# Instructional Design Essentials Course (Self-Paced) Canonical URL: ## Overview This course introduces participants to the core principles and practices used to plan, design, develop, implement, and evaluate effective training. Using the Instructional Systems Design (ISD) process and the ADDIE model, the course shows participants how to identify real training needs, define measurable learning objectives, account for adult learning preferences, and build a course blueprint that aligns training with job performance and organizational goals. Through practical exercises and discussion, participants learn how to make more informed, cost-effective training decisions before investing time and resources. The course also covers how to evaluate training results, improve training implementation, and apply instructional design principles when reviewing Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Statements of Work (SOWs), and vendor proposals. It is especially relevant for federal employees who develop training, manage training programs, work with vendors, or help assess whether training solutions will meet agency needs. ## What you'll learn - Identify what makes training successful. - Learn the principles of adult learning and apply them to your training programs. - Recognize adult participants' diverse learning preferences. - Discover why it's important to provide a variety of learning methods to ensure job performance can improve after training. - Gain tips to improve training-related Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and/or Statements of Work (SOWs). - Evaluate training proposals to ensure successful training outcomes. ## Curriculum #### Module 1: Course Introduction - Define instructional design and its significance in training development - Explore the goals and structure of the course - Understand the foundational principles of effective instruction - Includes Pre-Test and Post-Test for self-assessment #### Module 2: The ISD Process - Define ISD and ADDIE: Instructional Systems Design (ISD) is a structured process for creating effective training and learning solutions; ADDIE is a common ISD model that stands for Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation - State the critical ISD elements - Identify the decisions that ISD can help you make before allocating training resources #### Module 3: Adult Learners - Explore characteristics of adult learners and how they impact training design - Define types of adult learning preferences using the Whole Brain® Model - Identify characteristics of effective adult learning environments - Assess learner motivation, experience, and readiness to learn #### Module 4: Training Needs Analysis - Conduct performance gap, task, and learner analyses - Identify gaps in knowledge, skills, and performance - Align training needs with performance improvement goals #### Module 5: Training Design – Learning Outcomes - Define the purpose of learning objectives - Identify the components (Action, Condition, Standard) and characteristics (Observable, Measurable, Valid, Learner-Oriented) of effective learning objectives - Write effective learning objectives - Distinguish between recall and apply level learning objectives #### Module 6: Training Design – Evaluation - Apply Kirkpatrick’s Four Levels of Evaluation (course focuses on levels 1 & 2) - Identify appropriate methods to evaluate learning objectives - Identify appropriate methods to evaluate whether learners are applying new knowledge and skills after training #### Module 7: Training Design – Course Blueprint - Define the purpose of a training course “blueprint” - List principles of good training design - Given a scenario of a training need, create part of a training design blueprint #### Module 8: Training Development - Define the most commonly used training methods - Identify the advantages and disadvantages of the most commonly used training methods - Identify training method(s) that would be effective to deliver a specific block of instruction to achieve a learning objective - Given a lecture-driven lesson, select alternative training methods based on the learning objective, type of content, and audience - Define common types of training media - Identify the advantages and disadvantages of the most commonly used training media #### Module 9: Training Implementation - Identify common implementation issues and pitfalls - Identify ways to implement training programs more effectively #### Module 10: Evaluating Training Proposals - Define what makes an effective Request for Proposal (RFP) - Identify elements to look for when evaluating a Statement of Work (SOW) - Determine if a sample RFP or SOW will adequately address an identified training need ## Pricing **Tuition:** $1199