Fall 2024
Introduction to Instructional Design
Stacie Cassat Green MEd, Principal, 64 Crayons - Denise Snyder ALM, Director of Learning Design and Digital Innovation and Academic Affairs Campus Diversity Officer Liaison, Union College
Behind every good learning tool be it a website, application, webinar, online course, workshop, or interactive museum exhibit is the work of an instructional designer. Instructional design is a creative process that uses learning theories and frameworks, project planning, content expertise, communication, writing, and technology to architect experiences for today's learners. The best instructional designers are agile and adaptable; they can quickly synthesize unfamiliar content, evaluate new technologies, and develop learning solutions that best meet the needs of a diverse audience. In this course, students work together to produce learning experiences using today's media and technologies. The gap between theory and practice is an issue in many fields. By using a project-based approach, we work to close that gap by learning about instructional design theories and frameworks while developing a series of products; students submit a project every two weeks. This course is helpful for those professionals who work directly or indirectly to support and improve learning in their organizations, or those lifelong learners who want to better understand how to use technology to manage their own learning.
Spring 2025
Introduction to Instructional Design
Valerie Mann EdD, Associate Professor, College Success, Johnson County Community College
In this course, students learn application skills melding the best of learning strategies, learning theory, and mind-brain education research. This course is intended to provide managers, trainers, learning designers, and teachers with skills to manage their instructional design and teaching tools, while infusing learning strategies to maximize knowledge for varied types of learning preferences and needs. With practical application at the fore, students engage with current research, strategies for effective learning, and design principles to explore how these concepts can be applied to help learners achieve their best in the classroom and workplace, both face-to-face and online.
Spring 2025
Introduction to Instructional Design
Stacie Cassat Green MEd, Principal, 64 Crayons
Behind every good learning tool be it a website, application, webinar, online course, workshop, or interactive museum exhibit is the work of an instructional designer. Instructional design is a creative process that uses learning theories and frameworks, project planning, content expertise, communication, writing, and technology to architect experiences for today's learners. The best instructional designers are agile and adaptable; they can quickly synthesize unfamiliar content, evaluate new technologies, and develop learning solutions that best meet the needs of a diverse audience. In this course, students work together to produce learning experiences using today's media and technologies. The gap between theory and practice is an issue in many fields. By using a project-based approach, we work to close that gap by learning about instructional design theories and frameworks while developing a series of products; students submit a project every two weeks. This course is helpful for those professionals who work directly or indirectly to support and improve learning in their organizations, or those lifelong learners who want to better understand how to use technology to manage their own learning.
Spring 2025
Applied Learning Design
Stacie Cassat Green MEd, Principal, 64 Crayons
In this course, students use a design thinking methodology to design and develop an authentic learning product or experience. Each student prepares a product, such as a course or workshop, social learning community, website, or software application. Using rapid prototyping, students present several iterations of their designs to the class, participate in peer critiques, and continually improve their products over the semester. As instructional designers work in a team, each student contributes to, and benefits from, a class consulting bank. They use their skills to help others and to gain currency that they can exchange for help on their own projects. Students also explore additional instructional design frameworks and learning theories to improve fluency and flexible thinking in the field. Students may not take both EDUC E-113 and DGMD E-60 for degree or certificate credit.
Prerequisites: DGMD E-55, EDUC E-103, EDUC E-111, or the equivalent.
Spring 2025
Applied Learning Design
Dustin Liu MEd, Lecturer, Mechanical Engineering and Design, Stanford University
In this course, students engage as designers to scope and prototype learning experiences that apply the principles of adult learning and development. Throughout the semester, students practice key components of the learning design process such as determining need and learning objectives and testing prototypes. Course topics include design thinking, instructional design models, learning technology, and learner engagement. The goal of the course is to equip students with the tools, mindsets, and frameworks to approach their work as designers of in-person, hybrid, and online learning. Students may not take both EDUC E-113 and DGMD E-60 for degree or certificate credit.
Prerequisites: DGMD E-55, EDUC E-103, EDUC E-111, or the equivalent.
Fall 2024
Adult Learning Theories
Cindy Joyce MA, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Pillar Search and Human Resources Consulting
Why is adult learning so important? When you understand adult learning, you have the knowledge and tools needed to tailor learning, training, and even feedback, ensuring that adult learners or your team members are motivated to learn and grow, connect with the learning experience, and eager to learn relevant material. Learning opportunities for adults are often modeled after how children are taught in grade school and high school. However, adults learn much differently from children, and their motivation to learn is vastly different as well. This course explores adult learning theory and practice, how to engage the adult learner, and how to provide learning opportunities that are meaningful. Human resources practitioners, trainers, instructional designers, managers, and leaders alike benefit from this course.
Prerequisites: Educational or work experience in education, teaching, organizational behavior, human resources, training, or instructional design.