Virtual Instructional Design Certificate

Adapting instructional design skills for the virtual learning environment is necessary because online platforms present a range of unique challenges and opportunities that differ from traditional in-person training. In a virtual classroom, instructional designers can’t rely on physical cues or spontaneous adjustments based on face-to-face interactions—they must anticipate learner needs, create engaging experiences upfront, and design activities that encourage participation and knowledge transfer remotely.

• Apply learning theories and models, the steps of ADDIE, and the needs assessment process to virtual learning events.

• Identify behavioral outcomes and create learning objectives for virtual learning events.

• Apply the elements of the course design process, as well as design, curate, and develop content for virtual learning environments.

• Identify design thinking and rapid prototyping techniques for virtual course design activities.

• Apply various methods of course and process evaluation to your virtual course design activities.

• Determine your level of future readiness in virtual instructional design and develop a plan for continued learning.

• Use actionable best practices for virtual instructional design to create online and blended learning experiences.

• Engage learners by applying instructional design principles and tactics to instructor-led online environments.

• Gain access to a collection of more than 20 tools and templates you can use in your own practice.

• Apply your new knowledge and skills on an authentic learning project for virtual instruction and receive feedback from an ATD expert facilitator.

• Create a personal action plan to hold yourself accountable for applying what you have learned.

• Earn an industry-recognized certificate, continuing education credits, and an ATD digital badge to share with your networks.

Developed for participants new to instructional design or for those who want to gain a comprehensive skill set for designing virtual instructor-led online learning for adult learners, this certificate program covers the entirety of the Instructional Design Capability of the Talent Development Model.

This program is appropriate for those early in their career or making a career shift. This may include instructional designers, independent consultants, professional trainers or facilitators, or training coordinators who are interested in designing digital learning for the virtual classroom.

Creating engagement in an online course in the virtual classroom demands proficiency with a wider set of tools, including collaborative whiteboards, breakout rooms, interactive polls, and multimedia elements.

The effectiveness of learning design for online environments often depends on adapting content for virtual and blended learning experiences, building scenarios relevant for diverse adult learners, and ensuring that the learning objectives and overall experience remain practical and outcome focused.

Contact ATD’s Enterprise Solutions team for information about bringing this virtual learning design course to your organization. An ATD representative is available to support you with scheduling, provide facilitator options tailored to your industry and learning objectives, and review customization opportunities to create an optimal learning experience that addresses the specific requirements of your team.

Additional information to help you prepare for your upcoming virtual learning design program:

• Completion requirements: Review the attendance policy before your online course begins to ensure your successful completion.

• Technical requirements: Ensure your tech is ready for the first day of your facilitation training program.

• Enrolled in a program? To check your course status and enrollment details, launch your course, or download your certificate, go to MyATD.

• Terms and privacy: Review our cancellation policy, health protocols for in-person courses, and more.

• Have additional questions about ATD courses? Visit our ATD Education FAQ for answers.

• The Role of Adult Learning Theories

• Learning Models and Memory

• Human Performance Improvement (HPI)

• Instructional Design Model

• Introduction to the ADDIE Model

• The Five Phases of ADDIE

• Using ADDIE on the Job

• Definition and Value of a Needs Assessment

• Six Steps of a Needs Assessment

• Three Levels of Needs Assessment

• Data Collection Techniques

• Defining Outcomes and Objectives

• Behavioral Outcomes

• Learning Objectives

• Techniques for Writing Learning Objectives

• Instructional Modality Options

• Basic Course Design

• Course Map Plan and Modules

• What Are Instructional Methods?

• Instructional Method Options and Considerations

• Selecting Delivery Media and Technology

• Curation of Existing Content

• Using SMEs in Instructional Design

• The Two Major Categories of Learning

• Levels of Learning Considerations

• Techniques for Structuring Content

• Considerations for Structuring Content

• Designing Learning Materials With the Learner in Mind

• Techniques for Developing Learning Materials

• A Closer Look at Design

• Designing Materials to Assess Learning

• How Design Thinking Can Improve Instructional Design

• Applying Design Thinking to Instructional Design

• Rapid Methodologies and Prototyping

• Implementing and Evaluating

• Evaluating Talent Development Solutions

• Evaluation Methodologies

• Creating Evaluation Instruments

• Creating an Evaluation Plan