The complete Instructional Designer course

Explore pedagogy as the study of how knowledge and skills are exchanged in educational contexts, considering learner context, engagement, delivery methods, and adapting classic theories to create engaging learning experiences.

Explore Maier’s cognitive theory of multimedia learning, showing how images, video, and audio replace text and face-to-face instruction while avoiding cognitive overload through streamlined pacing.

Explore Malone's intrinsically motivating instructional theory, which underpins game design, focusing on challenge, fantasy, and curiosity to engage learners, reward progress, and sustain learning through purposeful game-like elements.

Flip classrooms empower learners with self-paced, bite-size online content before in-class discussions. Tackle the 70% knowledge loss within 24 hours by using varied media and pre-lesson questions to reinforce learning.

Blend pedagogies by flexibly drawing from Mayo's and Malone theories. Analyze content and context to tailor the solution for learners, including audio, visuals, and stakeholders' needs.

Explore what e-learning means, its evolving components, and how different mediums beyond text and online PowerPoints meet diverse learning needs, with access anywhere, anytime and reliance on Google and YouTube.

Explore how formal and informal learning blend with synchronous and asynchronous methods, leveraging diverse mediums—from videos and podcasts to articles and AI-driven copywriting—for bite-sized, point-of-need learning.

Investigate the future of learning through augmented reality, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence, with examples and accessibility considerations. Adopt asynchronous learning, content curation, and bite-sized resources.

Explore e-learning as interactive programs with scenarios and engaging content, and learn key authoring tools like Articulate, Adobe Captivate, evolve, and elucidate, including recording and embedding audio and video.

Discover three core video types for instruction: face-to-camera, animated videos with Beyond, and screencasts with simulations, plus mass video production using stories, characters, and graphical animations.

Identify when audio is relevant by focusing on context and content, using interviews, storytelling, and quick news, and leverage smartphone setups and 19 free tools for accessible audio.

Discover how curated content from videos, podcasts, TED Talks, and blogs enhances courses by aligning relevant information with learning goals, using manual or automatic, free or low-cost tools.

Explore how artificial intelligence enhances written content and video creation with Jasper.ai and ChatGPT, noting risks without a subject matter expert and audience reception of Synthesia videos.

Apply the concept of Ebbinghaus' forgetting curve to design continual learning solutions that counter memory decay, acknowledging that learners forget 70% after 24 hours and 80% after 48 hours.

Explore the forgetting curve and how continuous learning uses drip-fed refreshers across video, audio, and written formats with spacing that fits weekly, fortnightly, or monthly learner needs.

Embrace bite-sized learning to improve knowledge retention, using short videos and modular, self-paced content that users can access at the moment of need.

Empower learners with continuous, bite-sized content and variety grounded in Kolbe's experiential learning, offering video explainers, kinesthetic activities, storytelling, and audio role plays.

Explore learning styles and learning preferences, clarifying that learning is driven by preferences and content context; learn when to use audio, visual, or hands-on tasks to enhance understanding.

Avoid loud, garish design and excessive text; embrace a clean, minimalist interface with readable contrast, and use clear information that supports interactive exploration, readability, and tools like Grammarly.

Explore the addie framework as the main structure for building elearning, covering analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation. Compare frameworks and tailor solutions for learners and stakeholders.

Identify the end outcome and define success to guide learning content, then set KPIs and ROI targets to quantify impact and shape learning outcomes.

Identify end users and their languages, and plan localization across languages and directions (left-to-right, right-to-left) to ensure correct text presentation. Use authoring tools to export content for translation, compare English and French versions, and adjust sizing and spacing for languages with longer words.

Create and analyze storyboards to visually plan learning videos, mapping scenes, actions, voiceover, and resources, and preview flow using simple sketches, stick figures, and notes.

Explore how interactive video turns passive viewing into engaged learning by using quizzes, prompts, and reflection at strategic times, with tools like storyline to reinforce concepts.

