Wait, one more thing!
Do you want to land a well-paying new job as a corporate instructional designer in as little as six months?
IDOL Academy will give you the knowledge and confidence you need to become a corporate instructional designer and online developer.
Now with a NEW gamified learning platform!
Become the top-notch instructional designer every company wants to hire.
In record time.
With IDOL Academy, the training program employers ask for.
Whether you’re just starting out in this field or looking to level up, IDOL Academy is where you get the tools to build a highly paid, personally fulfilling career as a corporate instructional designer.
Or IDOL for short.
In as little as 24 weeks, you’ll master the instructional design skills employers look for, build a jaw-dropping portfolio to prove it, and gain practical experience working with real organizations before ever being hired. Plus, we’ll give you expert career coaching to help you land your dream job or get freelance clients. With a private community of peers and mentors to support you every step of the way.
No degree or experience is required. We’ll teach you everything you need to know.
What if there was faster, more affordable way to build your career as a corporate IDOL and quickly enjoy perks like more money, remote work, praise, and promotions?
Here’s what you already know:
Strong design skills, hand-ons experience, and an impressive portfolio are absolutely essential if you want companies to take you seriously.
(And if you didn’t know that, well, now you do.)
The thing is:
When it comes to upskilling, there are a lot of so-called “options” out there. You should know, most of them won’t help you hit your goals, but they will waste your time and damage your bank account.
For example…
YouTube tutorials and free DIY downloads can only take you so far. At some point, you will get stuck and threaten to throw in the towel. Maybe you already have.
And who could blame you?
Without a clear roadmap for corporate instructional design, it’s downright difficult to figure out what design skills and authoring tools you should or shouldn’t focus on.
And with no measuring stick for quality, you can’t help but second guess your work:
Are the DIYed portfolio projects you’re creating good enough to share with employers and prospective clients?
Or do they make you look like the fraud you feel yourself to be?
And forget about forcing your way into the industry.
Blindly applying to hundreds of open positions in the hopes that if you submit enough applications, surely someone, anyone, will invite you to interview is the best way to completely crush your dreams.
Because no one responds.
Without the right skills and experience shining brightly on your resume (which implies you have said skills and experience), even the most carefully crafted applications earn zilch, zero, nada, no attention from hiring teams.
And perhaps worse:
Even if you were to land a first-round interview by some small miracle...
Any excitement would be quickly extinguished the moment the hiring manager realizes you don’t have the qualifications they’re looking for and abruptly ends the Zoom call.
This is why:
After hitting a wall with DIY and brute-force efforts, many ambitious professionals (maybe you too) start to wonder:
“Should I go back to school, get a degree in instructional design, and take on a heaping pile of student debt in the hopes that it’ll help me learn how to do this work and reach my goals?”
It’s a valid question.
And we’re glad you’re asking. Because the answer may or may not shock you. But it will certainly save you a ton of money.
That’s because:
Despite being outrageously expensive, an instructional design degree won’t help you get hired.
We enroll enough disappointed degree-wielding post-grads to know university degree programs don’t prepare you to do this work in the real world.
So what’s missing?
For starters, their outdated curriculums lean heavily on theoretical concepts (which are important) but overlook the technical training and practical experience employers require:
"In my master’s program, we learned a lot of theory. But at the end of the program, I had no idea how to face the real world as an instructional designer. I didn't know the tech tools involved or how to use them.
I had no idea of the effective instructional design process in the corporate world. I was completely lost. Enrolling in IDOL Academy is the best decision I ever made in my entire life. It is everything I needed to become an instructional designer.”
Terence Numvi
eLearning Developer at Swingtech
What’s worse:
They completely ignore the importance of the portfolio (good luck getting an IDOL job or client with no portfolio!) and job readiness…
leaving students to struggle to market themselves in an increasingly competitive job market:
"I never would have landed a job without IDOL. Despite having a Master’s in Instructional Design, I didn't have the portfolio, resume, LinkedIn, etc. set up to attract anything.
[With IDOL Academy] I went from not even making it through the ATS, to recruiters calling me several times a week. Beyond the training, IDOL has the best community, support, and help whenever you need it."
Elizabeth Campbell
Program Manager at Learnquest
And companies have noticed.
These Grand Canyon-sized skill gaps are just one reason tech giants like Google, Apple, and IBM no longer require potential employees to hold college degrees.
Instead, these fast-moving, forward-thinking companies prioritize candidates with hands-on experience - experience earned in intensive bootcamps or industry-specific vocational programs, like IDOL Academy.
In other words:
The hiring landscape has changed.
Especially in the business world.
From the POV of the companies you hope to work for, the degree doesn’t matter. But the skills? They definitely do.
Instructional design work is specialized and technical.
Companies don’t want to have to train you on the essentials. Some companies can’t. They don’t have the expertise in-house. That’s why they’re hiring you.
What captures the attention of today’s employers are highly skilled IDOLs who prove they can hit the ground running create high-quality courses, and solve employee performance gaps starting on day 1.
"I hired one of [IDOL Academy’s] graduates and I was so impressed at the quality of her work, skills, and knowledge.
Bravo! I have been recommending this program every since!"
Crystal Gasell, Ed.D
Director of Academic Technology & Training
And since we’ve already established that a degree won’t get you there…
This is the question we should all be asking:
What’s the point of shelling out tens of thousands of dollars in college tuition to pick up some instructional design theories and a fancy piece of paper, only to graduate 2 years later without the qualifications or experience to land an interview, much less get job?
If you’re going to invest both time and funds in upgrading your skills, shouldn’t the program you choose help you hit your career goals?
Quickly?
And without putting an elephant-sized student loan on your shoulders?
We think so.
If you do, too, then you’ll be happy to know:
You can fast track your way to becoming a highly skilled, handsomely paid corporate IDOL. Without a degree or the suffocating student debt that comes with it.
Through IDOL Academy, we’ve helped thousands of students of all experience levels both break into this industry and catapult their career to the next level.
"The IDOL Academy was the best investment I’ve ever made in myself. I knew I wanted to pursue instructional design but had no experience.
The change in my abilities in five months was incredible. I felt so much more confident and that is a result of the deliberate practice and the feedback system in place.
In five months I went from going nowhere in my ID journey to landing a position with a prestigious learning company in my area."
Adam Briggs
eLearning Instructional Designer at Assima
“IDOL Academy is a great resource for all experience levels to become an ID or move further in your career.
Since starting IDOL courses I landed my first ID job in December and will be promoted after only a year.
My boss tells me I’m “a damn good” ID.
It’s amazing to know that that they think that highly of me and that I should be at a higher position than where I am. It’s a big accomplishment.”
Gretchen Johanson
Sr. Instructional Designer at Zillow
Inside the world’s first and only authorized virtual vocational school for corporate IDOLs…
You not only
✓ hone the instructional skills to create corporate courses and eLearning solutions, but you also get the
✓ technical training
✓ hands-on experience
✓ portfolio support and
✓ career coaching
degree programs are missing.
The best part?
It only takes our graduates about 6-8 months to complete the full training program, get certified, and officially reach their next career milestone.
Yep, even when working full time.
And all while skipping the degree and saving tens of thousands of dollars in the process.
So whether you’re looking to get your first IDOL job, excel in a new role, or upgrade your skill set to win lead or senior-level positions…
Everything you need to become the top-notch IDOL companies want to hire is waiting inside:
The complete career-building program for corporate instructional designers (IDOLs)
Now with a NEW gamified learning platform!
Master the design and tech skills companies look for. Build a jaw-dropping portfolio. And gain on-the-job experience working with real organizations. With expert career coaching every step of the way.
Looking for a leg up in the job market? You found it!
Employers ask for IDOL Academy because they know we produce first-rate IDOLs who do outstanding work.
“The best career decision I’ve ever made.”
"IDOL Academy gave me the skills, experience, and mentorship that I needed to grow as an instructional designer. I was able to learn key ID concepts, revamp my existing portfolio, develop assets for my portfolio, gain paid experience opportunities, as well as build a stellar resume and LinkedIn profile.
I wouldn't be where I am today without the guidance and support of Dr. Robin Sargent and my peers in the group. I'm forever grateful. Joining the IDOL courses Academy is by far the best career decision I've ever made!"
Amanda McCroskey
Sr. Instructional Designer Contractor
Despite our name, IDOL Academy isn’t a course. We’re a career accelerator for corporate instructional designers and eLearning developers.
Sure, we might’ve started out as a course. And technically all of our training is still online. But we’re not a course, not anymore. Think of IDOL Academy like a masters-level training program but with more practical application and perks. As a student, you get everything - and we mean EVERYTHING - you need to become the best IDOL you can posssibly be. So you can build an in-demand reputation in this industry.
The Skill Development Track
You’ll quickly master essential instructional design skills, work on real projects, and build your portfolio during this 24-week guided curriculum.
Graduation & Certification
You’ll submit your work for review. Once all graduation milestones are approved, you’ll officially graduate as a Certified Professional in Training and Performance.
The Career Readiness Track
After graduation, you’ll advance into the career coaching component of the program, where you’ll learn how to stand out in the job market. So you get hired or sign clients.
The Victory Lap!
As a highly skilled IDOL with an amazing portfolio and career coaching to support you, you’ll soon reach your IDOL career goal and join the ranks of graduate success stories. Congrats, you did it!
Ideal for IDOLs at any experience level
Yes, really. IDOL Academy covers every aspect of the corporate instructional design process. So it’s perfect for beginners and any working IDOLs with missing skills.
ASPIRING IDOLS
Gain the skills you need to build an attractive portfolio from scratch. Even if you have no previous experience. So you can launch your new IDOL career in record time.
NEWLY HIRED IDOLS
Pick up the skills you need to deliver outstanding work, excel in your position, and impress your team. So you can turn your next performance review into a future promotion.
SEASONED IDOLS
Update your skills with the latest IDOL trends and techniques. Network within a private community of experts. So you can open doors to bigger and better opportunities.
EDUCATORS
Leverage your teaching experience and transition into a new corporate career doing the online learning work you love. Without being trapped in a classroom.
RECENT GRADS
Get the technical know-how, portfolio support, and practical experience your graduate program didn’t give you. So you can land your first IDOL job.
FREELANCERS
Take on side projects or build a full-time business with your new skill set. And create a life of freedom and flexibility while charging top-dollar rates.
Inside IDOL Academy, you’ll learn how to build out all sorts of workplace learning initiatives (including courses!). From idea to rollout. While working on real company projects.
This work is so much more than courses. As an corporate IDOL, your #1 goal is to solve employee performance problems. Maybe an online course is the answer. Or maybe it’s something else entirely. Either way, we’ll teach you how to dissect underlying issues and map learning solutions that meet company objectives, no matter what form they eventually take - like:
Online Courses
MicroLearning
Apprenticeship Programs
Learning Networks
Corporate Universities
Knowledge Bases
Simulations
Job Aids
Instructor-Led Training
Blended Learning
Gamified Learning
Role-Playing
INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN SKILLS
This 24-week curriculum covers every step of the corporate instructional design process. So you can confidently tackle any training projects that come your way.
What’s better: You’ll master new skills more quickly than ever before thanks to immersive and interactive lessons, step-by-step instructions, tech tutorials, weekly assignments, and personalized feedback on your work.
YOUR SKILL SYLLABUS:
✓ Project Management:
How to planning, schedule, budget, report, manage risk, and more
✓ Instructional Design Theories:
How to use Design Thinking, ADDIE, Merill’s First Principles of Instruction, and more
✓ Developing Learner Personas:
How to conduct a needs analysis and shape your learner personas
✓ Needs Analysis & Course Planning:
How to map your course plan to learning needs and meet company goals
✓ Subject Matter Expert (SME) Interviews:
How to run productive SME interviews and get quality learning content
✓ Performance Goals & Tasks Analysis:
How to conduct a task analysis and create problem scenarios
✓Writing Learning Objectives:
How to write formal learning objectives for performance goals
✓ Instructional Script Writing:
How to write scripts that are structured and meaningful for learners
✓ Course Design Documentation:
How to draft detailed design blueprints and Instructional Design Documents
✓ Learner Experience Design & Storyboarding:
How to craft a storyboard and prepare for eLearning development
✓ Video Voiceover & Production:
How to record and edit voiceover tracks for course lessons
✓Rapid Prototyping & Course Wireframing:
How to mockup your course at superseed using simple wireframes
✓Leading a Project Rollout:
How to manage the rollout of new training solutions in a corporate setting
✓Learning Analytics & Evaluation:
How to read reports and analytics to identify learning gaps
Because our curriculum evolves with the industry, you're always up to speed on the latest design trends and techniques.
