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: New

Status: Free Trial

Vanderbilt University

AI Agents in Java with Generative AI

Skills you'll gain: Generative AI Agents, Java, Agentic systems, Software Design, Artificial Intelligence, Software Architecture, OpenAI, ChatGPT, Software Development Tools, Application Development, Prompt Engineering, Systems Integration, Large Language Modeling

Status: New

Packt

Playwright Python and Pytest for Web Automation Testing

Skills you'll gain: Test Automation, Authentications, Continuous Integration, Software Testing, Unit Testing, Event-Driven Programming, Scripting, Browser Compatibility, Behavior-Driven Development, Test Tools, Test Execution Engine, Test Case, GitHub, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), User Interface (UI), Verification And Validation, Debugging

Coursera Project Network

Understanding Smart Objects in Adobe Photoshop

Skills you'll gain: Adobe Photoshop, Photo Editing, Adobe Creative Cloud, Data Import/Export, Editing, File Management

Peking University

算法设计与分析 Design and Analysis of Algorithms

Skills you'll gain: Algorithms, Pseudocode, Theoretical Computer Science, Mathematical Modeling, Computational Thinking, Applied Mathematics, Data Structures, Graph Theory, Mathematical Theory & Analysis, Performance Tuning, Design Strategies

Lund University

Cities, Climate and Change: Pathways and Opportunities

Skills you'll gain: Social Justice, Community Development, Community Organizing, Environmental Policy, Mitigation, Environment, Environmental Resource Management, Visionary, Environmental Science, Research, Finance, Innovation, Strategic Partnership, Governance, Collaboration

Status: Free Trial

Scrimba

Learn Tailwind CSS

Skills you'll gain: Typography, Responsive Web Design, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), HTML and CSS, Web Design, Front-End Web Development, UI Components

University of Manchester

Water Supply and Sanitation Policy in Developing Countries Part 2: Developing Effective Interventions

Skills you'll gain: Sanitation, Water Resources, Environmental Policy, Policy Development, Policy Analysis, Public Policies, Public Health, Community Development, Social Sciences, Behavioral Economics, Economics, Market Dynamics, Regulatory Affairs, Innovation

Fundação Lemann

Explorando os recursos educacionais da Khan Academy

Skills you'll gain: Learning Management Systems, Education Software and Technology, Blended Learning, Teaching, Interactive Learning, Pedagogy, Differentiated Instruction, Personalized Service, Student-Centred Learning, Instructional Strategies, Student Engagement, Mathematics Education, Adaptability, Data Analysis

Status: Free

Coursera Project Network

Create a Small Business Website with Weebly

Skills you'll gain: Content Management Systems, Web Content, Content Management, Web Design and Development, Content Creation

Status: Free Trial

IBM

AI Workflow: Data Analysis and Hypothesis Testing

Skills you'll gain: Data Visualization, Exploratory Data Analysis, Data Presentation, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Dashboard, Data Analysis, Data Science, Probability & Statistics, Statistical Analysis, Jupyter, Matplotlib, Data Cleansing, Pandas (Python Package), Statistical Inference, Statistics, Data Manipulation

Utrecht University

Professionalism in an era of change

Skills you'll gain: Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Lifelong Learning, Professionalism, Professional Development, Social Sciences, Organizational Change, Adaptability, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Organizational Structure, Sociology, Psychology, Employee Engagement, Organizational Effectiveness, Leadership

Status: Free Trial

University of Minnesota

Optimization for Decision Making

Skills you'll gain: Operations Research, Mathematical Modeling, Business Modeling, Business Analytics, Analytics, Data Modeling, Business Mathematics, Process Optimization, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Business Intelligence, Microsoft Excel, Solution Design, Decision Making, Linear Algebra, Resource Allocation, Graphing

Instructional Design Courses

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