The Show Notes
What could life look like with flexible work options? What would your ideal workday look like? Like if you could design it from the moment you woke up to the moment you went to bed?
And what if you could choose how much or how little you worked on those days?
As a teacher, that might sound like a pipe dream. But there are so many opportunities to freelance as an instructional designer. Maybe you are nearing retirement and need to work, but want to spend more time with your grandbabies.
Or maybe you long to have flexible work options to meet the needs of your own family.
You may be excited to find that your teacher’s strengths can be used to work as a freelance instructional designer!
Today’s guest, Mikaylie Kartchner is a freelance instructional designer who has been in the industry for the last 15 years. She’s sharing about all the flexible work options in instructional design!
You Know More Than You Think Do
When you think about what an instructional designer does, you might be intimidated if you’re assuming that you’re not qualified just because you’re not a “techie”.
You might be encouraged to know that Mikaylie shared that everything that she learned in her 15 years of experience, she learned on the job. On top of that, in all that time, she hasn’t used an ounce of code.
The truth is that there is so much you do instinctually because you’re one of the really good teachers. Mikaylie also wants you to know that if you are good at spotting problems and asking clarifying questions, you’re already an expert in instructional design.
It may seem like anyone could do that, but the reality is that you have strengths that are true superpowers. All you have to do is start recognizing them in order to pursue those flexible work options.
The Perfect Option As You Near Retirement
Since Mikaylie and I are good friends, we often nerd out about the world of instructional design. We have also talked a lot about the fact that Mikaylie’s mom would actually be an ideal fit for a freelance instructional designer.
As a seasoned teacher, Mikaylie’s mom is still teaching kindergarten as she is nearing retirement. She longs to spend more time with her grandkids and investing in her hobbies. And yet she still needs a paycheck.
Being able to pull back on the intensity of her work (hello 5-6-year-old energy) but still meet her financial goals would be a dream come true! (Stay tuned to find out if we are able to convince Mikaylie’s mom to discover her flexible work options!)
Learning to Be A Better Student
Some of Mikaylie’s very favorite past projects include a safety course for rocket engineers and a sign language course. Did Mikaylie have background experience in either of those subjects? Not an ounce.
But if you’ve ever had to attend a required work training, about 90% of those have room for improvement, right? They are boring and lack engagement.
Mikaylie’s strength is in being able to ask a ton of questions that allow her to break down all the content in the mind of a subject matter expert. She becomes the student. Then, she finds ways to make things like required safety training…fun!
Who Would Hire Me Anyway?
You might be wondering where you would even find freelance instructional design opportunities. What Mikaylie reminds us is that every business, school, or organization has to train people to do things so they can do their jobs better. That makes instructional design critical.
So think for a moment. What is something you’re really passionate about? Maybe it’s even just a hobby.
Start there and consider: how would you teach someone else to gain those skills? Try mapping it out and breaking it down. What input would they need? What kind of practice and application? Try making your own mini-course!
Key Takeaways You Need to Find More Flexible Work Options
If you’re ready to explore being an online course creator as an entrepreneur, Mikaylie has a couple of words of advice!
- Identify the problems you would love to discover answers to. What have you always wanted to learn? What gaps in instruction or learning have you always wanted to fill but never had the time to do? Do a brainstorming session and get it down on paper!
- Be bold in the moves you take. Think through some of the most intense moments you’ve had in the classroom. Take note of the things that you were asked to do that weren’t even in the job description. You are braver than you think!
Does listening to Mikaylie’s story make you curious about being a freelance course creator? Do you like the sound of the work she does daily?
If you’re ready to explore the possibility of pursuing a career as an instructional designer, I want to hear from you! What questions do you have? And how can I support you?
Ready to Become an Instructional Designer Too?
If you enjoyed this episode I invite you to take a screenshot and tag me on your Instagram stories @teachertransition and tell me your biggest takeaway!
Want to know what other work opportunities you might love beyond the classroom? Click here to get the FREE Top Jobs for Teachers download.
A Breakdown of This Episode:
- [5:29] This is exactly what you need to know if you are close, but not close enough to retiring
- [11:36] Listen so you can feel confident that you don't need to be a tech whiz to get started
- [15:52] Hear Mikaylie talk about how great the opportunity is when it comes to instructional design
- [20:16] This is how Mikaylie works with subject matter experts to create powerful resources
- [42:14] Find out why being a great communicator is a huge strength in instructional design
Did someone say GIVEAWAY?
Are you loving the podcast? Leave a review on iTunes and tell us what you’re learning! Already left a review? Review a resource you’ve used and share how it’s helped you in YOUR teacher transition.
Anyone who enters will be eligible to win support like coaching calls with Ali or course access! Stay tuned for details!
Resources Mentioned in the Show
Ready to dive into YOUR career in instructional design? Click HERE to enroll in the course- From Teacher to Instructional Designer today!
Connect with Mikaylie
Mikaylie has been a freelance instructional designer for over 15 years. At her core, she is a problem solver. Her background is in learning design which gives her unique insight into strategic planning because learning is how we get things done.
Mikaylie has spent the majority of her career learning about people—how they behave, how they think, their natural tendencies, their feelings, etc.—and then using that knowledge to help business leaders plan their products and services in ways that work with our natural human behaviors and meet business goals.
