Instructional Designer. Patchwork Academic.
When I was still in the classroom and teaching Academic Writing, “Why?” was my most powerful tool for giving feedback and working with students: I know that this week was about much more than a single word- but I love that it started with “Why?”. “Yes- you’ve explained the challenges of learning a new language. […]
Continue ReadingExpanding on the discussion of Learner Personas and understanding learner motivations, I wonder if we are feeding the learner obsession with tests through the assessment culture we’ve created. If we emphasize exams as the primary assessment tool, do we really have any right to become frustrated with students who emphasis learning that helps them excel […]
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It’s such an obvious concept – you need to know your learner in order to build a suitable and effective learner experience. But in practice, the motivations of the learners are often met with bemusement or scorn. In every field I’ve worked in (which now encompasses ESL, Engineering and Medicine), the learners all asked the […]
Continue ReadingCan all good learning experiences be measured on the same characteristics? What defines a “good” learning experience? I would argue that learning does require some key similarities: Coming from language education, I may be biased, but if we understand language as a key tool for collaboration, co-constructing knowledge, and learning, I would argue that one […]
Continue ReadingThis week we started by reflecting on the modern educational landscape and the unique challenges and opportunities presented by education today. One thing that immediately struck me was trying to have discussion around identifying what the “modern learner” is. It seems like a misnomer to treat and discussion today’s learners as a single entity. One […]
Continue ReadingSo what is LXD? “The process of facilitating the development of skills (expertise, proficiency) by providing learners with a systematic set of learning activities (experiences) supported by content, feedback, and technology.” Marty Rosenheck (https://www.slideshare.net/MartyRosenheck/becoming-a-learning-experience-designer) “Learning experience design (LX design) is the process of creating learning experiences that enable the learner to achieve the desired learning […]
Continue Reading(Migrated from my decommissioned linguistics blog) I tried being a creative writer. Once. When I was in High School. It didn’t take. I didn’t have the right stories to tell, or a connection to my characters, or a reason to write. So I stopped.Then I became a writer of code. if (logic > creativity) { […]
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