learn and what materials and methods will most effectively help them to achieve their learning goals. (Taken from Perdue University)

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I think ID is the process of creating new ways (lessons, projects, assignments) that allow learners to interact and explore material on a more personal level than just taking notes, memorizing, and regurgitating information. (Sorry I posted twice I was not logged in the first time)

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I think ID is the process of creating new ways (lessons, projects, and assignments) that allow learners to interact and explore material on a more personal level than just taking notes, memorizing, and regurgitating information.

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pull it together

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check job ads

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2. What do some "official" sources say ID is?

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2. What do some "official" sources say ID is?

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library or google

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1. What do you think instructional design is

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1. What do you think instructional design is

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from the syllabus or past experience?

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Answer each of the four questions by clicking the plus sign in the bottom right corner and adding text, images, videos, or hyperlinks to individual notes.