Learning Experience Design embodies a holistic approach to how we teach and train learners. It is focused on the learners' experience and it is aligned with the human-center design philosophy. But what does that mean in practice?
1. Its focus is on the learner
When we approach the development of any educational endeavor with a focus on the learner - not the instruction - it shifts our perspective. Thus, as a learning designer consultant, during the analysis phase, I will create a thorough socio-cultural narrative description of the learners, which will become the learners' profiles. This narrative will contain a range of information from physical, social, and cultural influences. All of this data will be taken into consideration and referenced throughout the entire process.
2. It approaches design as human-centered.
As the learner becomes the focus of the design a few elements become essential for the development of the instruction, such as the aforementioned learner's profile, accessibility (Universal Design), motivation (purpose), among others. In other words, the created design needs to be accessible by all, it must be purpose-driven as it should be meaningful to learners. There is no one right way of achieving this, however, if we have the learners' needs as our priority and make our due diligence in researching and choosing the correct tools, it is highly likely that our design will be successful.
3. It is transdisciplinary.
Coined by the Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget in the 1970's, the term transdisciplinary refers to the plurality of intellectual thinking, in the sense that knowledge cannot be confined within rigid discipline boundaries and a handful of individuals. One example is when learners also become subject matter experts within the LXD intervention. Bringing their values and knowledge to the table transforms the experience into a multi-level, cross-knowledge, integrative engagement, which is more likely to succeed in complex environments, such as a multicultural/racial contexts.
4. It is science-based and measurable.
In the realm of academia as so in the corporate world, scientific methods and measurable outcomes are not only desired, but persued. The field of Instructional Design, which is the basis of all the variations in titles and names, including LXD, is well-established and has years of research backing up its methods and techniques. Its systematic approach allows us to measure the effectiveness and outcomes of the project. A major part of its success is the ongoing evaluation process that allows all participants such as subject matter experts, learners and other stakeholders to be involved and contribute with their own feedback.
5. It evolves with innovation.
The idea of the title Learning Experience Design is an innovation in itself. Not just because it sounds good, but because it embraces the shift in the educational paradigm that we have been experiencing over the last decades. And even though it stems out of the ID field, it brings new nuances to the process such as learning as an experience, not merely as an event. By doing that it absorbs and reflects new educational trends that take learners emotions and motivation into account when designing educational projects. More than ever, people desire a sense of meaning into all areas of their lives, including how they perceive their own education and personal growth.
Sources
Rothwell, W. J., Benscoter, G. M., King, M., & King, S. B. (2016). Mastering the instructional design process: A systematic approach. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons.
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