Imagine you are on a road trip with your best friend who happens to be an automobile expert. The two of you are having an amazing time but suddenly, due to some inexplicable reason, your car breaks down in the middle of nowhere. What if you ask your friend to fix it and he says, “But I forgot my toolkit” Well, such an episode might simply ruin your entire itinerary.  

To not let such a situation hinder your instructional design journey, it is recommended to procure the tools that can help you change the game. 

Remember, behind every effective and impactful learning experience is an instructional designer and the instructional design software they use. Research has shown that eLearning courses developed with instructional design tools create better learning experiences. Regardless of the experience on the ID spectrum, leveraging potential tools can simplify your job, improve outcomes, and last but not the least, help design effective learning experiences, reducing the chances of mistakes and errors.  

Instructional Design is not just about creating effective learning programs, it is also about donning many hats, juggling between deadlines, and accomplishing many tasks. It is one of the most exciting and creative careers, but can we do justice to the job   without the use of any tools?  

The answer is a resounding no. 

As Instructional Designers, our role is multidimensional.  Almost every day we must strike a balance between different requirements, without hampering the overall quality. This is why we say designing and developing powerful eLearning courses is not a cake walk. To do this effectively, we need to leverage tools that can support our journey of creating incredible learning experiences.  

All experts out there, be it in any field, have their own set of tools that they just cannot work without. IDs too have their own set of tools, that they like to use like magic wands, and accomplish seemingly difficult tasks, seamlessly, time and again. Whether you are a novice at instructional designing or a veteran, you’d agree with me that you’ll have your own set of favorite tools that you just cannot do away with.  

1. MS Word 

As an instructional designer, I have used MS Word extensively to create a wide range of instructional material, including lesson plans, training manuals, assessments, and e-learning content. MS Word’s versatile features have allowed me to collaborate with subject matter experts, editors, and reviewers, and to create well-organized and detailed lesson plans. MS Word’s Track Changes and Comments features has streamlined the feedback-sharing process, making the revision of documents quite easy. 

Additionally, MS Word’s formatting tools have enabled me to create visually appealing documents that enhance the participants’ learning experience. By using features like headings, lists, and tables, I can organize content in a logical and easy-to-read manner. Overall, MS Word has been an essential tool in allowing me to create high-quality instructional material efficiently and effectively. 

2. Canva 

Next in line is Canva.  I’ve used this tool to create visually appealing and engaging instructional material. Canva’s pre-designed templates and graphic elements help create informative and visually appealing infographics. It’s an extremely handy tool when it comes to designing course material such as handouts, study guides, and syllabi. I have also used Canva’s design elements, such as shapes, icons, and illustrations to create interactive learning activities such as drag-and-drop exercises, matching games, and quizzes. It is amazing to learn how Canva provides customization options for different fonts, colors, and graphics to match different course branding. All in all, it’s a great tool to create impressive designs in no time.  

3. Camtasia

I’ve utilized Camtasia to create polished and professional videos. It enables me to effortlessly capture my screen, record audio, and edit the footage to create a high-quality video. I’ve been able to create step-by-step tutorials, software demonstrations, and interactive quizzes that help my learners master new skills and knowledge. Camtasia’s annotation and visual effects features have been incredibly useful in emphasizing key points in my videos. The interactive elements, such as quizzes, surveys, and hotspots have also helped me enhance the learners’ engagement in the learning process. 

4. H5P

H5P is an open-source platform that works incredibly well to create interactive content that promotes active learning and engagement. I have integrated H5P’s various content types into different Learning Management Systems, such as Moodle, Blackboard, and WordPress, to enhance the learning experience of participants. H5P has allowed me to create interactive presentations, videos, and infographics that can engage participants and help them learn more effectively. I have also used H5P to create interactive assessments such as quizzes, surveys, and questionnaires. It’s a powerful tool that IDs can use to create interactive and engaging learning experiences.  

5. Grammarly 

As an instructional designer, I have used Grammarly to improve the overall quality and readability of my instructional materials, such as e-learning courses, lesson plans, and assessments. Grammarly is a powerful tool that provides suggestions for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style to ensure that my instructional material is error-free and easy to understand for my target audience. With Grammarly, I can quickly identify and correct grammatical errors that may otherwise have gone unnoticed. Additionally, Grammarly’s tone detector feature helps me ensure that my writing is appropriate for my audience and aligns with the overall tone and structure of my instructional material. Overall, Grammarly has been an invaluable tool in helping me create high-quality instructional material that effectively communicate important information to my learners. 

These are the essential tools in my toolkit so that my car(work) doesn’t stop in the middle of my instructional designing road! 

Which of the above-mentioned tools are or must be a part of your ID toolkit? 

What are your essential ID tools? 

Do you have any tools that you can’t do without?  

Please share your thoughts with me in the comments below.