Category Archives: Design

Building a rocket to fly to the moon: are your learning blueprints complete?

Posted on May 15, 2013 by

Commander Hadfield is the archetypal Social Age hero: rugged but personable commander of the International Space Station, cult hero on Twitter and lead musician in the first ever terrestrial/orbital concert performance. Which, naturally, makes me want to build a rocket … Continue reading →

Posted in Agile, Attention to Detail, Challenge, Change, Complexity, Culture, Design, E-Learning, Information, Instructional Design, Learning, Learning Design, Social Learning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

How to design great e-Learning: ask the right questions

Posted on May 13, 2013 by

It has to be said that i’m a rather amateur gardener, much preferring the ‘BBQ on a summer evening‘ end of the event to the ‘months of digging holes and spreading manure‘ part of the process. On those occasions when … Continue reading →

Posted in Agile, Context, Demonstration, Design, E-Learning, Effectiveness, Engagement, Footsteps, Instructional Design, Learning, Learning Design, Learning Methodology, Learning Styles, Meaning, Narrative, Social Learning, Stories, Storytelling | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

The ecosystem of engagement in learning

Posted on May 3, 2013 by

We do not learn in isolation: we inhabit a rich ecosystem of media, all competing for our attention. TV adverts, posters on the sides of buses, radio, new music, films, the xBox, books, emails from friends, Facebook and Twitter, there … Continue reading →

Posted in Agile, Community, Conformity, Creative, Curation, Design, Effectiveness, Engagement, Formal Spaces, Informal Spaces, Learning, Learning Design, Learning Technology, Mediocrity, Pace, Stories, Storytelling, Teaching, Training, Variety, xBox | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The architecture of learning: methodology and mortar

Posted on March 25, 2013 by

On the train this morning heading to the airport and i’m struck by the variety of architecture around me in the industrial district: glass, steel and stone arranged into a wide variety of imaginative and often playful designs. They’re not … Continue reading →

Posted in Creative, Design, E-Learning, Effectiveness, Engagement, Experience, Instructional Design, Integrity, Learning Design, Learning Methodology | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Understanding the Triumvirate of Mobile Learning

Posted on January 25, 2013 by

Mobile learning is about much more than just technology: it’s about a mindset, about a relationship between ‘people‘, ‘technology‘ and ‘subject‘ and how we maintain a balance between the three of them. ‘People‘ are our audience and we have to … Continue reading →

Posted in Change, Design, Effectiveness, Everyday Reality, Instructional Design, Learning Design, Learning Technology, Mindset, Mobile Learning, Narrative, Technology, Triumvirate of Mobile Learning | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

The convergence of mobile and social learning

Posted on January 22, 2013 by

I used to view mobile and social learning separately: social learning as ‘the semi formal layers of learning that surround the formal‘ and mobile learning as primarily technology, but my mindset has changed. Increasingly they form, for me, part of … Continue reading →

Posted in Agile, Apps, Assessment, Blended Learning, Design, E-Learning, Everyday Reality, Exploration, Formal Spaces, Informal Spaces, Learning, Learning Journey, Learning Methodology, Learning Technology, Mobile Learning, Social Learning | Tagged , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Creating engaging e-learning: 3 practical tips (story, navigation and saying goodbye)

Posted on January 21, 2013 by

I went out walking in the snow yesterday in the forest: I love getting out when it’s like this, just a wide expanse of heathland with a fresh carpet of snow. Usually you have to pick your way across this … Continue reading →

Posted in Design, E-Learning, Effectiveness, Engagement, Functional Design, Learning, Learning Design, Learning Journey, Stories, Storytelling | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Exploring trends in learning: what is your experience with gamification?

Posted on January 4, 2013 by

It’s interesting that my iPad wants to correct ‘gamification‘ to ‘ramification‘, as it’s the ramifications of such trends that are on my mind this week. We are all subject to the latest trends, the latest buzzwords, concepts and fads, myself … Continue reading →

Posted in Challenge, Community, Design, Effectiveness, Games, Gamification, Learning | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Creating effective blended learning solutions: a methodology

Posted on December 20, 2012 by

At the heart of great learning is a coherent narrative: a story that runs through all the different media, all the different experiences, all of the learning environments. The narrative is everything. We have many ways to deliver learning today: … Continue reading →

Posted in Blended Learning, Choreography, Context, Demonstration, Design, Effectiveness, Engagement, Feedback, Footsteps, Learning, Learning Design, Learning Journey, Learning Methodology, Learning Styles, Narrative, Stories, Theory | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Finding your fashion: learning to coordinate learning

Posted on December 17, 2012 by

Superdry is an achingly trendy brand at the moment: i know this because all the cool kids are wearing it. And half of my friends. In a fit of Christmas shopping enthusiasm, i ventured into the store over the weekend … Continue reading →

Posted in Attention to Detail, Choices, Design, Identity, Internal Coherence, Learning Design, Learning Methodology, Narrative, Personal Brand, Stories, Storytelling | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment