Contributed by – Justin Allison, ID2ID Advisory Committee Member
Senior Instructional Designer – University of North Texas Health Science Center
The ID2ID program provides instructional designers in higher education an opportunity to connect with colleagues using a tiered approach: Engage, Ignite, and Accelerate. Click here to learn more about each tier.
The ID2ID Advisory Council is getting ready to launch the next cohort of Accelerate, our project-focused tier that provides an opportunity to elevate your knowledge and ideas in order to help advance the profession. We reached out to one of past participants, Jiaqi Yu, to learn more about her experiences within this tier.
Justin: Jiaqi, thank you for taking time to chat with the ID2ID community today! Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Jiaqi: Hi everyone. My name is Jiaqi Yu. I am a Senior Instructional Designer at the Division of Academic Innovation, University of North Texas Health Science Center (Fort Worth, TX). I became interested in the field of instructional design when I was working on my master’s degree and involved in a grant-funded project at the University of Toronto (Toronto, ON). I am excited to share that I graduated from Iowa State University (Ames, IA) in May 2022 with my Ph.D. degree, majoring in Education (Curriculum and Instructional Technology) and co-majoring in Human Computer Interaction.
I enjoy working as an ID in higher education, which allows me to collaborate with faculty and staff in various disciplines to optimize the learning experience for all learners. I believe IDs in higher education are truly the change agents who can bring change to the organization and facilitate the implementation of innovations. I have constantly been studying my professional practice and applying evidence-based principles to my work, and always looking forward to collaborating with other IDs to contribute to the body of knowledge in this field.
Justin: We are excited to have you within our ID2ID community! What drew you to the ID2ID program?
Jiaqi: I learned about the ID2ID program through a virtual presentation at the OLC Innovate 2022 conference in April 2022. I was so excited and immediately submitted my application because the concept behind this community is perfectly aligned with my passion and interests. My Ph.D. dissertation focused on designing a Community of Practice (CoP) in an online class and examining how a group of graduate students as novice IDs perceived their learning experience. As a social constructivist, I strongly believe in the collaborative nature of learning and the power of informal learning within a community. That is why I decided to participate in this program and plan to further expand my research grounded in the theoretical constructs of CoPs.
Justin: Can you share your personal experience engaging within the ID2ID community?
Jiaqi: Since joining the ID2ID community in April 2022, I have learned a lot by following different channels, asking questions, and initiating small talks. I particularly love the channel “Book Study” and have participated in several monthly meetings with a group of IDs who are always generous in sharing stories and experiences. In the past fall, we read a book about Universal Design for Learning (UDL) together and acquired a lot of best practices and examples through our conversations and discussions.
I also participated in the three-month track as part of the Accelerate tier program from June to August. Starting in September, I joined the Ignite tier and became a mentor leading a small group of IDs. I am beyond grateful for my experience so far within the ID2ID community for helping me connect with so many like-minded peers and continue to advance my professional development.
Justin: I had the pleasure of watching the progression of your work within the Accelerate tier. Tell us about your Accelerate project.
Jiaqi: I participated in the three-month track as part of the Accelerate tier from June to August. My capstone project was related to my job at UNTHSC while I was part of a working group to identify a project management solution for our department/institution. My final deliverable is a narrated presentation summarizing my work, including designing and analyzing a campus-wide needs assessment survey, comparing three popular project management software, and creating a RICI matrix to define the roles and responsibilities that different stakeholders might play in a course design project.
Justin: What would be your advice to someone else submitting a project proposal for the Accelerate tier?
Jiaqi: For those who plan to submit a proposal for the Accelerate tier, you may want to keep it simple and realistic. Every ID recognizes the importance of drafting measurable and specific learning objectives but sometimes needs to remember how busy we could be. Make sure to consider all the contextual factors and think through your entire plan while setting up your goals and milestones for 3 or 6 months.
Based on my experience, it would be easier for a new member to participate in the Ignite tier first and then join the Accelerate tier. Most of my mentees prefer working on their projects or getting started with a new idea after joining the Ignite tier. It would be beneficial if they could continue working on their project and try to wrap it up through the Accelerate tier. This cohort-based program would help you connect with other IDs and hold you accountable.
If you want to learn more about my experience or have any additional questions, I look forward to connecting with you on LinkedIn.
Justin: It has been a pleasure chatting with you. Thank you for your time!
Interested in the Accelerate Tier of the ID2ID program? First, please apply to be included in the next Engage cohort. Then, you will have an opportunity to submit a project proposal to join the next Accelerate cohort.