Daryn Bryden

I love being an online student.  I admit that when I started the MSIDT program I was anxious.  After all, it is 100% online.  However, now that I have completed all my course work and am now beginning the process of completing my digital product and written project (sometimes known as a “Thesis”) I wanted to explain exactly why I love being an online student.   I am pursuing my passion — eLearning.   I chose the MSIDT online program because I am pursuing a passion that didn’t fit in the traditional school system.  I work 40+ hours a week, but being an online student has allowed me to push out of my comfort zone, take risks, and I am all the better for it.   I can focus on my work without distraction.  Being an online learner has meant that I can dedicate my time to the work, not my social life.  While I’d much rather be at Disneyland than sitting at the kitchen table writing a literature review, being an online student has mean...

What separates me from the rest?   I don't give up.  - I’ve got determination and will.  I want to make a difference.   I respect every project. - There are no unimportant projects or clients.  I respect the work and deliver an exceptional product.     I value time. - I don’t waste time. My time management skills are excellent.     I don't procrastinate. - Procrastination and success don’t mix.  I am motivated to succeed.  I create and meet goals that are feasible and realistic.     I am open to feedback . - Feedback is essential to learning, and I’m a life-long learner.  I thrive on communication and constructive feedback.      I never say no to networking. - Relationships are the catalyst for success.  I build and cultivate relationships.    I embrace collaboration. - Success is about people.  I cultivate creativity and promote performance.   ...

Daryn, Congratulations!  It is May 2018 and you’ve done all the hard work necessary to graduate from a rigorous 21 month online program and you’ve earned your Master of Science in Instrutional Design Technology from California State Fullerton.  In retrospect, this program has been a turning point in your life in many ways; personally, academically, and professionally. In October 2017 you attended the MidPoint check in.  You came to the meeting with anxiety but left with understanding.  You had done research on the soft skills gap but were still unsure as to the direction for your final project.  After receiving feedback from professors and fellow students you decided to narrow your focus from soft skills to strategic coaching.  Instead of focusing on the skills that 21st century employees need, you decided to focus on solving the problem.  By shifting to strategic coaching you effectively narrowed your focus.  This allowed you to have mor...

What are Soft Skills? Soft skills are sometimes called "people skills" or 'interpersonal skills". They make the difference between leading or leaving a job. People get hired because of their hard skills, but they get fired because of their lack of soft skills.

On August 31, 2016 I wrote this letter to myself when I started the MSIDT program.  This letter was meant to be read in October 2017 in preparation for my MidPoint CheckIn.   Dear Daryn,   The reason you decided to pursue the MSIDT program is because you want to take the next bold step in your career to combine your experience and your education.  Your goal is to work as a Senior Creative Instructional Designer, leading teams that are developing innovative end-user instructional materials for software and hardware products.  However, your varied experiences and education are not enough for you stand out from the crowd of other applicants who want to achieve the same things.  Earning your Masters Degree in the field of Instructional Design is important in order to reach your goals.  You would like to work for an Industry Leading company such as Apple, Disney, Google, Twitter, Amazon or Facebook. Industry leaders are looking for the very best Instr...

The skills necessary for 21st employees seem to change all the time.   Technology changes very quickly and so do the skills necessary to be a successful employee.   Think about it.   Every year there is a new iPhone.   Every few months it seems that there is a new computer.   And every few months it seems that there are new things to learn on our jobs.   With all these changes there are skills that teachers, trainers and instructional designers can carry with us, regardless of how quickly technology swiftly moves along.   Soft skills vs hard skills? The skills necessary for anyone to be successful in life can be divided into two categories: soft or hard skills.  Hard skills are specific to job performance and include typing, writing, math, and the ability to use a computer.  On the other hand, soft skills the non-technical skills that help an employee keep a job.  Soft skills are critical because while one’s education and pract...