Know Your Learner

Designing instruction is more than placing content together in ways that make sense and convey the learning objectives. Since it is being developed for people, it must be done with people in mind. Pausing to reflect on learner's attitudes, abilities, needs, and even fears will help you develop learning that is engaging and memorable. Putting the learner in the center of all we do and designing for their needs is part of Human Centered Design.

According to IDEO, Human Centered Design is a "creative approach to problem solving. It's a process that starts with the people you're designing for and ends with new solutions that are tailor made to suit their needs." Human Centered Design is found in many different facets of design, not just Instructional Design. But honestly, it's probably not found in Instructional Design anywhere near as often as it should be.

Learn more about what Human Centered Design means in this short video from IDEO.org

Putting the "human" in the center of our design means knowing what is important to them, what they need, what problems they may have. It's about being able to empathize with them, your learners.

Empathizing allows us as designers to put aside what we think learners need and what pain points they might have and instead learn more about what they are really feeling.

Design Thinking which is closely related to Human Centered Design offers us tools to use to empathize and learn about the people we're designing for.

Take a deep dive and learn more about empathy from the Interaction Design Foundation or browse below for a few quick ideas.

Assume a
Beginner's Mindset

Leave your prior knowledge and experience behind and think about the learner who is starting from square one.

Interview Your Learners

Talk to the people you are designing for. You may not be able to conduct lengthy interview with dozens of people but make time to talk to some learners.

Create an Empathy Map

Use an empathy map to challenge your thinking and consider different aspects of what your learners are experiencing.

Think About and Design For the Extreme Users

Engaging with extreme users yours, the challenges, attitudes, and needs will amplified. If you can design for the extreme users, your design will serve all.

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