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

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Designing the Organization

Skills you'll gain: Organizational Structure, Governance, Organizational Strategy, Organizational Effectiveness, Organizational Change, Business Management, Innovation, Systems Thinking, Business Strategies, Growth Strategies, Decision Making

Status: Free

University of Minnesota

Introduction to UX Design MasterTrack Certificate Program

Skills you'll gain: Design Thinking, User Research, User Experience Design, Design Research, Usability Testing, Graphic and Visual Design, Human Centered Design, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Information Architecture

Coursera Project Network

Introduction to HTML

Skills you'll gain: Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Front-End Web Development, Web Design and Development, Web Development, Web Development Tools, Web Applications, Web Content, Integrated Development Environments

Status: New

Status: Free Trial

Google

Discover the Art of Prompting

Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, Large Language Modeling, Generative AI, ChatGPT, Technical Writing

Coursera Project Network

Use Canva to Create Social Media Marketing Designs

Skills you'll gain: Canva (Software), Social Media Content, Social Media Marketing, Social Media, Marketing Design, Graphic Design, Branding

Status: Free Trial

Duke University

Java Programming: Principles of Software Design

Skills you'll gain: Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Java, Software Engineering, Computer Programming, Software Design, Predictive Modeling, Algorithms, Data Structures, Performance Testing, Debugging, Application Programming Interface (API)

Status: Free Trial

Cloudera

Modern Big Data Analysis with SQL

Skills you'll gain: Database Design, SQL, Apache Hive, Relational Databases, Databases, Database Management, Big Data, Database Systems, MySQL, Data Management, Query Languages, Amazon S3, Apache Hadoop, Data Storage, Operational Databases, Cloud Storage, Performance Tuning, PostgreSQL, Data Manipulation, Virtual Machines

University of Pennsylvania

AI in Education: Leveraging ChatGPT for Teaching

Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, Data Ethics, ChatGPT, AI Personalization, Generative AI Agents, Generative AI, Education Software and Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Information Privacy

Universidade de São Paulo

Marketing e vendas B2B: Fechando novos negócios

Skills you'll gain: Lead Generation, Sales Presentation, Business Marketing, B2B Sales, Customer Insights, Sales Process, Sales, Customer Retention, Target Audience, Customer Success Management, Marketing, Inside Sales, Marketing Strategies, Customer Relationship Building, Customer Acquisition Management, Marketing Automation, Marketing Communications

Status: New

Status: Free Trial

Google

Use AI as a Creative or Expert Partner

Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, Generative AI Agents, ChatGPT, AI Personalization, Generative AI, Artificial Intelligence, Simulations

Yonsei University

Wireless Communications for Everybody

Skills you'll gain: Wireless Networks, Telecommunications, Network Architecture, Digital Communications, Network Planning And Design, Network Protocols, Capacity Management, Emerging Technologies

Status: Free Trial

Vanderbilt University

OpenAI GPTs: Creating Your Own Custom AI Assistants

Skills you'll gain: Generative AI, AI Personalization, ChatGPT, OpenAI, Personalized Service, Artificial Intelligence, Large Language Modeling, Prompt Engineering, Expense Management, Productivity Software, Travel Arrangements, Innovation, Scenario Testing

Instructional Design Courses

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