Should you be? What does it mean to design and how can this help learners?
I think that it's fair to say that for many people the word design brings to mind images of 'artistic types' who create graphic images, architectural plans, magazines and advertising. However in its true sense, design is about creatively designing solutions to problems - and isn't this what educational design is all about?
The first step for learning professionals therefore is to begin to 'think like a designer'. Later I'll elaborate on this point.
The second step fits more into the popular view of design. There is a real opportunity for learning designers to ensure that the materials used in the learning process utilise visual and graphic design concepts as effectively as possible to help the communication of ideas and the learning process.
In the readings section of this site you will find a range of suggested design books to read.
Designing Learning
Designing effective learning is not a straightforward, step-by-step process, but instead it is more a matter of designing a way forward. It is a creative process.
Designing effective learning is not a straightforward, step-by-step process, but instead it is more a matter of designing a way forward. It is a creative process.
You've probably noticed that I prefer to use of the term 'Learning Design' rather than the more regular 'Instructional Design'. Why? I approach my work from the perspective of designing a way forward for learners to take them from where they are now to where they would like to be. To me this put the learner at the centre of what I do, so therefore I am a person who DESIGNS learning.
A very worthwhile book to read on the design process is the book, The Designful Company by Marty Neumeier. I reviewed this book shortly after its release in early 2009, reading the book made me think about what it is that I do.
In 'The Designful Company', Herbert Laureate, social scientist/Nobel prize winner, is quoted defining what it is to be a designer,
A very worthwhile book to read on the design process is the book, The Designful Company by Marty Neumeier. I reviewed this book shortly after its release in early 2009, reading the book made me think about what it is that I do.
In 'The Designful Company', Herbert Laureate, social scientist/Nobel prize winner, is quoted defining what it is to be a designer,
"Everyone designs who devises courses
of action aimed at changing existing
situations into preferred ones"
Using an example that could almost be written for learning designers, Neumeier talks of the creative gap between "What is" and "What could be". It is this gap that learning designers are seeking to bridge. It can also be visualised as:
This encourages learning designers to move beyond 'off-the-shelf' solutions and to move into a true DESIGN mode. Again borrowing from Neumeier this is to contrast:
1a situation where a learning designer analyses the learning outcomes required and then chooses from an existing 'set' of learning solutions.
1a situation where a learning designer analyses the learning outcomes required and then chooses from an existing 'set' of learning solutions.
versus
2 true learning designers who 'make' a new set of learning solutions
2 true learning designers who 'make' a new set of learning solutions
The learning designer then implements the best of these. This making process is the true essence of design, it is the creative process, using 'reflection in action' to create innovative new learning solutions.
Reading design books, and considering learning design as a subset of design generally is to place the the learning design process firmly in the creative, innovative realm. Successfully building learning solutions for organisations and individuals requires the same types of creativity as marketing and advertising. Learning design is about creating learning solutions that engage learners, keeps their attention, are memorable and become embedded in practice!
Reading design books, and considering learning design as a subset of design generally is to place the the learning design process firmly in the creative, innovative realm. Successfully building learning solutions for organisations and individuals requires the same types of creativity as marketing and advertising. Learning design is about creating learning solutions that engage learners, keeps their attention, are memorable and become embedded in practice!