Educators are Becoming Instructional Designers. Why and How?

As we all remember, 2020 was a  year of change for many industries, including education. Following the 2020 pandemic, the education field witnessed a substantial increase in educators opting to leave the field. According to the National Education Association in 2022, nearly 55 percent of educators considered leaving the profession early. As teachers leave the profession, many  are discovering that their skills as an educator translate efficiently into the world of instructional design. So, why are educators becoming instructional designers, and how does their experience translate to a career in professional design?

Why are educators leaving the field? 

It is no surprise that over half of today’s educators consider leaving when so many are overworked, underpaid, and often underappreciated. Many factors contribute to the increase of educators leaving the field, such as:

• Stress. Many teachers experience unrealistic expectations, taking on too many roles as a result. Besides educating the youth, teachers must manage their classroom and students, which means that educators regularly take on the role of counselor, friend, nurse, parent, etc. 
• Time. Contrary to popular belief, educators often work outside of school hours. One in four educators work more than 60 hours a week. Since educators actively teach during their usual eight-hour workday, this leaves little time for preparation and grading. A majority of teachers will find themselves working outside of the classroom to prepare lessons, gather materials, plan ahead, grade papers, respond to parent emails, and so on.  
• Pay. Educators earn less money than most other professions requiring the same education and skills. On top of being underpaid, educators often have to pay for their own materials due to lack of budget and/or resources. 
• Lack of resources. Depending on the socio-economic status of the school, many educators find themselves paying out of pocket for resources due to insufficient funds. Lack of materials such as paper, writing utensils, books, etc., leads educators to pay for their own materials in order to truly accomplish their job successfully.