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Explore everything IDOL—
Discover what’s new, what’s next, and what’s possible with IDOL courses—your go-to hub for insight, inspiration, and support on your instructional design career journey.
Trending tools and tips you’ll want to explore
IDOL News
Live with Dr. Robin Sargent
Stay connected to the industry. Every other Thursday at 11 AM EST, Dr. Sargent goes live on our social channels to share the latest in instructional design trends, expert career advice, and inspiring portfolios to fuel your next project.
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IDOLÂ Presents
Webinars hosted by recognized experts in the L&D industry
Gain the insight, strategies, and inspiration you need to thrive in L&D. IDOL Presents features expert conversations you can join live—or catch anytime in our free webinar library.
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Become an IDOL Challenge
FREE, On-Demand, 5 Day Instructional Design Challenge
Learn the skills to launch your instructional design career—on your schedule. Our free 5-day challenge jumpstarts your journey with essential ID principles, portfolio tips, and smart networking strategies.
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IDOL Academy - Free Trial
Free trial access inside our school
Curious to know about IDOL Academy? Look behind the curtains of the #1 online career school for Instructional Design.
Gain access for 14 days.
Expert-made resources to help you grow faster, stand out more, and thrive in your instructional design career.
FREE
Cracking the Code to Landing a Job in Instructional Design:
What to Expect in 2025
A webinar that reveals the secrets to mastering the skills you need and landing your dream job. In this on demand training, we'll review the powerful concepts that enable you to land a job in learning and development in 2024 and beyond.
FREE
Zapping Your Way to Automated L&D
Unlock the power of automation with our guide to Zapier. Learn how to streamline workflows in Learning & Development, from course registrations to analytics, and gain back valuable time to focus on what truly matters in your work.
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FREE
eLearning AI Chatbot
This course blueprint wizard, created by IDOL courses, is for IDOL Academy students and those designing problem-centered instruction for adult learners. Based on Merrill's First Principles and Dr. Robin Sargent's "The Do It Messy Approach," it generates a full course blueprint draft from your performance goal input.
FREE
ADDIE Process Checklist
The ADDIE model is the most popular framework in instructional design. While this approach is high level, the milestones of Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, and Evaluate are useful categories. With each one of these larger milestones, several tasks need to be accomplished.
Use this checklist to keep track of your progress as you design an effective training program.
FREE
Roadmap to Become an IDOL
Explore abundant resources and valuable extras tailored for those aspiring to become instructional designers and eLearning developers.
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FREE
Career Quiz
Are you considering a career as a Corporate or Higher-Education Instructional Designer? Find out if instructional design is a profession that best compliments your future goals.
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as low as $60/hr
1:1 Coaching
Our experienced team of senior instructional designers is here to provide you with 1:1 mentorship, the guidance and advice you need to take your career to new heights.
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$10
The Do It Messy Approach
By the founder of IDOL courses, Dr. Robin Sargent, this is the ultimate step-by-step guide for instructional designers and online learning developers (IDOLs)
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FREE
Goals and Vision Board Template
Our Canva template will help you get on track with goal setting! With this template, you quickly visually represent your goals and objectives.
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FREE
Land an Instructional Design Job: Masterclass
Watch this video to learn all about how to land your first corporate instructional design and online learning gig.
FREE
7 Instructional Design Models You Need to Know
This presentation deck cuts through the clutter of models and delivers the most important ones you need to know in an instructional design interview and role.
FREE
IDOL courses Project Cost Calculator
Estimate instructional design project timelines and costs with this calculator.
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FREE
Working with Stakeholders Guide
Use this checklist when working with stakeholders in an ID & online learning project.
FREE
eLearning Storyboard Template
Start creating effective eLearning Storyboards
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FREE
IDOL Resume Keywords
An extensive list of ID keywords to use in your resume.
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FREE
Feedback Worksheets
To help you develop the mindset needed to receive and implement feedback effectively, use these worksheets.
FREE
Resume Writing Guide
The resume writing guide for new IDOLs and transitioning teachers.
FREE
LXD Resources
Don't miss out on this all inclusive LXD package. Templates, persona worksheets, links, videos, book recommendations and more!
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FREE
IDOL Job Tips
These tips are for IDOLs who want to land their first job in instructional design and online learning.Â
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FREE
Lesson Strategy: Course Planner
We've stripped down all the theory and the fluff to show you just how easy it can be to design a lesson for your course in this Lesson Strategy Planner. It's a simple way to start using backward design.
FREE
Learn from Our eLearning Freelancer Mistakes
Free training for instructional design and eLearning developers who are freelancing in the industry. Learn from three successful freelancers' mistakes.
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