What You Can Learn From Product Design For Learning Design


The eLearning Coach Newsletter

For Learning Professionals

Greetings Reader,
July 31, 2024

On Monday I spoke at the TLDC Accessible and Inclusive Design Conference. It's free (donations welcome) and you can still get a ticket to attend and to view the recordings. There are lots of good sessions. Now on to the articles.

One way to look at our work is through the eyes of product development. When we want to improve employee performance, we typically do this through initiatives and programs that result in some form of product or event. There are other ways to improve performance, but they are often outside our wheelhouse. So, in this issue, the first article is about what we can learn from product development.

Next is an article about the benefits of using questions in elearning design. Thoughtful questions can be engaging. They can turn a dull lesson into an active and meaningful lesson.

I always like to include a podcast in this newsletter. I'm including an oldie that you may not have heard: "Getting Started with Inclusive Design" with Brian Dusablon.

Stealing from Product Design

For inspiration and innovation, here are seven strategies from product design that you can use for learning design.

Benefits of Using Questions in Learning Design

One way to improve a passive elearning experience is to replace an expository approach with one that is more inquiry-based.

Getting Started with Inclusive Design

Once you understand accessible eLearning and inclusive design, you can’t turn back. Inclusive design has a big impact on the lives of others. Listen or download the transcript.

Now on to the goodies below.

GOOD FINDS

Before downloading files, please be sure to check that they are virus and spam-free. Note that freebies often require some form of registration.

FEED YOUR MINDReadings to expand your perspective on learning, technology, and design:

MULTIMEDIA

  • Illu station: Free illustrations but the people are pinkish. Download the SVG and ungroup in PowerPoint twice to change skin color.
  • Iconduck: Thousands of icons and illustrations
  • Visual Electric: Image generator for creatives. Haven't tried it yet.

COOL TOOLS

  • Read.ai: Automated AI meeting notes and more. Click Pricing to see their free plan.
  • Guidde: Helps you create How-To guides. I'm sure you will need to modify, but maybe it's worth a try.
  • Superlist: Take notes, make lists, get organized

MY COMMUNITY AND COURSES

MASTERING INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN

Since 2019, I've been helping the smart and friendly members of this community grow and expand their instructional design skills through self-paced courses, monthly speakers with industry leaders, member calls, and a discussion forum. All courses are open to all members.

BREAKING INTO INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN

My free 12-lesson email course about transitioning to a career in instructional design. The course explains the variety of instructional design careers, tasks of the profession, places to network, salary ranges and more. You'll get two email lessons a week for six weeks. Or receive all lessons at once by purchasing the eBook.

Would a colleague like this newsletter? They can sign up here: The eLearning Coach Newsletter. See you on Twitter @elearningcoach and at Instructional Design Newbies on Facebook!

Stay inspired,
Connie Malamed

PO Box 1623, Frederick, MD 21702
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