Can’t we all just get along? Or the need for instructional design certification
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Can’t we all just get along? Or the need for instructional design certification.
dr.curry @ March 4, 2008
I do agree with Karl’s idea of improving the field by educating people and having some way of proving their ability. I’d like to see some certificate that actually uses authentic assessment, probably in some sort of portfolio. Some of the “certificates” listed aren’t certifications the way IT certifications work, but are simply documents showing you took some courses. For example, Indiana University’s certificate is basically a mini-Masters degree where you take half the courses for the masters. This may be just the difference between a “certificate” and “certification.”
If we could come up with a universally recognized certification, similar to PMI or CompTIA’s A+ certifications, I think that would be beneficial. Where Karl’s post was more about the process of getting there, I’m more concerned just with measuring the results.
I do wonder about who defines what “standard” knowledge should be included though. I don’t have a good answer to that.
Keep up the good questions!
Several thoughts…
You list the litany of organizations that have a certificate in instructional design of some sort, and others certainly exist. Because of that, I don’t think there’s an answer to “Who’s in charge?” Each institution and organization has an opportunity to offer the certificate program in the way they see fit. There’s no way to consolidate into a single certificate program recognized by the entire industry; if that were possible, could we not have a single “Computer Literacy Certificate” rather than IC3, MAS, ITDL, TekXM etc?
I don’t believe there’ll ever be a general instructional design certification to represent the industry to the exclusion of others because the question - “What is the definition of good instruction that we can all agree on?” - can never be answered. As long as social constructivists and behaviorists are both allowed in the conversation, I doubt a consensus can be reached regarding what constitutes good instruction.
Plus, even if AECT were to define and offer a certificate, I’ll still be able to shop around, right? I may choose ASTD’s certificate because it does, in fact, include less theory than AECT’s or the instructional design your preservice teachers get through your courses.
The theme song to “Different Strokes” is running through my head
-Chris
First, a tech note. My rss reader no longer detects your feed. Maybe it’s me; maybe there’s a glitch. FYI.
I’ve enjoyed following the ID debate, analogies, autodidacts’ degree program, and now the question about certification.
I wonder who cares about certification outside our own domain. At the highest levels, maybe executives recognize the value in hiring CLO who knows the broad sweep of industrial or cognitive psychology.
But who would an industry-wide certification serve? You’re so right about the grad/paper bag vs Cammy comparison. (Incidentally, you can thank Cammy for me finding you.) There is no certification that can make sure we get training that’s smart and inventive, not just adequate.
Taken to its logical conclusion, you get something I really don’t want to see. What if we were required to submit projects to an ID academy every two years? They could be judged on sound application of theory, apt use of media and technology, sensible and strong evaluation plans, and I could go on. But (big) brother, I don’t think that would make us better. That’s the kind of thing that leads to imitation by less inspired practitioners, undoing the intent.
I think an ID knows the enough about the theory of how adults learn to build learning events that have measurable impact. And so much that lies between that and other people “getting” what we do is education and selling.