What are the best instructional design courses on Coursera?

Top courses include Instructional Design Foundations and Applications from the University of Illinois and An Introduction to Learning Experience Design (LXD) from the University of Michigan as well. These programs cover learning theory, course planning, digital pedagogy, and technology tools for designing engaging learning experiences.

Can I learn instructional design for free on Coursera?

Yes. Many instructional design courses offer a free audit option. You can access video lectures and readings at no cost. If you want to complete assessments or earn a certificate, you’ll need to upgrade or apply for financial aid.

What will I learn in an instructional design course?

You’ll learn how to design learning objectives, structure courses, select appropriate media and tools, and evaluate learning outcomes. Many courses also include frameworks like ADDIE, Bloom’s Taxonomy, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL).

Do I need a teaching background to start learning instructional design?

Not necessarily. While experience in education or training can be helpful, many courses are beginner-friendly and provide a strong foundation for anyone interested in creating effective learning experiences.

Can Coursera’s instructional design courses help me build a career?

Yes. Instructional design is a growing field across education , corporate training , government , and nonprofits . Coursera courses can help you build job-ready skills, create a portfolio of work, and earn certificates that demonstrate your ability to design engaging and effective learning materials.

Top Instructional Design Courses - Learn Instructional Design Online

Status: Free Trial

Illinois Tech

Relational Database Implementation and Applications

Skills you'll gain: Relational Databases, Database Design, Database Management, SQL, Database Development, MySQL, Transaction Processing, Stored Procedure, Java, Data Integrity, Data Structures, Performance Tuning

Status: Free Trial

Advancing Women in Tech

Building Products at Global Scale

Skills you'll gain: Software Architecture, Systems Architecture, Technical Management, API Design, System Design and Implementation, Technical Product Management, Engineering Management, Program Management, Microservices, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Leadership and Management, Technology Roadmaps, Amazon Web Services

Status: Free Trial

Johns Hopkins University

Leading Technical Organizations

Skills you'll gain: Crisis Management, Strategic Leadership, Business Leadership, Leadership, Strategic Planning, Business Ethics, Business Planning, Critical Thinking, Team Leadership, Organizational Change, Business Strategy, Diversity and Inclusion, Organizational Strategy, Planning, Strategic Decision-Making, Strategic Thinking, Organizational Leadership, Collaboration, Leadership Development, Team Performance Management

Imperial College London

XR in Healthcare Education and Clinical Practice

Skills you'll gain: Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR), Education Software and Technology, Augmented Reality, Display Devices, Virtual Reality, Health Technology, Clinical Experience, Virtual Environment, Emerging Technologies, Business Systems Analysis, Disabilities, User Centered Design, Technology Strategies

Status: Free

Coursera Project Network

Create an E-book Cover Using Canva

Skills you'll gain: Canva (Software), Graphic Design, Graphic and Visual Design Software, Design, Creative Design

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Intimacy of Creativity: Entering the Minds of Composers

Skills you'll gain: Musical Composition, Music Theory, Music, Music History, Classical Music, Creativity

Status: Free Trial

Imperial College London

Android Graphics with OpenGL ES

Skills you'll gain: Logo Design, Computer Graphics, Visualization (Computer Graphics), Android Development, Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR), Graphics Software, Animation and Game Design, Computer Graphic Techniques

Status: Free Trial

University of California San Diego

Internet of Things V2: DragonBoard™ bring up and community ecosystem

Skills you'll gain: Version Control, Integrated Development Environments, GitHub, Git (Version Control System), Internet Of Things, Development Environment, Embedded Software, Software Development Tools, Embedded Systems, Prototyping, Linux, Operating Systems, Peripheral Devices, Command-Line Interface, Computer Hardware

Status: Free Trial

Imperial College London

Using Data for Healthcare Improvement

Skills you'll gain: Qualitative Research, Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI), Quantitative Research, Data Collection, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Statistical Methods, Data Analysis, Data Presentation, Systems Of Measurement, Time Series Analysis and Forecasting

Status: Free Trial

Packt

Learn to Code with Ruby

Skills you'll gain: Object Oriented Design, Ruby (Programming Language), Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Software Design, Debugging, Unit Testing, Programming Principles, Computer Programming, Test Tools, Scripting Languages, File Management, Development Environment, Software Testing, Development Testing, Data Structures, Scripting, Program Development, Software Installation, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS

Status: Free Trial

National Taiwan University

工程資訊管理 BIM 基礎

Skills you'll gain: Autodesk Revit, Building Information Modeling, Civil Engineering, Engineering Management, Architecture and Construction, Computer-Aided Design, Construction Management, 3D Modeling, Information Management, Visualization (Computer Graphics)

Edureka

Gen AI for Code Generation for Python

Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, Generative AI, Scenario Testing, Code Review, Python Programming, Test Case, ChatGPT, Application Development, Automation, Debugging

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