eLearning & Instructional Design for Beginners

A learner analysis helps shape and guide instruction and determines how instruction should be designed. The information can reveal important variables that may affect the learner and must be addressed during the design and delivery process. In this week's episode, we will dive into this crucial step in the process of crafting compelling and interactive learning resources: analyzing your learners....

In eLearning, continuous course evaluations are vital for ensuring effectiveness, learner engagement, and ongoing improvement, incorporating feedback at all stages of development. In this week’s episode, unlock the secret to creating truly effective eLearning courses. Maximize learner satisfaction and course impact by mastering the art of ongoing course evaluation and enhancement.   Essential...

Your instructional design portfolio isn't just a collection of documents; it's your ticket to success in this field. In this week’s episode, discover the essential components of a standout instructional design portfolio. Learn how to create a polished online course project, and gain insights on choosing the right platform to showcase your work, setting you on the path to success in the field. &nbs...

In a world inundated with text-based learning, it's time to break the mold and dive into the captivating realm of instructional videos. In this week's episode, leverage the power of instructional videos to establish instructional design immediacy and social presence. Learn how to foster connections with online learners through videos for more effective eLearning.   Essential Learning Points:...

Frustration can arise when instructors fail to provide clear instructions, making course planning essential to avoid confusion and enhance student outcomes and satisfaction. Imagine a world where every learner feels connected, supported, and engaged. It all starts with effective communication so join us on a journey to discover essential strategies for fostering meaningful connections in your e-le...

Navigate the complexities of SME collaboration by understanding their perspectives and aligning their expertise with your instructional design goals. This episode will help you gain invaluable guidance on mastering subject matter expert (SME) interviews for instructional design, offering five strategic tips. Discover how to extract important insights and create impactful eLearning experiences. &nb...

Like a GPS for learning, flowcharts steer eLearners smoothly through the twists and turns of knowledge acquisition. In this week’s podcast episode, you will discover five essential tips for developing high-quality flowcharts. Get ready to take your flowcharting skills to the next level with this must-listen episode!   Essential Learning Points: How a flowchart visually represents the sequence...

Enhancing Online Learning Engagement and Effectiveness: Designing Compelling Examples, Cases, and Strategies. This episode explores the crucial role of case studies and examples in online learning, emphasizing their power to connect learners with real-world applications. It delves into the significance of interactive content, emotional engagement, varied media, and interactive tools. The elaborati...

When designing elearning courses, clear goals and learning objectives are vital for effective instruction. This episode focuses on the significance of well-defined goals and learning objectives in elearning courses. It outlines the process of goal analysis through classifying the goal, identifying major steps, and elaborating on the task. Different approaches are discussed, such as content-based,...

Instructional design is a critical aspect of eLearning, as it creates engaging and effective learning experiences for all learners. Without it, eLearning would be just text on a screen. In this week’s episode, we'll be exploring the vital role of instructional design in eLearning. We've got an exciting topic lined up for you as you'll be discovering the top five reasons why instructional design pl...

The instructional strategy in designing eLearning courses should be based on a combination of experience, theory, and research, rather than relying solely on past experiences, opinions, or political agendas. Scenario-based learning is an effective approach that immerses learners in real-life situations, allowing them to make decisions and observe the consequences. Infographics are useful tools for...

I am Crystal Harper from eteachonline, and my mission is to support teachers who want to transition into e-learning. I believe in helping educators design effective and engaging e-learning courses from the ground up. To achieve this goal, I stress the importance of using storyboards to plot out the structure and overall flow of the course content. Storyboards act as practical tools that allow teac...

Summative assessments in e-learning courses evaluate learner proficiency and achievement of objectives. They provide a final grade and come in various forms: written reports, presentations, objective-based testing, and portfolios. Instructors can enhance the assessment process by providing grading rubrics in advance, using a range of assessment types to accommodate different learning needs, and en...

An essential element in the instructional design process for online courses is a learner analysis. It entails compiling data on the traits, knowledge levels, learning preferences, and motivations of the learners. Instructional designers can customize the learning experience to meet the demands of the learners by getting to know who they are and what they already know. It's important to determine w...

In the latest podcast episode, we continue the conversation with Kim Tuohy, the visionary founder of Belvista Studios, an innovative instructional design and eLearning studio. Kim and her team use a human-centered approach to aid organizations in developing their employees for the future. During the podcast, Kim shared insights about her childhood dreams of owning a business and emphasized the imp...

Belvista Studios is an instructional design and eLearning studio founded by Kim Tuohy. With a human-centered approach, they help organizations develop their people and provide end-to-end instructional design solutions. Kim's passion for helping people and her love for creativity led her to discover her calling in instructional design and eLearning. Despite lacking academic qualifications in the fi...

Marina Arshavskiy, an award-winning instructional design and elearning expert, shares valuable insights for beginners in the field. She emphasizes the importance of clear copywriting in creating engaging elearning experiences and highlights the benefits of adopting an agile approach for course development, which involves continuous feedback and iterative changes. Marina also addresses the unique c...

In the continuation of last week's podcast episode, Dr. Ray Pastore discusses various aspects of instructional design and online learning. He acknowledges the challenges faced by teachers in terms of financial stability and advises against pursuing a teaching career solely for monetary reasons. However, he hopes for positive changes in the future, advocating for better pay for teachers. Dr. Pastor...

Dr. Ray Pastore, a professor and program coordinator at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, discusses his journey into instructional technology and online learning. He highlights the growth of the e-learning field and the public's limited understanding of instructional designers. The conversation explores the importance of gamification, clarifying its distinction from game-based learning....

Gamification offers benefits such as increased learner engagement, behavior change, and socialization. Learners feel a sense of accomplishment and progress through game elements like badges and levels. Gamification encourages active participation, competition, and learning from peers. It also promotes positive behavior change, as seen in Volkswagen's speed camera lottery study. Designers must alig...

Gamification can be used in online courses to enhance engagement and provide learners with the ability to make choices. Gamification can be a powerful technique for changing behavior habits, and it encourages people to keep returning to the course and participate actively. It encourages competition, community building, and socialization, which is why it is useful in online courses where engagement...

In continuation of our last week episode with an interview with Read Coburn, this week he shared his journey from being a teacher to an instructional designer. He stated that his master's degree in instructional design was the most important thing that helped him transition to the new career path. The program he chose was practical and hands-on, which helped him develop his instructional design po...

Read Coburn is an instructional designer who shares his journey in this interview, highlighting his experiences teaching English as a second language (ESL) in China. After completing his degree in English, He moved to China where he worked as an academic director and began designing course materials, sparking his interest in instructional design. He pursued a master's degree in instructional syste...

In continuation of last week's podcast episode about AI in education and professional development, Luke further discusses the importance of incorporating more learning strategies. He emphasizes the need to focus on research and theories to create a successful learning experience for adults. He also highlights the importance of knowing how adults learn and applying those theories to instructional d...

Dr. Luke Hobson is a senior instructional designer, a program manager at MIT X Pro, an instructor for the University of Miami School of Education and Human Development, and the founder of instructional design institute. He is the author of the book, "What I Wish I Knew Before Becoming an Instructional Designer." Dr. Hobson first learned about instructional design in 2013 and became an instructiona...