Instructional Design Goals

     My purpose for entering the Instructional Design and Technology program has always been to shift my career focus from inside a preschool classroom to a training and development role. While I love my current career and the rewarding experiences I have had with my littles, I am ready for a slightly different path. There are a multitude of reasons for this and I am so excited to see where I end up. I am also wanting to shift into a remote or hybrid position rather than a regular nine to five role. My career goals have shifted to work cooperatively with my personal goals. I am confident that as I make this transition I will be able to remain fulfilled on the path I am taking.

    When looking at where I want to be in say five years there are a lot of short and long term goals that I will need to accomplish before I make my dream happen. Ideally I would like to continue working within the early childhood realm and my dream job would be with an organization such as Zero to Three. Developing learning for employers, organizations and/or individuals to help them support the youngest learners. Allowing me to put my current expertise and skills I learn through this program to use simultaneously. At the same time I am open to exploring new fields if necessary, and to use that exploration to build my skill set as I continue working towards my dream job.

    A short-term goal that I hope to achieve by the end of this course is to have built a more solid foundational understanding of instructional design. I would like to be more secure in my ability to complete the program and in the knowledge that I am capable of making this a long term career. This is an important part of supporting any future goals. Accomplishing this short term goal will also support my belief in myself being a quick learner and openness to critique. This course is supposed to be an introduction and if I can use it to build a solid foundation by taking all of the knowledge I gain and feedback given to grow, then I can continue to use those skills throughout the program and in any future employment opportunities I may have.

    A medium-term goal That I hope to achieve by the mid-point of the program is multi-part. I would like to have the solid beginnings of a portfolio that I can use to showcase my growth to potential employers. Highlighting my capabilities in terms of skills while also providing solid examples of growth gained through continued learning and critique. I would also like to have found an internship or entry level position that I can use to further build my skill level while also providing me with the opportunity to make connections within the field of instructional design. Both of these medium-term goals support each other and offer important foundational support in my ability to accomplish my long-term goals and will help support me as I complete the rest of the program.

    A long-term goal for me would be to complete the program and find a remote instructional design position within the realm of education. As I stated above preferably within the field of early childhood education. Being able to remain within my area of expertise while shifting into a different career path has always been the long term goal. I find that there is not enough focus on early childhood education and still believe that this is my calling. I want to be able to work for an organization that understands the needs of the world’s littlest learners and supports them through comprehensive learning and support for the adults that work so closely with them everyday. Ultimately those littlest minds are our future and it is so important that we foster their abilities at the earliest age.

    While on this journey of accomplishing my short, medium, and long-term goals it’s important that I start networking and making connections now. I would like to connect and work with people within the early childhood education field. Not just educators themselves, but also administrators, designers, researchers, and policy makers. It will be important for me to have a thorough understanding of what these people are looking for in terms of learning for their teams. What types of instruction do they need, what knowledge are they hoping to impart, and what are their long term goals? These question will help me as the instructional designer, make sure that I am meeting the goals they are looking to achieve.

    There are so many paths that I will need to travel in order to reach my end goal and each small step I take will help me get there. Even the obstacles I encounter along the way will provide me with an opportunity to grow both as a person and a future instructional designer. As I reach each short-term goal I will continue to develop new ones that aid in my growth and will help me solidify connections in my field. I know that through hard work and with the help of my support network I will reach all of my goals new and old. I continue to look forward to the journey ahead of me and the ability to look back just to see how far I’ve come. 


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