The University of Delaware’s Division of Professional and Continuing Studies (UD PCS) offers a three-course, online Instructional Design Certificate program, which serves as a gateway to creating effective e-learning environments. The first in the series course, Foundations of Instructional Design, begins on Feb. 3.

Julie Eller, a UD alumna and instructional technology specialist at Cecil College, found the flexibility to choose her own subject matter for course projects to be a major advantage of the UD PCS Instructional Design Certificate program. Over the three courses in the program, learners can create, modify and enhance their instructional designs while receiving personalized feedback from various course facilitators. Eller focused her coursework on supporting Cecil College’s transition to a new learning management system.

“Everything I created while obtaining my certificate is now being used by our faculty. The course facilitators provided extremely detailed feedback that proved immediately useful in my work,” she said. “Although I have a background as a classroom teacher and extensive experience with technology, I still gained new insights and skills.”

After the middle school where she taught halted online instruction at the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, Eller decided to transition to a new career path, motivated by her enjoyment of the challenges in this field. “My instructional design certificate has greatly benefited me in my new role,” she noted.

The UD PCS Instructional Design Certificate program covers essential topics such as learning theory principles, learner needs analysis and authoring tools for instructional designers in any field. Learn more about the certificate at https://www.pcs.udel.edu/instructional-design.