Project management is an increasingly essential skill for instructional designers — covering the full arc of learning development from initial concept to final delivery, including planning, timeline coordination, team collaboration, and budget management.
Effective project management in instructional design involves overseeing the development of educational materials from initial concept through to final delivery. This requires meticulous planning, timeline coordination, skillful team collaboration, budget management, and rigorous adherence to project objectives.
Selection of Free Project Management courses for Instructional Designers
The following courses cover project management fundamentals, stakeholder communication, agile methods, and quality assurance — all highly applicable to instructional design work.
KICKOFF™: Project Management Made Simple
Offered by Project Management Institute (PMI)
Dive into the world of project management with KICKOFF™, a free, interactive course designed to teach you the essentials in just 45 minutes.
- Modality: Online, Interactive Course
- Duration: 45 minutes
- What You’ll Learn:
- Basics of project management including both Agile and Predictive methodologies
- Effective tools and templates to initiate and manage projects
Project Management for Non-Project Managers
by Udemy
- What You’ll Learn:
- The stages, parameters, and structure of a project
- Essential skills: project management, business, and interpersonal skills
- Understanding the project lifecycle from inception to completion
- Techniques for managing time using tools like the Eisenhower Matrix
- Building and managing project teams
- Methods for resolving conflicts and engaging effectively with stakeholders
- Techniques for managing project costs, estimates, and risks
Project Communication Strategies – Part 01 & 02
by Udemy
Master effective communication with stakeholders using emotional intelligence, assertiveness, and negotiation skills.
- What You’ll Learn:
- Emotional intelligence and its impact on communication
- Assertiveness and the art of saying no
- Conflict management and negotiation strategies
- Effective stakeholder communication and expectation setting
Developing Quality Management Processes for eLearning Products
by Eduflow Academy
Led by Hadiya Nuriddin, this course helps you enhance your eLearning Project Management by establishing intentional quality assurance processes.
- Duration: 1–2 hours
- What You’ll Learn:
- The significance of a designated quality management framework
- Detailed processes and steps for effective quality checks
- Strategies to focus your team’s efforts during quality assessments
Google Project Management Certificate
by Google on Coursera
Developed by industry leaders at Google, this professional certificate teaches you how to manage projects efficiently.
- Duration: Typically 3–6 months, under 10 hours per week
- What You’ll Learn:
- Foundations of project management including estimating time and budgets
- Skills for running effective meetings and managing stakeholders
- Techniques for identifying and managing risks
- Application of Agile and Scrum frameworks
Agile: A Concise Introduction
by Udemy
- Duration: 36 minutes
- What You’ll Learn:
- What Agile is and why it’s beneficial for project management
- The 12 Principles of Agile
The Basics of Scrum
by Project Management Institute (PMI)
- What You’ll Learn:
- Fundamentals of Scrum and Discipline Agile Project Management
- The Scrum process and detailed steps within the Scrum cycle
- Each team member’s role and responsibilities within a Scrum environment
Mastering Project Management for Instructional Design
Great project management thrives on the ability to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams. Some other areas you could explore include:
- SME Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement: Engaging with Subject Matter Experts and stakeholders to deepen understanding and build strong relationships.
- Learning Experience Design (LXD): Integrating LXD principles helps project managers create more effective training and development programs.
- Instructional Design: Knowledge of Instructional Design ensures educational content is pedagogically sound and tailored to the learning needs of the audience.
- User Experience Design (UX): UX design principles ensure that products and systems are user-friendly and designed with the end-user in mind.
By learning from a wide range of disciplines, learning-focused project managers can enhance their toolkit, leading to more innovative and effective management practices.
