THE ELEARNING DESIGNER'S ACADEMY
Build Your Skills & Grow Your Career
with Tim Slade
BOOK A CALL WITH TIMGrowing Your eLearning & Instructional Design Career Doesn’t Have to Be Hard…
…You Just Need to Focus on Building Tangible Skills
If you're looking to build your skills and grow your career in eLearning and instructional design, then you know how much noise and gimmicks are out there, trying to make you believe you can have overnight success and land a high-paying job with zero experience and little effort.
But the truth is, there's so much more to becoming a successful eLearning designer or instructional designer than being able to recite the five steps of the ADDIE process, keyword stuffing your LinkedIn profile or resume, or simply building a pretty portfolio that looks like everyone else's.
So, whether you're brand new to eLearning and instructional design, you're trying to transition into it, or you already have some experience under your belt, the number one way to grow your career is to build the tangible skills that hiring managers and clients are looking for.
And with The eLearning Designer's Academy, you'll learn how to grow your eLearning or instructional design skills and career by following Tim Slade's 15 years of real-world experience.
Get the practical skills and techniques used by real-world instructional designers and eLearning developers.
Build Your Portfolio
Demonstrate your skills by building a sample project to showcase in your portfolio.
Elevate Your Career
Expand your opportunities with the in-demand skills that employers are hiring for.
”Before enrolling in The eLearning Designer's Academy, I had no idea what I needed to know or do to start my instructional designer career. Tim helped me gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence to build my portfolio and grow my career. Tim is the expert in this field, and I would highly recommend this program to anyone trying to break into the world of eLearning or instructional design.
Jim Brown, EdDInstructional Designer
Student Stories
The eLearning Designer's Academy is focused on people first. To do this, we strive to help each student reach their potential and achieve success in any way they may define it. See how The eLearning Designer's Academy has helped Marlena, Jim, Kathleen, and Bela grow their eLearning and instructional designer careers.
Marlena Ward-Dodds
Learning Experience Designer
Jim Brown
Freelance eLearning Designer
Kathleen Volk
Instructional Designer
Bela Gaytan
Learning Specialist
Build Your eLearning & Instructional Design Skills
Put your instructional design and eLearning development skills into practice and showcase them in your portfolio. When you enroll, you’ll learn Tim Slade’s step-by-step process with 8 weeks of guided lessons, 20+ hours of video content, and hands-on practice activities to help you master the whole instructional design and eLearning development process by developing a sample project in Articulate Storyline from beginning to end.
Get 1:1 Guidance, Support & Feedback
Get the feedback and guidance to jumpstart your eLearning or instructional design skills and career. When you enroll, you’ll get access to our student-only community, ongoing weekly Zoom hangouts, and personalized one-on-one feedback, guidance, and coaching from Tim Slade, who will help you each step of the way.
Join a Growing Community
Collaborate, network, and continue learning from others who want to champion your success. When you enroll, you’ll gain access to our exclusive student-only community, where you can connect with Tim Slade and your fellow students.
”What I liked most about The eLearning Designer's Academy was that I was able to connect and learn directly from Tim Slade—he was present and helped me every step of the way. Tim's expertise and advice was invaluable. I would recommend The eLearning Designer's Academy to anyone looking to grow their eLearning career.
Marlena Ward-DoddsLearning Experience Designer
What You’ll Get
When you enroll in The eLearning Designer's Academy Multi-Week cohort, you'll get access to the most robust program to help you master the instructional design and eLearning development process, learn how to use Articulate Storyline like a pro, and build a sample project for your portfolio. Regardless of your current level of experience, you'll get all of the personalized guidance and support needed to be successful.
What You’ll Learn
The eLearning Designer's Academy has been expertly designed to guide you through the entire instructional design and eLearning development process from beginning to end. After completion, you'll gain all of the skills needed to build an eLearning course from scratch with Articulate Storyline and showcase it in you portfolio.
Learn at Your Own Pace
Don’t stress about course start or end dates. With lifetime access, you can complete each eLearning academy course at your own pace, with hours of high-quality video lessons, case studies, discussions, and activities.
Pay Once & Learn Forever
Forget about confusing subscriptions, unexpected payments, annoying upsells, or expiration dates. Once you enroll, you’ll get lifetime access to all of our course content (plus future updates) and to our exclusive online community, where you can connect with your fellow students.
