Welcome to episode 38 of the Designing with Love podcast! In this episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Shane Strand, an instructional designer who works in the higher education sector.

Ever wondered how educators transform into instructional designers? Shane Strand takes us through his fascinating journey from high school teacher to curriculum coordinator to instructional designer in higher education. What begins as a story of career transition unfolds into a masterclass on navigating the evolving landscape of instructional design.
Shane reveals how technology became his gateway into the field: "What really drew me was the technology aspect—all this e-learning technology, seeing these online courses." His experience working in an alternative school with learning management systems sparked a passion that continues to grow as he explores new tools and possibilities in online learning.
The conversation delves deep into professional development strategies that every aspiring instructional designer should know. Shane emphasizes the power of online communities, recommending resources from industry leaders like Devlin Peck and Tim Slade. "I probably learned more from Devlin Peck about on-the-job skills instructional designers need," he shares, highlighting how these connections can supplement formal education.
We explore the versatility of instructional design across sectors—corporate training versus higher education, the evolution of models like ADDIE and SAM, and how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing course development. Jackie and Shane discuss how instructional designers often become "accidental instructional designers" who discover they've been designing instruction all along without realizing it.
For those entering the field or looking to advance, Shane offers practical advice: "There's always new tools popping up. Almost all of them have free trials, so be brave and test them out." This spirit of continuous experimentation and learning emerges as the key to success in this dynamic profession where technology and educational theory intersect in increasingly innovative ways.
Ready to expand your instructional design toolkit and connect with a community of like-minded professionals? Subscribe now and join the conversation about the future of learning design.

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