Learning Design
Built with the people it serves.
1. Diagnose before designing
Identify the underlying problem before proposing a solution, including whether training is the right response.
Status. Published resource.
Evidence. Needs analysis for organizational transformation, Groundwork, the method
Closely linked to. 2. Consult with instructors, 13. Coordinate programs and partners
Also linked to. 3. Align outcomes, assessment and curriculum, 12. Move evidence into practice, 16. Lead research and funded projects
2. Consult with instructors
Move an instructor from a problem to a workable plan in a single consultation.
Status. Practised · resource not yet written.
Evidence. No public resource yet.
Closely linked to. 1. Diagnose before designing
Also linked to. 6. Facilitate and build capability, 13. Coordinate programs and partners
3. Align outcomes, assessment and curriculum
Align outcomes, assessment and activities across a course or program.
Status. Published resource.
Evidence. Curriculum mapping design, Learning design resources, Case study: a learning evaluation framework for a national research institution
Closely linked to. 4. Design assessment for integrity and AI, 9. Remove barriers from assessment
Also linked to. 1. Diagnose before designing, 5. Design the learning experience
4. Design assessment for integrity and AI
Design assessment that remains valid when generative AI is available, with clear expectations for permitted use.
Status. Practised · resource not yet written.
Evidence. No public resource yet.
Closely linked to. 3. Align outcomes, assessment and curriculum
Also linked to. 9. Remove barriers from assessment
5. Design the learning experience
Design preparation, practice and reflection so adults learn through experience, consistently across cohorts.
Status. Published resource.
Evidence. Experiential learning infrastructure design, Case study: equitable experiential learning at scale
Also linked to. 3. Align outcomes, assessment and curriculum, 6. Facilitate and build capability
6. Facilitate and build capability
Design and facilitate workshops and learning communities that build the capability of staff, faculty and partners.
Status. Published resource.
Evidence. Learning community design and facilitation
Also linked to. 2. Consult with instructors, 5. Design the learning experience, 14. Build course sites and live delivery
Access and Equity
The barrier is in the design.
7. Design for learner variability
Apply Universal Design for Learning: fix the goal, identify barriers, and build flexibility into the design.
Status. Published resource.
Evidence. Designing for learner variability at scale, Universal Design for Learning resources
Closely linked to. 9. Remove barriers from assessment
Also linked to. 8. Hold design and accommodation together, 11. Support Indigenous-led and antiracist design
8. Hold design and accommodation together
Treat inclusive design and individual accommodation as complementary practices, within the duty to accommodate.
Status. Published resource.
Evidence. From accommodation to proactive inclusive design, Accessibility resources
Closely linked to. 9. Remove barriers from assessment
Also linked to. 7. Design for learner variability
9. Remove barriers from assessment
Separate what an assessment measures from barriers unrelated to it, so results reflect capability.
Status. Published resource.
Evidence. Eliminating construct-irrelevant barriers in assessment
Closely linked to. 3. Align outcomes, assessment and curriculum, 7. Design for learner variability, 8. Hold design and accommodation together
Also linked to. 4. Design assessment for integrity and AI
10. Produce accessible materials and media
Produce course materials and instructional media to WCAG 2.2 AA, tested with keyboard and screen reader.
Status. Practised · resource in development.
Evidence. Screen-reader version of the accessibility map, Accessibility resources
Closely linked to. 14. Build course sites and live delivery
11. Support Indigenous-led and antiracist design
Contribute design craft to Indigenous-led education under Indigenous direction, and design against racism in content, assessment and participation.
Status. Practised · resource not yet written.
Evidence. No public resource yet.
Also linked to. 7. Design for learner variability
Systems and Evidence
Carried into practice and measured.
12. Move evidence into practice
Design systems that carry research into practice, and use learning to support organizational change.
Status. Published resource.
Evidence. Research-to-practice learning systems, Change management through learning design, Case study: a province-wide transition to care-based service
Also linked to. 1. Diagnose before designing, 13. Coordinate programs and partners, 15. Evaluate, refine and report, 16. Lead research and funded projects
13. Coordinate programs and partners
Plan and coordinate programs across stakeholders, with systems that continue after handover.
Status. Published resource.
Evidence. Case study: equitable experiential learning at scale, Organizational learning design
Closely linked to. 1. Diagnose before designing
Also linked to. 2. Consult with instructors, 12. Move evidence into practice, 14. Build course sites and live delivery, 15. Evaluate, refine and report
14. Build course sites and live delivery
Structure course sites for clear navigation and instructions, build templates, and support live sessions with recording and captioning.
Status. Practised · resource not yet written.
Evidence. No public resource yet.
Closely linked to. 10. Produce accessible materials and media
Also linked to. 6. Facilitate and build capability, 13. Coordinate programs and partners
15. Evaluate, refine and report
Evaluate whether learning achieved its outcomes and for which learners, and refine courses using analytics and student feedback.
Status. Published resource.
Evidence. Learning evaluation framework design, Case study: a learning evaluation framework for a national research institution
Closely linked to. 16. Lead research and funded projects
Also linked to. 12. Move evidence into practice, 13. Coordinate programs and partners
16. Lead research and funded projects
Plan educational research and funded teaching projects, including ethics review and funding proposals.
Status. Practised · resource not yet written.
Evidence. No public resource yet.
Closely linked to. 15. Evaluate, refine and report
Also linked to. 1. Diagnose before designing, 12. Move evidence into practice