Develop expertise in Learning Sciences through self-paced certificate courses.
Free to Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellows and Hubs
We are thrilled to accompany you on your learning journey! Our courses are developed specifically for those in the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship; they are high-quality, practical, and designed to integrate into your Hub activities. Whether you are looking to master a brand-new skill, dive deep into specialized knowledge, or simply explore a new curiosity, you’ve come to the right place.
Course registration is quick and free, just follow these simple steps:
- Register for a course: Browse the course catalog below and click “Register” to select any series of courses that catch your eye.
- Check your email: Check your inbox for a confirmation email from LSFI@cmu.edu, which includes links to your courses.
- Click a course to access: Clicking a link in the email will add it to your library in Torus, where you can access it in the future.
Learn Your Way
Everyone’s educational journey is unique, and there is no mandatory sequence or pre-determined order to our curriculum.
- Start anywhere: If a topic interests you, jump in! You don’t need to complete one course to access another.
- Learn at your own pace: Your progress is saved automatically, so you can pick up exactly where you left off.
- Customize your path: Bounce between different courses or focus entirely on a series/ topic area.
Complete all the courses in a series to receive a digital certificate of completion to add to your resume or LinkedIn profile.
Course Library
Intro to Learning Engineering
Learning Engineering, pioneered by Herb Simon at Carnegie Mellon University, blends science and technology to optimize learning outcomes, improving effectiveness and efficiency. This interdisciplinary field integrates insights from learning sciences, instructional design, data analytics, and technology to develop learning solutions.
- E-Learning Foundational Theories and Principles
- Designing Clear Learning Goals
- Designing Assessments for Learning
This course sequence is not only useful for instructional technologists, but anyone who supports edtech (in any role) can benefit from this foundational course.
Learn more about this series or register.
Multimedia for e-Learning
The Multimedia Principles outline guidelines for effective multimedia inclusion in e-learning. These principles are crucial for learning because they optimize how learners engage with instructional materials, enhancing comprehension, retention, and transfer of knowledge. The Multimedia Principles are covered in three courses:
- Essential Learning: Focusing on Key Elements
- Efficient Learning: Minimizing Mental Strain
- Generative Learning: Promoting In-depth Understanding
This foundational course sequence is especially relevant to Instructional Designers, UX Designers, and Developers who craft e-learning experiences.
Learn more about this series or register.
Evidence to Action: Using Data and Research to Drive Learning in EdTech Products
The series Evidence to Action: Using Data and Research to Drive Learning in EdTech Products explores how data can be used to understand learning, improve experiences, and make better decisions. The concepts are covered in three courses:
- From Data to Impact: Using Data to Support Learning
- Introduction to Research for EdTech Innovators
- Learning Analytics for Smarter Product Design
By the end of this series, you’ll be able to use data confidently across your work, moving from simple observation to structured research and advanced analytics to design better learning experiences and drive meaningful impact.
Learn more about these courses or register.
AI in Education: From Foundations to Innovations
Embark on a comprehensive journey into the world of Artificial Intelligence and its transformative impact on education, spanning topics from foundational AI to cutting-edge application of AI in educational technology.
- AI Overview from Machine Learning to GenAI
- Using GenAI to Improve Your Edtech Workflow
- Integrating Learner-Facing GenAI Into Your Product
You’ll gain a solid understanding of how machines learn, think, and generate human-like content. As you progress, you’ll bridge theory and practice, learning how to integrate Generative AI into educational products by harnessing the power of Large Language Models and APIs to create intelligent, responsive learning tools.
Learn more about this series or register.
Educational Game Design
The Educational Game Design series explores how games can be used to teach, engage, and inspire. By the end of this series, you’ll have the skills to design and develop educational games that are both fun and effective, using proven strategies to make learning more engaging and impactful. Courses include:
- Foundations of Educational Game Design
- Learning Sciences and Educational Games
- Designing and Developing Educational Games
Whether you’re an educator, instructional designer, or aspiring game creator, this series will guide you through the fundamentals of designing effective games.
Learn more about this series or register.
Cultivating Personal and Interpersonal Growth in EdTech
In this course series, we explore ways to foster personal and interpersonal growth in e-learning environments. Personal growth includes self-awareness, resilience, and adaptability, while interpersonal growth enhances our ability to communicate, collaborate, and empathize with others. Two courses make up this series:
- Integrating Mindset and Social Emotional Learning in EdTech
- Integrating Collaborative Learning in EdTech
Together, these growth aspects ensure a well-rounded development, preparing individuals to navigate both their inner landscapes and external interactions effectively.
Learn more about this series or register.
Motivation by Design: Helping Learners Stick with your EdTech Product
This course series explores how to design EdTech experiences that do more than capture attention, they support lasting learner motivation, confidence, and growth. Grounded in learning science and product design, the series equips you with the tools to move beyond surface-level engagement and build products that learners return to because they’re genuinely invested. Motivation is explored through three courses:
- Designing for Motivation in EdTech
- Designing Product Experiences that Motivate Learners
- Supporting and Sustaining Motivation Over Time
Whether you’re creating a new learning tool or improving an existing one, this series will give you the insight and strategies to design for motivation at every stage – so learners don’t just get started, they keep going.
Learn more about this series or register.
Carnegie Mellon University’s online courses are offered through Torus, a next-generation open platform for developing, delivering, improving, and researching adaptive learning experiences.
