Instructional Design Central-IDC

10/15/2026

There's a question circulating in L&D circles right now that a lot of people are afraid to ask out loud.

Is instructional design a dying field?

We wrote the honest answer, not a pep talk, not panic. Just a clear-eyed look at what AI is actually replacing in ID work, what it cannot touch, and the five skills that are becoming more valuable right now, not less.

The short version: the field is not dying. But the version of it that existed five years ago is changing fast. The designers who come out ahead will be the ones who saw it coming and moved accordingly.

Worth a read if you're thinking about your career trajectory in 2026.
instructionaldesigncentral.com/post/is-instructional-design-a-dying-field

Is instructional design a dying field? An honest look at what AI is replacing, what it isn't, and the skills that make instructional designers irreplaceable in 2026.

10/15/2026

AI can generate. AI can analyze. AI can automate. But L&D is about people.

Join iSpring AI Days on October 28th, a free virtual conference on orchestrating AI capabilities without losing the human center of L&D — the empathy, creativity, and judgment that make learning actually work.

Across the day, we’ll unpack how to:

• Bring AI into your everyday L&D workflow.
• Move beyond individual tools and learn how AI can work together with your expertise.
• Evaluate AI-generated content and know where human expertise needs to lead.
• Build ethical, secure, and trustworthy practices into your L&D work.
• Turn individual capability into wider impact by working with AI.
We’ll also explore what's new in iSpring's AI toolkit and how it can fit into a smarter, more human-centered workflow.

👉 Register today: https://bit.ly/4AEwLsa

10/13/2026

2026 has brought some real shifts to learning experience design — and if you work in L&D, these are worth paying attention to.

From AI as a genuine creative partner to microlearning that fits inside the flow of work, the full breakdown is on the IDC blog. Link in the post!

Which trend are you most excited (or nervous) about? Tell us below.

instructionaldesigncentral.com/post/top-5-learning-experience-design-trends-for-2026

10/12/2026

Lean L&D team. Big workload. Sound familiar?

Join iSpring's free L&D Launch Bootcamp and work through 3 real challenges L&D pros face every day: mass onboarding under tight deadlines, training deskless workers, and turning an SME's raw content into impactful learning content.

📅 October 13-22
💻 Online | Free | 3 live workshops | 1 networking event

Plus, get templates and frameworks you can use immediately and access to iSpring LMS, including a testing environment for hands-on practice.

RSVP today. Spots are limited. 👉 https://bit.ly/3TAPkNd

10/02/2026

We just made it a lot easier to get started in instructional design.

The IDC Instructional Design Starter Bundle includes two certificate courses, 13 professional templates, and our AI in Instructional Design white paper — the complete foundation for anyone breaking into the field or leveling up their process.

Four resources. One price. $150 instead of $260.

If you or someone you know has been thinking about a career in ID, this is the place to start.

https://www.instructionaldesigncentral.com/bundles/instructional-design-starter-kit

10/01/2026

If you've been thinking about earning a degree in instructional design, IDC put together a ranked list of the top programs in the field — from Indiana University's #1-ranked program to fully online MS and MEd options designed around the schedules of working professionals.

MS, MEd, EdD, PhD, or certificate — it's all there, side by side, so you can find the right fit without the research rabbit hole.

Explore top-rated instructional design degree and certificate programs. Compare MS, MEd, EdD, and PhD options at leading universities — many fully online.

09/30/2026

Here's a question worth sitting with: when you design a learning experience, which side gets more of your attention — the science or the art?

The science side is where frameworks like ADDIE and Bloom's Taxonomy live. It's what keeps your design grounded in how people actually learn. The art side is where empathy and storytelling come in — the creative choices that determine whether a learner feels engaged or just talked at.

Both matter. And most designers, if they're honest, lean too hard on one side. IDC's latest post breaks down what it looks like to bring both together intentionally.

Instructional design lives at the intersection of creativity and evidence. Here's what it means to practice both sides well — and why both matter.

09/29/2026

AI isn't replacing instructional designers. It's removing the bottleneck.

The manual works such as transcribing SME interviews, producing first drafts, generating media from scratch is what makes your work valuable. The judgment is. AI gives you back those hours so you can spend them on the parts of the process that actually require an instructional designer.

IDC's free white paper, AI-Augmented Instructional Design, breaks down six practical AI workflows mapped directly to the ADDIE process — plus a 30-day action plan for introducing AI into your own practice without sacrificing learning quality.

Free download.

https://www.instructionaldesigncentral.com/ai-instructional-design-whitepaper

09/28/2026

Why are employees ignoring your training?

It may not be because they don’t care about learning. From irrelevant content and poor timing to training that feels like a box-ticking exercise, there are plenty of reasons employees tune out.

Our new guide explores the non-trivial reasons employees ignore training, and practical ways L&D teams can increase engagement.

You’ll discover:
• The hidden engagement drop-off points in workplace learning
• How to look at engagement through a product lens
• What non-obvious tactics help real companies gain learner buy-in

📖 Read the guide: https://bit.ly/4gS58Uy

09/16/2026

Is your LinkedIn profile helping you get hired—or holding you back?

On September 24, join our with Ashley Book, Learning & Development Leader and Director of Operations Training at Kin Insurance, for an inside look at how hiring managers use LinkedIn to evaluate L&D candidates.

You’ll learn what makes a profile stand out, why digital credibility matters, and how recruiters screen candidates.

🎁 Bonus: Ashley will review three LinkedIn profiles LIVE from iSpring Learning Exchange community members.

Join the iSpring Learning Exchange👉 https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12786108/

Register for the event! 👉 https://bit.ly/4A0Lehx