Instructional Design is not a blue collar skill; it is a professional field, just as becoming a Doctor, Lawyer, or Psychologist. Professional are often assisted by technicians or blue collar workers.
One popular analogy is the architect, whose design is implemented by contractors, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, masons, and a host of laborers. Even when a master mason has also mastered the related blue collar skills of electrician, plumber, and carpenter... he is still not a professionally trained architect.
- Doctors are assisted by medical technicians, but that doesn't allow technicians to call themselves doctors.
- Lawyers are assisted by para-legals, but that doesn't allow PLs to call themselves lawyers.
- Therefore, when professionally trained ID'ers are assisted by instructional design technologists (e.g., technical writers, graphic artists, web designers, content authors, etc.), that doesn't equate to being an Instructional Designer.
One popular analogy is the architect, whose design is implemented by contractors, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, masons, and a host of laborers. Even when a master mason has also mastered the related blue collar skills of electrician, plumber, and carpenter... he is still not a professionally trained architect.