Online learning has seen sustained, dramatic growth in the years since the pandemic. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, more than 10 million college and university students were enrolled in online courses as of 2023, and instructional design has played a central role in shaping that growth. The St. Thomas University (STU) online Master of Science (MS) in Instructional Design & Technology program offers a path forward for people interested in participating in developing online instructional design for the digital age.
Instructional Design Central defines ‘instructional design’ as “the process by which learning products and experiences are designed, developed, and delivered.” It specifies that “[t]hese learning products include online courses, instructional manuals, video tutorials, learning simulations, etc. Instructional designers are the ‘architects’ of the learning experience.”
Although they seemingly have more tools at their disposal than someone creating content for in-person courses, designers must be savvy when it comes to eLearning. That’s because learners engage with online courses differently, and eLearning requires a higher level of interaction, accessibility and activity. The following are four of the best practices for instructional design of online courses:
1. Understand Your Audience
Perhaps the most important aspect of designing any online course is first understanding the learners. A thorough audience analysis helps instructional designers discover what their audience needs and wants, accounting for factors like prior knowledge, technology comfort, roles and experience levels.
Understanding these variables before designing a course is essential to keeping learners engaged and ensuring the material is relevant and accessible. This understanding also informs every subsequent design decision, from content selection to the format and pacing of the course itself.
2. Stick to the Syllabus
It may be tempting to want to pack as much into a course as you can when designing courses. However, the syllabus is a friend, not a foe.
Having a clear outline of the educational outcomes and the ability to refer to the syllabus as you develop the materials is extremely important, as every group of students has different needs and may require other tools to navigate the content of the course. Hence, the syllabus is a guiding light.
3. Filter Content
In the same vein, it’s essential to stick to what is required learning versus trivia, curiosities and other “would be nice to know” aspects. eLearning has a special relationship to time management and, especially for adult learning, it’s important not to waste time and go straight to the point.
As the iSpring eLearning Content Development Guide notes, designers should “break course content into small chunks” and “remove anything that doesn’t serve the learning objectives.” Adult learners tend to disengage quickly when content feels irrelevant, so purposeful curation is as important as creation.
4. Make It Interactive (and Fun!)
The most exciting part about crafting online learning courses is the possibility of using a diverse array of formats. Designers can bring the content to the learner in a highly innovative way and dismantle the perception that school is “boring” by using podcasts, games, apps and videos.
It may be tempting to design courses with a set of right or wrong answers. But asking good, open-ended questions is a much more exciting way to engage with learning. Although memorization is an age-old tool for education, letting students get to the conclusion on their own is more effective.
Is a Career in Instructional Design Right for You?
These are just a few initial key points to consider when working with instructional design. There are many other interesting aspects to the field, such as customizable design, active learning and accessibility for people with disabilities. Hybrid and online courses are clearly here to stay.
More students seek alternatives to traditional education, and online learning offers affordable and accessible options. Designers in this field have their work cut out for them as they explore this new frontier of eLearning.
Learn more about St. Thomas University’s online Master of Science in Instructional Design & Technology program.
