What Is Learning Design?

Learning Design

Learning design is the process of methodically and deliberately crafting learning experiences based on educational theory (ex. ADDIE model, SAM model, Backward Design model, Assure, etc.). At Fulton Schools of Engineering, we often use the Backward Design model.

Starting with the end in mind helps ensure alignment between course objectives, assessments, and instructional activities in order to improve student learning outcomes.

Learning Design Benefits for Faculty and Students

Learning design enables instructors to focus on content rather than the Learning Management System.

Learning and teaching has evolved as new technologies have emerged. The debut of the personal computer, in combination with the Internet, has allowed for exponential growth with regards to the ways instructors deliver instruction and assess student learning. They have also had an impact on how students consume content, internalize its meaning, and demonstrate their ability to use that information. These technological advances have allowed instructors to develop and deploy content that can be used to support residential learning experiences across all instructional modalities, such as: 

Face-to-Face	Online	Hybrid

When incorporating learning design strategies into each of these modalities, the pedagogical approach is nearly the same when using the Backward Design process. This assists in creating learning experiences and instructional strategies to achieve specific learning outcomes. This is true not only for a new course development, but it also directly relates to existing course revisions, module revisions, all the way down to an activity for a specific lesson.