From day 1, you get to experience instructional design from the inside out.
A key upgrade in the new learning platform is interactive lessons.
Besides being incredibly fun (waaayyy more entertaining that those boring talking-head videos most online programs contain), our training content serves as the ultimate inspiration for the eLearning outcomes you will be working toward.
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If you're planning on designing training for adults, it's essential to understand the unique way adults learn.
Enter andragogy, the art of teaching adult learners.
If you're planning on designing training for adults, it's essential to understand the unique way adults learn.
Enter andragogy, the art of teaching adult learners.
You may be familiar with pedagogy, which focuses on teaching children, but the principles of andragogy can be applied to learners of all ages.
By keeping the principles of andragogy in mind, you can design effective learning experiences that meet the distinct needs and preferences of adult learners.
You may be familiar with pedagogy, which focuses on teaching children, but the principles of andragogy can be applied to learners of all ages.
So let's dive into the principles of andragogy and discover how you can create impactful training for adult learners.
In the 1980s, educator Malcolm Knowles popularized the use of the term andragogy to describe how adults learn differently from children. He documented 5 assumptions you should keep in mind when designing learning for adults
So let's dive into the principles of andragogy and discover how you can create impactful training for adult learners.
Characteristics of Adult Learners
Assumptions
Characteristics of Adult Learners
Assumptions
Unlike children, who often rely on teachers and parents to guide their learning, adults are typically motivated to learn by their own goals and interests. They have a strong sense of autonomy and often prefer to take control of their own learning process. Adult learners want to make their own decisions about what, how, where, when, and why they learn.
1. Self-Concept
Characteristics of Adult Learners
Assumptions
1. Self-Concept
As a person ages, they gain more life experience, which gives them a larger resource of prior knowledge from which to draw.
2. Life Experience
Characteristics of Adult Learners
Assumptions
1. Self-Concept
Adults are more likely to be motivated to learn when they feel they’re learning something that will enable them to complete a specific task or solve a particular problem.
3. Readiness to Learn
This tells us that learning should focus on real-world problems, and learners should understand why they need to learn a particular thing.
As a person ages, they gain more life experience, which gives them a larger resource of prior knowledge from which to draw.
2. Life Experience
Characteristics of Adult Learners
Assumptions
1. Self-Concept
Adults tend to be problem-centered in their approach to learning, rather than subject-centered. They want to know how the information they are learning can be applied to their own lives and work.
4. Orientation to Learning
3. Readiness to Learn
This tells us that learning should focus on real-world problems, and learners should understand why they need to learn a particular thing.
As a person ages, they gain more life experience, which gives them a larger resource of prior knowledge from which to draw.
2. Life Experience
Characteristics of Adult Learners
Assumptions
1. Self-Concept
Adults are internally motivated. Although children are often externally motivated to learn, perhaps by parents, teachers, or societal pressure, adult learners are typically driven by internal motivators, which will vary from person to person.
5. Motivation to Learn
4. Orientation to Learning
As a person ages, they gain more life experience, which gives them a larger resource of prior knowledge from which to draw.
2. Life Experience
3. Readiness to Learn
This tells us that learning should focus on real-world problems, and learners should understand why they need to learn a particular thing.
Characteristics of Adult Learners
Assumptions
1. Self-Concept
5. Motivation to Learn
Knowles’s five assumptions about adult learners led to the creation of the four principles of andragogy.
4. Orientation to Learning
As a person ages, they gain more life experience, which gives them a larger resource of prior knowledge from which to draw.
2. Life Experience
3. Readiness to Learn
This tells us that learning should focus on real-world problems, and learners should understand why they need to learn a particular thing.
Characteristics of Adult Learners
Principles of Andragogy
Assumptions
1. Self-Concept
5. Motivation to Learn
Knowles’s five assumptions about adult learners led to the creation of the four principles of andragogy.
4. Orientation to Learning
3. Readiness to Learn
This tells us that learning should focus on real-world problems, and learners should understand why they need to learn a particular thing.
As a person ages, they gain more life experience, which gives them a larger resource of prior knowledge from which to draw.
2. Life Experience
Adult learners need to be actively involved in their own learning. This includes the planning, design, and evaluation of their learning experiences.
1. Involved Adult Learners
Characteristics of Adult Learners
Principles of Andragogy
Assumptions
1. Self-Concept
5. Motivation to Learn
The wealth of experience adult learners bring to their learning should be acknowledged and built upon.
2. Adult Learners’ Experience
Experience should provide the basis for learning activities.
4. Orientation to Learning
3. Readiness to Learn
This tells us that learning should focus on real-world problems, and learners should understand why they need to learn a particular thing.
As a person ages, they gain more life experience, which gives them a larger resource of prior knowledge from which to draw.
2. Life Experience
Adult learners need to be actively involved in their own learning. This includes the planning, design, and evaluation of their learning experiences.
1. Involved Adult Learners
Characteristics of Adult Learners
Principles of Andragogy
Assumptions
1. Self-Concept
5. Motivation to Learn
3. Relevance and Impact to Learners’ Lives
Adults need to know why they should learn something. Adult learners are most interested in topics that have immediate relevance to their job or personal life.
The wealth of experience adult learners bring to their learning should be acknowledged and built upon.
2. Adult Learners’ Experience
Experience should provide the basis for learning activities.
4. Orientation to Learning
3. Readiness to Learn
This tells us that learning should focus on real-world problems, and learners should understand why they need to learn a particular thing.
As a person ages, they gain more life experience, which gives them a larger resource of prior knowledge from which to draw.
2. Life Experience
Adult learners need to be actively involved in their own learning. This includes the planning, design, and evaluation of their learning experiences.
1. Involved Adult Learners
Characteristics of Adult Learners
Principles of Andragogy
4. Problem-Centered
Adults are more interested in learning that focuses on the practical application of knowledge. For this reason, adult learning is most effective when it is problem- or task-centered.
Knowles’ principles also embody the essential elements of David Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction, which suggest a task- or problem-centered approach to designing learning.
Assumptions
Hall of Memory
1. Self-Concept
5. Motivation to Learn
4. Orientation to Learning
3. Relevance and Impact to Learners’ Lives
The wealth of experience adult learners bring to their learning should be acknowledged and built upon.
2. Adult Learners’ Experience
Experience should provide the basis for learning activities.
3. Readiness to Learn
This tells us that learning should focus on real-world problems, and learners should understand why they need to learn a particular thing.
As a person ages, they gain more life experience, which gives them a larger resource of prior knowledge from which to draw.
2. Life Experience
Adult learners need to be actively involved in their own learning. This includes the planning, design, and evaluation of their learning experiences.
1. Involved Adult Learners
Characteristics of Adult Learners
Principles of Andragogy
If you’re going to design instruction to help learners complete a task or solve a problem, you want them to remember what you teach them, right?
So let’s talk for a moment about memory and how it works.
If you’re going to design instruction to help learners complete a task or solve a problem, you want them to remember what you teach them, right?
If you participated in the Become an IDOL Challenge, you’ve probably seen this before, but did it get transferred to your long-term memory?
So let’s talk for a moment about memory and how it works.
If you participated in the Become an IDOL Challenge, you’ve probably seen this before, but did it get transferred to your long-term memory?
Watch the video for a breakdown of memory and cognitive load theory.
Hall of Memory
Watch the video for a breakdown of memory and Cognitive Load Theory.
Pause background music before playing the video, then replay after
Using Merrill’s Pebble-in-the-Pond approach to create a course blueprint, you’ll work backwards to design a demonstration of the whole problem your learners will solve or task they will complete.
Then, you’ll design a progression of problems that builds to this whole problem, and you’ll design demonstrations, instruction, and application for each of the component skills learners will need to solve each problem in the progression.
Lets go through the Learning Strategies...
Your instruction will incorporate learning strategy enhancements – evidence-based learning strategies that enable your learners to retain and apply the knowledge and skills they’ve acquired.
Learning Strategy Enhancements
Download
Spaced practice offers learners opportunities to periodically review previous lessons and older content.
Studies show that there’s not necessarily an optimal spacing interval, but researchers agree that the sweet spot for spaced practice is where remembering the content is doable but effortful for the learner.
In the Academy, you can implement spaced practice for yourself by reviewing what you’ve learned at regular intervals, perhaps once a week.
Example:
Spaced Practice
Lets go through the Learning Strategies...
Learning Strategy Enhancements
Download
Spaced Practice
Spaced practice offers learners opportunities to periodically review previous lessons and older content.
In the Academy, you can implement spaced practice for yourself by reviewing what you’ve learned at regular intervals, perhaps once a week.
Example:
Spaced Practice
Retrieval practice, which helps to strengthen those memory traces, requires learners to recall information without assistance.
This might look like, “Now, put away all of your notes and write down everything that you can remember about the stages of memory, cognitive load, and the cycle of learning.”
Retrieval Practice
Learning Strategy Enhancements
Download
Retrieval Practice
Practice
Spaced Practice
20
Look away from any notes you may have and write down everything that you can remember about the three stages of memory.
Now, check yourself. Have you left out important details or recalled information incorrectly?
Check your answer
20
Back
Look away from any notes you may have and write down everything that you can remember about the three stages of memory.
Answer:
The three stages of memory are:
Example
1. Encoding
3. Retrieval
2. Storage
Now, check yourself. Have you left out important details or recalled information incorrectly?
Check your answer
There are several methods for retrieval practice. You might create different practice scenarios for your learners, ask your learners to create their own questions and exchange them with colleagues, or even provide frequent low-stakes quizzes.
Cognitive load theory is based on two assumptions:
Working memory has a limited capacity.
Our ability to use information already stored in memory is unlimited.
Spaced practice offers learners opportunities to periodically review previous lessons and older content.
In the Academy, you can implement spaced practice for yourself by reviewing what you’ve learned at regular intervals, perhaps once a week.
Example:
Spaced Practice
Elaboration allows learners to connect their new knowledge and skills to their own prior knowledge and personal experiences.
This involves asking your learners to describe or explain content with as many details as possible, in their own words, perhaps even teaching the content to someone else – which requires them to link the information to their own understanding and experience.
For example, if you were tasked to design a course or instructor-led training for salespeople, perhaps to teach new techniques or technological tools, or to help improve sales in a particular area, it would be foolish to ignore the expertise and experience of the salespeople who’d be taking your course. Instead, you would design a learning experience that elicits that knowledge and builds on it.
Example:
Elaboration
Recognizing and building on prior experience is especially important for adult learners.
Retrieval practice, which helps to strengthen those memory traces, requires learners to recall information without assistance.
Retrieval Practice
Learning Strategy Enhancements
Download
Retrieval Practice
Elaboration
Practice
Spaced Practice
Spaced practice offers learners opportunities to periodically review previous lessons and older content.
In the Academy, you can implement spaced practice for yourself by reviewing what you’ve learned at regular intervals, perhaps once a week.
Example:
Spaced Practice
Elaboration allows learners to connect their new knowledge and skills to their own prior knowledge and personal experiences.
Example:
Elaboration
Recognizing and building on prior experience is especially important for adult learners.
Retrieval practice, which helps to strengthen those memory traces, requires learners to recall information without assistance.
Retrieval Practice
Interleaving involves alternating between different types of problems or topics in an instructional or study session. Once learners have mastered individual component skills, interleaving helps learners better distinguish between concepts and apply their knowledge more flexibly.
You’ll encounter this strategy often in IDOL courses Academy. The variety of topics and media types–job aids, videos, and text–gives you lots of opportunities to practice multiple skills and concepts at once.
Additionally, doing projects that require using multiple skills, such as creating a multimedia presentation with graphics, text, and audio, or making an instructional video with animation and narration, can help you integrate the different concepts and skills you're learning, making your learning more efficient.
Interleaving
Learning Strategy Enhancements
Download
Interleaving
Retrieval Practice
Elaboration
Practice
Spaced Practice
Spaced practice offers learners opportunities to periodically review previous lessons and older content.
In the Academy, you can implement spaced practice for yourself by reviewing what you’ve learned at regular intervals, perhaps once a week.
