Education is evolving at an unprecedented pace. In higher education especially, global disruptions from Brexit and Covid-19 to financial instability have forced institutions to rethink how they operate. Now a new wave of transformation has Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) at its heart. These technologies are no longer futuristic concepts, they are here and promise to reshape how we teach, learn, and design educational experiences as well as how institutions operate - again.

Creating engaging and effective elearning experiences is about how content is presented. You could have fantastic, exciting content but if it is presented in a confusing, overwhelming, or even boring way, it won’t have the impact you hope for. When used well, multimedia can turn a static course into an interactive and immersive learning journey that helps learners process information and stay motivated.

Education, as most human endeavours, is in a paradoxical position of both driving and responding to technological advancements. Learning designers are therefore at the forefront of shaping meaningful, inclusive, and future-ready learning experiences that account for shifting learner needs and global challenges. In this post, I’ll give an overview of key trends and potential future directions in learning design as well as some practical guidance for educators and designers alike.

Design can look beautiful and still miss the mark if it isn’t grounded in how people actually learn. Learning theory helps us decide what to emphasise, how to structure content and interaction, and which activities will lead to real understanding and transfer. In this post, I’ll explore some of the most influential learning theories that every designer should have in their toolkit.

Measuring the effectiveness of learning programs is essential for understanding whether the program achieved its goals and delivered value. The Kirkpatrick Model provides a structured, practical framework for evaluating learning at four levels: Reaction, Learning, Behaviour, and Results. Here’s my take on how to implement each level effectively, with tools and tips. Level 1: Reaction Capture Immediate Feedback Start by gauging how learners feel about the training.

Having looked at Perceivable, Operable, and Understandable, the final WCAG principle is Robust. This principle takes us into the future, ensuring that all the work done to make sure content is accessible isn’t lost as technology evolves. For this principle particularly it’s important to know which version of WCAG you’re working with. Most current standards reference 

After months of planning and designing, launching a learning program can feel like crossing the finish line but in reality, it’s just the starting point. Once it’s launched, the real work begins in understanding whether it made a difference. Measuring impact is about understanding what works, what doesn’t, and how to make learning better. The results can also be shared to help prove value to existing stakeholders and potential learners.

So far, I have looked at how content needs to be perceivable and operable to be accessible, but it also needs to be understandable. The WCAG principle of Understandable ensures that information and user interfaces are clear, predictable, and easy to comprehend. While not part of the official success criteria, I take this one step further and use this principle as an opportunity to be more intentionally inclusive with the argument that it is harder to understand if you cannot see yourself in content or in how it is applied.

I could start this blog with something trite like ‘Since the beginning of time…’ collaboration is so a part of the human story, but I won’t. I will say that despite this, formal education and learning has not always been a collaborative experience in the UK in the way we think of it now having focused more on the ‘sage on the stage’ and the transmission of knowledge than the co-creation of knowledge.

The WCAG principle of Operable ensures that learners can navigate and interact with content without unnecessary barriers. It focuses on learners being able to navigate and engage with content using different input methods, including keyboards, voice commands, and assistive technologies because they need to be able to participate in their learning as well as see and hear it. For learning designers, this principle is critical because even the most beautifully designed content fails if learners cannot operate it.

Challenges in business are a given, but it’s our response to them that defines our trajectory. Looking beyond the immediate obstacle, there lies a realm of opportunity and learning.

The WCAG principle of Perceivable ensures that information and user interface components are presented in ways that everyone can detect and interpret, whether visually, audibly, or through assistive technologies and the barrier doesn’t need to be permanent, it could be temporary. Imagine trying to watch a video on how to complete an assessment on a packed train as you commute home from work.

At its core, a narrative thread is about structure and flow. It provides learners with a clear beginning, middle, and end, echoing the natural way humans process information. Narrative is often synonymous with storytelling, so books and films likely come to mind when either is mentioned. Grand tales or elaborate case studies rather than smaller, interwoven narrative threads. Both have their place and grand stories or case studies that the learning is woven around can work exceptionally well for certain topics and fields.

Digital accessibility is a cornerstone of inclusive learning design. It impacts learner success, retention, and satisfaction by ensuring all learners are empowered to succeed. As more institutions adopt online and blended learning models, ensuring that all learners, regardless of ability, can access and engage with content is both a moral and legal imperative that is achieved through aligning with global standards such as WCAG compliance and ADA compliance in online learning.

Every business has a unique potential waiting to be tapped. Recognizing the keys to unlock this growth can set an enterprise on the path to unprecedented success.

Education is evolving at an unprecedented pace. In higher education especially, global disruptions from Brexit and Covid-19 to financial instability have forced institutions to rethink how they operate. Now a new wave of transformation has Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) at its heart. These technologies are no longer futuristic concepts, they are here and promise to reshape how we teach, learn, and design educational experiences as well as how institutions operate - again.

Education, as most human endeavours, is in a paradoxical position of both driving and responding to technological advancements. Learning designers are therefore at the forefront of shaping meaningful, inclusive, and future-ready learning experiences that account for shifting learner needs and global challenges. In this post, I’ll give an overview of key trends and potential future directions in learning design as well as some practical guidance for educators and designers alike.

The magic that emerges from effective collaboration is undeniable. When diverse minds converge with a shared purpose, the results can be transformative.

Measuring the effectiveness of learning programs is essential for understanding whether the program achieved its goals and delivered value. The Kirkpatrick Model provides a structured, practical framework for evaluating learning at four levels: Reaction, Learning, Behaviour, and Results. Here’s my take on how to implement each level effectively, with tools and tips. Level 1: Reaction Capture Immediate Feedback Start by gauging how learners feel about the training.