The ‘Write’ Way to LxD

What to design better learning experiences? Learn to write!

Anyone who designs learning experiences has to accept that writing is a core part of what we do. Just like a painter needs the right brush strokes, you need the right words.

But like different parts of a painting require different brushes, different parts of the design process require different kinds of writing.

In this article, we’ll explore 5 such parts of the LxD process -

🧑🏻‍🎨 Curriculum Design

Curriculum design is a pivotal point in the process. It's like sketching the outline of a painting before adding layers of colour.

Here, you need writing that's strategic and structured, mapping out what learners will encounter along their learning journey. Writing here almost acts as a north start - articulating the ‘what’ & ‘why’ before getting to the ‘how’ -

What writing looks like at this stage:

• Course Outline: Clearly defined learning objectives and topics

• Curriculum: Detailed descriptions of each module, the sequence & milestones

• Assumptions: Prerequisites, learner profiles and other assumptions

🧑🏻‍🏫 Presentation

Live sessions are where a lot of the magic happens!

Writing here should be engaging, concise, and tailored to the purpose of the session & what is expected from it. Writing here often reinforces what the facilitator is saying.

What writing looks like at this stage:

• Storytelling: Crafting compelling narratives, stories, scenarios and examples

• Explanation: Helping learners understand specific concepts and topics

• Instructions: Giving instructions for activities/ actions to be taken by learners during the session

📋 Communication

At various points in the learning journey, communication is critical! From expectation setting on the course to communicating the project that needs to be done.

Writing clearly and concisely becomes crucial. And writing here needs to balance between not saying enough and saying too much. Precision is key.

What writing looks like at this stage:

• Instructions: Step-by-step guides for activities or experiments

• Expectation Setting: Onboarding & giving an overview of what to expect from the course/ module/ session

• Assessment & Feedback: Closing the loop on learning

📒 Documentation

Scaling learning design relies solely on documentation. And documenting SO many moving parts is hard.

Writing here should be meticulous and organised, capturing the essence of your design. Structure, templates and frameworks are key.

What writing looks like at this stage:

• Design Manuals: Guidelines for replicating the learning experience

• Experiment Log: Experiments run in the learning experience & their results

• Data Analytics & Feedback: Summaries of learner performance and feedback.

✨ Evangelism

Whether we work inside L&D teams or work independently as course creators, all learning designers are evangelists.

Writing here needs to spark excitement and convince stakeholders, learners, or fellow designers of the value of your creation. It's akin to presenting your artwork in a gallery, highlighting its significance.

What writing looks like at this stage:

• Proposals: Convincing stakeholders about the efficacy of your design.

• Marketing Materials: Creating persuasive content to attract learners.

• Blog Posts/Articles: Sharing success stories and insights from your design.

🌰 In a nutshell

Just as an artist's palette holds a variety of colors, a learning experience designer's toolkit must include diverse writing skills.

From the strategic strokes of curriculum design to the vibrant hues of presentation, the precision of instructions, the organisation of documentation, and the persuasive touch of evangelism, writing is key!