Elements of Design

There are many overlapping terms when discussing Learning Design as a field. While we cannot design learning itself, what we can do is design for learning, such that assessment tasks, formative activities, and learning materials are conducive to students learning what we want them to learn.

To assist in this process, LDDI has provided a number of resources and worksheets located in the left hand menu.

Before you dig in, there are a number of terms used in these resources that may need further clarification, as some educators may use different terms to describe the same thing.

*Note that there are some courses including MOOCs that do not need to measure student learning, and instead provide students with more reflective and transformative learning experiences that may not apply to some of the principles outlined on this site.

Course Goals / Aims: The goals that the instructor has for learners in the course, usually from a course-centric and teacher centred perspective. e.g., “I want students to gain an understanding of X”

Learning Outcomes: Also known as Learning Objectives, these are descriptors of measurable skills that learners will take into the workplace after completing a unit of learning such as a course or program. Learning Outcomes can be hierarchical and may take the form of the following:

• Institutional Graduate Capabilities
  • Faculty Graduate Capabilities
    • Degree Learning Outcomes
      • Program Learning Outcomes
        • Stream Learning Outcomes
          • Course Learning Outcomes
            • Unit Learning Outcomes
              • Lesson / Activity Learning Outcomes.

Assessment Task: Usually known as an assignment, this task is set for students to allow them to be assessed against learning outcomes. Summative Assessment tasks measure course outcomes, while formative tasks may measure unit outcomes during learning and acquisition process.

Formative Activities: These encompass any Learning Activities present in the course – group work, discussions, field trips or any activity that allows students to explore and make connections based on newly acquired information.

Learning Materials: The content – any readings, videos, lectures or other resources that provide novel information to the learner as a starting point to allowing them to integrate this new knowledge into their existing understanding of the topic.