• UCI

Instructional Design: Course Development

Gain essential skills to help you navigate the course development stage effectively as an instructional designer.

A man in a green shirt stands next to a dark wall full of colourful post-it notes.
  • Duration

    3 weeks
  • Weekly study

    3 hours
  • 100% online

    How it works
  • Included in an ExpertTrack

    Course 2 of 4
  • Get full ExpertTrack access

    $39/monthFind out more

Learn how to successfully guide subject matter experts

Course development is the crux of effective online learning and how you guide subject matter experts (SMEs) is a crucial part of your role as an instructional designer.

On this three-week course, you will apply the essential tools in helping SMEs conceptualise and develop course content.

You’ll begin by identifying the key elements of a course map to help everyone involved understand what is expected from the course, and how to meet those expectations.

Create a learning management system (LMS) template

To help enhance the learning experience of a course, you’ll delve into the processes of a learning management system.

You’ll explore and compare different systems that can help deliver the administration, documentation, tracking, and delivery of your course. With this knowledge, you’ll select an LMS of your choice and use it to create a course template.

Understand the importance of quality review as an instructional designer

To ensure your course is of a high standard, you’ll investigate the tools you can use to measure the quality of a course.

This understanding will help you conduct a course quality review using different techniques to successfully evaluate your materials.

By the end of the course, led by experienced instructional designer Camille Funk, you’ll have the knowledge and skills to help SMEs develop courses effectively and efficiently.

Syllabus

  • Week 1

    Course Map

    • Course introduction

      In this activity, you'll be introduced to the FutureLearn platform, and the content that will be covered during this course. You will also get an overview of the topics covered during the first week of this course.

    • Course planning basics

      In this activity, you will learn how a course map serves as a blueprint for course design.

    • Course materials and tasks

      In this activity, you will explore the roles and use of various forms of resources, materials and activities that will facilitate meaningful engagement, practice, and transfer of learning.

    • Week wrap up

      In this activity, you'll have the opportunity to test your knowledge of the topics covered during the week. You will also be provided with a summary of the week's learning, and some insight on what to expect in the new week.

  • Week 2

    LMS Development

    • Welcome to the week

      Moving into the second week of this course, this activity will give you an overview of the topics that will be covered during this week.

    • LMS Comparison

      In this activity, we will evaluate the foundational elements of an LMS and their alignment to the course and instructional needs.

    • Templates and style guides

      In this activity, you will learn about the importance of using style guides and templates for course design and build, to ensure a continuous brand experience and create consistency across various touch points.

    • External apps and LTI tools

      In this activity, you will learn how external apps and tools, usually from a third party, can integrate with your LMS platform to extend, augment or replace certain core capabilities and add additional features to enhance learning

    • Week wrap up

      In this activity, you'll have the opportunity to test your knowledge of the topics covered during the week. You will also be provided with a summary of the week's learning, and some insight on what to expect in the new week.

  • Week 3

    Quality Review

    • Welcome to the week

      Moving into the third and final week of this course, this activity will give you an overview of the topics that will be covered during this week.

    • Quality

      Quality and the metrics used to inform course design can be a very subjective thing. In this activity, you will learn about certain industry standards used to make meaningful decisions about quality metrics.

    • Quality reviews

      In this activity, you will learn how quality reviews ensure that courses are completed and delivered on time, that requirements and standards are met and that courses demonstrate best practices for online course design.

    • Accountability

      In this activity, you will learn how to specify training and escalation processes as part of your quality and evaluation plan, to ensure accountability of individuals and that requirements are met.

    • Course wrap up

      In this activity, you'll have the opportunity to test your knowledge of the topics covered during the week, by completing a graded test and applying what you have learned to a task.

Prove you're job ready

Highlight the new, job-relevant skills you’ve gained and supplement existing qualifications with a hard-earned, industry-specific digital certificate – plus one for every course within your ExpertTrack.

  • Learn the latest in your chosen industry or subject.
  • Complete each course and pass assessments.
  • Receive certificates validated by the educating organisation.
  • Impress employers with learning outcomes you can add to your CV.
  • Make your career dreams a reality.

Download a PDF

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Identify elements of a course map
  • Create a template course in a selected LMS
  • Evaluate tools that measures quality in a course
  • Conduct a course quality review

Who is the course for?

This course is designed to guide instructional designers, new or experienced, through the course development process.

Who will you learn with?

Learning Innovator, Educator, and Entrepreneur
https://www.linkedin.com/in/camillefunk/

Who developed the course?

University of California, Irvine

Established in 1962, the University of California, Irvine Division of Continuing Education (UCI DCE) has served the lifelong learning needs of individuals, organizations, and the community on a local, regional, and global scale.

  • Established

    1965
  • Location

    Irvine, USA
  • World ranking

    Top 100Source: Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2020

About this ExpertTrack

Explore and understand each stage of the course development process to excel in your role as an instructional designer.

Start learning today - free 7-day trial

After your free trial you can:

  • Pay $39 per month to keep learning online
  • Have complete control over your subscription; you can cancel any time
  • Work at your own pace and set your own deadlines at every stage
  • Only pay while you’re learning; the subscription will cancel automatically when you finish
  • Complete online assessments to test your knowledge and prove your skills
  • Earn digital course certificates and a final award that you can share online, with potential employers, and your professional network
  • Keep access to the content of courses you complete even after your subscription ends

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn