Definitions
It is important to follow a design process when developing computer-assisted learning experiences. The definitions of design and process can help with understanding of what that means and why it's important.
The definition of design includes the concept of creating something, as well as the concept of using a plan (Merriam-Webster, 2023a). The purpose of a design varies, depending on the type of design. Examples include different disciplines including visual design, user experience design, and even fashion design (Indeed Editorial Group, 2022). The definition of process includes the idea that there are a series of steps involved that lead to something. (Merriam-Webster, 2023b). In my experience, a process may be ill-defined and informal, but there are still steps that take the creation of something from an idea to publication. Or the process may be a formal, well-documented and established series of steps involving multiple teams. For example, in a literature analysis that looked specifically at research around an "Integrated Building Design Process" for climate responsive buildings, there were 5303 relevant documents (Li et al., 2022). Importance of Using a Design Process
It's important to follow a process to ensure that what you are creating meets the goals and needs that thing is intended to address. For example, in The Customer Education Playbook, the authors point out that a bad user experience causes not only frustration, but even negative emotions for the users (Quick & Kelly, 2022). If you are designing a learning experience, it’s important to reduce frustration to support and optimize learning.
Outcomes can differ based on how something is implemented. This can be especially true with learning design, with impactful differences. For example, a study that looked at advanced life support training in medical professionals found that an e-learning delivery of the training led to fewer people passing the cardiac arrest simulation tests than the traditional in-person methods (Perkins et al., 2012). Examples of Effective DesignAsana Academy
Asana Academy (Asana, n.d.) is a high-quality example of the result of an effective design process to help people learn via computer. The screenshots in the slideshow illustrate three scenes from one of the courses aimed at new customers.
The screen animations are simpler than an actual use case of Asana, which helps reduce the cognitive load for a person who is just learning.
TechSmith Camtasia Tutorial Video
TechSmith produces great tutorials for their products. In the Record, Edit, Share video (TechSmith, 2019), we can see good use of alignment, space, and contrast. The TechSmith video also simplifies the screen to focus on the most important parts for a new learner. In addition, this video makes use of a zoom feature, which increases one section of the screen significantly, while keeping it in reference to where it is located on the screen. Zooming into something in a video is a great way to draw attention to something specific, as the related narration explains it.
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AuthorMichele Wiedemer has worked in software as an "accidental instructional designer" for many years. She is currently completing the MS in Learning Technologies at The University of North Texas. This blog represents reflections on specific assignments in the coursework. Archives
February 2024
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