Introduction to Instructional and Learning Design

How much do eLearning designers make?

The average salary for this role is $65,312 — however, the exact figure is highly dependent on several factors (including employer and location).

What skills do I need to become an eLearning designer?

This role involves critical thinking, working with others, technology and consulting with stakeholders. Some of the skills you’ll need to be successful as an eLearning designer include communication, writing, project management and technical expertise.

Do I need a master’s degree to become an eLearning designer?

Though earning a master’s degree is not a requirement for a career as an eLearning designer, having one can deepen your knowledge in this specialized area and help you stand out from other candidates when the time comes to apply for jobs.

Are eLearning designers and eLearning developers the same?

No, these two roles are unique. An eLearning developer’s job is to use course authoring tools and software to assemble courses once the structure and content have been determined, making them accessible for learners.

What’s the difference between an instructional designer and an eLearning designer?

While eLearning designers are responsible for coming up with the overall structure of a course, instructional designers are tasked with fleshing out the course content and making the learning experience engaging and memorable.

What does an eLearning designer do?

eLearning designers create learning programs for online courses. This typically involves designing curricula, ensuring programs are well-structured and guiding the course’s development every step of the way as it takes shape.

What is the weekly time commitment of the MS-LDT program?

Built with working professionals in mind, this asynchronous online program can easily fit into your week. On average, coursework will require between 10-20 hours per week on reading, researching and completing class assignments. While coursework will vary per professor and course, students will generally have one main assignment due on a weekly or biweekly basis and will be expected to participate in classroom discussion boards. Professors are always willing to proactively discuss any scheduling challenges that may arise during your time in the program.

How should I use job aids within a training program?

Job aids typically supplement other training methods. To fully understand when to use a job aid as performance support, you’ll need to know how to assess the learning needs of your students/employees. Learning how to apply these learning aids, in addition to how to create them, is a fundamental part of learning design programs.

For more information on what goes into a training program, see our post on how to create an employee training plan.

What learning programs or tools can I use to create job aids?

You can use most simple desktop applications such as Microsoft Word, Adobe Photoshop or any of the Google Suite programs to design and create your own job aid. If you’re looking for technologies that will help you with research, design and instruction, see our list of top instructional design software.

What are the recommended best practices for job aid design?

Here are some additional tips:

• Online research can be useful to start a process or to supplement knowledge, but also include observation, demonstration, one-on-one interviews and discussion with users when designing a job aid.
• Consider adding a short introduction to provide context of how, where and when to use a job aid.
• Good design makes use of white space to avoid the page looking too cluttered or busy. Cramming too much detail into a space can make a job aid difficult to follow.
• Good design incorporates an “on brand” or compatible color scheme. Keep the text font and size consistent and easy to read, and make use of clear, simple icons to aid in visual comprehension.

Are there other examples of job aids?

There are dozens of different types of job aids, many of which you probably encounter on a day-to-day basis. Any quick reference guide can be considered a “job aid,” such as signs in public restrooms that show people how to wash their hands. Even recipe books and to-do lists can be considered job aids.

Are there times not to use a job aid?

While job aids are intended to be handy, quick reference guides, there are a few situations where they’re not ideal:

• Sometimes when executing tasks in real time, such as when attending to a patient (life or death) or overseeing a time-sensitive manufacturing process, there is absolutely no opportunity to review materials. Job aids can’t be a substitute for learned knowledge and expertise that must be memorized.
• Similarly, job aids are not a substitute for training. Job aids work best as performance support after training. Full, comprehensive training is vital for requisite knowledge acquisition, retention and recall.

Can I complete an entire learning design program online?

Absolutely. USD’s own LDT program is 100% online.

Can my instructional design skills be used in education or private industry?

Yes. Instructional designers are in demand across industries, from public and higher education to corporate settings and even in government positions.

How much does it cost to take a full program in instructional design?

The average cost of a full-time, two year master’s degree program is between $44,000-$57,000 — though some programs can be much more expensive. At a cost-per-credit of $710, USD’s LDT program tuition totals $21,300.

How long does it take to earn a degree as an instructional designer?

Every program is different, but in general, a full-time master’s degree program will take you around two years to complete. You can expect part time programs to take longer depending on how many units you take in a semester.

The Master of Science in Learning Design and Technology is a 30-unit, project-based program and is designed to be completed in five semesters over 20 months.

Are MS-LDT classes scheduled to accommodate working professionals?

Yes. The Master of Science in Learning Design and Technology degree program is designed specifically with working professionals in mind. The online program can be completed on your own schedule (as long as deadlines are met).

Are there extra fees?