Example:
Spaced Practice
Elaboration allows learners to connect their new knowledge and skills to their own prior knowledge and personal experiences.
Example:
Elaboration
Recognizing and building on prior experience is especially important for adult learners.
Concrete examples and demonstrations are especially effective when learners are brand new to a concept. When you are designing instruction, you want to bring in as many relevant examples and demonstrations as possible, making sure to clearly link the content and instruction to each example.
Think of the long-term memory-to-warehouse, working memory-to-shoebox analogy from the memory video. We took an abstract concept and linked it to a concrete example to make it easier to understand and remember.
We also provide a myriad of examples throughout our Academy lessons, making sure to demonstrate exactly what it is we want you to do, and all the different ways you can do it.
Concrete Examples
Retrieval practice, which helps to strengthen those memory traces, requires learners to recall information without assistance.
Retrieval Practice
Interleaving
Learning Strategy Enhancements
Download
Interleaving
Retrieval Practice
Concrete Examples
Elaboration
Practice
Spaced Practice
Elaboration allows learners to connect their new knowledge and skills to their own prior knowledge and personal experiences.
Example:
Elaboration
Recognizing and building on prior experience is especially important for adult learners.
Spaced practice offers learners opportunities to periodically review previous lessons and older content.
In the Academy, you can implement spaced practice for yourself by reviewing what you’ve learned at regular intervals, perhaps once a week.
Example:
Spaced Practice
Concrete Examples
The dual coding learning strategy is based on the idea that learners process and retain information more effectively when it is presented in both visual and verbal formats.
This means that when information is presented in a way that combines words and images, it is more likely to be remembered and understood than if it were presented in just one format.
This is why we use videos with voiceover and text with images when presenting information. Seeing, hearing, or reading alone make information less memorable.
Dual Coding
Retrieval practice, which helps to strengthen those memory traces, requires learners to recall information without assistance.
Retrieval Practice
Interleaving
Learning Strategy Enhancements
Download
Interleaving
Retrieval Practice
Concrete Examples
Dual Coding
Elaboration
Practice
Spaced Practice
Spaced practice offers learners opportunities to periodically review previous lessons and older content.
In the Academy, you can implement spaced practice for yourself by reviewing what you’ve learned at regular intervals, perhaps once a week.
Example:
Spaced Practice
Elaboration allows learners to connect their new knowledge and skills to their own prior knowledge and personal experiences.
Example:
Elaboration
Recognizing and building on prior experience is especially important for adult learners.
Gagne’s Hall
While it’s not necessary to use every single one of these learning strategies in every lesson, being familiar with them and using them purposefully lead to better retention and transfer of knowledge for your learners, as well as improved problem-solving skills and overall learning efficiency.
Concrete Examples
Dual Coding
Retrieval practice, which helps to strengthen those memory traces, requires learners to recall information without assistance.
Retrieval Practice
Interleaving
Learning Strategy Enhancements
Download
Interleaving
Retrieval Practice
Concrete Examples
Dual Coding
Elaboration
Practice
Spaced Practice
The next two frameworks we’ll discuss provide a roadmap of how to structure and present a lesson.
If you’re a current or former teacher, you may be familiar with Gagne’s Nine Events of Instruction and/or the Explicit Model
If you don’t have a background in education, this lesson will provide you with what you need to know about presenting a lesson from start to finish.
The next two frameworks we’ll discuss provide a roadmap of how to structure and present a lesson.
If you’re a current or former teacher, you may be familiar with Gagne’s Nine Events of Instruction and/or the Explicit Model
If you don’t have a background in education, this lesson will provide you with what you need to know about presenting a lesson from start to finish.
Robert Gagne, a foremost contributor to the systematic approach to instructional design and training, created a framework for designing training solutions called Gagne’s Nine Events of Instruction.
Gagne
Explicit
1. Get Attention
Hook
2. Present Objectives
State Objectives & Essential Questions
3. Stimulate Recall of Prior Learning
Active Prior Knowledge
4. Present Stimulus
Content Materials
5. Provide Guidance
Modeling
6. Elicit Performance
Guided Practice
7. Provide Feedback
Differentiated Instruction
8. Assess Performance
Assessments
9. Retention & Transfer
Summary
As you look at the table, you’ll see how closely Gagne's 9 Events align with the Explicit Instructional Model, which is what many K-12 teachers use to structure their lessons.
Gagne
Explicit
1. Get Attention
Hook
2. Present Objectives
State Objectives & Essential Questions
3. Stimulate Recall of Prior Learning
Active Prior Knowledge
4. Present Stimulus
Content Materials
5. Provide Guidance
Modeling
6. Elicit Performance
Guided Practice
7. Provide Feedback
Differentiated Instruction
8. Assess Performance
Assessments
9. Retention & Transfer
Summary
But we’ve been emphasizing Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction, recommending you use his principles and Pebble-in-the-Pond approach to design learning. So where does that fit in?
Gagne
Explicit
1. Get Attention
Hook
2. Present Objectives
State Objectives & Essential Questions
3. Stimulate Recall of Prior Learning
Active Prior Knowledge
4. Present Stimulus
Content Materials
5. Provide Guidance
Modeling
6. Elicit Performance
Guided Practice
7. Provide Feedback
Differentiated Instruction
8. Assess Performance
Assessments
9. Retention & Transfer
Summary
Merrill’s First Principles
See how seamlessly Merrill’s Principles fit with Gagne’s Nine Events?
By using Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to design your learning experiences, you’ll be embodying the essential elements of learning models and theories like ADDIE, andragogy, Gagne’s Nine Events, and the Explicit Model.
activation
integration
problem
application
demonstration
See how seamlessly Merrill’s Principles fit with Gagne’s Nine Events?
Rather than trying to remember a multitude of theories and models, just keep Merrill’s task- or problem-centered approach at the top of your mind, and your learning experience will be structured, engaging, and effective.
activation
integration
problem
application
demonstration
Artist Workshop
Gagne
Explicit
1. Get Attention
Hook
2. Present Objectives
State Objectives & Essential Questions
3. Stimulate Recall of Prior Learning
Active Prior Knowledge
4. Present Stimulus
Content Materials
5. Provide Guidance
Modeling
6. Elicit Performance
Guided Practice
7. Provide Feedback
Differentiated Instruction
8. Assess Performance
Assessments
9. Retention & Transfer
Summary
Merrill’s First Principles
Let’s practice applying Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to a learning scenario.
You’re a skilled baker. Your friend Betty is teaching herself to make bread, but her loaves keep coming out dense and flat, so she comes to you for help. You ask Betty about her method for measuring her ingredients, proofing the yeast, and kneading the bread. Based on her answers, you’re able to identify the problem: Betty’s not kneading her dough long enough.
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
Let’s practice applying Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to a learning scenario.
Scenario
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
activation
integration
problem
demonstration
application
Scenario
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
problem
What is the problem or task in this scenario?
Betty needs to learn how to determine that her dough has been kneaded long enough.
activation
integration
problem
Betty needs to learn to weigh her ingredients to ensure that her ratio is correct.
demonstration
application
Scenario
Betty needs to learn how to proof the yeast for her dough without killing it.
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
problem
What is the problem or task in this scenario?
feedback
Betty needs to learn how to determine that her dough has been kneaded long enough.
Betty needs to learn to weigh her ingredients to ensure that her ratio is correct.
Betty needs to learn how to proof the yeast for her dough without killing it.
activation
integration
Based on your conversation with Betty, you learned that she's weighing her ingredients and proofing her yeast correctly, but she's having trouble knowing how long to knead her dough.
Try again
demonstration
application
Scenario
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
problem
What is the problem or task in this scenario?
Betty needs to learn how to determine that her dough has been kneaded long enough.
activation
integration
Next Question
feedback
Betty needs to learn to weigh her ingredients to ensure that her ratio is correct.
Betty needs to learn how to proof the yeast for her dough without killing it.
That’s right. Your conversation with Betty revealed that Betty’s loaves are flat and dense because she isn’t kneading her dough long enough, so she needs to learn how to properly knead her dough – and how to recognize when the dough is ready for baking.
demonstration
application
Scenario
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
problem
What is the problem or task in this scenario?
Betty needs to learn how to determine that her dough has been kneaded long enough.
activation
integration
Betty needs to learn to weigh her ingredients to ensure that her ratio is correct.
demonstration
application
Scenario
Betty needs to learn how to proof the yeast for her dough without killing it.
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
activation
problem
Betty needs to learn how to determine that her dough has been kneaded long enough.
How can you activate Betty’s prior knowledge to help her solve the problem?
Ask Betty if she kneaded the bread long enough.
activation
integration
problem
Ask Betty if she’s ever made pizza dough or baked with yeast before.
demonstration
application
Scenario
Give Betty a new recipe to try.
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
activation
How can you activate Betty’s prior knowledge to help her solve the problem?
Ask Betty if she’s ever made pizza dough or baked with yeast before.
Ask Betty if she kneaded the bread long enough.
Give Betty a new recipe to try.
integration
feedback
Next Question
Ask Betty if she’s ever made pizza dough or baked with yeast before.
problem
That’s correct. When you ask Betty if she’s ever made pizza dough or baked with yeast before, she says she’s made pizza dough several times, and she’s never had a problem proofing the yeast or getting it to rise. This makes sense because pizza dough requires less kneading and less rise time than a loaf of bread. If you can help Betty connect her prior knowledge of making pizza dough to the task of baking bread, you can help her see the differences while building on what she already knows.
demonstration
application
Scenario
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
activation
How can you activate Betty’s prior knowledge to help her solve the problem?
Ask Betty if she kneaded the bread long enough.
Ask Betty if she’s ever made pizza dough or baked with yeast before.
Give Betty a new recipe to try.
feedback
integration
You want to activate Betty's prior baking knowledge by asking her to recall what she does know about kneading dough.
Try again
problem
demonstration
application
Scenario
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
activation
How can you activate Betty’s prior knowledge to help her solve the problem?
Ask Betty if she kneaded the bread long enough.
integration
problem
Ask Betty if she’s ever made pizza dough or baked with yeast before.
demonstration
application
Scenario
Give Betty a new recipe to try.
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
activation
How can you activate Betty’s prior knowledge to help her solve the problem?
Ask Betty if she’s ever made pizza dough or baked with yeast before.
feedback
demonstration
What do you need to demonstrate for Betty, in order for her bread to come out correctly?
How to properly weigh ingredients to get the correct amount of each.
activation
integration
Next Question
How to properly knead the dough, performing the “windowpane test” to see if it is ready to be left to rise.
problem
demonstration
application
Scenario
How to proof the yeast with warm water before adding the other ingredients.
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How to properly weigh ingredients to get the correct amount of each.
How to proof the yeast with warm water before adding the other ingredients.
demonstration
What do you need to demonstrate for Betty, in order for her bread to come out correctly?
How to properly knead the dough, performing the “windowpane test” to see if it is ready to be left to rise.
activation
integration
Next Question
How to properly knead the dough, performing the “windowpane test” to see if it is ready to be left to rise.
feedback
problem
That’s right. The amount of ingredients nor the yeast seems to be the problem. Betty needs to see how the dough should be kneaded, and how the windowpane test is conducted to determine whether the dough is ready.
application
Scenario
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
demonstration
What do you need to demonstrate for Betty, in order for her bread to come out correctly?
How to properly weigh ingredients to get the correct amount of each.
How to properly knead the dough, performing the “windowpane test” to see if it is ready to be left to rise.
How to proof the yeast with warm water before adding the other ingredients.
feedback
activation
integration
Try again
Remember, the amount of ingredients nor the yeast seems to be the problem.
problem
application
Scenario
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
demonstration
What do you need to demonstrate for Betty, in order for her bread to come out correctly?
How to properly weigh ingredients to get the correct amount of each.
activation
integration
How to properly knead the dough, performing the “windowpane test” to see if it is ready to be left to rise.
problem
application
Scenario
How to proof the yeast with warm water before adding the other ingredients.
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
application
demonstration
What do you need to demonstrate for Betty, in order for her bread to come out correctly?
How to properly knead the dough, performing the “windowpane test” to see if it is ready to be left to rise.
feedback
How can you have Betty apply what she learned from your demonstration?
