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ATD Blog

3 Reasons to Attend ATD's E-Learning Instructional Design Training

Wednesday, February 15, 2017
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Allen Interactions has partnered with ATD for more than a decade to deliver two instructional design training workshops focused on e-learning design. These workshops (E-Learning Instructional Design Certificate and Advanced E-Learning Instructional Design Certificate) cover important aspects of mastering the art and science of creating motivating and impactful e-learning programs.

During my years facilitating these workshops and interacting with the participants, I have witnessed attendees walk away with some essential benefits—benefits that transcend the traditional scope of course objectives and content. 

#1. You Will Never Look at E-Learning the Same Way Again 

E-Learning is bound in a tradition of mediocrity. Misplaced confidence in the power of technology has allowed ineffective models to become the norm. Sadly, many people who find themselves tasked with designing e-learning may have never even seen good e-learning. The e-learning instructional design certificate programs are probably best at presenting an enormous range of e-learning examples—online modules that are actually used by real companies—that illustrate the potential transformative power of individualized, learner-centered, context-rich, and intellectually challenging training. 

#2. You Will Be Empowered to Make Bold Choices 

Unfortunately, many e-learning practitioners operate within absurdly limited environments. (I was going to say, “absurdly limited teams,” but in truth, many e-learning designers work as a department of one, so even using the term “team” is inaccurate.) When we work in isolation, it is a challenge to push our work beyond what it has always been.

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These programs, though, emphasis how essential it is to try something unexpected. Starting to make small—but revolutionary—design choices is an altering experience in the path to becoming a master e-learning designer. Once you experience one of these workshops, it is difficult to retreat to a training world bound by PowerPoint decks wedded to ineffective testing of trivia. 

#3. You Will Form Bonds With Other E-Learning Instructional Designers 

The best way to improve is to interact with a community of smart people in pursuit of shared goals. We may come into contact with many smart people in our day-to-day activities, but it is often difficult to grow a single moment of contact into anything rather than a fleeting meeting of sympathetic minds.

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The simple experience of learning and working shoulder-to-shoulder with others interested in the same things can create unexpectedly rich support networks. Pushing ourselves with regular constructive criticism with our peers is invaluable, but it is impossible if you work on your own. Each class invariably ends with a voluntary student-initiated effort to share contact information. In addition to the exposure of new approaches and knowledge, new professional and personal connections are a significant takeaway from the workshops.

So, to repurpose a well-worn slogan, “Come for the knowledge, but stay for the inspiration!” It’s easy to dismiss that sentiment as hokey, but it is vitally important to realize that good e-learning (actually, any sort of training) is more than just the content. Quality e-learning design is about crafting meaningful and memorable online learning experiences. I truly believe you’ll find that these workshops both deliver the knowledge necessary to make good instructional design choices, but also the inspiration and confidence that lead to e-learning solutions that really makes a difference.

Learn more about what you can expect from the E-Learning Instructional Design Certificate and Advanced E-Learning Instructional Design Certificate.

About the Author

Ethan has been designing online instruction for almost 25 years, beginning with work at the PLATO laboratory at the University of Illinois, continuing through positions at Authorware, Macromedia, Microsoft, and as a consultant with a host of top companies in the United States and abroad. As Chief Knowledge Officer at Allen Interactions, a nationally recognized company dedicated to creating the world's best custom e-learning applications, Ethan is responsible for internal and external training and communication regarding Allen Interactions' unique perspective on designing and developing meaningful and memorable e-learning programs. While focused primarily on corporate training, Ethan has comprehensive experience with education and government institutions, having worked extensively in libraries and schools as a full-time consultant with the Lincoln Trail Libraries System in Champaign, Illinois. He is also a licensed secondary mathematics teacher. He has spoken at conferences and private presentations throughout the world.

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