Showcase Your Skills
Make sure potential employers or clients see your new skills. In addition to your sample project, after completing each course, you’ll receive a completion certificate, which you can print or share on your LinkedIn profile.
01: eLearning 101
- Define the different types of eLearning
- Describe the benefits of eLearning
- Explain why eLearning development is more complex than other forms of training
- Identify the cost of creating bad eLearning
02: Principles of Instructional Design
- Apply adult learning theory principles
- Conduct a needs analysis
- Create an action map
- Collect your learning content
- Draft learning objectives
- Design a blended learning solution
- Draft a design document
03: Managing Training Projects
- Conduct a kickoff meeting
- Collaborate with your stakeholders and subject matter experts
- Create a training project plan
- Draft a training project timeline
04: Storyboarding & Prototyping for eLearning
- Select an eLearning storyboard format
- Create a course outline
- Draft various slide types
- Select a prototype format
- Create an eLearning prototype
05: Designing Interactive eLearning
- Explain the benefits of interactivity
- Identify the differences between click-to-reveal and decision-based interactions
- Design click-to-reveal interactions
- Design decision-based interactions
- Design branching scenarios
06: Introduction to Articulate Storyline
- Create a new project
- Navigate the Articulate Storyline interface
- Create slide masters
- Create and edit text, images, shapes, and graphics
- Animate on-screen elements with audio narration
- Design basic interactivity with triggers, states, and slide layers
- Create screen recordings and simulations
- Create quiz questions
- Customize the player
- Publish your course
07: Advanced Articulate Storyline
- Create and edit variables
- Create and edit conditional triggers
- Develop personalized interactions
- Develop scenario-based interactions
- Develop custom drag-and-drop interactions
08: Evaluating eLearning
- Measuring learning reaction
- Measuring learning retention
- Measuring learner behavior
- Measuring business results
”As someone looking to transition out of teaching and into eLearning and instructional design, I found The eLearning Designer's Academy incredibly valuable. Tim provided exactly what I was seeking: a comprehensive understanding of the entire eLearning design and development process.
Jennifer TullyLearning & Design Specialist
Who is the Academy & Community For?
Expand Your Portfolio & Grow Your Skills
If you’re an existing instructional designer or eLearning designer, our multi-week cohort program can help you grow your skills and expand your portfolio.
Transition Your Skills to a New Industry
If you’re a former teacher (or soon-to-be former teacher), our multi-week cohort program can help you apply your existing skills to the world of instructional design and eLearning development.
Expand Your Offerings & Build Your Confidence
If you’re a freelance eLearning or instructional designer, our multi-week cohort program can help you build the confidence to expand your offerings with the in-demand skills clients are looking for.
Put Theory into Practice
If you’re a recent college graduate, our multi-week cohort program can help you gain the practical, real-world skills used by instructional designers and eLearning developers.
”The eLearning Designer's Academy is definitely a game-changer for those needing to learn or refresh their eLearning or instructional design skills. Each lesson is very detailed and easy to comprehend. The eLearning Designer's Academy has helped me understand the ins and outs of being an instructional designer and motivated me to continue this path! Also, Tim's Articulate Storyline lessons are remarkable; they have helped to elevate and revamp my eLearning design skills! I highly recommend Tim's eLearning Designer's Academy to anyone looking to learn anything in the world of eLearning or instructional design!
Oscar CarreraInstructional Designer
Benefits that Will Set You Up for Success
In addition to the 8 weeks of guided lessons and hours of self-paced video content, The eLearning Designer’s Academy Multi-Week Cohort is chock-full of tools and resources that will help you grow your career, connect with others, and showcase your new skills.
Personalized Learning Paths
Design a personalized learning path to fit your desired eLearning and instructional design career and development goals.
1:1 Coaching & Feedback
Ask questions and get actionable feedback and 1:1 coaching from your instructor, Tim Slade.
Live Sessions
Network, connect, and learn from your fellow students during our weekly Zoom hangouts.
Completion Certificates
Showcase your achievements with a completion certificate, which you can print or share on your LinkedIn profile.
”Enrolling in The eLearning Designer's Academy has been the greatest investment in my learning experience design journey. Tim is a phenomenal teacher and storyteller: down-to-earth, approachable, and transparent. The community he has created shares in his passion for learning, and I've gained some amazing friendships along the way. Tim's mentorship and guidance have helped me advance my skills, increase my confidence, and become more marketable as a learning professional.
