Five skills that set top learning designers apart

While learning designers are expected to use their initiative to research a subject and create the required project documents, ultimately, no learning designer is an island! For a learning solution to stand out, learning designers should work collaboratively with the project team to ensure that the development process is smooth and that details set out in storyboarding translate accurately to the real thing! Additionally, learning designers should work closely with any project subject matter experts (SMEs) to add further value and depth to the content and understand how best to relay the information in an e-learning context.

Due to the responsibility of drawing up project scripts and storyboards, learning designers can be viewed as the middlemen between the expectations set out in the initial stages of a project and the finished solution. During those initial stages, terms are set for the project – ie the development tool, technical specification, mixed media requirements, budget and deadline. Ultimately, learning designers have a responsibility to apply the resources of a project creatively and effectively, to ensure that a solution achieves its objectives and stands out, whilst staying within the agreed specification.

Learning designers are in charge of the content for a project and that process does not end with the storyboarding stage. Not only should a learning designer conduct their own research to develop a thorough understanding of the project subject matter prior to storyboarding, they should also keep an eye on changes and requests made throughout the process which may have a knock-on effect for the course content at large.

In an ideal world, all projects would be in-scope, on time and within budget – but the best learning designers will tell you that the ability to respond creatively and reach compromises as a result of problems in a project is an essential part of the job! The ability to find effective solutions whilst staying true to course objectives and requirements is crucial.

Learning designers should be able to approach projects from the target learner’s perspective and design a solution which will meet that individual’s needs. They should also have the adaptability and intellect to delve into a vast range of subjects and transform any source material into an effective, engaging and accessible learning solution. Ultimately, it is a learning designer’s passion for learning itself that enables them to make the learning they produce meaningful to others.