eLearning Design

After your analysis, prepare for delivery

What is learning designWhen a learning designer plans learning activities and content for an online unit, the term ‘learning design’ is used to describe the form of the learning environment; in essence, the pedagogy. There are countless ways to present material to learners.

The concept of a learning design helps designers to choose appropriate learning experiences for both the learners and for what is to be learned. The learning design used in online learning materials describes the strategies used by the learning designer to engage the learners. It is a plan for learning that comprises a deliberate set of learning tasks, resources and supports.

The actual learning tasks are structured so that the learning is stepped, sequenced and scaffolded. Resources and supports assist in this scaffolding.

Google: skinners zone of proximal development

Discrete features of online learning designs

When online learning experiences are planned, there are three discrete elements that need to be addressed

These are:

1. Learning tasks - the contexts, processes and conditions by which the learner is engaged and immersed within a learning setting and led to digest information, practice, apply, think and reflect.

2. Learning resources - the materials containing the information, content and underpinning knowledge the learner needs to acquire or develop a strong familiarity with.

3. Learning supports - the strategies and processes that assist the learner to work beyond their comfort zone which scaffolds and provides feedback, advice and provides support for reflection.

In face-to-face teaching, teachers often make many decisions and judgments in relation to resources and supports in real-time. In online settings, these need to be planned and developed as part of the learning design process.

Learning resourcesbooks, papers articles, notes, documents Manuals, references weblinks, case studies lectures

Tutorials, quizzes simulations, worksheets

Teams collaboration tutorials conferences peers, mentors

Scaffolds heuristics strategies templates

Oliver, R. (1999). Exploring strategies for online teaching and learningOliver, R. (1999). Exploring strategies for online teaching and learning

Learning supportschedules Instruction’s procedures announcements

Learning Tasksproblems investigation’s projects tasksrole plays

Learning tasksAt the fundamental level of a learning experience are learning tasks which represent discrete activities undertaken by learners. A learning task is essentially something which a learner undertakes which has a defined endpoint or outcome. Examples of learning tasks include:

1. Reading a section of text. 2. Completing a checklist. 3. Undertaking a quiz. 4. Searching the web to find some information. 5. Participating in an online discussion.6. Adding reflections to a blog. 7. Completing an online tutorial.

Recall that…In designing a learning environment, a learning designer must plan learning tasks in deliberate ways to ensure the intended learning outcomes are achieved.

A learning design is a framework that organises a structure for the learning tasks chosen by the learning designer.

Remember Gagne?

• 1. Gain attention• 2. Inform learners of objectives• 3. Stimulate recall of prior learning• 4. Present the content• 5. Provide "learning guidance”• 6. Elicit performance (practice)• 7. Provide feedback• 8. Assess performance• 9. Enhance retention and transfer to the job

First things first… (step one)• Use the blooms taxonomy to specify the learning outcomes for all the topics

lets consult the factors that should influence our design -our analysis

(refer to the notes on design research)

Characteristics of task directed learning designs

This learning design is characterized by the following attributes:

1. learning is set within a realistic context (eg a virtual workplace, industry setting)2. The learner is cast as an employee/worker within a virtual workplace3. The learner is led sequentially through the learning process involving a deliberate

set of contextualizing activities 4. Each activity focuses on developing learners’ familiarity with information and

content through description and practice activities5. Each activity provides interactions that stimulate reflection6. The learner can access other resources if required (eg how to communicate)7. The final component of the setting is a directed consolidating activity that provides

opportunities to practice what has been learned in a contextualized and holistic activity

8. learning is assessed through measures of success in the consolidation task requiring application of knowledge

Characteristics of task guided learning designs

This learning design is characterized by the following:

1. learning is set within a realistic context, task-oriented approach (eg resolving a problem scenario; completing a project)

2. The learner acts as an employee/worker within a virtual workplace3. The learner is guided through a series of activities designed to achieve

the pre-determined product/endpoint4. The activities cause the learner to deal with the inherent content and

information through decisions and reflections needed to complete the activity

5. Gaps in knowledge are self-identified by learners and filled as needed through accompanying resources

6. The learning finishes with the completion of the product/task 7. Learning is assessed through measures of success in holistic tasks

involving application of knowledge.

Characteristics of task autonomous learning designs

This learning design is characterised by the following:

1. learning is set within a realistic context, task-oriented approach that leads to an authentic product or artefact

2. The learner acts as an employee/worker within a virtual workplace3. The learner makes their own decisions to plan and develop the product or artefact4. Support is provided in the form of guidelines, information and underpinning

knowledge5. Learning comes from problem solving and strategic decision making experiences

and reflections where the learner makes decisions and reflects on consequences6. Gaps in knowledge are identified and filled by learners at their discretion through

accompanying resources7. support includes collaboration with tutors, peers, mentors and workplace

colleagues 8. The learning finishes with the completed product or artefact 9. Learning is assessed through measures of the quality of the product or artefact.