Become an Instructional Designer with the NEW IDOL Academy

Embarking on a career in instructional design? Or is it time to up-skill and take your current career to the next level? Look no further than IDOL Academy's comprehensive 24-week curriculum, now with a new gamified learning platform! IDOL Academy is the first and only state-authorized vocational school for Instructional Design and Online Learning Development. This program equips you with the tools, techniques, and insider knowledge you need to excel in the industry. From skill development to certification to career coaching, IDOL Academy's newest program will help you stand out in your search for instructional design jobs.

The Proof is in the Data

The IDOL team has spent the past four years analyzing the success and feedback of academy students. Dr. Robin Sargent, IDOL Academy's Head of School, says:

The new platform definitely a reinvestment into the IDOL Academy. It was built based on where we are at four...

Teachers Transitioning to Instructional Design Jobs: Enhance Your Transferable Skills

by Amy Pine

In today's rapidly changing professional landscape, K-12 teachers looking to transition to the corporate world have a great opportunity to excel in instructional designer jobs. Transitioning from the classroom to adult education, these professionals face an exhilarating challenge in the role of instructional designer. By leveraging transferable skills, this transition can be smoother, helping to facilitate the shift to a new and rewarding career.

Teachers with expertise in pedagogy, curriculum development, and varied learning modalities can create engaging and effective training experiences for adult learners in corporate settings. Their deep understanding of diverse learning styles, assessment strategies, and instructional technologies enhances their ability to design and deliver highly impactful training programs. By embracing this new role and leveraging their experience,...

Leaving the Classroom: A Transitioning Teacher Podcast

Unexpected Perks of Being an Instructional Designer 

Today I am talking about the unexpected perks of being an instructional designer after being a teacher. If you've ever wondered what awaits you on this path, this episode is for you.

Listen to the episode here:

Connect with Kristi on LinkedIn  

Enjoy the podcast transcription:

Welcome to leaving the classroom. Today I'm talking about the unexpected perks of being an instructional designer after being a teacher. If you've ever wondered what awaits you on this path, this episode is for you. I'm your host, Kristi Oliva. And let's get started. Picture this. You're a dedicated teacher, pouring your heart and soul into the classroom. But now, you've decided to take the leap into instructional design. And guess what, along with the new role comes some surprising benefits that you might not have anticipated? So let's get started.

First one, flexibility and...

Leaving the Classroom: A Transitioning Teacher Podcast

Teacher Terms Translated to Corporate Learning and Development 

Have you ever been in a meeting just nodding along, listening to what everyone is saying and all of a sudden, someone says a word that you have never heard before? Yet everyone else seems to know exactly what is going on? Today, I’m diving into a fun topic that many of us can relate to – translating teacher terms into the corporate world.

Listen to the episode here:

Connect with Kristi on LinkedIn  

Enjoy the podcast transcription:

Welcome to leaving the classroom. I'm Kristi Oliva, and I'm so glad you're here. Have you ever been in a meeting just nodding along listening to what everyone is saying. And all of a sudden someone says a word that you've never heard before. Yet, everyone else seems to know exactly what's going on. Almost every day in the corporate world. This happens to me. Just the other day I was in a meeting and...

Instructional Designer Roadmap

Are you a passionate and dedicated teacher ready to embark on a new and exciting professional journey? Perhaps you have considered transitioning into a different career path that aligns with your interests and skills. If you find yourself drawn to the world of learning and development within the corporate realm, then the field of instructional design may be just the perfect fit for you!

 In this informative blog post, we will guide you through the step-by-step process of creating a comprehensive roadmap to kickstart your new career in instructional design. We will delve into the essential skills, knowledge, certifications, and degree programs that can pave the way for your success in the dynamic world of instructional design jobs. Additionally, we will explore how to craft an effective action plan, establish a solid online presence, and unlock countless opportunities within this thriving industry.

So, let's waste no time and dive right in!...

