Contributed by – Justin Allison, ID2ID Advisory Committee Member 

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.

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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!

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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.

Contributed by – Ed Beck, ID2ID Advisory Council Member 

The ID2ID program provides instructional designers working in higher education an opportunity to engage a community of colleagues who share the same passion for advancing teaching and learning 

This program is designed to help participants grow professionally by focusing on common areas of interest: faculty development, academic transformation, digital literacies, accessibility, assessment, open education, and learning spaces, among others. 

The ID2ID Advisory Council is getting ready to launch the next cohort of Ignite, our mentorship tier that connects instructional designers with experienced mentors or pairs groups of similarly experienced buddies together. We reached out to one of past mentors, James Washok to learn more about his experiences in the program. In addition to working as a mentor in the past, James is known in the ID2ID community for generously hosting pop-up workshops for our entire ID2ID community in topics like Articulate 360, Storyline, or Adobe Creative Cloud applications.  

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Ed: Hi James! First, thank you for taking the time to share with us today. Tell us a little bit about yourself.  

James: Like quite a few folks, I found myself “accidentally” becoming an ID. I am an educator at heart, with a degree in secondary science education. I actually placed my content online back in 1999 when LMS’ were unheard of and most web pages were hand-coded! I didn’t actually “become” an ID until 2016. However, between 1999 and then, I consistently created educational and training materials at my main organization, propelling me into the instructional design world. After taking over the main position at FlightSafety International as their lead – and sole – instructional designer, I’ve gone on to complete two Master’s Degrees in the field (M.Ed. in Curriculum Development/Instructional Design and an MS in Instructional Design Technology). During the last 8 years, I’ve not only maintained my role at FSI, but have also worked with Brinks Home Security (curriculum development consultant), Lockheed Martin (senior instructional designer), and most recently, was picked up by D.R. Horton to create – and lead – a new Learning and Development team of instructional designers and outside contractors/consultants. 

Ed: We are so happy to have you and your experience as part of our community. What drew you towards the ID2ID Program? 
 
James: I had a long-time friend and colleague who introduced me to the Program. When the notice went out that the ID2ID Program was looking for mentors, I thought it would be a great experience to work with like-minded individuals and basically network. The pairing of Educause and Penn State University (I’m originally from Edinboro, PA) was also a bonus in my mind as I respect both organizations for what they’ve done in their respective fields. I truly wanted to “pick others’ brains” for a bit seeing as how I am in corporate settings and wanted to know the differences (and similarities) in the educational world as well. 

Ed: What was your favorite thing about the ID2ID program? 
 
James: One, how easily our group “fit” with one another. It was as if we truly were placed with one another with a purpose. The variety of backgrounds and personalities – along with location – was refreshing. I’ve worked with colleagues from all over the world, so this was nothing new. However, being in a setting where we were working together for a common goal, rather than working on Projects with tight deadlines and meeting strict regulatory standards, was great! 
 
Two, the freedom to create and work on a project that the group could benefit from as a whole. With the feedback we received from the Advisory Committee, the group ended up with a strong Project that they could not only be proud of but use as a resource for their resumes should they ever choose to leave the positions they were in at the time. 
 
Three, the ID2ID Advisory Council folks themselves. On a few of our meetings, it would often be just a few of them and myself. It was wonderful “talking shop” with some truly experienced folks who shared the same passion and drive for innovation and perfection that motivates me every morning. 

Ed: Our ID2ID program is separated into multiple tiers. Our first tier, Engage, connects Instructional Designers to the ID2ID community in Slack. Our second tier, Ignite matches Instructional Designers in a structured mentorship program, with goal planning and reflective assignments. Can you speak about your different experiences in the ID2ID program, both leading some sessions that were open to all as part of our Engage tier and also being a mentor to a group of Instructional Designers as part of an Ignite Tier? 
 
James: As a mentor, I was blessed with a great group of four very different individuals from all over. Most were in academia in some form or another, so their interest in the corporate realm was a relief as I would ask myself, “What can I offer to these people?” But it was, again, as if we were hand-picked and purposely placed together. When it came time to figure out what we were going to work on, I simply let them make the decision – I had my own thoughts. It was another eye-opener when all four agreed upon one of the Projects I was going to suggest to them. Acting more like a facilitator and guide, it was an experience I look forward to sharing again in the future. 
 
During the time – and even after (now) – I also found, through the chats and Slack discussions – that many of the participants in ID2ID had questions/concerns about specific applications, tools, and methods that I knew I had a lot of experience with. So, I offered weekly webinars on using tools like Articulate Storyline 360, discussed supporting applications like Adobe CC and Camtasia, and then went on to do a series on the science of visual design.  
 
I wouldn’t have been able to do any of those – with any amount of confidence – were it not for the support of this Program. 

Ed: Your contributions to the community are wonderful. Thank you for being so generous with your time. What would your advice be to someone considering being a mentor in our program? 
 
James: Do it! It may seem overwhelming and confusing at first, especially if you’ve never done anything like this before, but it is so worth it. Have an open mind and realize that you may have some people in your group that have years of experience and are looking for guidance to something new as well as new folks who have limited knowledge and experience who are looking for you to guide them and share your experiences without necessarily “teaching” or “coaching” them.  

Be patient and approach it as if you were having a conversation with a family member or close friend, not a teacher. And above all…have fun. It’s not hard to do that. I had a lot of fun with our group, and I hope they had as much fun as I did. We are connected and remain connected on LinkedIn, sharing experiences and “wins” whenever we get them. And if you have some experience in applications, tools, methods, etc. that you can share with the group, reach out and see if there’s interest in holding meetings with people outside your group.  

Ed: Thank you for your time!  

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Interested in ID2ID program? Please apply to be included in the next Engage cohort.