Instructional Design and other Competencies
I recently learned something as an instructional designer that I feel like I should have known for some time. There exist official competencies for the job title instructional designer that are recognized internationally. The International Board of Standards for Training, Performance, and Instruction was formed in 1984 as an international, not-for-profit service organization whose mission is “to improve individual and organizational performance.” In 1986 the IBSTPI came up with competencies for Instructional Designers, Training Managers, and Instructors.
I read about these and then checked out the IBSTPI site for myself, and sure enough, there they were. Very detailed competencies for the aforementioned fields. Quoting from the website for Instructional Designers in particular:
The original set of Instructional Design Competencies was developed in 1986 and was the result of more than a year of research, discussion, and validation by a group of instructional design professionals and academics. Over the past 15 years there have been several developments in the major theories that underpin the instructional design field. In recognition of this the ibstpi Board set out to review and revise the ID competencies. The 2000 set contains 23 competencies and 127 performance statements. The new version still retains the essential elements of the 1986 set, but also:- reflects the influence of advanced technologies, team-based design, and business management skills
- addresses the professional foundations of design, as well as planning and analysis, design and development, and implementation and management skills
- categorizes competencies as Essential or Advanced; and
- has been validated globally
The Instructional Designer competencies are organized into four domains of Professional Foundations, Planning and Analysis, Design and Development, and Implementation and Management. I found it quite helpful to know and read these competencies for the first time, and found that I currently perform, or have performed in the past, most of the competencies. That was good to learn. I think these competencies can serve as a good guide for any ID professional’s career development.
Read the competencies for Instructional Designers, Training Managers, and Instructors at: http://www.ibstpi.org/competencies.htm