Knead the bread dough for her.
activation
integration
Say, “Remember what I just showed you about kneading,” and leave the room while Betty kneads the dough.
problem
demonstration
application
Ask Betty to knead the dough while you watch, and have her perform the windowpane test.
Scenario
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
application
How can you have Betty apply what she learned from your demonstration?
Ask Betty to knead the dough while you watch, and have her perform the windowpane test.
Knead the bread dough for her.
Say, “Remember what I just showed you about kneading,” and leave the room while Betty kneads the dough.
activation
integration
feedback
Next Question
problem
That’s correct. Betty needs to knead the dough and perform the windowpane test on her own to show that she can do it correctly, but you’re there to guide her or answer any questions she may still have. If you leave the room and aren’t there to guide her during this stage, she may not perform it properly. If you do it for her, she’s not applying what you taught her.
demonstration
Ask Betty to knead the dough while you watch, and have her perform the windowpane test.
Scenario
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
application
How can you have Betty apply what she learned from your demonstration?
Knead the bread dough for her.
Say, “Remember what I just showed you about kneading,” and leave the room while Betty kneads the dough.
Ask Betty to knead the dough while you watch, and have her perform the windowpane test.
feedback
activation
integration
Try again
In an effective application, Betty needs to be able to successfully perform the task at the center of the training.
problem
demonstration
Scenario
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
application
How can you have Betty apply what she learned from your demonstration?
Knead the bread dough for her.
activation
integration
Say, “Remember what I just showed you about kneading,” and leave the room while Betty kneads the dough.
problem
demonstration
Ask Betty to knead the dough while you watch, and have her perform the windowpane test.
Scenario
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
integration
How will you know that Betty is able to integrate what she learned about bread baking into her everyday life?
Betty arrives at your house the next day with a perfectly baked loaf of bread she made herself.
activation
integration
Next Question
problem
Have her make the bread one more time while you watch and offer feedback.
demonstration
application
Scenario
Tell Betty if she’s still struggling, to come to you for help every time she wants to make bread.
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
integration
How will you know that Betty is able to integrate what she learned about bread baking into her everyday life?
Betty arrives at your house the next day with a perfectly baked loaf of bread she made herself.
activation
feedback
problem
Have her make the bread one more time while you watch and offer feedback.
Tell Betty if she’s still struggling, to come to you for help every time she wants to make bread.
That’s correct. Integration means she can do it on her own without help, and you’ll know she can do that when she brings you a freshly-baked, perfectly risen loaf of bread. Maybe you can take it a step further and ask Betty to bring the bread next time she comes over for dinner.
demonstration
application
Scenario
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
integration
How will you know that Betty is able to integrate what she learned about bread baking into her everyday life?
feedback
Betty arrives at your house the next day with a perfectly baked loaf of bread she made herself.
Have her make the bread one more time while you watch and offer feedback.
Tell Betty if she’s still struggling, to come to you for help every time she wants to make bread.
activation
Try again
problem
Remember, integration means she can do it on her own without help, and performs the task successfully outside of the training.
demonstration
application
Scenario
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
integration
How will you know that Betty is able to integrate what she learned about bread baking into her everyday life?
Betty arrives at your house the next day with a perfectly baked loaf of bread she made herself.
activation
problem
Have her make the bread one more time while you watch and offer feedback.
demonstration
application
Scenario
Tell Betty if she’s still struggling, to come to you for help every time she wants to make bread.
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
Integration
How will you know that Betty is able to integrate what she learned about bread baking into her everyday life?
Betty arrives at your house the next day with a perfectly baked loaf of bread she made herself.
feedback
Conclusion
Nice work! You can see that Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction provides a blueprint for designing problem-centered training while ensuring that your methods are evidence-based and grounded in adult learning theories, ensuring that your instruction is engaging and effective, every time.
activation
integration
problem
demonstration
application
Scenario
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
Gift Shop
Gagne’s 9 Events
Scenario
How Adults Learn
Evidence-Based Learning Strategies
Gagne’s 9 Events
Scenario
How Adults Learn
Evidence-Based Learning Strategies
Assumptions
Gift Shop
4. Problem-Centered
1. Self-Concept
5. Motivation to Learn
4. Orientation to Learning
3. Relevance and Impact to Learners’ Lives
The wealth of experience adult learners bring to their learning should be acknowledged and built upon.
2. Adult Learners’ Experience
Experience should provide the basis for learning activities.
As a person ages, they gain more life experience, which gives them a larger resource of prior knowledge from which to draw.
2. Life Experience
3. Readiness to Learn
This tells us that learning should focus on real-world problems, and learners should understand why they need to learn a particular thing.
Adult learners need to be actively involved in their own learning. This includes the planning, design, and evaluation of their learning experiences.
1. Involved Adult Learners
Characteristics of Adult Learners
Principles of Andragogy
Gift Shop
Watch the video for a breakdown of memory and cognitive load theory.
Pause background music before playing the video, then replay after
Spaced practice offers learners opportunities to periodically review previous lessons and older content.
In the Academy, you can implement spaced practice for yourself by reviewing what you’ve learned at regular intervals, perhaps once a week.
Example:
Spaced Practice
Elaboration allows learners to connect their new knowledge and skills to their own prior knowledge and personal experiences.
Example:
Elaboration
Recognizing and building on prior experience is especially important for adult learners.
Gift Shop
Concrete Examples
Dual Coding
Retrieval practice, which helps to strengthen those memory traces, requires learners to recall information without assistance.
Retrieval Practice
Interleaving
Learning Strategy Enhancements
Download
Interleaving
Retrieval Practice
Concrete Examples
Dual Coding
Elaboration
Practice
Spaced Practice
20
Look away from any notes you may have and write down everything that you can remember about the three stages of memory.
Now, check yourself. Have you left out important details or recalled information incorrectly?
Check your answer
20
Back
Look away from any notes you may have and write down everything that you can remember about the three stages of memory.
Answer:
The three stages of memory are:
Example
1. Encoding
3. Retrieval
2. Storage
Now, check yourself. Have you left out important details or recalled information incorrectly?
Check your answer
Cognitive load theory is based on two assumptions:
Working memory has a limited capacity.
Our ability to use information already stored in memory is unlimited.
Gift Shop
Gagne
Explicit
1. Get Attention
Hook
2. Present Objectives
State Objectives & Essential Questions
3. Stimulate Recall of Prior Learning
Active Prior Knowledge
4. Present Stimulus
Content Materials
5. Provide Guidance
Modeling
6. Elicit Performance
Guided Practice
7. Provide Feedback
Differentiated Instruction
8. Assess Performance
Assessments
9. Retention & Transfer
Summary
Merrill’s First Principles
See how seamlessly Merrill’s Principles fit with Gagne’s Nine Events?
activation
integration
problem
application
demonstration
See how seamlessly Merrill’s Principles fit with Gagne’s Nine Events?
activation
integration
problem
application
demonstration
Gift Shop
Let’s practice applying Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to a learning scenario.
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
Gift Shop
Let’s practice applying Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to a learning scenario.
Scenario
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
Gift Shop
activation
integration
problem
demonstration
application
Scenario
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
Gift Shop
problem
What is the problem or task in this scenario?
Betty needs to learn how to determine that her dough has been kneaded long enough.
activation
integration
problem
Betty needs to learn to weigh her ingredients to ensure that her ratio is correct.
demonstration
application
Scenario
Betty needs to learn how to proof the yeast for her dough without killing it.
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
Gift Shop
problem
What is the problem or task in this scenario?
feedback
Betty needs to learn how to determine that her dough has been kneaded long enough.
Betty needs to learn to weigh her ingredients to ensure that her ratio is correct.
Betty needs to learn how to proof the yeast for her dough without killing it.
activation
integration
Try again
demonstration
application
Scenario
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
Gift Shop
problem
What is the problem or task in this scenario?
Betty needs to learn how to determine that her dough has been kneaded long enough.
activation
integration
Next Question
feedback
Betty needs to learn to weigh her ingredients to ensure that her ratio is correct.
Betty needs to learn how to proof the yeast for her dough without killing it.
demonstration
application
Scenario
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
Gift Shop
problem
What is the problem or task in this scenario?
Betty needs to learn how to determine that her dough has been kneaded long enough.
activation
integration
Betty needs to learn to weigh her ingredients to ensure that her ratio is correct.
demonstration
application
Scenario
Betty needs to learn how to proof the yeast for her dough without killing it.
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
Gift Shop
activation
problem
Betty needs to learn how to determine that her dough has been kneaded long enough.
How can you activate Betty’s prior knowledge to help her solve the problem?
Ask Betty if she kneaded the bread long enough.
activation
integration
problem
Ask Betty if she’s ever made pizza dough or baked with yeast before.
demonstration
application
Scenario
Give Betty a new recipe to try.
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
Gift Shop
activation
How can you activate Betty’s prior knowledge to help her solve the problem?
Ask Betty if she’s ever made pizza dough or baked with yeast before.
Ask Betty if she kneaded the bread long enough.
Give Betty a new recipe to try.
integration
feedback
Next Question
Ask Betty if she’s ever made pizza dough or baked with yeast before.
problem
demonstration
application
Scenario
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
Gift Shop
activation
How can you activate Betty’s prior knowledge to help her solve the problem?
Ask Betty if she kneaded the bread long enough.
Ask Betty if she’s ever made pizza dough or baked with yeast before.
Give Betty a new recipe to try.
feedback
integration
You want to activate Betty's prior baking knowledge by asking her to recall what she does know about kneading dough.
Try again
problem
demonstration
application
Scenario
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
Gift Shop
activation
How can you activate Betty’s prior knowledge to help her solve the problem?
Ask Betty if she kneaded the bread long enough.
integration
problem
Ask Betty if she’s ever made pizza dough or baked with yeast before.
demonstration
application
Scenario
Give Betty a new recipe to try.
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
Gift Shop
demonstration
activation
How can you activate Betty’s prior knowledge to help her solve the problem?
Ask Betty if she’s ever made pizza dough or baked with yeast before.
feedback
What do you need to demonstrate for Betty, in order for her bread to come out correctly?
How to properly weigh ingredients to get the correct amount of each.
activation
integration
Next Question
How to properly knead the dough, performing the “windowpane test” to see if it is ready to be left to rise.
problem
demonstration
application
Scenario
How to proof the yeast with warm water before adding the other ingredients.
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
Gift Shop
How to properly weigh ingredients to get the correct amount of each.
How to proof the yeast with warm water before adding the other ingredients.
demonstration
What do you need to demonstrate for Betty, in order for her bread to come out correctly?
How to properly knead the dough, performing the “windowpane test” to see if it is ready to be left to rise.
activation
integration
Next Question
How to properly knead the dough, performing the “windowpane test” to see if it is ready to be left to rise.
feedback
problem
application
Scenario
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
Gift Shop
demonstration
What do you need to demonstrate for Betty, in order for her bread to come out correctly?
How to properly weigh ingredients to get the correct amount of each.
How to properly knead the dough, performing the “windowpane test” to see if it is ready to be left to rise.
How to proof the yeast with warm water before adding the other ingredients.
feedback
activation
integration
Try again
Remember, the amount of ingredients nor the yeast seems to be the problem.
problem
application
Scenario
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
Gift Shop
demonstration
What do you need to demonstrate for Betty, in order for her bread to come out correctly?
How to properly weigh ingredients to get the correct amount of each.
activation
integration
How to properly knead the dough, performing the “windowpane test” to see if it is ready to be left to rise.
problem
application
Scenario
How to proof the yeast with warm water before adding the other ingredients.
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
Gift Shop
application
demonstration
What do you need to demonstrate for Betty, in order for her bread to come out correctly?
How to properly knead the dough, performing the “windowpane test” to see if it is ready to be left to rise.
feedback
How can you have Betty apply what she learned from your demonstration?
Knead the bread dough for her.
activation
integration
Say, “Remember what I just showed you about kneading,” and leave the room while Betty kneads the dough.
problem
demonstration
application
Ask Betty to knead the dough while you watch, and have her perform the windowpane test.
Scenario
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
Gift Shop
application
How can you have Betty apply what she learned from your demonstration?
Ask Betty to knead the dough while you watch, and have her perform the windowpane test.
Knead the bread dough for her.
Say, “Remember what I just showed you about kneading,” and leave the room while Betty kneads the dough.
activation
integration
feedback
Next Question
problem
demonstration
Ask Betty to knead the dough while you watch, and have her perform the windowpane test.
