Introducing AJ

This week we’re going  to introduce you to the newest  member of our Inspire Group team AJ.

BR: What do you do at Inspire?

AJ: I’m an instructional designer and project manager,  which is really just a  flash way of saying “I design cool training stuff for grownups  and I if I’m not designing it myself I am organising the people in my team to do it instead.”

BR: What was your journey to working at Inspire Group (education, experience etc)?

My work  over the last 12 years has involved developing people in some shape or form: from corporate training facilitation, instructional design, team leadership,  and contact centre coaching to  life guarding, swim instructing, outdoor instructing, and personal training.

I have worked in government, banking, research, and non-government organisations. To satisfy my creative side I have even worked as a  radio DJ and am an almost qualified architectural draughtsperson).

BR: What do you like about your job?

The cool thing about my current role is I get to combine creativity and design with people development. I love watching a light go on in people’s heads when they learn something new.

BR: So what made you want to work at Inspire Group?

I worked with Inspire Group as a client when I was an instructional designer at ANZ.  I loved the team’s straight up, genuine, and dynamic approach to training design.  They have an amazing pool of talent and I knew by working with them they would push me to continue to grow.

BR: Give us three tips for someone who wants to become an instructional designer?

1. Talk to people who are doing it!
   Every course you have ever been on was designed by someone, so there are ‘instructional designers’ everywhere.  Revert back to your two- year old self and keep asking the ‘but why?’ question.  Why has the training been designed and delivered a certain way? How will they know if what they have designed will work?
2. Get some facilitator experience
   Getting hands on experience will help you to identify how adults learn,  how to convey instructions clearly and concisely , and will give you a feel for  what works and what doesn’t. You don’t have to start working in the corporate world as a classroom  trainer. Being  a sports team coach, or  buddying up with a new staff member is training delivery too.
3. Research, read, and research some more
   There is always new information coming out about adult learning. Keep on top of it by reading blogs and forums.  Get familiar with instructional design models like ADDIE and use every opportunity you can to apply them practically.

BR: When you’re not working, what do you like to do?

I LOVE travelling and have just got back from doing an 18 month trip though 18 countries,  and I plan to keep adding more to the list! I’m a complete water baby so I surf (pretty badly), and body board,  and recently got my advanced open water Scuba certification in Egypt’s famous Blue Hole. Because I’m a bit of an adrenalin junkie I try to balance out my more adventurous fun by doing do a bit of creative painting too.