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

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Find the Best Instructional Design Course for Your Goals

Status: New
Packt
Game Time 2024 – Build a JavaScript Game with Random Order
Skills you'll gain: HTML and CSS, JSON, Responsive Web Design, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Javascript, Game Design, UI Components, Animations, Algorithms, Debugging
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Packt
Real-World Projects & Advanced Animations
Skills you'll gain: Responsive Web Design, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), HTML and CSS, Front-End Web Development, Web Development, Web Design, Javascript, Application Deployment, Animations, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, User Interface (UI), Usability, Maintainability
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Google Cloud
Gemini for Network Engineers - Español
Skills you'll gain: Google Cloud Platform, General Networking, Virtual Private Networks (VPN), Network Planning And Design, Generative AI, Cloud Engineering, Network Engineering, Network Administration
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Coursera
Blueprint the Experience: User Flows in Miro
Skills you'll gain: User Experience Design, User Flows, Wireframing, User Centered Design, User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design, Mockups, Usability, Prototyping, Design Software
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Packt
JavaScript Prototypes 2025 – The Complete Course
Skills you'll gain: Prototyping, Object Oriented Design, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Javascript, Software Design Patterns, Software Design, Software Architecture
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Coursera
User DNA: Crafting Personas & Journey Maps in Miro
Skills you'll gain: User Experience Design, Persona (User Experience), User Experience, Design Research, User Research, User Centered Design, Usability, User Flows, Persona Development, Research, Qualitative Research, Design Software, Graphical Tools, Prioritization
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Google Cloud
Getting Started with Application Development - Português
Skills you'll gain: Cloud API, Cloud Applications, Cloud Development, Google Cloud Platform, Application Development, Data Storage, Cloud Storage, Software Design, Development Environment, Command-Line Interface, Node.JS, Scalability
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Whizlabs
Azure AI & ML: Optimize Language Models for AI Applications
Skills you'll gain: MLOps (Machine Learning Operations), Microsoft Azure, Prompt Engineering, Application Deployment, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Data Pipelines, Applied Machine Learning, Large Language Modeling, Continuous Monitoring, Generative AI, Performance Tuning
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
SAE Institute México
Desarrollo de videojuegos en Unity parte 2
Skills you'll gain: Video Game Development, Unity Engine, Game Design, Ideation, User Interface (UI), Animations, Computer Programming, Scripting
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Packt
Database Management and Core Application Development
Skills you'll gain: ASP.NET, Database Development, C# (Programming Language), Back-End Web Development, Database Management, Database Design, Object-Relational Mapping, Application Frameworks, Model View Controller, Web Applications, Software Design Patterns, Authentications, Maintainability, Business Logic, Authorization (Computing), Data Modeling, Performance Tuning, Data Migration, Data Mapping, Data Validation
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Coursera Instructor Network
Advanced ITSM with ServiceNow: Optimizing IT Operations
Skills you'll gain: ServiceNow, Information Technology Infrastructure Library, IT Service Management, Problem Management, Incident Management, Service Management, Information Technology Operations, Digital Transformation, Change Control, Configuration Management, Self Service Technologies, User Acceptance Testing (UAT), Automation
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Coursera
Flow Forward: Mastering User Journeys & Wireframing in Figma
Skills you'll gain: User Experience Design, User Flows, Figma (Design Software), Usability, User Interface (UI), User Centered Design, Wireframing, User Research
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks