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M.S. - Instructional Design & Performance Technology

Franklin University M.S. in Instructional Design and Performance Technology banner Program OverviewProgram DetailsWhy Choose Franklin

Design immersive educational experiences that impact performance

When it comes to performance, successful companies know that skilled, knowledgeable people make the difference. That’s why more and more organizations invest in immersive educational experiences to develop and equip their talent.

At the forefront of this human resources revolution are those with an M.S. - Instructional Design & Performance Technology (IDPT) Degree. Our degree provides students with proven approaches for improving employee and organizational performance. And, as it turns out, advancing the career and performance of others may advance your career as well. In fact, job opportunities in the field are projected to grow by 19% over the next decade, a rate significantly higher than average.1

Design instructional interventions that close performance gaps

Franklin’s online IDPT Degree Program unites two expanding fields of study: instructional design and human performance technology. Instructional design focuses on the delivery of transformational training and education solutions to develop the skills and knowledge of workers.

Human performance technology is a unique feature of our IDPT curriculum that’s not found in many instructional design programs. Related coursework examines the specific causes leading to poor performance, and analyzes how to overcome them by studying how a person operates in a specific setting, which skills they need to be successful, and what incentives will best motivate.

Combined, these two areas will arm you to become a change agent that designs innovative learning strategies which close the gap on an organization’s most pressing performance problems.

Gain marketable skills in as few as 24 months

Franklin’s IDPT curriculum is designed to industry standards, including ASTD and ISPI, and teaches you skills highly sought after by employers in these areas: instructional systems design, educational technology, eLearning development, content development, and performance improvement. As a result, you’ll be well prepared to enter or advance your career as an instructional designer, trainer, or educator.

Plus, you’ll assemble and present a portfolio of work, so you’ll be ready to share actual samples of instructional materials you’ve designed with potential employers. And you will gain hands-on experience with industry software and leverage emerging technologies, such as Articulate Studio, social media, wikis, and blogs.

Franklin University’s IDPT Program can be completed in as few as 24 months, and you can get started right away because there’s no GMAT requirement if you meet certain standards.

Earn your degree from a university built for busy adults

Regionally accredited and nonprofit, Franklin was built from the ground-up to satisfy the needs of adult learners. Faculty with industry expertise means you gain relevant knowledge to apply directly to your current or future career, while our flexible course schedules help to balance your education with work, family, and life. Get started on your future today!

Franklin University’s IDPT Program was included among the “Best Buy” affordable online masters degrees by GetEducated.com in 2012. The rankings were based on a survey of more than 350 online masters in education, teaching, instructional technology, education leadership, and special education programs across the United States.

1Source information provided by Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI)

Gain The Skills Employers Desire

  • Instructional Systems Design
    • Create instructional materials and systems that deliver immersive and intuitive educational experiences that measurably increase learner knowledge
    • Develop intellectually challenging and personally engaging learning experiences that integrate multiple delivery channels, including instructor-led, experiential, and online
    • Create strong alignment between course competencies, assessments, and learning activities to increase learner efficiency in mastering competencies
    • Identify best-in-class training approaches to meet learning needs while addressing performance gaps
    • Provide solution recommendations, scope projects, and deliver instructional materials and activities to meet learning objectives
    • Manage and participate in the instructional design and development of mission-critical learning programs, including e-learning, instructor-led, virtual training, and blended instruction solutions
    • Create learner engagement strategies and pre- and post-training evaluation plans
    • Research, evaluate, recommend, and implement effective educational approaches and technologies
    • Integrate systems, content, communication, and evaluation strategies in the design and implementation of instructional materials
    • Leverage instructional design methodologies and learning theories to analyze, design, develop, evaluate, and support instructional systems and services
  • Educational Technology
    • Employ best-practice multimedia development methodologies, including research-based instructional principles, in the development and execution of instructional content
    • Leverage collaboration tools such as discussion forums to increase engagement and enhance learning
    • Use design documents, such as storyboards, to create courseware that integrates text, still images, animation, video, and/or audio
    • Participate in ideation for the development of interactive, e-learning and multimedia learning modules and training solutions
    • Oversee the conversion of classroom course material to other mediums, such as web, print, multimedia, and e-learning
    • Use varied strategies and technologies to provide innovative educational solutions
    • Oversee the development of dynamic content for interactive e-learning, courseware applications
    • Investigate multimedia methodologies, research subject matters, create project storyboards, develop work plans, and create original concepts for the presentation of complex ideas
  • eLearning Development
    • Build world-class eLearning training solutions and product demonstrations
    • Design and develop quality online courses based on sound learning pedagogy and instructional design best practices
    • Develop a range of e-learning materials, including self-paced guides, case studies, job aids, videos, evaluations, and interactive assessment exercises
    • Work with subject matter experts in the development of effective video and multimedia-based e-learning solutions
    • Monitor and evaluate curriculum against outcomes measurements, ensuring alignment with business objectives
    • Develop and implement high-quality e-learning solutions and courseware
    • Leverage design and development methodologies and tools, ensuring that e-learning courses adhere to learning principles and e-learning standards
    • Design, develop, and implement learning objects, such as quizzes, animations, and complex graphics
    • Research and recommend e-learning tools and technologies
    • Provide vision, leadership, and advocacy in the effective use of technology in teaching and e-learning
  • Content Development
    • Produce course curriculum and materials that effectively conveys critical knowledge to target audiences
    • Write scripts, programs, materials, and other training content and curricula
    • Develop effective content structures and sequences to achieve required learning outcomes
    • Manage the content development process, including interviewing subject matter experts and garnering stakeholder approval
    • Create facilitator and participant guides, simulations and exercises, video scripts, storyboards, and online or computer-based training courses
    • Design creative course materials to be delivered through a variety of delivery formats, including classroom and web-based
    • Facilitate the creation of content, and create innovative solutions for instructional delivery challenges to ensure learner engagement and retention
    • Research, design, and develop instructional content for delivery across a range of formats
  • Performance Improvement
    • Establish goals and performance measures for evaluations
    • Conduct a gap analysis to identify performance issues
    • Identify performance barriers and key leverage points, working to ensure that proposed solutions and deployment methods result in positive outcomes
    • Recommend measurable, value-added solutions to achieve objectives and align results
    • Leverage the expertise of stakeholders and integrate insights into the design of the instructional program
    • Identify the features, attributes and elements of the solution, and the resources required to accomplish objectives
    • Create, test, and deploy instructional or performance support materials
    • Measure the results and evaluate the impact of the solution

