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From Practical Experience to Professional Confidence: Gwennan Thomas on the CDLP Program
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After around 12 months working in e-learning content design and development, Gwennan Thomas had built up plenty of practical experience but she wanted to understand the theory behind it too. The Certified Digital Learning Professional (CDLP) program here at the Digital Learning Institute gave her exactly that: the frameworks, language, and confidence to back up decisions she was already starting to make by instinct.
"I wanted to understand not just how to create digital learning, but why particular approaches worked and how to make informed design decisions."
Hear from Gwennan directly below!
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A Recommendation Worth Following Up
Gwennan had considered a formal qualification for some time but wasn't sure which program was right for her. A friend's recommendation, backed up by her own research, pointed her to the Digital Learning Institute.
"It came highly recommended, and it felt like the perfect opportunity to develop my skills and gain greater confidence in my role."
Learning She Could Apply From Day One
What stood out to Gwennan most was how directly the course content connected to her day job.
"It wasn't just about the learning theory. I could see the connection straight away between the course content and the work I was doing, I could apply what I was learning immediately to my role. I don't think I've ever had that in a course before."
The flexibility of the program mattered just as much, letting her fit study around professional and personal commitments while still following a clear structure. Compared to other courses she'd looked at, this one pushed her to reflect more deeply on her own practice and apply new ideas directly to real projects.
Starting With the Learner, Not the Content
Choosing the instructional design pathway helped Gwennan focus on the skills most relevant to her role. One of the biggest shifts was learning to start with the learner, not the content.
"I now spend a lot more time considering the learner need upfront, things like learner personas, thinking about that audience and what the intended outcomes are, before thinking about what the content will look like or the technology involved."
The program reinforced the importance of starting with clear learning objectives and making sure every element of a learning experience supports them. She also thinks far more carefully now about cognitive load, accessibility, and breaking information into manageable chunks.
"Rather than starting by asking what content do we need to include, I'm more likely to ask: what do people need to be able to do differently after completing the learning?"
A New Way of Working With Subject Matter Experts
That shift has changed how Gwennan works with subject matter experts (SMEs) when developing new content. Before the course, she says she tended to focus on including all the available information, often too much for learners to take in.
"The course has given me far greater confidence to ask questions upfront with SMEs, to constructively question why they need to include something, and ask what learners genuinely need to know and be able to do."
She can now work with SMEs to organize content more clearly, cut unnecessary detail, and build activities that help learners engage and apply what they've learned, resulting in learning experiences she describes as more focused, accessible, and purposeful.
Stepping Back Before Opening the Authoring Tool
Gwennan's biggest takeaway is a shift in where she starts the design process.
"I take a step back now when I'm asked to design a new piece of training, and I don't start with the authoring tool Storyline, Rise, or whatever. I begin by looking at what the learners need, and what successful learning is going to look like."
That means having discussions with the SME to design the structure early on, rather than throwing information straight into an authoring tool. It's made her more intentional in her design decisions, with a clear rationale behind her choices rather than relying purely on instinct or defaulting to the technology.
A Clearer Sense of Professional Direction
The program has confirmed for Gwennan that instructional design and digital learning are the areas she wants to keep building her career in.
"The program has helped me see my work as more than just creating digital content. It's about analysing needs, solving learning problems, and designing meaningful experiences that support people in their roles."
It's also given her the confidence to challenge the initial request from a client or SME when needed, recognizing that a course isn't always the right solution to a performance problem, and feeling better equipped to explore the underlying need instead.
Getting Back on Track After a Setback
Gwennan describes her journey through the CDLP certification as challenging, rewarding, and confidence building. It wasn't entirely straightforward, a period of sickness absence meant she missed around two months of the course, and catching up took real determination.
"The Digital Learning Institute were really supportive and realistic about what I could achieve, and I was really grateful for that. Knowing I could continue at a manageable pace helped me remain motivated, and it made completing the program feel like a particularly meaningful achievement."
Learning Alongside a Wider Community
A clear structure, access to resources, and consistent opportunities for guidance made the experience feel manageable throughout, support that became especially important during her return from sickness absence. The program also gave her the chance to learn from other students' experiences and perspectives, something she values as she stays connected to the wider digital learning community.
If You’re Considering the Program
Gwennan would recommend the course to anyone who wants a deeper understanding of digital learning and more confidence in their design decisions, whether they're building on existing practical experience or newer to the field and looking to build a strong foundation.
"It does require some commitment, of course, but it's definitely very rewarding and an enjoyable course. I've absolutely loved it, because the learning can be applied directly from day one into your day job. It's strengthened my professional knowledge, increased my confidence, and given me a clearer direction for my continued development."
FAQ
Is the course manageable alongside full-time work? Yes. Gwennan found the clear structure and flexible pacing allowed her to fit study around her professional and personal commitments, even after a period of sickness absence.
Is the program practical? Yes. Gwennan applied what she learned directly to her day job from day one, particularly in how she approaches instructional design and works with subject matter experts.
Can it help with career development? Yes. The program gave Gwennan the terminology, frameworks, and confidence to see her work as more than content creation and a clearer sense of direction for her career in digital learning.
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