Scenario
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
Gift Shop
application
How can you have Betty apply what she learned from your demonstration?
Knead the bread dough for her.
Say, “Remember what I just showed you about kneading,” and leave the room while Betty kneads the dough.
Ask Betty to knead the dough while you watch, and have her perform the windowpane test.
feedback
activation
integration
Try again
In an effective application, Betty needs to be able to successfully perform the task at the center of the training.
problem
demonstration
Scenario
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
Gift Shop
application
How can you have Betty apply what she learned from your demonstration?
Knead the bread dough for her.
activation
integration
Say, “Remember what I just showed you about kneading,” and leave the room while Betty kneads the dough.
problem
demonstration
Ask Betty to knead the dough while you watch, and have her perform the windowpane test.
Scenario
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
Gift Shop
integration
How will you know that Betty is able to integrate what she learned about bread baking into her everyday life?
Betty arrives at your house the next day with a perfectly baked loaf of bread she made herself.
activation
integration
Next Question
problem
Have her make the bread one more time while you watch and offer feedback.
demonstration
application
Scenario
Tell Betty if she’s still struggling, to come to you for help every time she wants to make bread.
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
Gift Shop
integration
How will you know that Betty is able to integrate what she learned about bread baking into her everyday life?
Betty arrives at your house the next day with a perfectly baked loaf of bread she made herself.
activation
feedback
problem
Have her make the bread one more time while you watch and offer feedback.
Tell Betty if she’s still struggling, to come to you for help every time she wants to make bread.
demonstration
application
Scenario
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
Gift Shop
integration
How will you know that Betty is able to integrate what she learned about bread baking into her everyday life?
Betty arrives at your house the next day with a perfectly baked loaf of bread she made herself.
Have her make the bread one more time while you watch and offer feedback.
Tell Betty if she’s still struggling, to come to you for help every time she wants to make bread.
feedback
activation
Try again
problem
Remember, integration means she can do it on her own without help, and performs the task successfully outside of the training.
demonstration
application
Scenario
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
Gift Shop
integration
How will you know that Betty is able to integrate what she learned about bread baking into her everyday life?
Betty arrives at your house the next day with a perfectly baked loaf of bread she made herself.
activation
problem
Have her make the bread one more time while you watch and offer feedback.
demonstration
application
Scenario
Tell Betty if she’s still struggling, to come to you for help every time she wants to make bread.
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
How can you apply Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction to help Betty bake the perfect loaf of bread?
The scenario:
Gift Shop
Integration
How will you know that Betty is able to integrate what she learned about bread baking into her everyday life?
Betty arrives at your house the next day with a perfectly baked loaf of bread she made herself.
feedback
Conclusion
activation
integration
problem
demonstration
application
Scenario
Click on Problem to get started…
Click on Problem to get started…
Use this handout to record your notes throughout the lesson.
Click here to download and print a pdf copy, if you’d like to take notes by hand.
Or click here to copy this document and edit in Canva.
↑ Click to interact with this demo lesson and get a taste of what learning inside the Academy is like.
Deliberate practice is how you quickly learn new skills and get really, really good at them.
Ever finished a course or training program but felt like you didn’t learn anything? Yeah? That won’t happen here.
In the skill development track, deliberate practice is the focus of everything that we do. Meaning, you’ll spend more time actively doing and designing than passively watching.
Through small weekly assignments, 1-1 feedback, and continual iteration, you’ll not only implement new skills. You’ll improve them at super speed and produce polished assets for your portfolio.
New lessons unlock as you complete previous ones. So there’s no overwhelm.
Getting up to speed in a new field can feel like a lot - like a lot, a lot - which is why:
New lessons are released weekly, not all at once, and you only get access after completing previous lessons. This way, skill-building feels manageable. Because it is! And you can focus on forging your foundation one skill at a time.
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April saw exponential skill growth and landed her dream job in 6 months.
"IDOL Academy is an outstanding investment in your own personal growth.
My skills and abilities grew exponentially in six short months with the experiences provided by the kindest, most encouraging and professional group of mentors and coaches in the Academy!
I now have a dream remote instructional designer position working for a nonprofit and lifelong friends made in the Academy."
April Black
Instructional Designer at Branch Alliance
SOFTWARE & TECH TUTORIALS - check!
Finally, stop struggling with the software. We’ll show you how to design attractive and interactive courses. Even if you aren’t techie.
Our technical training lessons show you, step by step, how to use industry-preferred authoring tools and other tech to bring design concepts to life. Better yet, you’ll earn software-specific badges along the way that you can proudly display on your online portfolio or LinkedIn.
Storyline® for IDOLs℠: Articulate Storyline® Skilled
For designing interactive and engaging eLearning experiences.
IDOL® Movie Magic™: Professional Vyond® Animations
For creating 2D animated videos with pizzazz.
Genially® for IDOLs℠: Genially® Skilled
For creating interactive images, infographics, eLearning, and job aids.
IDOL℠ 💚 Canva® Skilled
For designing professional-looking graphics, GIFs, slides, videos, and more.
Camtasia Skilled
For recording and editing high-quality videos.
Plus step-by-step tutorials on:
Audacity
Articulate Rise
Storyline
(advanced)
Lectora
Instructor-Led Training
CenarioVR
coming soon!
Perk alert! Get free licenses to popular design tools, and save yourself $7500+ in software expenses.
Your student status comes with complimentary individual non-commercial and commercial licenses for must-have design tools. Use them for free with personal, non-profit, or paid project work and build your portfolio without breaking the bank.
- eLearning authoring with Lectora with the Asset Library (valued at $1,404/year) - non-commercial
- VR authoring with CenarioVR (valued at $4,788/year) - non-commercial
- Interactive presentations and guides with a Genially library access (valued at $167/year)
- 2D animation authoring with Vyond library access (valued at $1,099/year)
- Canva Pro account on Canva Campus with built-in IDOL templates (valued at $119.99/year)
Total value: $7,577.99 per year.
Yours for $0 with enrollment.
Let’s give a heartfelt hug to The Studio by ELB Learning for sponsoring the CenarioVR and Lectora licenses for IDOL Academy students!
PORTFOLIO TRAINING & PROJECTS
Along the way, you’ll put together a professional portfolio to catch the eye of employers and potential clients.
The entire focus of the skill development track is to forge a high-quality online portfolio that showcases your best work.
First, we’ll show you how to set up your portfolio “shell”, including choosing a website host, registering a domain name, and building out a simple, well-designed site that looks professional.
Then you’ll add attractive assets to your portfolio, piece by piece, as you complete weekly assignments, submit your work for review, and refine it according your 1-1 feedback.
The end result: a first-class portfolio that shows companies and clients why you’re the IDOL they should hire.
IDOL Academy Alumni Portfolios
What made her stand out? A portfolio to rave about!
“I don't think I would have been employed so quickly if it weren't for IDOL. They taught me everything I need to know. In every interview, people raved about my portfolio. I even learned that I had a leg up on other candidates because other people did not have a portfolio.”
Ashlynn Godfrey
Learning Experience Designer at Options Medical Weight Loss
From not that interested to super impressed all thanks to her portfolio.
“At the end the interview that, in all honesty, wasn’t going well, the hiring team asked to see my portfolio. So I opened it up and needless to say they were blown away. Immediately, they asked me when I could start.
I couldn’t believe it! Showing my portfolio completely changed the energy of the interview. It was like, all of a sudden, they went from not impressed to super interested. So much so, they called me back for another interview the next day.”
Sharon Tavares
Instructional Designer at IKEA
Struggling with perfection paralysis? The Do It Messy Mentality helps you break free and build momentum.
The best IDOLs are continual iterators, not perfectionists. In the Academy, you’ll follow a process that encourages quick decisions in the spirit of experimentation.
This means you’ll rapidly create assets and improve them over time through feedback and fine-tuning. How incredibly freeing is that?!
Consider this your permission slip to leave perfectionist tendencies in the past. Instead, embrace the Do It Messy Mentality. So you can upskill without letting your inner critic hold you hostage.
FLEXIBLE & SELF-PACED
No due dates?! Designed for flexibility. So you’re never behind. Perfect for busy IDOLs who work full-time.
Thanks to a self-paced learning format and up to 12 months to apply for certification, IDOL Academy gives you the perfect blend of structure and flexibility. So you can make progress toward your career goals while balancing a full-time job, mom or dad duties, and any other responsibilities that can’t wait.
Structure & Flexibility
On-demand, Bite-sized Lessons
Tackle training when it suits your schedule, like with your morning coffee, over lunch, or after the kids go to bed.
Small Weekly Assignments
Put newly acquired skills into practice and take manageable steps toward building your portfolio.
Live Lessons With Expert IDOLS (optional)
Work on skill-reinforcing tasks alongside other cohort students and leverage the expertise of professional IDOLs.
Live Cohort Coaching Sessions (optional)
Get skill-critical questions answered by mentors and coaches weekly. Join live. Or catch the replay.
Personalized Feedback on Project Work
Submit assignments for feedback and get personalized suggestions for strengthening your work.
Open Office Hours (optional)
Book 1-1 time with your mentor (sessions available weekly) for extra support and attention when needed.
Megan hit her goal while working a regular 9-to-5.
“Due to the self-paced accessibility of the content, I was able to participate in the Academy while maintaining a full-time job and when the time came to apply I was offered a position within 7 days of my goal date!”
Megan O'Connor
Learning and Development Strategist at DQS
Cassandra started her new IDOL career as a new mom.
"Honestly, this was the best investment I ever made in MYSELF. I started slow because I had a child born around the same time as I started my first cohort. #DoItMessy was a game-changer for me. Once I changed my mindset from perfection-oriented to outcomes-oriented and from defeat to triumph, everything fell into place. I took deliberate practice seriously and my goals were achieved in kind.”
Cassie Root
Learning Experience Manager at Amazon
With this much actionable training at your fingertips, you can confidently create eLearning experiences like these:
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Click for sound
WORK EXPERIENCE OPPORTUNITIES
Practical experience is built in. Here’s how you’ll beef up your resume with relevant work. Without having to be hired.
How do you qualify for entry-level positions when all the job listings ask for 1-2 years of design experience? IDOL Academy is the answer. We’ve baked practical experience into our curriculum. So you can graduate with the job experience you need to stand out as a top candidate for the opportunities you’re after.
Academy Internship
You’ll practice new skills on real business projects with an internship client. Don’t worry! In week 6, we give you guidelines and support for securing a volunteer client for the required internship component of the program. We even share our waitlist of 100+ companies who’ve already volunteered to take an intern. So you can start building credible experience as an instructional designer even during your cohort.
IDOL World Project
Wish you could work on projects that make a difference? You can! Volunteer your skills on team-based project for nonprofits. The IDOL World Project is our way of creating a positive impact in our communities through the creative work we love most. Yep, as long as your IDOL World client meets internship requirements, you can use your nonprofit project for the IDOL internship, too. Cool, right?!
The work opportunities only get better! After graduation, you’ll unlock the door to IDOL Talent’s paid, remote contracts.
Our premier staffing agency, connects pre-vetted IDOL Academy graduates - like future you - with companies looking to hire freelancers for paid projects.
You can leverage these contract opportunities to jumpstart your career and gain the hands-on experience hiring managers and potential clients look for - while making good money in the meantime.
Rates start at $35/hour and go up from there.
This means you can get your foot in the industry door without pitching for pennies on Upwork or entertaining low-ball job offers.
Only Academy graduates have access to these contracts.
So, to join IDOL Talent, you must graduate and then complete a short application process. Yes, the majority of IDOLs who apply make the cut. Why, of course, they do. We trained them!
Rachel used her Academy work experience to rock job interviews.
“The real-world job experience made a big difference for me. I was able to complete a freelance position set up through the Academy and used that to navigate many successful interviews. This was single-handedly the best investment I have ever made for my future."
Rachel Schreiber
Instructional Design Coordinator at East Tennessee State University
Ian leveraged his work for IDOL Talent to land a permanent position.
“I graduated from the Academy with the skills to earn high-quality ID work.
IDOL Talent offered my first opportunity to perform that work, placing me with an IDOL Talent client moments after I earned my IDOL credentials.
This client company was such a good fit that they offered me a full-time role, which I've enjoyed for nearly a year now.
