Kick off the new year with Sarah as she dives into the must-have tool for every instructional designer: a learning portfolio. In this episode of Learning to Design with Sarah, discover why portfolios are game-changers for aspiring, developing, and professional instructional designers alike.
Join Sarah as she unpacks the essentials of what a learning portfolio is, why it matters, and how it can showcase your skills, expertise, and unique approach to learning design. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting your ID journey, you'll learn actionable tips on creating a portfolio—even if you don’t have professional experience yet. Plus, Sarah shares her secrets on leveraging free tools like Articulate Rise 360 to build an impressive portfolio without breaking the bank.
Tune in to get inspired, stay ahead of the trends, and start building a dynamic, evolving portfolio that reflects your personal brand and career growth.
Click here to see my own portfolio as an example!
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Episode Transcript
Hi, welcome back to learning to design with Sarah,
instructional design made easy.
Today, we're going to talk aboutwhy every instructional designer
needs a learning portfolio.
Happy new year, instructionaldesign friends, it's January
(00:22):
2025, and I'm excited to kickoff the year with an episode on
a topic that's been coming up alot lately, learning portfolios.
Whether you're an aspiring,developing, or professional
instructional designer, having alearning portfolio can be a game
changer.
Let's dive into what they are,why they're important, and how
(00:43):
you can create one, even ifyou're just starting out.
A learning portfolio isessentially a curated collection
of your work.
It's a way to showcase theprojects you've designed,
developed, or contributed to,and it highlights your skills,
creativity, and expertise.
Think of it as a visual resumethat demonstrates not just what
(01:04):
you've done, but how you've doneit.
Your portfolio can be sharedwith prospective employers,
clients, or colleagues toprovide evidence of your
abilities.
Personally, I've found myportfolio invaluable.
It's helped me attract newclients and stand out in a
competitive job market.
If you're curious, I've linkedmy portfolio in the show notes
(01:26):
for inspiration.
Why have a portfolio?
I'll give you 10 reasons everyinstructional designer should
have one.
Showcase your skills andexpertise.
A portfolio is a tangible way todemonstrate your proficiency
with tools like ArticulateStoryline and Rise 360.
Creating your portfolio usingthese tools shows prospective
(01:50):
employers that you not onlyunderstand them, Highlight real
world experience.
Whether it's an e learningcourse, interactive module, or
blended learning solution, yourportfolio allows you to showcase
how you've applied theoreticalknowledge to solve real
problems.
(02:11):
Stand out to employers andclients.
Many job descriptions explicitlyrequire a portfolio, especially
for instructional design roles.
Having one ready can help youstand out by providing a clear
view of your capabilities andaccomplishments.
Provide evidence of results.
(02:31):
Include metrics like learnersatisfaction or engagement rates
to show the impact of your workand your ability to measure
learning outcomes.
Reflect on personal growth.
Updating your portfolioregularly encourages you to
reflect on your learning journeyand identify areas for
improvement or growth.
(02:52):
Demonstrate adaptability.
Portfolios show that you'rekeeping pace with evolving
trends, tools, and methodologiesin instructional design.
Facilitate networking andcollaboration.
Share your portfolio with peers,mentors, or clients.
It can be a conversation starteror a foundation for
(03:13):
collaboration.
work reminds you of yourachievements and reinforces your
expertise.
Establish your personal brand.
www.
microsoft.
com your portfolio reflects yourunique approach to instructional
design and helps you build adistinct professional identity,
(03:35):
tailor to specificopportunities.
You can customize your portfolioto highlight projects and skills
relevant to specific roles oraudiences.
Okay, so you might be wondering,how do I build a portfolio if I
don't have very muchprofessional experience yet?
(03:55):
Well, here's the good news.
You don't need a formal role tostart building a portfolio.
Here are some ways you can dothat.
You can leverage your hobbiesand interests.
Use what you know and love.
Go from the known to theunknown.
For example, if you're intogardening, create a micro
(04:16):
learning module on plant care.
Love video games?
Design an e learning courseabout game mechanics.
The key is to demonstrate yourinstructional design skills,
regardless of the topic.
Create samples.
Design sample e learningmodules, microlearning
resources, or face to faceworkshop materials.
(04:36):
Focus on different modalities,like blended learning, technical
writing, or even gamifiedcontent.
Use free tools and trials.
Tools like Articulate Rise 360offer free trial subscriptions.
You can use these to create andpublish projects for your
portfolio.
Just make sure to export andsave your work before the trial
(05:00):
expires.
Iterate and reflect.
Regularly review and update yourportfolio to keep it fresh and
aligned with current trends.
Use it as an opportunity toreflect on your growth.
I just want to say a little bitabout using free trials
effectively.
If you are new to using a toollike Articulate RISE 360, take
(05:23):
advantage of the free trial.
It's a really expensive program,so save yourself some money.
Here are some quick tips.
30 days, but you don't need acredit card to sign up at the
time of this podcast.
Use that 30 days to create yourcompleted portfolio project.
Now, before you sign up for it,that's when you start planning
(05:46):
the project.
Use the 30 days to build it.
Make sure you export your workbefore the trial expires.
Even if you lose access to thetool, you'll still have your
exported files.
In the next episode of thispodcast, we're going to begin
going step by step throughcreating a learning portfolio.
I'll share tips, templates, andexamples to help get you
(06:08):
started.
Meanwhile, you can check theshow notes for resources and
examples, including a link to myown portfolio.
Thanks for listening to Learningto Design with Sarah.
Whether you're just starting outor looking to refresh your
portfolio, I hope this episodehas given you some inspiration.
Have a great day, and I'll seeyou next time.
Bye for now.
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