Kayla Bowman

Companies and Schools:
BYU-Pathway Worldwide

Job Titles:
Instructional Design Intern

Why did you pursue a career in the instructional design and technology field?
I love trying to solve really messy problems. I love taking tons of disorganized information and giving it structure so that it can be useful for people. I also really hate poorly made training. 

What are some of your day-to-day responsibilities in your roles?
Interview subject matter experts about their tasks and document their process; compile notes from brainstorming sessions into a concise and consumable format; identify gaps in processes and bring them to the attention of the right people; gather data about how training is currently being used.

How have you found your jobs? What advice do you have for someone trying to find a job in the instructional design and technology field?
I found this internship through the IP&T Seminar. The Training Development Manager from Pathway came to recruit interns. I happened to be sitting at the table where the conversation was going on. When I overheard that they needed help developing a training manual, I was instantly interested. I would tell someone interested in finding a job in this field to take advantage of opportunities provided by the IP&T department. A conversation with someone at Seminar could lead to a job opportunity.

In what ways did your graduate program prepare you for your career?
I am only in my second semester of the IP&T program, but the courses I have taken have already helped me contribute at my current job. The Instructional Design courses taught me the jargon I needed to understand and converse with my co-workers. I use the principles I learned in my introductory classes every time I design something. My coding classes have helped me know how to talk to developers. The job I have at Pathway seems to be very aligned with the things I'm learning in the IP&T program.