I'm growing in this new role. Whenever I face a novel challenge, I can confidently refer to my IDOL Academy notebook and online community. The principles and practices are real and relevant in the ever-changing corporate ID world I'm aligned with."
Ian Melchinger
Program Manager at LearnQuest
This is the moment you’ve been working for! Graduate as a Certified Professional in Training and Performance (CPTP) and get a competitive edge in the job market.
Because the IDOL Academy certification is the professional credential companies look for, our graduates earn immediate attention from employers, recruiters, and prospective clients after adding their CPTP status to LinkedIn profiles and resumes.
To earn this industry-recognized credential, you’ll complete 8 small milestone projects during the skill development track. Passed assignments put you one giant step closer to becoming an IDOL Academy CPTP.
Afraid of failing? Don’t be. It’s nearly impossible not to pass. That’s because when assignments fall short of required standards, coaches give you feedback on how to improve. Meaning, any “not there yet” milestone assignments can be reworked and resubmitted for approval as many times as needed.
This certification makes companies hunt you.
“Shortly after adding IDOL Academy to my LinkedIn, I was contacted by a recruiter who thought I'd be a good fit. I used the 'Everything Job Application' section and recorded mentor sessions to study up and prep for my three rounds of interviews. And now I am an instructional designer! I truly feel that this Academy gave me a boost in helping me stand out among other applicants and gave me the practical application and knowledge to feel confident in my interviews."
Anastasia Hursh
Instructional Designer II at DISH Network
With every graduation milestone you complete, you also earn these boast-worthy badges:
IDOL Academy℠
Internship Completion
This credential shows you can manage projects, hit deadlines, communicate with stakeholders, and deliver high-quality learning solutions.
IDOL Academy℠
Instructional Designer
This credential shows you can develop learner-centric scripts, following proven learning theories and techniques.
IDOL Academy℠
Learning Architect
This credential shows you can design clear course blueprints and Instructional Design Documents to meet key performance outcomes.
IDOL Academy℠
Learning Experience Designer (LXD)
This credential shows you can develop a comprehensive visual guide and storyboard for eLearning that outlines every element of the online course.
IDOL Academy℠
Visual Designer
This credential shows you can create visually captivating and highly effective training solutions that engage learners and look amazing.
IDOL Academy℠
Rapid Prototyping
This credential shows you can use rapid prototyping to design interactive mockups that allow for quick iterations and continuous improvement.
IDOL Academy℠
Instructor-Led Training
This credential shows you can craft in-person and virtual instructor-led training programs, from presentation decks to participant guides and training activities.
IDOL Academy℠
eLearning Developer
This credential shows you can build workplaceeLearning solutions from start to finish, from conducting a performance analysis to addressing learning gaps.
Working toward an ATD Certification? You earn up to 40 points with IDOL Academy.
The Association for Talent Development has pre-approved IDOL Courses programs for up to 40 points.
This means, if you’re already working towards (re)certification for the Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) and Associate Professional in Talent Development (APTD) credentials, IDOL Academy will help you meet eligibility qualifications while simultaneously gaining the skills and experience to deliver outstanding work in the instructional design field.
ATD is a third-party certification organization and is not otherwise affiliated with IDOL Academy. **You are NOT required** to participate in ATD’s certification process in order to graduate from IDOL Academy and become a Certified Professional in Training and Performance.
THE CAREER READINESS TRACK:
The expert career coaching you can’t find anywhere else.
No one understands what you’re going through better than other IDOLs do. That’s why our coaching team is made up of professional instructional designers who actively work in this field. Take advantage of their insider insights and mentorship to quickly land jobs, secure promotions, and sign new clients. Get their support you with:
Resume & Cover Letter Writing
Want recruiters to put your resume on the top of the pile? Jumpstart your docs with our customizable IDOL resume and cover letter templates. Browse dozens of successsful graduate resumes for inspiration. And get training on communicating your skills, what IDOL keywords to use, and how to “translate” any relevant past experience into instructional design terminology. Yeah, we’re looking at you, teachers!
LinkedIn Profile Optimization
LinkedIn is your #1 tool for getting discovered by hiring managers, recruiters, and prospective clients. But to stand out in a sea of thousands of instructional designers, you must have a 5-star profile. Use our LinkedIn for IDOLs strategies to show up in recruiter searches, encourage powerful people to reach out, and get yourself noticed even when competing with hundreds of other “easy apply” applications.
Smart Networking
You already know networking is the key to accessing a slew of amazing opportunities. But did you also know networking doesn’t have to suck? Steal our networking strategies specifically for IDOLs. We’ll show you how to put together a purposeful plan, make networking an almost effortless part of your routine, and have easy, natural conversations. Even if you hate making small talk with strangers.
Interview Prep & Practice
Interviews shouldn’t send you into sweats. To conquer these hiring convos with confidence, watch in-depth training that covers everything from how to prepare and what to wear to post-interview follow-up. Practice via mock interviews and with interview assessments used by real companies. And learn a simple strategy for showcasing your expertise even when interviewers throw you a curve ball question.
Job Search & Applications
IDOL jobs are everywhere, but how do you find and land the best ones? Shortcut your search using our favorite sites for finding high-paying positions. Then easily keep tabs on what you’ve applied for and where you are in the hiring process with our Trello-based job tracking system. Plus, get personalized feedback on any of your application essentials like your cover letter or answers to screening questions.
Offer Negotiation
Human Resources pros know a company’s first offer is never their BEST offer. We’ll teach you how to ask for more moo-lah or, you know, PTO, without the pressure to accept an offer as is. Learn what to say when you counter-offer, how to frame the conversation for the best chance at yes, and how to respond if they (initially) say no. So you can sign on the dotted line knowing you got the highest salary and benefit package possible.
Catherine scored 15+ interviews after only 2 weeks of applying.
"IDOL Academy has been life changing. My IDOL mentor has encouraged me every step of the way to put myself out there. My IDOL coaches helped me to build strong portfolio assets and craft an eye-catching resume.
I began applying for jobs on August 1 and had 15+ interviews between August 5 - August 20. This would not have happened without the community of support I found in IDOL."
Catherine Bell
Learning Developer at CarMax
Lauren successfully showed interviewers she was more than “just a teacher.”
"The IDOL Academy allowed me to work through the course at my own pace and the workshops and mentor sessions were so valuable!
I gained experience and skills FAST and was able to apply and land interviews within three months.
I built my portfolio with the help and support of other academy members and was able to stand out among other candidates, even though I was just a “teacher.”
Lauren Lehman
Instructional Designer at Cigna Healthcare
For freelancers, there’s the Business Box: business training and templates specifically for self-employed IDOLs.
Pricing for Profitability
Figure out how to price your services to realistically meet income goals using pricing worksheets and rate cards.
Project Cost Calculations
Make giving quotes a breeze while ensuring every project is profitable with a project cost calculator and cost estimate training.
Marketing, Sales & CRM Systems
Set up systems to attract prospects with cool projects and keep sales convos moving forward, so you can close more contracts.
Freelance Resume & Cover Letter Templates
Convince more potential clients to book a call as you send them 5-star resumes and cover letters based on proven templates.
Client Interviews & Screening
Radiate confidence as you determine if a client is ready to work with you using call prep worksheets and field-tested screening questions.
Branding & Visual Identity
Build a visual brand that leaves a positive impression on potential clients through colors, typography, imagery and more.
Contract, Proposal & NDA Templates
Look like a complete pro as you scope out projects and fully protect your business interests with these document templates.
Project Management Processes & Templates
Manage design projects, so you stay on top of tasks and hit deadlines without stress, so clients keep coming back for more.
Business Tools & Tech Recommendations
Whip your business into shape with our best tech recommendations for accounting, project management, marketing, prospecting, and more.
“My first client found me!”
“I initially wanted to climb up the corporate ladder but later on I realized I want to go the freelancer route.
IDOL Academy supported me by helping me improve my portfolio / LinkedIn profile (specifically to land projects), coming up with amazing portfolio pieces, and helping me calculate project cost estimates.
Within weeks of following the Academy tips and getting endorsements and recommendations from my fellow IDOLs, I was able to land my first B2B client. And the most amazing part was my client found me.”
Raiza Paras
Instructional Designer & eLearning Developer at Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi
And for everything else, there’s****1-1 coaching :
1-1 Career Coaching
Get personalized support on any issue that comes up during the hiring process, like how to respond to a questionable recruiter, dissect confusing feedback after an interview, or approach your boss about a promotion.
1-1 Business Coaching
Get personalized support on business challenges only self-employed IDOLs know how to navigate, like how to respond when a prospect pushes back on the price or what to do when a client’s actions put your project at risk.
With so much support at your disposal, it’s no surprise 600+ IDOLs have already joined the Mug Club.
The IDOL Academy Guarantee: Graduate with a portfolio you’re proud of. Or get your money back.
If we could guarantee you’d get that dream job or client, we would. But we can't - for legal reasons. What we can guarantee is this:
You will graduate the IDOL Academy program with a portfolio that makes you proud, filled with projects you want the world to see. How could you not? With 24 weeks of skill training, including weekly assignments, live practice sessions, tech tutorials, 1-1 feedback from coaches, and community support at every twist and turn, it’s nearly impossible not to be delighted with your work.
But if you’re not, we’ll give you a full refund of your tuition.
Please note, conditions apply. This is a “do the work, see the results” type of guarantee. Meaning, to qualify, you must complete all required assignments, submit graduation milestones, and rework projects according to your feedback if necessary.
In other words, full participation in the program is required. The good news is, that’s exactly how you build a portfolio you’re proud of. You show up and do the work. We’re here to guide and support you along the way.
The guarantee is great. The ROI is better. Because IDOL Academy pays for itself, often from the very first paycheck.
When you level up your skills, you amplify your earning potential. So you could see a measurable payoff as soon as you land that higher-paying position, negotiate a raise, sign a client, or secure that end-of-year performance bonus. In fact, plenty of graduates tell us they nearly doubled their annual income! How’s that for ROI?
$75,000+
starting salary for entry-level IDOL positions
$90,000+
starting salary for lead and senior positions
“100% worth the investment! I will make back the course fee in just one week of work with my first contract!”
Kate Zeis
Training Lead at Crocs
"I was a teacher for 15 years. Now I have a job that has almost doubled my income and most assuredly changes my life.”
Kristi Oliva
Program Manager at Amazon
Plus, the payoff keeps growing!
“I nearly doubled my income right after graduating. And now that I work as senior IDOL earning a 6-figure salary, I’ve officially tripled it. The best part is the investment paid for itself with my very first paycheck as an instructional designer. For a single mom, this has been life-changing!”
Gretchen Johanson
Sr. Instructional Designer at Zillow
Join this career-accelerating program. And give yourself an income boost with your first or next IDOL opportunity.
Enrollment includes 12 months of access to all IDOL Academy features, including:
✓ 24-week skill development track with immersive lessons, weekly assignments, live practice sessions, and 1-1 personalized feedback
✓ Weekly live lessons (replays available) from expert faculty on the topic and the lesson(s) released that week
**✓**All tech and tool training
✓ 5+ digital software badges (must meet requirements)
✓ Individual commercial and non-commercial licenses to specified design tools (worth $7500+)
✓ Portfolio training, tasks, and feedback
✓ Hands-on experience through internship and/or IDOL World projects
✓ 8 milestone assessments, with digital badges, evaluated by expert practitioners (must meet requirements), including:
- Internship
- Instructional Designer
- Learning Architect
- Learning Experience Designer
- Visual Designer
- Rapid Prototyping
- Instructor-Led Training
- eLearning Developer
✓ Certified Professional in Training & Performance (CPTP) graduation certificate (24 CEUs) (must meet requirements)
✓ All career readiness support, including:
- Resume & Cover Letter Writing
- LinkedIn Profile Optimization
- Smart Networking
- Interview Prep & Practice
- Job Search & Applications Coaching
- Offer Negotiation Coaching
✓ Business Box training and templates
✓ 1-1 Career Coaching
✓ 1-1 Business Coaching
✓ Private IDOL community and alumni network with 24/7 access
✓ 1 assigned mentor during your cohort
**✓**10+ Professional IDOL coaches
✓ Paid contract opportunities through IDOL Talent (must meet requirements)
✓ Proud Portfolio Guarantee (must meet requirements)
PAY IN FULL (SAVE $523!)
