Unlock the potential of efficient project management tailored specifically for instructional designers by exploring this selection of free online courses in Project Management. As learning environments evolve, mastering project management is increasingly recognized as a critical skill—indeed, it’s one of the most sought-after skillsets by hiring managers in Learning Experience Design and Instructional Design.
Effective project management in instructional design involves overseeing the development of educational materials from initial concept through to final delivery. This requires not only meticulous planning and timeline coordination but also skillful team collaboration, budget management, and rigorous adherence to project objectives to ensure outcomes are achieved on time and within scope.
Selection of Free Project Management courses for Instructional Designers
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KICKOFF™: Project Management Made Simple
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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. This course is perfect for those new to project management or professionals needing to manage projects without formal training in the field.
- 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.
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Project Management for Non-Project Managers
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by Udemy
- Explore the basics of project management with “Project Management for Non-Project Managers”. This course is designed for individuals with little to no prior project management experience. It offers a straightforward introduction to the essential skills and concepts needed to manage projects effectively, including time management, team building, and stakeholder management.
- Modality: Online, self-paced learning
- What You’ll Learn:
- The stages, parameters, and structure of a project.
- Essential skills for project managers: project management, business, and interpersonal skills.
- Understanding the project lifecycle and managing projects from inception to completion.
- Techniques for managing time using tools like the Eisenhower Matrix.
- Building and managing project teams, understanding team dynamics and personality types.
- Methods for resolving conflicts and engaging effectively with project stakeholders.
- Planning and constructing detailed work breakdown structures and logic diagrams.
- Techniques for managing project costs, estimates, and risks.
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Big Picture of the Projects and Beyond
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by Coursera
- “Big Picture of the Projects and Beyond” offers a comprehensive overview of the overarching challenges faced from the inception to the completion of projects. This course delves into the common issues and paradoxes that occur during the project life cycle and beyond, highlighting the pitfalls that often lead to project escalations and crises.
- Modality: Online, accessible globally
- What You’ll Learn:
- The challenges in the journey from recognizing a business need to delivering the value that meets these needs.
- Portfolio-level challenges that can complicate project execution.
- Repetitive activities in project foundation that may not seem intuitive but are essential.
- How to navigate paradoxes during project execution and closing that often lead to escalations and crises.
- Comprehensive understanding of the biggest challenges encountered throughout the project life cycle and strategies to address them.
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Project Communication Strategies – Part 01
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by Udemy
- Master effective communication with the “Project Communication Strategies – Part 01” course. This course is designed to help you communicate effectively with stakeholders using emotional intelligence, assertiveness, and negotiation skills. Dive into the foundational elements of project communication, from planning and delivering messages to managing conflicts and setting expectations with stakeholders.
- Modality: Online, self-paced learning
- What You’ll Learn:
- Emotional intelligence and its impact on communication.
- Overcoming barriers to effective communication.
- Strategic planning of project communications.
- Assertiveness and the art of saying no.
- Techniques for delivering bad news gently and effectively.
- Conflict management and negotiation strategies.
- Effective stakeholder communication and expectation setting.
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Project Communication Strategies – Part 02
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by Udemy
- Continue to refine your stakeholder communication skills with “Project Communication Strategies – Part 02”. This course builds on the foundational skills developed in Part 01, focusing on advanced techniques in emotional intelligence, assertiveness, and negotiation to manage complex stakeholder relationships. It’s designed to further enhance your ability to communicate effectively in challenging project environments.
- Modality: Online, self-paced learning
- What You’ll Learn:
- Advanced emotional intelligence techniques for deeper stakeholder engagement.
- Strategies for overcoming complex barriers to communication.
- Detailed planning of project communications for diverse scenarios.
- Enhanced assertiveness in project settings.
- Effective methods for delivering difficult messages and handling objections.
- Conflict resolution and advanced negotiation techniques.
- Developing comprehensive communication strategies tailored to stakeholder needs and expectations.
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The Assertiveness and Negotiation Guide for Project Managers
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by Institute of Project Management on Udemy
- This course is designed to help you master key interpersonal skills such as assertiveness and negotiation, essential for effective project leadership. Learn to communicate decisively and manage negotiations to achieve win-win outcomes.
- Duration: 53 minutes of on-demand video
- What You’ll Learn:
- Effective techniques for assertive communication and negotiation.
- Strategies for managing conflicts and delivering difficult news.
- Skills for setting boundaries and achieving collaborative solutions.
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Developing Quality Management Processes for eLearning Products
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by Eduflow Academy
- This course, led by Hadiya Nuriddin, designed to help you enhance your eLearning Project Managemen focuses on establishing intentional quality assurance and management processes to consistently deliver high-quality content. Learn the importance of having a structured quality management framework and the specific steps your team should follow to achieve excellent results.
- Type: Self-paced online course
- 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 to ensure high-quality output every time.
