Instructional Design Intern
About The Position
Iowa DOT’s Employee Development Bureau is seeking a motivated, detail-oriented intern to support the development of engaging online learning experiences for the DOT’s 2,600 employees across the state. The internship provides hands-on experience designing, building, updating, and promoting eLearning modules and is suited to students interested in instructional design, learning and development, adult education, or educational technology. The intern will assist with online training module development, work with instructional designers and subject matter experts to gather and organize content, and translate technical information into clear learning experiences for non-technical audiences. The role applies instructional design principles and adult learning practices and includes creating interactive elements, reviewing course quality and accessibility, improving existing materials, and contributing ideas in project meetings. The position is located in Ames in the Employee Development Bureau. It is a paid, part-time internship of up to 20 hours per week during the spring semester, with the possibility of full-time work during the summer.
Requirements
- Must be currently enrolled as a student and majoring in a program related to the position.
- Advanced verbal and written communication skills, with attention to tone and clarity.
- Ability to understand technical content and make it clear and interesting for non-technical audiences.
- Interest in online learning development and digital training tools.
- Self-starter mindset and ability to manage tasks independently.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to high-quality work.
- Curiosity and willingness to learn new tools and processes.
- Strong written communication and organizational skills.
- Creativity balanced with practicality and learner focus.
- Openness to feedback and collaborative teamwork.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with Articulate Rise 360 or similar eLearning tools.
Responsibilities
- Assist in designing and developing online training modules.
- Collaborate with instructional designers and subject matter experts to gather and organize content.
- Translate technical or complex information into clear, engaging learning experiences for non-technical audiences.
- Apply instructional design principles and adult learning best practices to course development.
- Create interactive learning elements such as knowledge checks, scenarios, storytelling, and multimedia components.
- Review and revise course content for clarity, consistency, accessibility, and quality.
- Support updates and improvements to existing training materials.
- Participate in project meetings and contribute creative ideas to enhance learner engagement.
- Interact and build connections with DOT teammates.
Benefits
- Paid internship.
- Opportunities to contribute to meaningful projects that impact employee engagement.
- Hands-on experience developing real-world eLearning courses.
- Exposure to the full instructional design process.
- Portfolio-ready project samples.
- Mentorship from experienced learning and development professionals.
- Experience collaborating with subject matter experts and organizational stakeholders.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Part-time
Career Level
Intern
Education Level
No Education Listed