$3497
ONE-TIME PAYMENT
Save $523 when you pay in full.
Get instant access to intro lessons after enrolling!
PAY MONTHLY
$670/month
6 MONTHLY INSTALLMENTS
Works out to $4020 in total tuition
Get instant access to intro lessons after enrolling!
**Early enrollment discount is not available for payment plans.
Secure checkout. Prorated refunds available.
Graduate with a portfolio you’re proud of. Or get your money back.
Need more flexible payment options?
You can finance your tuition over (up to) 24 months through Climb Credit. Please note, options and interest rates vary according to your credit history. Early enrollment discounts do not apply. And all activities, including approvals, are managed by Climb Credit, not IDOL courses.
Click here to start the approval process. →
Have questions? Just ask!
Email us at info@idolcourses.com. Or call or text our support team
at 1-786-453-5642 (9AM-5PM EST, Monday-Friday).
Wondering exactly how IDOL Academy stacks up against university programs and online courses? The short answer:
You’ll save thousands of dollars and years of study plus see results 10x faster. Seriously, most of our graduates reach their IDOL goals in 6-8 months. This is why:
TIME COMMITMENT
COURSE DURATION
CURRICULUM
PROJECT BASED LEARNING
LIVE WEEKLY GROUP COACHING SESSIONS
COMMUNITY
DIGITAL CREDENTIALS
Digital credentials are the future of the workforce. Micro-credentials, along with their corresponding digital badges, make it easy for professionals to show exactly what skills and knowledge they bring to a new position or project.
?
CERTIFICATION
CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS
LMS TRAINING
VYOND ANIMATION TRAINING
2D animation tool and training
?
STORYLINE TRAINING
Articulate Storyline Training
?
GENIALLY TRAINING
eLearning Authoring Tool Training
?
CAMTASIA + VIDEO EDITING TRAINING
How to use the tool, edit, and produce training videos
?
CANVA TRAINING + TEMPLATES
Graphic Design Tool Training and 100s of Templates
?
FREELANCER TRAINING
Contracts, Proposals, Rate Cards, Price Calculators
?
AI TRAINING
IDOL Academy
Not fixed
We recommend 10-20 hours a week to expedite your results and land a job in 6 months.
?
8-12 weeks
Though we quote 12 weeks for our course duration, you have 6 months access. This allows for structured flexibility.
?
Built by industry professionals
Built on deliberate practice, LXD, and Social Learning
Weekly live sessions hosted by Dr. Robin Sargent or another one of our industry professionals
?
Private, Online + Global
15 Levels of Credentials
Certificate of Completion
- 24 CEUs
- 40 POINTS for ATD Recertification
IDOL Academy also counts for several other CEU requirements including the ATD recertification.
?
IDOL Movie Magic
Storyline for IDOLs
Genially for IDOLs
Camtasia for IDOLs
IDOL loves Canva
IDOL Business Box
IDOL AI
$1,997
One Payment
ENROLL NOW
6-month access
BETTER VALUE
Master's Degree
Full-time
2 years
Built on academics
Varies
Master's Degrees tend to lean heavily on theory and not real world practice.
?
In-person, Varies
$17,700
On Average
Why not skip the student debt and disappointment? IDOL Academy hands you a more-than-masters-level education. Without the university price tag.
Why “more than” a master’s degree? Because our curriculum comes with the technical training, portfolio support, work experience, and career coaching most degree programs are missing. At a ridiculously affordable price. With hundreds of student success stories to prove it works.
Amy’s thankful she ditched her degree program.
“I was actually enrolled in a master's program for instructional design and withdrew from the program after the second month because I saw more value in IDOL courses Academy. I am so happy I did that. If I had stayed in graduate school, I would not graduate for another year and a half, be in a lot of debt from student loans, and not apply for IDOL jobs until after I graduated. Now here we are, only 5 months after joining IDOL courses Academy, and to think I would STILL be in grad school with no IDOL job.”
Amy Garza
Instructional Designer at Xactly
Here Gillian got the portfolio help her university program left out.
"I completed an instructional design certificate through the university I work at which gave me a foundation, but I wasn't confident in my skills nor did I feel that I had products I could put in a portfolio - which I also didn't have. [IDOL Academy] forced me to get over being perfect and just get going. Two weeks later I had a portfolio I was proud of that someone was looking at before and during my second job interview! I am still working through so much of the Academy content to continue increasing my skills and confidence, but the confidence boost it has given me has been a game changer."
Gillian Talley
Sr. Instructional Designer at Brightspeed
The #1 question new students ask: “How quickly will I get a job?”
AND OTHER FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
How quickly will I get a job?
About 6-8 months in total. Here’s how that breaks down:
It takes about 6 months to complete the skill training, intern with a client, build a quality portfolio, and refine your job application assets (like a resume and LinkedIn profile). Then we anticipate another 1-2 months to go through the hiring process.
Some students do land jobs much faster, anywhere from a few weeks up to 5 months after joining, due to their own initiative in applying to positions before completing the skill training.
So it’s possible but not typical nor recommended.
IDOL Academy is designed so that students must graduate from the skill development track before they can access the career readiness support. This right of passage is intentional. So we can ensure you have mastered the skills required to complete high-quality corporate learning projects before going out and applying to jobs where you’ll be evaluated largely through your portfolio and test projects.
We understand the eagerness to get hired as soon as possible.
However, we would encourage you to set realistic expectations for yourself and allow enough time to build the skills required to do outstanding work in this field. It’s worth it in the end.
There’s a lot to cover. What if I fall behind?
The Academy is set up for flexibility so that you’re never behind.
Though the skill development track is technically 24 weeks, you can move through the training more slowly as needed. Core lessons are on-demand. Live lessons are recorded with replays available inside your Academy dashboard. The associated assignments are documented in each module. And you can submit your work for feedback at any time.
You have a full 12 months to complete the training, submit your graduate milestones for approval (with wiggle room to make changes as needed), and graduate as a Certified Professional in Training and Performance.
Thanks to this (mostly) self-paced format, most students can complete the skill development track within 6 months, even while balancing full-time jobs and being parents.
How much time should I dedicate to the Academy each week?
To keep pace with the 24-week curriculum, we recommend you dedicate about 10 hours per week to completing lessons and assignments.
For most students, this pace is very doable.
However, if other priorities make your schedule a challenge, you can move more slowly and tackle the training and assignments as your life allows. Though there are a few live components (which are recorded), most of the curriculum is self-placed. So as long as you complete the training and submit graduation milestones within 12 months from the start of your cohort, you’re golden!
After enrolling, when do I get access to Academy resources?
Immediately after enrolling, you get your log-on credentials and access to your Academy dashboard where can complete a handful of intro lesson and earn your first experience (XP) points.
When your cohort begins, things really start moving as we gear up for the official kickoff. During this orientation week, you’ll meet other cohort students and your mentor and set some goals.
On kickoff day, your cohort officially starts with the release of week 1 lessons.
Can I use the early enrollment discount on payment plans?
No. The early enrollment discount can only be used with the pay-in-full payment option, not with the 6-month payment plan or with Climb Credit financing.
How does Climb Credit financing work?
If you need more flexible payment options, you can finance your tuition over (up to) 24 months through Climb Credit, a third-party financing provider.
Please note, options and interest rates vary according to your credit history. Early enrollment discounts do not apply. And all activities, including approvals, are managed by Climb Credit, not IDOL Courses.
Click here to see more details or start the approval process.
What happens after my 12 months are up?
After your cohort ends, we invite graduates to join the alumni network, which comes with access to guest expert professional development training and IDOL Talent contracts. Both the alumni network and access to IDOL Talent contracts are free for IDOL Academy graduates.
If you’d like to keep your access to all skill development videos, tech training, job readiness, and Business Box training and templates, so you can revisit lessons as you work, you can do so for $19/mo. If you'd like to keep access to the coaches and mentor support in addition to the course, you can do so for $197/mo. There’s no commitment, and you can cancel anytime.
Do I need to show up live?
Nope. All lessons, activities, feedback requests, credential requirements, and community participation are remote and self-paced. Meaning, if you’re working full time, having a baby, or moving - or just have a complicated schedule - you can still participate in all the activities required to graduate and earn your certification.
There are some live components of the program, but they are not required.
- Live Weekly Lessons with Expert IDOLs. Guest facilitators lead live sessions to reinforce the topic and lesson(s) for that week. These are recorded and replays are available for all students.
- Live Group Coaching. Coaches hold Q&A-style live sessions periodically. These are recorded and replays are available for all students.
- Mentor Office Hours. These are held virtually 1-1, and you can schedule a time with your mentor as needed. Office hours are offered several days a week. So it’s likely you will find a day and time that works for you, no matter what your schedule looks like
- Interview practice (mock) sessions. These require live participation, and sessions are not recorded. You are welcome to arrange mock interviews with your peers inside the community.
To recap, most live components are recorded. So you can watch the replay. Though office hours and mock interviews sessions are not recorded, they are also not required for graduation and certification but rather are additional avenues of support you can leverage if needed.
I don’t live in the United States. Will this work for me?
Yes! Students have joined us from Europe, Canada, India, the Philippines, and Australia. And they completed the program more than prepared to land jobs in their market or to work for US companies if that was the goal.
Here’s what Zahra (UK) had to say:
"It's brilliant! I was so scared for 2 reasons. 1: Because the company is American and I live in the UK, therefore will the skills be transferable? 2: Its expensive, will it pay off? I can tell you 100% it did! Within the first month, I'll make back what I put into the course. I went at my own pace and the Academy provided me with more than what I needed. Cant wait to begin work." - Zahra Nawaz
For our non-US-based friends, timezone is usually the biggest concern.
Don’t worry. Your timezone won’t interfere with this program. All core lessons, activities, and community participation are remote and self-paced. And you can post your project work for feedback at any time of the day.
Plus, all live lessons and coaching sessions are recorded and replays available inside the Academy, so you can watch or rewatch them whenever it works for you.
Is there a refund window or guarantee?
We have both. Here are the details:
- You can request a refund up to 72 hours after enrolling and receive a full refund minus a $300 administration fee.
- You can request a refund within the first 12 weeks of your cohort and get a prorated refund based on program completion. Note, this is calculated based on the 24-week structure, not your personal completion point.
As for the guarantee…
If you graduate the Academy and you don’t feel like you have a portfolio that makes you proud, we’ll give you a full refund on your tuition. Conditions apply. This is a “do the work, see the results” type of guarantee. Meaning, to qualify, you must complete all required assignments, submit graduation milestones, and rework projects according to feedback if necessary.
What if I have no instructional design experience?
No problem. The Academy was designed precisely for beginners like you.
During your cohort, you’ll learn the instructional design skills you need to develop corporate learning projects from start to finish. Along the way, you’ll build a quality portfolio. You’ll also complete an internship (with the support of your mentor) to gain the hands-on experience you can put on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
Plus, after you graduate, you’ll move on to the Career Readiness track where we’ll help you write your resume, refine your LinkedIn profile, prep for interviews, negotiate offers, and more.
I have some ID experience. Will I get anything out of the Academy?
Absolutely. Plenty of our students join the Academy after landing a new role as an instructional designer or taking on similar responsibilities at work. They use the Academy to fill skill gaps and get training on required authoring tools, like Storyline or Genially.
Plus, if you currently work in an instructional design role, you have the opportunity to use you day-to-day work for the required internship and graduation milestones as long those projects meet internship requirements and your employer signs off.
What if I’m not a techie?
Not a problem. We teach you all the tech inside the Academy via step-by-step tutorials. Our training covers tools like Articulate Storyline, Vyond, Genially, Canva, Camtaisa, Audacity, Articulate Rise, Lectora, and CenarioVR (coming soon!).
Will I receive a certificate?
If you meet the graduation requirements, then absolutely!
After passing all 8 milestones, a portfolio review, and pass an exam students receive a Certified Professional in Training and Performance certificate and badge. This credential acts as your IDOL Academy “degree” and shows you’ve met the minimum standards required to graduate from our state-authorized vocational school.
Here’s something cool:
IDOL Academy’s certification is often requested by companies in job listings. In other words: they prioritize our graduates! So if you’re loooking for an industry-recognized credential that’ll help you stand out, our Certified Professional in Training and Performance certificate is it.
Do employers value IDOL training like a degree?
