What does it mean to be an Instructional Designer?

According to Wikipedia, "Instructional Design is the practice of creating instructional experiences which make the acquisition of knowledge and skill more efficient, effective, and appealing." Instructional design is whatever you want it to be. It's your ideas, backed with theory and research. Simply put, it's creative solutions. The goal of instructional design is to create a dynamic educational experience in which the learner will be able to apply solutions for existing or emerging technologies that will prove to be useful in any situation.

As a student, I am very attentive. I take as many notes as possible, and ask questions if I feel that any information presented is unclear. If I don't feel comfortable  expressing an issue in front of my classmates, I will speak with the instructor privately after class has been dismissed. I prefer submitting my work in a timely manner. In the event of missing class, it is important to work with the teacher and try to get assignments early to stay ahead of the game. Working asynchronously can be quite challenging. It's best to form alliances/partnerships with those who share the same passion and dedication to accomplish tasks. As a team member, I value honesty and transparency. I don't condone conflict, but I encourage it in some situations, because cognitive dissonance evokes thought-provoking ideas that lead to better solutions. If members are working together to resolve conflict, chances are they are more apt to construct a game plan for completing assignments that will benefit the group as a whole.

There must be 100% commitment, effort, creativity, and communication I have to put forward if I expect to maximize my learning experience. Effort and commitment should come naturally being that there is already a degree of interest with IDT. Companies are often looking for that new "thing" that will give them the competitive edge, for example, an individual or group of persons with creative solutions that can take them to the next level. In order to continuously expand my range of knowledge, it is imperative that I stay up to date with the ever changing world of technology.