Learning Experience Design

How to Create Effective Learning that Works

Kogan Page, 2021

15 min read

9 take-aways

Audio & text

What's inside?

So many learners – so many ways to learn.

1×

Editorial Rating

Qualities

Applicable
Well Structured
Concrete Examples

Recommendation

While repetitive in places and a bit scattershot, this guide to Learning Experience Design (LXD) provides a sound reference manual for designers. The internet has transformed how people learn, but learning itself remains an “effortful” experience. Designers should understand how people learn to deliver experiences with high impact and good retention. Pedagogy struggles to keep pace with all the new ways people encounter information: interactive videos, podcasts, video talks and how-to videos on YouTube, among others. LX designers should follow the approach of “less is more” to maximize engagement.

Summary

Learning is work. LXD must deliver experiences that enable retention and retrieval.

Learners do the work of learning – a complex process with a “long tail.” Learning experience design (LXD) acknowledges this process. It starts with learning as a goal, selects experiences that achieve that goal, and designs the process through which learning happens. LXD designers must build to specifications that allow for learner retrieval, retention, reinforcement of memory, practice, transfer and knowledge application. The learning experience is not as important as what the learner uses and remembers.

Learning theory is “sketchy” at best, even among learning professionals, because teachers rely on practice, not theory. Many learning policy makers overlook science on attention, cognitive overload and memory in favor of learning theories with no scientific underpinnings, such as Myers-Briggs, the Mozart Effect and L/R brain theory, among others. LXD designers can learn from online experiences featuring pared-down, simple interfaces that engage users and build habits. Learning apps like Duolingo, for example, capitalize on the human need for nudges, rewards and reminders...

About the Author

Donald Clark is a visiting professor at the UK’s University of Derby and the founder and CEO of Wildfire Learning.

Comment on this summary

Sign in to share your opinion
J. M. 4 months ago

I like the summary

More on this topic

By the same author

Book

Learning Technology

Podcast

The Potential of Generative AI for L&D With Donald Clark

In our Journal

8 months ago

Journal Article

Become A Learning Content Curator

Here are the top 3 rules for learning content curation in organizational learning. No one can draw a blueprint for a one-size-fits-all, perfectly curated learning ecosystem. No two organizations face the same challenges and circumstances simultaneously. That’s why many organizations continue to rely on in-house productions and homegrown training materials to deliver learning content. Yet, as […]

9 months ago

Journal Article

Remove the Top 5 Engagement Blockers in Corporate Learning

In most cases, the problems are homemade.

10 months ago

Journal Article

Use AI to Personalize and Gamify Your L&D Ecosystem

New technologies and strategies support just-in-time learning. To support an agile workforce in the face of constant change, learning and development (L&D) professionals are applying agile and lean business approaches to employee training. Often described as “adaptive learning,” the goal is to provide the precise information workers need when they need it. Adaptive learning integrates […]

1 year ago