Project Description
Working on a curriculum innovation project in higher education, I am passionate about learning new things and exploring its application in workplace. During our ‘How People Learn’ course this summer, I was introduced to the Understanding by Design framework, also known as Backward Design. The logic behind it resonated strongly with me, prompting me to develop a learning experience to encourage faculty members to reconsider their course design processes and become acquainted with the Backward Design framework.
Due to the time constraints faced by potential learners, I have structured the learning experience into a 30-minute presentation, self-paced learning modules on Canvas, and Q&A sessions. To gauge the effectiveness of the initiative and identify areas for continuous improvement, I plan to collect feedback through surveys to ensure a meaningful measurement of the learning outcomes.
Presentation Slides
Reflection on “What is Learning Design”
Throughout this design process, I have explored various design principles, guidelines, and methods of measuring success—some of which I did not incorporate into this project but will revisit when needed. One thing I’ve learned in this class is that the journey of learning design is not a linear path but one filled with ups and downs. During the challenging phases, reflecting on the initial motivation behind starting this initiative, considering the people I care about, envisioning the impact I aim to make is a good way to keep us motivated.
From this particular project, I learned the importance of placing learners at the center of the design process. It is all too tempting to begin with what one wants to teach and create materials that may sound appealing to oneself but not necessarily to the learners. The intentionality and sense of purpose highlighted by the backward framework will continue to guide me in my future designs.
Whether the project is large or small, learning design, to me, represents an opportunity to deeply understand others and guide them from point A to B through a learning process I crafted specifically for them.
