Stepping Stones

The modern learning designer recognizes that they can’t actually design every step of the learner’s journey.

But they look for solid stepping stones they can put in place along the way.

What’s the Difference: Learning Designer vs. Instructional Designer?

Someone got to my blog the other day by searching on “what’s the difference between learning designers and instructional designers?”

Good question.

In my last job, I was the Manager of Instructional Design.  Now I’m the VP of Learning Design.

Did I make the leap because I work for the UK mothership – and that’s what they call it across the pond?

Are we – as in the collective we of the eLearning ‘industry’ – making a conscious shift away from Instructional Designer since no one on the outside knows what that means?

Is Learning Designer more descriptive?  Is it more all encompassing?  Am I now thinking about learning solutions – all the myriad ways to help someone actually learn – not just how to feed someone up with a little instructional tidbit?

Is this a general trend or just me?

What do you think??

Rise Up and sing you e-Learning designers of the 21st Century

He calls it unashamed promotion, which I guess it is. But it's more than that. I thought Patrick Dunn did a nice job presenting the difference between e-learning designers of the "last century" who follow the addie method to create courses (click me, read me) and thus bored learners, vs. today's e-learning designers who "create experiences".

At least they "create experiences" theoretically, under the best possible circumstances. I think the issue is that most of us e-learning designers are still trying to convince our clients to have us build experiences rather than lockstep page turners...

As a result, he says, for today's e-learning designers to do their jobs well, we need to:

• revel in complexity and uncertainty
• grow their theoretical knowledge daily
• walk the (digital) walk
• thrive on new ideas

I'm trying, man. I'm trying.