Bela GaytanLearning Experience Designer
Book a Call with Tim Today!
Book a call with Tim today to explore your goals, roadblocks, and questions, so that we can make sure our the multi-week cohort program is the right one for you.
BOOK A CALL WITH TIMFlexible Payment Options to Fit Your Budget
We offer multiple payment options to help make the cost of enrollment fit your budget. You can split the cost into multiple, interest-free payments of 3, 6, or 9 months, OR make a one-time payment and save $500.
3 Monthly Payments of
- Lifetime access to all course content and future updates
- Weekly lesson plans and learning paths
- 1:1 coaching and feedback from Tim Slade
- Ongoing weekly virtual live sessions
- Private community access
- Hands-on practice files and exercises
- Full-color, printed copy of The eLearning Designer’s Handbook
6 Monthly Payments of
- Lifetime access to all course content and future updates
- Weekly lesson plans and learning paths
- 1:1 coaching and feedback from Tim Slade
- Ongoing weekly virtual live sessions
- Private community access
- Hands-on practice files and exercises
- Full-color, printed copy of The eLearning Designer’s Handbook
9 Monthly Payments of
- Lifetime access to all course content and future updates
- Weekly lesson plans and learning paths
- 1:1 coaching and feedback from Tim Slade
- Ongoing weekly virtual live sessions
- Private community access
- Hands-on practice files and exercises
- Full-color, printed copy of The eLearning Designer’s Handbook
One-Time Payment of
- Lifetime access to all course content and future updates
- Weekly lesson plans and learning paths
- 1:1 coaching and feedback from Tim Slade
- Ongoing weekly virtual live sessions
- Private community access
- Hands-on practice files and exercises
- Full-color, printed copy of The eLearning Designer’s Handbook
7-Day, Money-Back Guarantee
Your course purchase is backed by a 7-day, no-questions-asked money-back guarantee. If the academy and community isn’t right for you, let us know within that timeframe, and we’ll issue a refund right away.
Teacher Discounts
Teachers are the backbone of our society. And that’s why we offer a $200 discount to any current or former teachers looking to make the transition into eLearning or instructional design. Simply contact us directly and we’ll get you set up with a discount.
”I came across Tim's book as I was beginning my journey into the instructional design field. While reading it, I realized that Tim was not only an expert on the subject of instructional design, he was also a skilled and masterful teacher. When I discovered that Tim had opened up The eLearning Designer's Academy, I jumped at the opportunity to enroll. Since enrolling, I've made immense progress in my Articulate Storyline and eLearning development skills, while also benefiting from Tim's mentorship.
Daniel LeitchInstructional Designer

Meet Your Instructor
Tim Slade
Hi, I’m Tim Slade, and I’m a speaker, author, and award-winning freelance eLearning designer. Having spent the last decade working to help others elevate their eLearning and instructional design content, I have been recognized and awarded within the learning and development industry multiple times for my creative and innovative design aesthetics. I’m also a regular speaker at international eLearning and instructional design conferences, a recognized Articulate Super Hero, a LinkedIn Learning instructor, author of The eLearning Designer’s Handbook, and creator of The eLearning Designer’s Academy.

Frequently Asked Questions
How does the enrollment process work?
Because we only accept 10 new students per month, we want to make sure our program is the right one to help you accomplish your goals. And so, to best do that, we’ve implemented a simple interview process for each of our students.
Once you book a call with Tim, he’ll meet with you to understand your current goals, roadblocks, and how you hope our program can help you. This time will also let Tim answer any questions about how the program works, etc. After the call, if it seems like our program is a good fit for you, we’ll send you a link to enroll.
And if we don’t think the program is a right fit for you, we still want you to be successful. In that case, Tim will provide you with guidance and feedback to point you in the right direction.
When does the program start?
Our multi-week cohort program is designed to work with you and your schedule. And because we accept students on an ongoing basis (with a max of 10 students per month), the program starts whenever you’re ready to start! Upon enrollment, you’ll be onboarded to the program, and you’ll be able to jump in and start learning right away.
What makes this program different from the others?
