Learning experience design, or LXD, has roots in the field of design but has grown into an interdisciplinary practice. Elements of design such as user experience and interaction design have been incorporated with aspects of the field of learning such as cognitive psychology and instructional design to build a new and innovative form of teaching that focuses on the learner’s experience. LXD’s origin in design gives it a unique perspective on the learning process. It is concerned more with the experience of the learner than other teaching methods.

What is Learning Experience Design? (LXD)

According to The Organization of Learning Experience Design, learning experience design is the process of creating learning experiences that enable the learner to achieve the desired learning outcome in a human-centered and goal-oriented way. This is done by first adapting principles of design to focus on creating a successful learning experience. The adapted principles originate from the fields of user experience design, interaction design, and even game design. These adapted design principles are then combined with traditional instruction methods to create a learning experience that is both natural for the learner and successful from the perspective of the teacher.

Learning Experience Design Process

Of course, the specific process of designing a learning experience will vary depending on the situation, but here is a brief list of the common steps in the learning experience design process.

● Question
Begin by asking a question that needs to be answered, or identifying a problem that needs to be solved. Clearly defining the issue is the first step to defining the goals of the learning experience design process.

● Research
Before you can begin designing a learning experience you have to first research the learner and the desired learning outcome. Get to know the learner and understand what their unique strengths and weaknesses are. Then define what the desired learning outcome is and how it will benefit the learner.

● Design
Now is the time to get creative and brainstorm the specifics of the learning experience. Will the learning experience be digital or physical? Will the learning experience be collaborative or individual?

● Develop
In the development phase, your design concept will be turned into a prototype. This prototype will give you the first glimpse of what could be the final product.

● Test
After your prototype has been finalized you can put it to the test. Analyze the results of your testing and determine if it solves the issue you began with. View your prototype critically to identify if there is any way it could better serve its purpose.

● Launch
Once you are happy with the effectiveness of the learning experience you have designed it can be launched and fully implemented.

Learning Experience Design Vs. Instructional Design

The primary way that learning experience design differs from instructional design is in perspective. As previously mentioned LXD prioritizes the experience of the learner whereas instructional design is almost solely concerned with the effectiveness of the curriculum. The learner and their unique style of learning are put at the center of learning experience design. This is largely due to LXD’s roots in design, which emphasizes the experience of a user, or in this case, learner.

How Will Learning Experience Design Help You?

Learning experience design is an alternative teaching method that companies and organizations can implement when traditional teaching has come short. It is also incredibly effective at teaching complex topics because of LXD’s insistence on tailoring the learning experience to the learner. Learning experience design can provide businesses with a new perspective on developing instructional videos and activities.

Contact us today to connect with learning experience design consultants.