Episode 35: Innovate and Flourish: Rob Pearson on the Future of Instructional Design

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In this podcast episode, Rob Pearson, a seasoned instructional designer with nearly 40 years of experience, shares his journey into the field and his current role as an instructor at UMass Boston. He highlights his early start in instructional design and his long career working on the vendor side, particularly during the early days of e-learning. Rob reflects on the diverse backgrounds of students entering the field and emphasizes the importance of integrating learning theories with instructional design models like ADDIE. He finds teaching to be an eye-opening experience, deepening his understanding of the profession.
Rob also discusses the evolving nature of instructional design and the rapid changes in both technology and learning science. He stresses the need for instructional designers to innovate and adapt, especially in an era where tools like AI are revolutionizing the field. Rob highlights AI’s potential to enhance productivity, particularly in tasks like analysis and content development, which can be done much faster using AI tools like ChatGPT. He encourages aspiring instructional designers to embrace AI to streamline processes, though he also cautions against seeing it as a shortcut for critical thinking and creativity.
Looking ahead, Rob remains optimistic about the future of instructional design, particularly in the areas of analysis and design within the ADDIE framework. He encourages newcomers to see themselves as problem solvers and valuable contributors within organizations rather than mere course creators. Rob also believes there is great potential in making instructional design an undergraduate discipline, as many people only discover it later in their careers. His advice to students is clear: embrace your role as creative problem-solvers.d

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