Well, that’s perhaps the most important question! Here’s the thing: there are many different eLearning, instructional design, and portfolio bootcamps, masterclasses, and academies out there. What makes The eLearning Designer’s Academy different is that it’s based on Tim Slade’s 15 years’ worth of practical, real-world experience.
While some programs charge $5,000+ dollars to teach you how to build a pretty portfolio website or how to keyword stuff your LinkedIn profile and resume, our program is designed to equip you with the things that hiring managers are actually looking for from their candidates: tangible skills.
So, when you enroll in The eLearning Designer’s Academy, you’ll learn how to apply solid instructional design and adult learning theories to create engaging and interactive eLearning. To do that, you’ll learn how to conduct a needs analysis, how to manage a training project, how to write an eLearning storyboard, how to create a prototype, and how to develop a course from beginning to end in Articulate Storyline.
By the time you finish, you’ll walk away with a portfolio and interview-ready sample project, which you can use to showcase your skills and land your next eLearning or instructional design job.
How does this program work? Will I be in a cohort with others?
Great question! Our program is specifically designed for the best of both worlds. While you can access and watch all of the course content at your own pace, you’ll also receive eight weeks of expertly designed lesson plans. Each lesson plan contains a task list, which will guide you through that week’s content, including lessons to watch, assignments to complete, discussion questions to answer, etc. In addition, you’ll have the opportunity to join your fellow cohort members each week on Zoom to connect, network, and continue your learning.
What happens after the eight-week program ends?
This is the best part! After you’ve completed the eight-week program, you’ll have lifetime access to all of the course content (plus future courses and updates), along with access to the private online community and weekly Zoom hangouts, where you can continue learning with your fellow cohort members.
What is the weekly time commitment?
We’ve designed our program to be flexible enough to fit your schedule. Because you get lifetime access to all of the course content, including the ongoing live sessions, you don’t have to complete the program within the eight weeks and you can move at your own pace. However, most students commit about 5 – 8 hours per week.
How much coaching and feedback will I receive?
We believe one-on-one coaching and feedback is a critical component to your success. When you enroll, you’ll have the opportunity to schedule four 30-minute coaching sessions with Tim Slade. This tends to be the right amount of time for most of our students; however, if you need additional assistance, support or guidance, we’re happy to provide extra time as necessary on a case-by-case basis. The goal is always to make sure you feel supported.
As for feedback on your work, there’s no limit! When you enroll, you’ll receive lifetime access to our student-only area, where you can submit your work to receive feedback from your fellow cohort students and from Tim as often as you’d like.
What if I don't have any previous experience?
No worries! Even if you’ve never written a storyboard, touched Articulate Storyline, or designed eLearning, this program is designed to guide you every step of the way, regardless of your current level of experience.
What technology or software do I need to participate?
At the very minimum, you’ll need a computer with Microsoft Word and PowerPoint (or similar programs) installed, along with the ability to attend Zoom meetings. You’ll also need the most current versions of Articulate Storyline 360. If you’re not ready to invest in Articulate Storyline; you can participate by signing up for a trial version of Articulate 360.
Please refer to Articulate 360’s system requirements to make sure your computer will be compatible.
What if I can't attend the weekly live sessions?
Totally get it! Our students are located all over the globe, and many of them have hectic schedules. The weekly live sessions occur twice per week on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays at 12 PM, 3 PM, 6 PM, or 9 PM ET (New York Time).
And don’t worry if you can’t make it; each session is recorded, and you can submit your questions ahead of time and watch it on your own time. Also, the live sessions are ongoing and open to any past, present, or future cohort students. That means you’ll be welcome to continue attending the live sessions as often as you’d like after the eight-week cohort has ended.
Do you offer payment plans?
Yep, we sure do! We offer multiple payment options to help make the cost of enrollment fit your budget. You can split the cost into multiple, interest-free payments of 3, 6, or 9 months, OR make a one-time payment and save $500.
However, remember, if you decide to enroll with a payment plan, you are committing to making the full and complete payments until the total enrollment fee is paid in full. The payment plan options are not a subscription that you can pause or cancel.
What if I enroll and I don't like it?
Not a problem! We offer a 7-day money-back guarantee. If the program isn’t right for you, let us know within that timeframe, and we’ll issue a refund. It’s that simple!
What if I have more questions?
Great! We love answering your questions. Feel free to contact us by clicking on the menu button in the top-right corner and sending us a message OR email Tim directly at [email protected]!