Explore how to integrate gamification into learning to create immersive scenario-based experiences with contextual relevance. Consider your audience, stakeholders, and Cao Cop's insights to gauge when gamification is appropriate.

Explore look and feel by examining font, colors, images, and layout, and how they affect readability, engagement, and user experience, including clear visuals, audio, and minimized distractions.

Explore free graphic resources for instructional design with pixabay for royalty-free images, illustrations, and vectors. Discover stock snap io for bold photos and pexels for videos.

Define and standardize colors, fonts, images, logos, and spacing with a clear style guide. Align tone, audience, and brand guidelines to ensure consistent, on-brand learning experiences across stakeholders.

Assess learning needs against storyboards, personas, and analysis to ensure the design meets the learning requirements, guiding development toward a relevant, high-quality instructional product.

Move into the development phase by selecting software, equipment, and media—video, e-learning, audio, and content curation—and learn how to use them to create what you desire, with resources.

Know your limitations by balancing time with a strong instructional design foundation, refining your craft, and using basic project management and kanban boards (Trello or ClickUp) to plan with templates.

Create engaging smartphone videos by mastering lighting, clear on-camera audio, and distraction-free visuals, and add fast, affordable subtitles with web.com for closed captions.

Explore Camtasia tutorials from the creators to master screen recording, editing, and producing and sharing videos, including features for recording, editing, sharing, transitions, animations, effects, and audio.

Learn to create animated videos with Vyond by logging into the studio, choosing from three visual styles, and using templates with previews. Access help videos and FAQs for quick guidance.

Explore 19+ free podcast tools for planning, recording, and editing, including Evernote, Audacity, sound dampening tips, and free music resources.

Discover the difference between personalized and adaptive learning, contrasting flexible, self-directed journeys with content that adapts to your role, language, and needs through pre-tests and quizzes.

Engage learners through audience participation by blending active learning with bite-sized content, using quizzes, forums, and practical activities that show, then do, then ask.

Standardize folder structures with alpha, beta, and gold stages, organizing analysis, resources, and storyboards; include action mapping, learning personas, mediums, SWOT, and an archive for versioned, up-to-date LMS materials.

Use reflective exercises to boost learning retention by presenting information in learner-tailored formats and inviting personal insights. Include methods like personal journals, portfolios, quotes, and project photos.

Learn resources at the point of need by integrating microlearning, short videos, articles, and user generated content, guided by subject matter experts, to support both complete courses and quick answers.

Explore Articulate 360 training options, including Storyline 360 and Rise, with tutorials, webinars, on-demand content, and resources from YouTube and Udemy.

Explore free evolve training resources, including academy courses, trainer-led workshops, and communities, plus YouTube tutorials by Valentina Valentine to master the evolve authoring tool.

Develop a robust portfolio that showcases practical instructional design skills, including e-learning modules, multimedia elements, and assessment strategies to boost credibility and employability.

Develop an effective instructional designer portfolio by exploring real-world examples, avoiding common mistakes, and applying practical portfolio projects with an authoring tool to showcase your work.

Analyze great instructional design portfolios for inspiration and learn to emulate them in your own work. See how Cath Ellis showcases e-learning, graphic design, and credibility to attract clients.

Learn how to design a clean, visually engaging instructional design portfolio that highlights services, processes, and outcomes through Articulate Rise, video, and gradients.

Explore portfolios that blend graphic design with tools, using GIFs and interactive toolkit and e-learning examples to present the challenge–solution–result story and the reasoning behind design choices.

discover how to analyze instructional designer portfolios for inspiration in your e-learning work, highlighting branding, visual design, accessibility, credibility, call-to-action elements, and practical demos that show what they can do.

Explore how to craft compelling portfolio briefs through mock briefs, real-world critique, and inspirational examples from a 2020 Learning Conference, guiding you to showcase your work effectively.

Create a five-screen mobile-first portfolio item for a fictitious vegan fast-food brand, using the provided assets and brand colors to showcase your end-to-end design process and accessibility.