Favorite Instructional Design Resources for Special Librarians

Many of you are in positions where you lead training. On this blog, I have shared many tips and ideas for creating effective instruction based in theory or which uses well-known frameworks.

Now, I want to share some of my favorite resources that I use when I need a refresher, or to get new ideas for instructional design.

InstructionalDesign.org: Because there are numerous learning theories and instructional design models, I often need to remind myself of the basics of ones I do not frequently use. This site provides an excellent overview of many.

Make it Stick: The Science of Successful Learning: While this book is almost 10 years old, the research-supported principles are timeless. If you need ideas for how to help individuals remember content, this book is for you.

Association for Talent and Development: This organization focuses on “professionals who help others achieve their full potential by improving their knowledge, skills, and abilities in the workplace. They go by many titles: talent development managers, trainers, instructional designers, performance consultants, frontline managers, workplace learning professionals, and more.” The organization offers professional development courses related to instructional design.

The Learning Guild: “The Learning Guild is a community of practice for those supporting the design, development, strategy, and management of organizational learning.” The Guild hosts conferences and produces publications on learning design.

Action@Work Blog: Cathy Moore writes a blog about training for working adults. The blog is full of great resources and ideas.

UnSplash: A great place to access stock photos with a Creative Commons Zero license.

Google Fonts: A great location for different (free!) fonts.

I hope some of my preferred resources spark new ideas for you!