Instructional Design in Higher Education: Defining an Evolving Field
This white paper provides an overview of the growing field of instructional design in higher education, from why the field is growing to how designers are functioning in their role. While the practice of instructional design dates to the 1940s (O’Malley, 2017), there is still much to be defined with respect to the role of instructional designers in higher education and what instructional designers are doing to meet the needs of higher education faculty and students. This white paper explores why there is a growing demand for designers, who is filling these roles, what the responsibilities of designers are, and how instructional designers are addressing the challenges they face. For further reading, a supplemental annotated bibliography is also available.
