The corporate learning domain contains different professionals like subject matter experts, instructional designers, technical writers, and others. And remember that all of their contributions are required to smooth the L&D process. In fact, all such professionals give their valuable insights only, and we believe that there would be such members in your organizations as well. Today, in this post, we are going to focus on two major L&D professionals we will talk about. Technical writing for which companies like yours outsource technical writing services providers and instructional designing.
Technical writing only involves conveying the technical information through documents and others. On the other hand, instructional designing means creating the training content. But is that all about them? Only this much difference is there between both? No, more are there to read in this post!
If you think both are the same because of their similar objectives, then you are wrong! There is a fine line that differentiates both of them in these factors.
In simpler words, technical writers are back-end heroes of the L&D. Why? It is because the final product or information they deliver will only have their names. Technical writing experts have the only duty to research, collect and curate the technical information to their clients or users. Only they will submit a final draft!
On the other hand, instructional designing experts are on-screen heroes which your users or staff members can see. In fact, you can observe their every activity and what they are doing to enhance the L&D process. They design videos and training content for your employees. Technical writers can also do this duty, but they are limited to the writing part only and that too for the technical domain.
If you have both these professionals in your organization, what roles and responsibilities are you providing them? If technical writers are researching and conveying the technical information, then instructional designers will create the learning content or tell storyboarding the same. This was only one part. Next is the tools involved in both processes. We know that you will argue about their similarities as both of them are limited to the writing functionalities only.
It is understood both do the writing part, but the technical writing is a bit about technical data. You can mostly say that user manuals, product descriptions, and instructions are where technical writing is used. Whereas instructional designing as mentioned, is a storyboarding process, it requires eLearning tools that develop podcasts, videos and other eLearning solutions for your company. In case your organization does not have such professionals, hire instructional designer.
If you have read the above 2 pointers carefully, then it is understood that technical writing is only a stick to the technical domain. Whereas instructional designers do many roles and functions, they are the sole pillar of eLearning curriculum development. Whether it is a microlearning course, simulation-based learning course or any other kind of eLearning course, they have expertise in designing them all.
That is why instructional designers are in demand and get more preference than technical writers to get in the L&D process. After all, developing an eLearning module should be your first priority instead of conveying the technical writing information. Or else, only technical information will be there in your eLearning module that will not make any sense.
If you hire technical writer services providers or experts, one thing you have observed carefully is that only technical content writing contains straightforward information. Only professionals or technical domain experts can only understand such information. Now, do you know how it differs from instructional designing? Well, it is all about interactivity and engaging learning courses that they develop.
So, the main gist of this point is to highlight the style and tone of the learning content. Instructional designing (ID) experts collaborate with SMEs (Subject Matter Experts) and other L&D professionals. And the good thing is if your company wants an optimal learning course with loads of interactive elements in it, IDs are the best option to pick.
Yes, it is true that technical writing is only limited to a certain domain and technical information. But such experts have plenty of data and expertise that ensures the clients? higher ROI. However, we do not deny the fact that instructional designers have less knowledge. But the level of technical knowledge that companies want is not with IDs.? This is where technical writing experts emerge as the savior.
IDs and technical writing experts are two sides of the one coin. Like without heads and tails, there is no value of the coin; the same is here also. Without them, L&D is not possible! Now comes the big question about which service provider is useful for your company? Here, Acadecraft is available with customized solutions for our clients. We curate what clients require and deliver according to their requirements. Not just technical writer services even instructional designing solutions we provide to our valuable clients.
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