Instructional Design Professional
Donald Kentner
Design Philosophy
I design training the way I'd want to learn it:
hands-on, tested against reality, and built with the person doing the job — not just for them.
My Principles and Professional Resume
1. Learn the work before you design the training.
I don't build content in the abstract. Whether it was sitting with a business owner to learn repair procedures firsthand, or leading Air Force personnel through systems I had to master myself first, I believe good instructional design starts with genuinely understanding the work — not interviewing an expert once and writing from notes.
2. Competency over completion.
Training should prove someone can actually do the thing, not just that they sat through it. My Air Force background was built entirely around this: advancement was gated on demonstrated skill, not course completion. I bring that same standard to every course I design — a scenario-based decision beats a passive slide every time.
3. Build for the learner in front of you, not an average one.
Ten years teaching students with wildly different starting points taught me that "one-size-fits-all" training rarely fits anyone well. Good design adapts — in pacing, in format, in how much hand-holding a given learner actually needs.
Let’s Collaborate
I am dedicated to creating methodical and professional instructional design solutions. Whether you are looking to scale your business or refine your learning experience, I am ready to partner with you.