Leaving the Classroom: A Transitioning Teacher Podcast

A Day in the Life of a Corporate Contract Instructional Designer with Lee Carlson 

In this episode, I talk to Lee Carlson. Lee is a former high school teacher in New York City and member of IDOL courses Academy. She now works as an instructional designer as a contractor for a large tech company. She discusses how she transitioned from teaching to her current role.

Listen to the episode here:

Connect with Kristi on LinkedIn  

Connect with Lee on Linkedin

Enjoy the podcast transcription:

Kristi Oliva
Welcome to leaving the classroom. This is a podcast for teachers who are ready to transition out of the classroom and into a new career. Each week, I'll share stories about what I've learned moving from education to the corporate world. I'll answer the most common questions and share my best tips to help you get started. If you are considering leaving the classroom, this show is for you.

Hello, everyone....

What makes IDOL Academy truly amazing is its community and support system. It’s not just a collection of ID-related lessons, but it provides mentoring and coaching as well. In this insightful post, IDOL coach Ivett Csordas shares how coaching works and what her method is for giving feedback. 

What makes the IDOL Academy truly amazing is its community and support system. Members get access to an extensive library of carefully curated and sequenced lessons. However, the real value lies in the social community platform and access to IDOL members and coaches. 

The difference between IDOL mentors and IDOL coaches is that mentors work with the members. They run weekly virtual catch-ups with their small group of mentees. They basically work with them and truly mentor them to become better learning content designers. 

On the other hand, coaches are not truly coaches in the real meaning of the word. In IDOL Academy, coaches stay in the background and they provide...

Leaving the Classroom: A Transitioning Teacher Podcast

What to Do When You Feel Like a Fraud

Imposterism, or feeling like a fraud, is real and present in the business world. It is not a disease or an abnormality, but can have a harmful impact on job performance and satisfaction, and eventually cause burnout. Today I talk about what to do when you feel like a fraud.

Listen to the episode here:

Connect with Kristi on LinkedIn  

Enjoy the podcast transcription:

Welcome to leaving the classroom. I'm Kristi Oliva, and I'm so glad you're here. Today I'm talking about what to do when you feel like a fraud. So let me ask you some questions. Do you tend to remember times when you failed more than you remember the times you excelled? Do you shy away from praise or do you immediately downplay the importance of that praise? Are you afraid people may find out that you aren't as capable as they think? Do you often compare your ability to those around you and think they may be more...

Leaving the Classroom: A Transitioning Teacher Podcast

3 Ways to Harness the Power of Self-Talk 

Self-talk, if harnessed appropriately can become powerful. Research has shown that talking to yourself out loud can motivate you to move forward with your goals, help you focus on a task, and get rid of self-criticism. Today I talk about self-talk and 3 ways to use it to your advantage.

Listen to the episode here:

Connect with Kristi on LinkedIn  

 Enjoy the podcast transcription:

Hello, everyone. Welcome to leaving the classroom. I'm Kristi Oliva. I'm so glad you're here. Today I'm talking about self talk, and how to use it to your advantage. By the time you listen to this podcast, chances are you have probably already experienced many of your daily 50,000 thoughts. Did you know that you had 50,000 thoughts a day? Doesn't really surprise me honestly.

For me, I'm a worrier. So I tend to get worst case scenario, in my thoughts. I map out all the directions it...

Guest: Randi Myers & Teresa O 

In this episode, I'm chatting with Randi Myers and Teresa O from OWL which is Open World Learning, a FREE online training platform being offered to all registered charities in the US and Canada! Tune in to hear about this amazing resource and the process for volunteering as an instructional designer. 

Listen to this episode below: 

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Learn more about OWL-Open World Learning

Enjoy the Episode Transcript below:   

Robin Sargent  I have here with me today, Randi Meyers and Teresa O, and they are from Open World Learning. And so before we get into exactly what we're going to talk about, well, you two do a better job of introducing yourself. We'll start with Randi.

Randi Myers  Yeah, sure. Hi. It's great to meet everyone. I am Randi Myers. I'm director of impact and I work at Intercap. And I head...