What is Instructional Design?

• Instructional design, also known as instructional systems design, is the analysis of learning needs and the systematic development of instruction. Instructional designers often use instructional technology as a method for developing instruction. Effective instructional design, if followed, will allow the creator to produce a "product" (i.e., course, website, seminar, tutorial, workshop, or training manual) that will facilitate the transfer of knowledge, skills to the recipient or acquirer of the instruction.
• According to Siemens (September 2002), in the Distance learning arena (Distance or E-learning is the marriage of technology and education), the instructional designer's greatest role is that of "bridging" concepts between the two worlds of education and technology. This vital role ensures that a subject matter expert's [or instructor's concepts] are properly developed by graphic designers and programmers.

The IDAD credit certificate will enable you to:

Identify...

• practical objectives and goals that increase skills and productivity.
• the most effective model(s) for training in any setting.

Design and Produce...

• in-house seminars, tutorials, classes, workshops.
• online and distributed learning courses.
• computer-based training programs, on site or around the world.
• training manuals, standards/quality control documents, protocols and flowcharts.

Evaluate...

• aptitude and motivation.
• alternative course designs and trade-offs.
• training program effectiveness.

CSUN's Instructional Design & Adult Development (IDAD) professional certificate program will teach you the most effective methods for adult learning in applied educational and organizational settings. Using pedagogically-sound online teaching methods and the very latest in user-centered technology, you will learn to design and produce highly effective, usable courses and programs with proven instructional design methods as a foundation.

With CSUN's Instructional Design & Adult Development (IDAD) credit certificate you will learn to produce effective, highly usable seminars and courses that will impart knowledge and accessible information with proven instructional design methods as a foundation. And the certificate can be completed entirely online in just one year!

What are some other definitions of ID?

• The design and development of instructional materials and learning activities to meet learning needs.
  
• Systematic instructional planning including needs assessment, development, evaluation, implementation and maintenance of materials and programs.
  
• The systematic approach to the development of a product to meet instructional needs and goals.
  
• The philosophy, methodology, and approach used to deliver information. Some courseware aspects include question strategy, level of interaction, reinforcement, and branching complexity.
  
• The process by which information is systematically mapped, categorized, and organized to facilitate the transmission of information or skills to people
  
• A system of developing well-structured instructional materials using objectives, related teaching strategies, systematic feedback, and evaluation.
  
• Systematically translating general principles of learning and instruction into plans for instructional materials and learning.

What can the IDAD program do for me?

• Graduates of the IDAD program will:
  
• Acquire an in-depth understanding of past and present knowledge and theory of Instructional Design and Adult Learning as they relate to teaching and training adults in a variety of settings.
  
• Acquire an understanding of how to design “user-friendly” and effective systems for educating adult learners in a distance learning environment.
  
• Learn how to identify and create an appropriate training design that will organize and share acquired knowledge in a structured way based on current best practices.
  
• Develop and implement pedagogically-sound instructional products in all types of organizational contexts.
  
• Assess and evaluate the learning outcomes of instructional products.
  
• Create an instructional or training product for adult learners while learning about application of learning objectives, product planning, course design models, layout principles, creating mockups, and presentations techniques.

This online credit certificate program will teach you how to systematically and effectively develop, plan, create, assess, and revise instructional products.

Who should apply to the IDAD program?

The program is designed for those who:

• train or educate adults;
• want to add an educational credential to their professional experience;
• want to become a Trainer or Instructional Designer;
• currently work in a university setting managing programs for adults;
• currently work as an Industry Consultant;
• want to get involved in the E-learning trend.

Your background could be in:

• business;
• behavioral science;
• education;
• psychology;
• training;
• distance or e-learning;
• other related fields.

Instructional Design & Adult Development is approached from a multidisciplinary perspective.

You should have completed a bachelor’s degree at an accredited college or university and be eager to share what you know with colleagues and excited about learning from experienced faculty drawn from academia and industry. You should be curious about theory but ready to apply what you learn to the real world of instructional design and training.

What is different about the CSUN IDAD program?

• Experienced faculty and a global reach. A diversity of students from various cultures and disciplines will broaden your perspective and professional network.
  
• State-of-the-art engagement with a remote groups challenge that mirrors 21st century organizational realities. The curriculum leverages what we know about instructional design, adult learning, human factors, assessment and evaluation, and technology to create a framework for the future of the field.
  
• Entire program can be completed ONLINE and in ONE YEAR.
  
• Program curriculum is a marriage of instructional design mechanics and educational theory. Our program teaches you the ways to create effective instructional products and, unlike other programs, also teaches the background and theory of effective adult learning.
  
• The courses in the program can be applied directly to our upcoming online master’s degree in Adult Development, Learning, & Instruction.