Career Opportunities

  • Instructional Designer

    Instructional designers collaborate with educators to produce and develop software for educational, governmental, and professional use.

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  • Training & Development Coordinator

    Training & Development Coordinators manage logistical and administrative tasks to ensure training programs run successfully.

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  • Performance Consultant

    Performance Consultants design and establish goal-setting strategies to improve the productivity and efficiency of personnel.

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  • Instructional Coordinator

    Instructional Coordinators are responsible for the development and implementation of instructional programs.

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  • Training Specialist

    Training Specialists are responsible for designing presentations, job manuals, and other materials to needed to train employees.

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  • Training Program Manager

    Training Program Managers are responsible for implementing training strategies within an organization or company.

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Employment Outlook

From 2010-2020 jobs in Instructional Design & Performance Technology are expected to increase by 19%. Jobs in Instructional Design & Performance Technology are estimated to grow from 147,114 to 175,064 by 2020.

Source information provided by Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI)

Our Recipe For Your Success

Academic & Industry Experts

Classes are taught and designed by credentialed professionals with real-world experience.
 

  • Programs are designed by combining the insight of industry leaders with the academic expertise of our faculty, ensuring what you learn translates into on-the-job success.

  • Academic concepts and theories are brought to life through our teaching faculty’s professional expertise, and can be immediately applied in your career.

  • Faculty with industry experience teach our courses, not graduate students or life-time academics, so you learn not only the theories behind the practice but also how to apply them in real-world situations.

Relevant & Consistent Curriculum

What you learn is a reflection of the program you choose, not the format in which it’s applied.
 

  • All programs are designed for learning outcomes to flow from the program level into actual coursework.

  • This top-down approach allows credentialed professionals to customize assignments based on trending industry topics without deviating from a program’s core outcomes.

  • Regardless of your professor or the format of your class, you receive the same quality education.

Hands-On Learning Experience

Franklin's coursework teaches not only theories and concepts, but also how they apply to practical situations.

 

  • Professional course designers ensure that class activities such as learning simulations, case studies, interactive videos, and group exercises are relevant and appropriate.

  • A curriculum development team is dedicated to making sure all courses are intuitively designed so content is taught in a logical manner that facilitates your success in the classroom and beyond.

Continuously Evolving Programs

Consistent program reviews ensure our programs stay at the forefront of industry trends.
 

  • Survey results and feedback from student and faculty assessments are reviewed regularly so that our programs are always improving and up-to-date.

  • A structured review process helps identify industry gaps that guide curriculum enhancements allowing our academic and industry experts to regularly implement new industry trends.

  • Regular assessment provides hard data that is used to improve student learning and teaching methods.

Get the details

Read course descriptions, learn about degree options, and meet program faculty.

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