Let’s Be Honest, Getting Started Is the Hardest Part
If you’ve ever stared at a blank course shell thinking, “Okay… where do I even begin?” you are absolutely not alone.
Whether you’re brand new to instructional design or just trying to get more organized, that “starting point” can feel like the hardest part of the entire process. Not because you don’t know what you’re doing, but because there are too many directions you could go.
Do you start with objectives? Content? Activities? Assessments?
Do you build everything from scratch? Borrow? Adapt?
It’s a lot.
That’s exactly why I created the Instructional Design Starter Kit, a practical, no-fluff collection of tools to help you move from “Where do I start?” to “Okay, I’ve got this.”
👉 You can check it out here: https://calicoos.polsia.app/starter-kit
Let me walk you through what’s inside and how it can actually help you.
What Is the Instructional Design Starter Kit?
The Instructional Design Starter Kit is a curated bundle of templates, checklists, and quick-reference tools designed to help you:
- Plan courses more efficiently
- Stay organized throughout the design process
- Avoid common mistakes
- And actually finish what you start (we’ve all got half-built courses somewhere…)
Think of it as your instructional design “toolbox”, ready when you need it.
What’s Inside the Kit?
Here’s a quick breakdown of what you’ll get:
📝 Worksheets (Your Planning Foundation)
These help you think through your course before you start building:
- Needs Analysis
- ADDIE Template
- Learning Objectives Builder
- Course Outline Template
💡 These are your “pause and think” tools, the ones that save you hours later.
✅ Checklists (Your Built-In Safety Net)
Because we all forget things, especially when juggling multiple projects.
- Assessment Checklist
- Course Review Checklist
These help you catch:
- Alignment issues
- Missing elements
- Accessibility gaps
- And those “oh wow, I completely skipped that” moments
⚡ Quick Wins (For When You Need Fast Progress)
Sometimes you don’t have weeks, you’ve got an hour.
- 1-Hour Fix Plan
- Common Mistakes Guide
Perfect for:
- Tight deadlines
- Last-minute course improvements
- Or just getting unstuck
🎁 Bonus Templates (Because You’ll Actually Use These Daily)
These are the pieces you’ll come back to again and again:
- Module Template
- Discussion Prompts
- Announcement Templates
💬 Translation: less time writing from scratch, more time focusing on what actually matters.
Who Is This For?
Short answer: probably you.
But more specifically, this kit is designed for:
- Aspiring instructional designers trying to build their first portfolio
- Faculty transitioning into online or hybrid teaching
- Instructional designers who want a more streamlined workflow
- Anyone tired of reinventing the wheel every time they build a course
If you’ve ever thought, “There has to be an easier way to do this…”, this is that way.
Why I Created This (A Quick Behind-the-Scenes Moment)
This didn’t come from theory; it came from real work.
After years of:
- Building courses
- Supporting faculty
- Fixing the same issues over and over
- And answering the same “Where do I start?” question…
…I realized something:
People don’t need more information.
They need structure.
They need tools that:
- Guide their thinking
- Reduce overwhelm
- And help them take action quickly
So I pulled together the exact types of resources I use (and recommend every day) and packaged them into one place.
How to Use the Starter Kit (Without Overcomplicating It)
You don’t have to use everything at once.
Here’s a simple way to start:
- Use the Needs Analysis + Objectives worksheet to define your direction
- Map your course with the Course Outline template
- Build using the Module Template
- Check your work with the Course Review Checklist
- Use Quick Wins when you’re short on time
That’s it. No complicated system required.
Ready to Get Started?
If you’re ready to stop overthinking and start building, the Starter Kit is ready for you.
👉 Get the Instructional Design Starter Kit here:
https://calicoos.polsia.app/starter-kit
🐾 Your Turn
What’s the hardest part of instructional design for you right now...getting started, staying organized, or finishing strong?
Drop a comment or share your thoughts,I’d love to hear where you’re getting stuck (and help you get unstuck).