Are you a 'content-neutral' instructional designer?

It's 2022! I've noticed that today, instructional designers get asked what content they are most comfortable with and are selected for a project on the basis of their comfort level with the subject.

Rewind back to 2006 - I did not hear that choice given before. I naturally presumed that one could create a course on anything - even on tying a shoelace and that was the skill of instructional design.

One did not have to like or enjoy the nature of the content. An instructional designer was only meant to use the content to create a product - the thought of being given a choice was unheard of then, leave alone getting into the aspect of a comfort level and 'feelings'.

If you did not know the content or had not worked on it before - you learnt it and just began the job. This approach meant that you had a relationship with content that was not based on 'feelings' or a comfort level. It also meant that the mind remained open to work on any content that the project required. It also meant that you had a chance of enjoying the work rather than dreading it!

I recently came across an article by Connie Malamed titled, 'Instructional Designers are Content Neutral' affirming my own long-held belief that instructional designers are indeed content-neutral. It served as a confirmation on my own thoughts, given the work of over a decade on the subject and the changing trends on instructional design - not necessarily good for the new instructional designer.

Here are a few thoughts on content to keep in mind as an instructional designer - thinking that helped me this far:

1) You are not meant to have a close relationship with the content - only to use it, like money for a purpose - in this case, to develop a product

2) You do not need to have a comfort level with the content - your brain is not on a preset mode. It is always possible to get comfortable with any content if you have an open mind.

3) New content stretches your mind. New learning is never to be feared, only embraced.

4) There is always someone around to help you. You are not the SME and do not need to be one.

5) Not knowing the content gives you an advantage - you will be able to design a course from the perspective of someone who is new to the content, in this case, the learner.

Sites referred/useful reading on the subject: https://theelearningcoach.com/elearning_design/instructional-designers-are-content-neutra/