All students in the online MS-LDT program require current access to Articulate360 software for various assignments and projects. The University of San Diego will issue a one-time, discounted tech fee of $280 for all first-semester students to be granted access to an Articulate360 account. The account suite will grant access to the following tools:

• Storyline 360, Rise 360, Content Library 360, Review 360, Studio 360, Presenter 360, Quizmaker 360, Engage 360, Replay 360, & Peek 360.

Students that already have access to Articulate360 and the required tools can waive this one-time fee by submitting a Waiver Request Form. (This form will be made available to enrolled students.) Please only submit a waiver if you already have access to the following required tools: Storyline 360, Rise 360, Content Library 360, & Review 360.

• Mac users will need to (1) download a PC emulation software such as VMWare Fusion in order to access the required program software and (2) have access to Window 10 or newer.

All enrolled students will have access to Articulate360. If you file a Leave of Absence, withdraw/drop a course, or graduate from the program, access will be terminated until you enroll again in the program.

We’ve also compiled a list of free/freemium tools that students can use to complete their assignments. Students will have a Google Drive, Office 365 and YouTube account associated with her USDOne login.

Who is teaching in this program?

Our instructors are subject matter experts. They are instructional design practitioners and online instructors who are fully aware of the needs of adult learners and online students. Learn more on our MSLDT faculty page.

What is the difference between the Group Discussions and the Discussion Board Forum?

Group Discussions are typically graded assignments posted to a discussion board embedded in each module. They require an original post and a response to peers by the end of the week. Discussion Forum is an open discussion on a variety of topics related to the course. The Discussion Board feature in Canvas is used as the platform for these online conversations.

Would a potential employer value a Master of Science over a Master of Education in LD/ID?

A potential employer is not likely to value one degree over the other because they are more interested in demonstrated knowledge, skills, and abilities more so than whether your degree is in LD or ID. Employers requiring or preferring that applicants have a master’s degree will be explicit about the skills they are seeking and typically will not distinguish between type of degree such as MS, MA, or M.Ed degrees.

What is the difference between instructional design and learning design?

Instructional design involves creating learning experiences and materials to affect change in knowledge, skills, or attitude. Learning design utilizes approaches from instructional design, user-experience design, and design thinking to create these learning experiences.

Why was “Learning Design” chosen to use in the title of this degree instead of “Instructional Design?”

Learning Design was chosen for the degree title to reflect a shift in the industry that is more inclusive of adaptations to the systematic design of instruction that is found in traditional ID. Learning Design combines instructional design and design thinking to promote a more human-centered and creative thinking approach to designing learning solutions.

Is the main focus of the program online and tech-based learning?

The main focus of the program is on establishing a foundation and building the  knowledge, skills, and abilities that are demonstrated as the competencies expected of ID professionals. While many of the course assignments require the use of eLearning authoring software and other learning technologies, the competencies you develop are grounded in theory about how people learn and are therefore applicable to designing materials for in-person training, synchronous and asynchronous online learning, and eLearning.

Does or will the program include any live (Zoom or in-person) components?

While the program is fully asynchronous, office hours are an opportunity to have live discussions with faculty. The program will offer webinars throughout the year as an opportunity to engage with industry professionals and explore topics in the field.

Why do students choose the MS-LDT program at USD?

Students choose the MS-LDT program because it provides a fast-track to entry or promotion in the instructional/learning design career they seek. Our fully asynchronous program is attractive to full-time working professionals who want and need the flexibility to manage when and where they engage with their courses. We are a year-round program, which means we offer our two foundational courses every semester. This makes it convenient for students to decide when the best time is for them to begin pursuing their academic goals.

What makes this program one-of-a-kind and innovative?

The MS-LDT program is designed to provide working adults with a short, fast-paced, but manageable path to entry into the field of instructional/learning design. Some program aspects that may make MS-LDT the right choice for you include the various ways we attend to the needs of adult learners. These include, but are not limited to:

• Faculty who are subject matter experts and ID practitioners. Our faculty are connected to the field in various ways across various industries.
• Access to the MS-LDT Academic Director from pre-enrollment to post-graduation
  7-week courses that allow you to complete 6 credits per semester, but focus on one course at a time
• Active engagement from our student success team members who provide a range of support that will keep you on track and ready to graduate in 20 months
• Automatic enrollment in your courses each term so you have one less thing to do
• Course design support by our in-house Learning Design Center which means standards of good online course design is consistent across all MS-LDT courses
• A focus on preparing you as an instructional design, learning design, and eLearning design practitioner, which means assignments are thoughtfully planned with your future career in mind
• An emphasis on supporting your effort to build an ID Portfolio that you can present to prospective employers and clients
• A commitment to staying grounded in foundations of the field (i.e, ID as a process) and being intentional about keeping our students connected to shifts and trends in the field (i.e., embracing design thinking)

Is the program online or on-campus?

The MS-LDT program is a 100% online, fully asynchronous degree program.