three simple truths to being a learning designer
You can quote the differences between ID frameworks all you want but the reality is learning design boils down to three fundamental skills:
“Jazz hands”
no matter the topic, enthusiasm is a ‘fake it till you make it’ non-negotiable. It might feel like a tough ask but always go in with the assumption it is interesting (else why would this person have devoted so much time to it!) You will always get better content from people when they feel like you are genuinely listening and want to nurture an appreciation for this topic with them. So lean in and expect to design a show-stopping number – a high value, juicy learning nugget, that brings the house down – you might surprise yourself!
Soft power
a common notion is to facilitate the learning design process as if it were a bucket getting filled with stuff, especially with so many templates to fill in… but the bucket shape is malleable and your great ideas can be gently thrown in during the conversation, without instructing the design. “This reminds me of that xyz analogy” or “I’m having difficulty visualising that concept… wow that would be an incredible animation” etc. Channel your inner Machiavelli and seek only the reward of a great course design (which you made happen!)
Visual pedantry
give a person a fish and they’ll eat for a day, but give them a working draft document with strict instructions to reflect only on the structure and flow, and not worry about the gaps or typos, and you guessed it, you’re getting a lot of typo spotting. You could have the most perfect course but just one irregular size image or a spelling mistake on an infographic and that is all you will be judged on. Humans love spotting patterns but they love to spot an error even more. Get there before them. The more pedantic you can train yourself to be before it is released into the wild world of feedback, the happier your life will be.
Leave a Reply