We’d be so bold as to claim that: Some employers value IDOL Academy training over a degree. How come?
For starters, they request our certification in job listings, which shows they recognize our graduates have the skills and experience they’re looking for in new hires.
Then there’s our students.
We’ve enrolled plenty of degree-wielding post-grads who (before the Academy) can’t get hired even with a master’s degree. After completing IDOL Academy? They easily get interview and offers from top companies.
In fact:
The majority of our graduates successful land their first IDOL position with no degree to speak of, just an impressive portfolio and their newly acquired status as a Certified Professional in Training and Performance.
What if I have more questions?
Ask us! Email us at info@idolcourses.com. Or call or text our support team at 1-786-453-5642 (9AM-5PM EST, Monday-Friday).
What accessibility features do you offer?
We prioritize accessibility to ensure an inclusive learning environment.
Our courses include high-contrast images, subtitles, transcripts, and 1:1 support. Facilitators also provide live captions during sessions.
Unfortunately, our courses are not currently optimized for screen readers. We're actively working to improve accessibility for all learners.
If you need more detailed information or have any specific questions, please don't hesitate to contact us at info@idolcourses.com. We're committed to enhancing the accessibility of our courses for everyone.
SUCCESS STORIES
3100+ graduates have already used IDOL Academy to turn career dreams into work realities. If they can do it, so can you!
Here are a few of our favorites:
Rachel doubled her income and only works part-time.
“I interviewed with three companies within a few weeks of applying to no more than 30 jobs (easy clickable applications on LinkedIn). I was offered a contract position for 30-35 hours per week through the end of the year. Even though it's not full-time, I doubled my income. I'm so thankful to IDOL Academy, the coaches, mentors, and other learners who helped teach me new skills and build my confidence to move forward as an ID."
Rachael Hartman
Instructional Designer at The College of Health Care Professions
Marilyn can’t believe she’s working for Google.
"I'm beyond excited about starting my new role at Google through a contractor! I truly owe it to IDOL - the community, the courses, the opportunities. It was a long journey: I started with the Do It Messy challenge, got a volunteer client, volunteered for Rumie Learn, landed a contract through IDOL, and finally this job offer. Put in the time and effort and you'll make it!"
Marilyn Day
Instructional Designer at Google
Lynda is self-employed with a steady base of clients.
"When I started IDOL Academy, I was working as an ID, but looking to update my skills to grow and move into other areas. I considered working freelance, but I didn't really know how to make the move and frankly, I was a bit scared to take that leap. After finishing IDOL I started seriously thinking about going the freelance route. I currently have six clients and am loving the variety and the challenges. It was IDOL that helped me rediscover my passion for instructional design and find the courage to pursue something new.”
Lynda Kluck
Learning Experience Manager at Culture Partners
Jamie made a complete career change in her 40s.
"I would never have imagined I could take the leap from one career field into a COMPLETELY different, unknown career field. I signed up for classes in January and in the meantime worked for a part-time non-profit. I would watch the videos on my lunch hour and the days that I was not in the office I completed my lessons. Now, here I am less than a year later, and I’ve completely changed my career field! For a woman in her mid-40’s, I’m proud of myself. The support I’ve received from everyone at IDOL has changed my outlook on this venture.”
Jamie Black
Learning Experience Designer at Sea Island Company
Ricky interviewed so well, the company CREATED a job for him.
"IDOL Courses Academy gave me all of the tools I needed to make the jump from teaching to Instructional Design.
My interviewer was so impressed with my skills that she CREATED a job for me. I could not have accomplished my goals without the help of my mentors and coaches and the greater IDOL community!"
Ricky Fisher
Instructional Designer at Landmark Health
Sharon shocked herself by landing her dream job at IKEA.
“I put all my new assets in my portfolio, finished up my Linked In, and saw that IKEA was hiring learning developers. I did two rounds of interviews with two departments. I got the job! There is NO WAY I could have gotten this role without IDOL. I had a community to look over my portfolio, give feedback on my assets, give me advice for applications, and even do practice interviews with me. I cannot say enough good things about the IDOL Academy!"
Sharon Tavares
Learning Developer at IKEA
Auroosa got an offer using assets she made the day before.
“I signed an offer yesterday as a Learning Experience Designer. My dream job at my dream company.
I didn't have my portfolio ready in time to apply for the role but I took a shot and applied anyway. I did submit some samples and I actually made a sample VILT facilitation guide for them that I included in my application.
I could not have done this without IDOL Academy! I can't believe a few months ago I decided I wanted to make a career change and now here I am, hired as a LXD!
Auroosa Kazmi-Ishaq
Learning and Development Manager at WildBrain
Your dream career is so much closer than you think. So if you’re ready to stop wishing and start working, it’s time to join IDOL Academy.
Here’s a little tough love: With a proven career-building program ready and waiting for you inside the Academy, the only thing standing in your way right now is YOU. So why put off your goals even a second longer when success is within reach? Enroll today and you’ll be mere months away from the better career you’re dreaming of.
Enrollment includes 12 months of access to all IDOL Academy features, including:
**✓**24-week skill development track with immersive lessons, weekly assignments, live practice sessions, and 1-1 personalized feedback
**✓**Weekly live lessons (replays available) from expert faculty on the topic and the lesson(s) released that week
**✓**All tech and tool training
✓ 5+ digital software badges (must meet requirements)
**✓**Individual commercial and non-commercial licenses to specified design tools (worth $7500+)
✓ Portfolio training, tasks, and feedback
✓ Hands-on experience through internship and/or IDOL World projects
✓ 8 milestone assessments, with digital badges, evaluated by expert practitioners (must meet requirements), including:
**✓**Certified Professional in Training & Performance (CPTP) graduation certificate (24 CEUs) (must meet requirements)
✓ All career readiness support, including:
**✓**Business Box training and templates
✓ 1-1 Career Coaching
✓ 1-1 Business Coaching
✓ Private IDOL community and alumni network with 24/7 access
✓ 1 assigned mentor during your cohort
**✓**10+ Professional IDOL coaches
✓ Paid contract opportunities through IDOL Talent (must meet requirements)
✓ Proud Portfolio Guarantee (must meet requirements)
PAY IN FULL (SAVE $523!)
$3497
ONE-TIME PAYMENT
Save $523 when you pay in full.
Get instant access to intro lessons after enrolling!
PAY MONTHLY
$670/month
6 MONTHLY INSTALLMENTS
Works out to $4020 in total tuition
Get instant access to intro lessons after enrolling!
**Early enrollment discount is not available for payment plans.
Secure checkout. Prorated refunds available.
Graduate with a portfolio you’re proud of. Or get your money back.
Need more flexible payment options?
Click here to start the approval process. →
Have questions? Just ask!
Email us at info@idolcourses.com. Or call or text our support team
at 1-786-453-5642 (9AM-5PM EST, Monday-Friday).
Money isn’t the only professional perk. Like these grads, you can add more freedom, flexibility, and fulfillment to your life too:
Whitney’s enjoying better benefits and less stress.
"IDOL courses helped me move from the classroom to a corporate job with so much better benefits and less stress. I learned so much and in a short amount of time. It was definitely worth the investment. The feedback and support you get from Robin and the group are invaluable. I can't recommend it enough... it has literally changed my quality of life."
Whitney Estes
Senior Technical Curriculum Developer at Amazon
Morgan is working from home and loving every minute of it.
"I am so thankful for IDOL, as it allowed me to achieve my dreams. I am now working for a company I love, and I am able to work from home. I would not have been able to transition out of education without the IDOL Courses Academy program, or the incredible system of support that it offers. I felt equipped and prepared to answer questions in interviews, and feel knowledgeable in my new role. Thank you IDOL for changing my life!
Morgan Lavey
Instructional Design Consultant III at Principal Financial Group
Shemaine finally looks forward to Monday morning.
"It's an amazing program that gave me the confidence and skills to land a dream job. I was working just to make ends meet.
Now I love what I do and I can't wait to get started everyday. Thanks IDOL Courses Academy for helping change my career and my life."
Shemaine Hernandez
Instructional Designer at WYSR
Join IDOL Academy. And create a career you don’t need a vacation from (with more income to boot!) as a remote or freelance IDOL.
In this industry, anything is possible. Our graduates are proof.
ABOUT THE SCHOOL
We’re the first and only authorized vocational school for instructional design and online learning. And, yeah, it’s kind of a big deal.
In a world where anyone can sell anything on the internet, quality matters. As a state-authorized vocational school, our educational materials and faculty have been verified to meet academic quality standards as set by the state of Georgia and the US Department of Education.
Which means you can trust you’re getting a high-quality education.
Vocational status also means you have the opportunity to earn an industry certification upon graduation. And because we’ve built a reputation as the “gold standard” for corporate instructional design training, our certification is the credential that companies look for.
In other words:
Graduating from IDOL Academy will give you a competitive edge in the job market.
There’s no better way to grab the attention of recruiters, hiring managers, and potential clients than as an IDOL Academy graduate.
From zero interviews to 4 job offers!
"I wanted to transition out of teaching and into the L&D industry prior to learning about IDOL Academy. I sent out over 30 applications with not a single interview request. I knew I needed to learn more in order to actually land an interview and job.
IDOL Academy was the perfect program for me to do so! I learned the skills necessary to be hirable.
Just a couple months after joining, I was being contacted by recruiters on a weekly basis! Not only did I land a job, I had 3 other offers as well!!”
Kerry Gannon
Lead eLearning Developer at Yukon Learning
This is where you become the best IDOL you can be. Harness the power of IDOL Academy and leapfrog years ahead professionally.
That’s not an exaggeration. It takes most professionals 2 or more years to reach the goals our graduates accomplish in only 6-8 months. What’s better, thanks to the Academy’s high-quality, comprehensive curriculum that emphasizes deliberate practice, our graduates excel in their new positions, wowing managers and often outperforming their more experienced peers.
So join the next cohort and take the express lane to professional growth.
Enrollment includes 12 months of access to all IDOL Academy features, including:
**✓**24-week skill development track with immersive lessons, weekly assignments, live practice sessions, and 1-1 personalized feedback
**✓**Weekly live lessons (replays available) from expert faculty on the topic and the lesson(s) released that week
**✓**All tech and tool training
**✓**5+ digital software badges(must meet requirements)
**✓**Individual commercial and non-commercial licenses to specified design tools (worth $7500+)
**✓**Portfolio training, tasks, and feedback
**✓**Hands-on experience through internship and/or IDOL World projects
✓8 milestone assessments, with digital badges, evaluated by expert practitioners(must meet requirements), including:
✓Certified Professional in Training & Performance (CPTP) graduation certificate (24 CEUs)(must meet requirements)
**✓**All career readiness support, including:
**✓**Business Box training and templates
**✓**1-1 Career Coaching
**✓**1-1 Business Coaching
**✓**Private IDOL community and alumni network with 24/7 access
**✓**1 assigned mentor during your cohort
**✓**10+ Professional IDOL coaches
✓Paid contract opportunities through IDOL Talent(must meet requirements)
✓ Proud Portfolio Guarantee**(must meet requirements)**
PAY IN FULL (SAVE $523!)
$3497
ONE-TIME PAYMENT
Save $523 when you pay in full.
Get instant access to intro lessons after enrolling!
PAY MONTHLY
$670/month
6 MONTHLY INSTALLMENTS
Works out to $4020 in total tuition
Get instant access to intro lessons after enrolling!
**Early enrollment discount is not available for payment plans.
Secure checkout. Prorated refunds available.
Graduate with a portfolio you’re proud of. Or get your money back.
Need more flexible payment options?
Click here to start the approval process. →
Have questions? Just ask!
Email us at info@idolcourses.com. Or call or text our support team
at 1-786-453-5642 (9AM-5PM EST, Monday-Friday).
Higher pay. Remote work. Better hours.
“It took less than 6 months to transition from teacher into finance as an ID. Higher pay, remote position, bankers hours, nothing but net. All thanks to IDOL Academy!”
Natalie Whitfield
Senior Learning Consultant at ATB Financial
"Well worth the money!"
“IDOL courses was a really great experience! It is a comprehensive and supportive learning opportunity that provided everything you would ever want: low cost, high return on investment, networking, encouragement, comprehensive knowledge and so much more!”
David Grant, Ph.D.
Project Manager Instructional Designer at Winning Solutions, Inc.
StripeM-Inner