Instructional Designer Onboarding Checklist

Instructional Designer Onboarding Process

Are you looking for help setting up a staff orientation process so that when your new Instructional Designer starts their role, they can learn about their responsibilities and your company as quickly as possible? Whether you’re keen to use buddy onboarding, want to automate your Education onboarding experience or just need an onboarding checklist for your new Instructional Designer, you’re in the right place. We’ve put together a sample Instructional Designer onboarding checklist below and have created onboarding templates & resources to help.

Instructional Designer Onboarding Checklist

1. Introduction to the company: The new instructional designer should be provided with a comprehensive introduction to the company, including its mission, values, organizational structure, and key stakeholders. This task is typically performed by the HR department or a designated onboarding specialist.

2. Familiarization with company policies and procedures: The instructional designer should be given a thorough overview of the company’s policies and procedures, such as code of conduct, data protection, health and safety, and any other relevant guidelines. This task is usually performed by the HR department or a designated onboarding specialist.

3. Introduction to the learning management system (LMS): As an instructional designer, familiarity with the company’s LMS is crucial. The new hire should receive training on how to navigate and utilize the LMS effectively. This task is typically performed by the IT department or a designated LMS administrator.

4. Review of existing instructional materials: The new instructional designer should be given access to existing instructional materials, such as course content, assessments, and multimedia resources. This will help them understand the company’s instructional design approach and ensure consistency in future projects. This task is usually performed by a senior instructional designer or a designated content manager.

5. Collaboration with subject matter experts (SMEs): Instructional designers often work closely with SMEs to develop effective learning materials. The new hire should be introduced to key SMEs and provided with guidelines on how to collaborate with them effectively. This task is typically performed by a senior instructional designer or a designated project manager.

6. Understanding the target audience: To create engaging and effective learning experiences, instructional designers need a deep understanding of the target audience. The new hire should be provided with relevant demographic and psychographic information about the learners they will be designing for. This task is usually performed by a senior instructional designer or a designated project manager.

7. Review of project management processes: Instructional designers often work on multiple projects simultaneously. The new hire should be familiarized with the company’s project management processes, including timelines, milestones, and communication channels. This task is typically performed by a senior instructional designer or a designated project manager.

8. Training on authoring tools: Instructional designers use various authoring tools to create e-learning content. The new hire should receive training on the specific authoring tools used by the company, such as Articulate Storyline or Adobe Captivate. This task is usually performed by the IT department or a designated e-learning specialist.

9. Introduction to quality assurance processes: Ensuring the quality of instructional materials is essential. The new instructional designer should be introduced to the company’s quality assurance processes, including review cycles, feedback mechanisms, and version control. This task is typically performed by a senior instructional designer or a designated quality assurance specialist.

10. Mentoring and ongoing support: To facilitate a smooth transition, the new instructional designer should be assigned a mentor or a buddy who can provide guidance, answer questions, and offer ongoing support. This task is typically performed by a senior instructional designer or a designated mentorship coordinator.

11. Introduction to professional development opportunities: Instructional designers should continuously enhance their skills and stay updated with industry trends. The new hire should be informed about professional development opportunities, such as conferences, webinars, and online courses, that the company supports. This task is typically performed by a senior instructional designer or a designated professional development coordinator.

12. Introduction to the company’s branding guidelines: Instructional designers often need to align their designs with the company’s branding guidelines. The new hire should be provided with the company’s branding guidelines, including logo usage, color schemes, and typography. This task is typically performed by a senior instructional designer or a designated branding specialist.

13. Introduction to the company’s learning objectives and outcomes: The new instructional designer should be familiarized with the company’s learning objectives and outcomes, which guide the design and development of instructional materials. This task is typically performed by a senior instructional designer or a designated project manager.

14. Introduction to the company’s evaluation and assessment processes: Instructional designers need to assess the effectiveness of their learning materials. The new hire should be introduced to the company’s evaluation and assessment processes, including methods for collecting learner feedback and measuring learning outcomes. This task is typically performed by a senior instructional designer or a designated evaluation specialist.

15. Introduction to the company’s accessibility guidelines: Instructional designers should ensure that their materials are accessible to all learners, including those with disabilities. The new hire should be provided with the company’s accessibility guidelines, including best practices for designing accessible e-learning content. This task is typically performed by a senior instructional designer or a designated accessibility specialist

Setting Up Your Employee Onboarding Process

From reading through the items in the example Instructional Designer checklist above, you’ll now have an idea of how you can apply best practices to getting your new Instructional Designer up to speed and working well in your Education team. Scroll up to see the link to our onboarding templates & resources or get in touch to discuss getting help setting up your systems and processes in this area.