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Google Project Management Certificate
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by Google on Coursera
- Embark on a career in project management with the “Google Project Management Certificate”. Developed by industry leaders at Google, this professional certificate course is designed to teach you how to manage projects efficiently using both traditional and agile methods. Ideal for those new to the field, this course requires no prior experience and is conducted entirely online.
- Modality: Online, 100% remote learning
- Duration: Typically completed within 3-6 months with under 10 hours of study 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 in project management.
- Leadership skills for navigating team dynamics and enhancing strategic communication and problem-solving.
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Crash Course on Risk Identification
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by Udemy
- Dive into the essentials of risk management with the “Crash Course on Risk Identification”. This course provides a thorough overview of risk identification, emphasizing both threats and opportunities. Learn through a variety of techniques how to identify, analyze, and articulate risks effectively using methods like brainstorming, the Nominal Group Technique, and Crawford Slip among others.
- Modality: Online, self-paced learning
- What You’ll Learn:
- The dual nature of risks: identifying threats and opportunities.
- Five information-gathering techniques including interviews and the Delphi method.
- How to employ brainstorming and Nominal Group Technique for risk identification.
- Two analytical techniques for a deeper understanding of risks.
- Effective methods for reviewing documentation to uncover risks.
- Writing clear and actionable risk descriptions.
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Agile: A Concise Introduction
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by Udemy
- Jump into the world of Agile project management with the “Agile: A Concise Introduction” course by Paul Ashun. This brief yet comprehensive course offers a clear overview of Agile principles and practices. It’s designed to provide you with the foundational knowledge to implement Agile methodologies effectively in your projects, ensuring timely and efficient delivery.
- Duration: 36 minutes of on-demand video
- What You’ll Learn:
- What Agile is
- Why it’s so beneficial for project management.
- The 12 Principles of Agile.
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The Basics of Scrum
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Offered by Project Management Institute (PMI)
- Delve into the essentials of Scrum with the free eLearning course “The Basics of Scrum”, presented by Klaus Boedker, a seasoned agility and transformation coach. This introductory course is perfect for those beginning their journey towards becoming a Disciplined Agile Scrum Master. It provides a solid foundation in both Scrum and Disciplined Agile Project Management, preparing you for practical implementation and further certification.
- What You’ll Learn:
- Understand the fundamentals of Scrum and Discipline Agile Project Management.
- Learn about the Scrum process and the detailed steps within the Scrum cycle.
- Explore each team member’s role and responsibilities within a Scrum environment.
- Grasp what occurs during each phase of the Scrum cycle.
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Taming Bias: Using Wicked Problem Solving to Make Better Decisions and Align Teams
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Offered by Project Management Institute (PMI)
- Explore the challenges of cognitive bias in both personal and professional contexts with this engaging eLearning course. Through a dynamic blend of expert instruction and practical tools, “Taming Bias” aims to equip you with the skills necessary to make better decisions and foster team alignment.
- Modality: Online, Interactive eLearning
- Duration: Self-paced
- What You’ll Learn:
- How to recognize and understand the impact of cognitive biases on perception and decision-making.
- Effective strategies to untangle and manage biases using a simple three-step process.
- How to apply practical tools and downloads to address biases in real-world situations.
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Great project management thrives on the ability to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams, integrating diverse perspectives and expertise to drive successful outcomes. In today’s multifaceted workplaces, project managers benefit significantly from an openness to learning from various disciplines, which enhances their ability to navigate complex projects and innovate solutions. This interdisciplinary approach not only enriches the project’s developmental process but also ensures that the outcomes are robust and well-rounded, catering to a wider range of stakeholders and increasing the project’s overall impact.
- Some other areas you could explore include:
- SME Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement: Engaging with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and stakeholders is crucial for project managers to deepen their understanding of specific technical or business areas and build strong relationships. This dual approach ensures that projects are grounded in expert knowledge and best practices, while also meeting stakeholders’ needs and expectations. Engagement is essential for maintaining project integrity, securing buy-in, and facilitating smoother implementation and adoption of project outputs.
- Learning Experience Design (LXD): Integrating principles of Learning Experience Design helps project managers create more effective training and development programs within projects. This ensures that learning interventions are engaging, effective, and conducive to meeting project goals.
- Instructional Design: Knowledge of Instructional Design is essential for project managers involved in educational projects or any project that includes a training component. It ensures that educational content is pedagogically sound and tailored to the learning needs of the audience.
- Marketing for Learning: Understanding marketing principles can enhance a project manager’s ability to effectively promote project outputs and ensure they reach the intended audience. This is particularly important in projects aimed at changing behaviors or spreading new knowledge.
- User Experience Design (UX): Knowledge of UX design principles enables project managers to ensure that products, services, and systems are user-friendly and designed with the end-user in mind, which is crucial for the successful adoption and effectiveness of project deliverables.
By learning from a wide range of disciplines, Learning-foused Project Managers can enhance their toolkit, leading to more innovative and effective management practices that align with the complex demands of modern learning design projects.
