Develop knowledge and skills related to the systematic design of instruction. Learn to analyze, design, develop, implement, and evaluate learning systems and instruction. Identify appropriate technologies to support learning and explore alternative models of instructional design.
This course really changed how I approach instructional design. Before, my focus was more on managing day-to-day training tasks, but this class helped me understand the deeper process behind creating effective learning experiences. I learned important learning theory and models like ADDIE, Gagné’s Nine Events of Instruction, Kirkpatrick’s Evaluation Levels, and Keller’s ARCS Model. These frameworks gave me a clear structure to follow and helped me think more intentionally about designing training. Now, I know how to analyze, design, develop, implement, and evaluate learning programs in a way that’s thoughtful and aligned with specific goals.
The collaborated group project was a great impact from this course. We worked on designing Bloomberg Terminal training for Washington University’s business students, which gave me the chance to really dig into the analysis phase, something often skipped in real-world training due to time pressures. We did needs assessments, gap analyses, and interviews with subject matter experts, and I led the team through the entire process. I made sure everything was aligned with the learning objectives, developed assessments, and created a mock-up of the eLearning module. This experience really gave me the confidence to handle complex projects and applying instructional design theory to real-world situations. It’s also helped me see how essential it is to align every part of the design process with the learners’ needs. This class has definitely formalized my instructional design skills and supported my motivation for creating quality learning experiences.