Design for Learning Environments short courses

There are multiple intakes a year. Students can join the program in January, February, June, August, and October.

Design for Learning Environments Short Courses

Online education has dramatically increased in recent years, and learning environments in many sectors and industries now incorporate both digital and physical environments.

The 8-week Design for Learning Environments short courses are a fast-track route for professionals keen to focus on one particular aspect of instructional and learning design – a market set to continue to grow in the years to come.

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Build better online spaces within weeks

Each short course offers a cross-section of core skills and knowledge from design, technology, education, the social sciences, data science, and digital development. Modules are led by academics and practitioners from education, computer science, theoretical physics, and engineering. All are designers of learning environments and bring their unique disciplinary perspectives to the programme.

This year has challenged organizations to think differently about education and professional development and to design learning interventions in new, innovative, and pragmatic ways.

With practical exercises and assessments, you can put new ideas and approaches to the test straight away when designing effective learning experiences in any setting – online, offline, and blended.

These interdisciplinary skills and knowledge are attractive to employers in any sector involved in designing learning environments. By carrying out design activities and analyzing existing designs, you will quickly build a portfolio of work to showcase your diverse expertise.

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Current short courses in Design for Learning Environments

Each short course is focused on particular elements of the learning experience, helping you to develop the specific skills you need for your career.

Design and design thinking

Learn about the role and skills of the designer, and examine the processes used to develop designs and designed artefacts that deliver user experiences in any learning environment.

Developing digital artefacts for learning

Create your digital artefacts for use in a learning environment, using a piece of contemporary technology.

Applied data science for learning environments

Understand the fundamentals of data analysis using appropriate tools and frameworks to evaluate teaching and learning, and to report findings to a variety of audiences to understand the effectiveness of learning environments.

Perspectives on learning

Explore the different perspectives on how we learn and how to help others learn, evaluating the behavioural, cognitive, social, and networked perspectives on learning and approaches for application in your learning environment.

Sociotechnical learning environments

Analyze learning environments from the perspective of connecting the social, physical, and digital networks of the human and non-human to challenge perspectives of online and offline learning.

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If you prefer, you can take all the courses by enrolling in the online Design for Learning Environment PGCert programme.

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Enrolling in any of these courses will give you access to the same learning experiences as the full PGCert. The Design for Learning Environments short courses are also a great way to get a flavour of the PGCert while allowing you to focus on the elements you need to support your career goals. If you choose to pursue all 60 credits of the PGCert later, any course credits you have earned will count towards the full qualification.

This is your time – study a postgraduate degree 100% online

Become a leader in your field with a 100% online postgraduate degree from the University of Birmingham. One of the UK’s top academic institutions, our programs are career-centred, internationally focused, and expertly taught.

Recognized as a world 'top-100' institution (QS World University Rankings 2024) and a prestigious Russell Group member, the University of Birmingham has been challenging and developing leading minds for more than a century - a tradition that continues today, no matter where or how you study.

• Leading UK provider of distance learning and blended learning
• Ranked in the top 20 for biological and computer science in the UK
• Ranked 19th in the UK for business and management studies
• Top 10 Best Online MBA in Europe
• 3rd most targeted university of top UK employers (High Fliers Research 2023)
• 14th UK University (The Complete University Guide 2024)
• World top-100 university (QS World University Rankings 2023)

The University of Birmingham’s flexible online learning programs will connect you with international faculty and peers, so you gain access to leading scholarly research, crucial career skills, an informed global perspective, and professional links in both private and public sectors.

A leading provider of distance and blended learning within the UK, we use the latest digital learning techniques to ensure that you can study whenever and wherever it suits you.

The University of Birmingham has the strength and variety of programs to suit your individual needs and interests, backed by the academic expertise and influence, support, and facilities of a top 100 public research and teaching university. You’ll benefit from both academic and personal development to achieve success and ensure your degree is an asset in your future prospects.

• 1st AMBA-accredited online MBA and MSc business degrees
• Leading global university with alumni spanning 178 countries
• Nearly 80% of US employers and 70% of Canadian employers are highly receptive to UK degrees.

“Being an online student, I can confidently say that choosing the University of Birmingham for my studies has been one of the best decisions I have made. The University’s world-class reputation and rigorous curriculum have challenged and expanded my knowledge, preparing me to take on real-world business challenges with confidence.” Alexander Oketch, Online MBA, Kenya

We are pleased to offer the following 100% online postgraduate degrees:

• Online MBA
• Online MSc International Management
• Online Masters of Public Administration (short courses available)
• Online LLM in Energy and Environmental Law
• Online MSc Bioinformatics
• Online PGCert Design for Learning Environments (short courses available)

Challenge yourself to push forward the boundaries of knowledge and make an impact on people’s lives – discover more today.