Beyond the LMS: Karen Nix's Instructional Design Journey
Karen Nix's journey into instructional design showcases the diverse pathways professionals take into this dynamic field. Starting with a journalism background, Karen found herself drawn to learning and development through an unexpected administrative role in professional development. This serendipitous career shift illustrates how transferable skills from other disciplines can create exceptional instructional designers.
The intersection of mass communication and healthcare education represents a powerful combination for effective learning design. Karen highlights how her journalism training taught her to distill complex information into digestible content—a critical skill when working with subject matter experts in specialized healthcare fields. This ability to simplify without sacrificing accuracy is particularly valuable in healthcare education, where clinical expertise must be translated into learnable content. As Karen notes, "I have to be sort of a conduit and take that information and put it in a framework that the learner can digest."
One fascinating aspect of Karen's approach is her embrace of the "novice mindset" as an instructional designer. Rather than seeing her lack of clinical expertise as a limitation, she recognizes it as an advantage that allows her to approach content from the learner's perspective. This insight challenges the imposter syndrome many instructional designers experience and reframes it as a professional strength. By positioning herself as a learner, Karen can ask the essential questions that subject matter experts might overlook, creating more effective learning experiences.
The evolution of technology in instructional design features prominently in Karen's work. Her innovative use of AI voice cloning through platforms like 11 Labs demonstrates how designers can leverage emerging technologies to overcome production constraints. By cloning a subject matter expert's voice, Karen can create consistent, high-quality audio throughout a course while maintaining the flexibility to make changes without scheduling additional recording sessions. This practical application of technology solves real-world design challenges while enhancing the learning experience.
Karen's approach to microlearning and scenario-based instruction offers valuable insights for practitioners. Rather than treating these as trendy buzzwords, she implements them thoughtfully within her design constraints. Her creation of character-driven scenarios using Articulate characters with AI-generated voices exemplifies creative problem-solving in instructional design. These techniques not only engage learners but also model effective teaching practices for the faculty she supports.
The collaborative process between instructional designers and subject matter experts remains a cornerstone of effective design. Karen's practical approach—using familiar tools like PowerPoint as a starting point—demonstrates how designers can meet experts where they are. Her emphasis on seeking context and nuance, rather than just facts, reveals the depth of understanding required to transform expert knowledge into effective learning experiences. This collaborative process, built on mutual respect and clear communication, ultimately produces better outcomes for learners.
Karen's reflections on completing her master's degree later in her career offer encouragement to professionals considering formal education in instructional design. Her advice to "come as you are" reminds us that diverse backgrounds and experiences enrich the field. The program enhanced her existing skills while providing theoretical foundations and new techniques she could immediately apply. This integration of theory and practice exemplifies the lifelong learning mindset essential for instructional design professionals.
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Please visit Karen Nix’s website and social media links below.
Photo by Polina Zimmerman: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-person-using-laptop-3747403/
Jackie Pelegrin
Instructional Designer, Author, College Professor, and Podcast Host
Jackie, an Arizona native, leverages decades of experience as an instructional designer within both higher education and the corporate world. She holds an MBA and a Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology, both acquired through online learning. In addition to her full-time role, Jackie serves as an adjunct instructor, teaching online courses at Grand Canyon University. During her leisure time, she delights in reading books across a range of genres, enjoying movies and TV shows, playing games, listening to uplifting music, and spending quality time with her family and friends.
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