Certifications and Learning (Updates Coming Soon)
What are the tools of the trade?
On this page you can explore different certifications and courses that are being offered to people who are interested in becoming Instructional Designers.
Scroll down to view some tips from the Teaching: A Path to L&D team!
TPLD TIPS
Check out what is out there for free first! In the section below, we list links to two free programs that result in a certificate. Also, we highly recommend LinkedIn Learning! Free for the first 30 days, $30/month after, or FREE through your local library!
While you most certainly do not have to have a certificate to become an instructional designer, a certificate/degree program definitely doesn't hurt your resume, and it may be perfect for those looking for a more formal path.
Whatever you decide, make sure to do your research! Talk to people who have been through the programs, and ask around to see how much "weight" that certificate actually holds.
Free Certificate Courses
This 5 week free program "is good for training professionals at all levels looking to gain or refresh essential knowledge and skills in modern learning experience design".
Activities are assigned at the beginning of each week, and you work asynchronously at your own pace, and advice and feedback are provided from NovoEd instructional design experts as you collaborate with peers to apply what you learned.
Time commitment is 1-3 Hours per week for 5 weeks:
Week 1-Foundations of Pedagogy
Week 2-Module Design & Analysis
Week 3-Design Your Assignment
Week 4-Course Content Creation and Curation
Week 5-Prototyping
Course outcomes include:
Understand the difference between learning experience design and instructional design
Learn and apply the principles of adult and project-based learning
Develop a design plan for your very own learning experience module
Craft a high-impact learning module with the help of peer and expert feedback
Practice giving and receiving individualized feedback from other learners
Next session starts in June, register here!
This free self-paced course is a great place to start any time!
Here is the program overview from the site:
"Format:
✔ Access to digital resources
✔ 2 interactive elearning courses
✔ Practical self-directed activities
✔ A community of like minded professionals
✔ Certificate of Achievement
Time: Self-paced learning. Approx 3hrs
Who is it for?
Everyone, whether you’re an Elucidat customer or not!
From face-to-face trainers and facilitators to digital learning designers to business subject matter experts. This program will benefit anyone wanting to get up to speed on the fundamentals of how to plan and design an engaging elearning course."
Register here!
Compare Programs (Free and Paid)
This first website has LOTS to choose from! Here is how they describe this list:
"There are many roads that lead to an interest in ID, and there is no single unified educational path to qualify to work in the field. Your work history and experience level will dictate whether you want to pursue a bachelor’s or a master’s in the field. Or you may be able to acquire the skills you need through a short course or certificate program.
We scoured the web, looked at academic ratings, and read numerous reviews to put together this list of good quality courses, ranging from free two hours introductory courses to full masters degrees.
Whether you’re just considering a career in instructional design, you simply want to sharpen some ID-related skills, or you’re fully devoted to choosing ID as a career path, we’ve got you covered with our extensive list of instructional design courses. For each course we will tell you a little about what makes it unique, how long it takes to complete, and the price point."
TPLD Disclaimer: We help for free and remain neutral on purchases.
Some of these resources may link to content creators who offer both free and paid content. Please do not assume that is an endorsement of paid services. As always, TPLD neither encourages nor discourages the purchase of any paid program. We encourage good research and critical thinking. Conduct a self-assessment to figure out what you actually need and know your "why" for any money you spend. Ask people who have gone through the program, read Reddit and other review sources, and compare prices. Most of the time, you can get a comparable program/course/resource for free! Remember, no program, certification, or even accredited graduate degree can guarantee that you get a job, that you get a particular salary, or that you find success within a timeframe--success depends on you, and you can do it for free in many cases if you put in the work and persevere. It may not be easy, but there are many examples of how possible it is!