What Do Instructional Designers Actually Do? Defining Our Role through Professional Communities of Practice

As learning designers, how do we cope with the barrage of conflicting demands on our time? According to recent research, many instructional designers (IDs) feel at once overwhelmed and alone, isolated and trying to define a newly emerging role with a lack of local support. Cue ID2ID, a professional community of practice (CoP) co-sponsored by ELI and Penn State. This program fosters interinstitutional professional growth and development. We'll look at the strengths of this program as we identify opportunities to develop ourselves as IDs, define our role, and support one another in community.

Outcomes: Examine the evolving functions of Instructional Designers * Discuss top challenges facing the world of ID * Explore CoPs across institutions as instruments for defining our role