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

Coursera Project Network

Adobe Indesign for Beginners: Workshop Flyer Design

Skills you'll gain: Adobe InDesign, Color Theory, Typography, Graphic Design, Adobe Creative Cloud, Design, Graphic and Visual Design

Status: Free Trial

Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo

Infraestructura sostenible en la agenda de desarrollo

Skills you'll gain: Corporate Sustainability, Economic Development, Project Finance, Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG), Socioeconomics, Project Management Life Cycle, Project Design, Environmental Policy, Environmental Regulations

Status: Free Trial

Epic Games

Game Development and Prototyping

Skills you'll gain: Game Design, Video Game Development, Prototyping, Unreal Engine, Animation and Game Design, System Design and Implementation, Creativity, User Interface (UI), Artificial Intelligence

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

The Museum of Modern Art

Reimagining Blackness and Architecture

Skills you'll gain: Storytelling, Public History, Community Development, Social Justice, Cultural Responsiveness, Creativity, Art History, Design, Cultural Diversity, Photography

Status: Free Trial

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Integrated Analysis in Systems Biology

Skills you'll gain: Science and Research, Scientific Methods, Analysis, Systems Analysis, Biology, Bioinformatics, Life Sciences, Data Analysis

Status: Free Trial

University of Michigan

GenAI in Business: Planning Framework for Implementation

Skills you'll gain: Generative AI, Data Integration, Data Strategy, Business Planning, Business Analysis, Data Quality, Technology Roadmaps, Business Solutions, Solution Design, Business Transformation, Stakeholder Communications

Status: Free Trial

University of Michigan

AI Basics and Tools for Creativity

Skills you'll gain: Generative AI, Artificial Intelligence, Image Analysis, Creativity, OpenAI, Prompt Engineering, Design Software, ChatGPT, Innovation, Music

Peking University

论文写作初阶（Academic Writing and Research）

Skills you'll gain: Legal Research, Research, Research Methodologies, Legal Writing, Research Design, Writing, Report Writing, Writing and Editing, Journals, Database Software, Databases

Status: Free Trial

IBM

AI Workflow: Data Analysis and Hypothesis Testing

Skills you'll gain: Exploratory Data Analysis, Probability Distribution, 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

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

Instructional Design Courses

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Find the Best Instructional Design Course for Your Goals

Adobe Indesign for Beginners: Workshop Flyer Design