Instructional Design Foundations and Applications

Illinois introduces the theoretical foundations of instructional systems design, with particular attention to analysis. Organizational performance problems provide a reason to investigate what learners need before deciding on a course or activity. It suits learners who want to justify an instructional response and distinguish a learning problem from a problem that training alone may not solve.

What you will learn

• Explore instructional systems-design foundations.
• Analyze learning and organizational performance needs.
• Connect design choices with theoretical assumptions.

Who this suits

Learners entering instructional design or reviewing its foundations; the provider assigns a mixed level and lists no specific prerequisite sequence.

Before you enroll

Begin with an actual learning need and check that the activity and assessment address it. Technology access, learner accessibility and feedback arrangements matter alongside the lesson plan. Use fictional or anonymized learner information for practice, and evaluate a design with learners before treating it as effective.

Coursera offers paid enrollment or subscription access. Check the enrollment screen for assessment and certificate terms, trials and any financial-aid options. Provider access terms can change; review them before paying.

Put it into practice

Analyze a fictional workplace performance problem. Identify evidence for a learning need, a nontraining cause and a question you would investigate before designing instruction.

Source and review

This overview is based on the provider's published information, checked on 12 October 2026. It is an editorial assessment, not a claim that we completed the resource. Time filters are approximate study ranges; projects and exercises can take longer.

View the curriculum and current access options at Coursera.

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