Joel VannerTips for designing with not for learners.
From Instructional Design to Learner Thriving
Start exploring how human-centered design and design thinking are reshaping the instructional design process.
Good instructional design has been shaped by systematic models like ADDIE (Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, and Evaluate). These approaches have provided a strong foundation that helped bring clarity, consistency, and measurable outcomes to the way instructors build learning experiences for their students.
But the landscape of teaching and learning is changing. These changes are driven by rapid advancements in technology, shifting learner expectations, and new insights from cognitive science. These traditional frameworks are starting to show their limits.
Today’s learners are not just consumers of information; they are collaborators, creators, and curators of their own learning journeys. They want experiences that are relevant, personalized, engaging, and adaptive to their needs. To meet these expectations, instructors can evolve their approach as instructors to moving beyond designing for learners to design with them.
Below are some simple ideas of how to design with not for learners:
Strategy | How to Do It | Practical Ideas | Tips & Takeaways |
Co-Create the Learning Journey | Present learning outcomes and let students help shape the path. | Offer a list of topics and let students vote.
Invite them to suggest case studies or applications relevant to their goals. | These choices can be small, like selecting discussion topics. This can increase ownership and engagement. |
Use Feedback as a Design Tool | Collect and apply student input during the course, not just at the end. | Use quick polls or check-ins after units.
Adjust pacing, materials, or activities based on student feedback. | Share with students how you are implementing their suggestions. This helps students feel respected and valued because their input shapes the course. |
Co-Design Assessments and Rubrics | Involve students in defining success. | Present a draft rubric and refine it together.
Offer multiple assignment formats and let students choose or propose alternatives. | Co-creating criteria deepens understanding of learning goals and increases motivation. |
Build in Reflection and Choice | Empower students to make decisions about how they learn and show mastery. | Offer multiple assignment types (e.g., essay, podcast, presentation).
Include a reflection component in assignments. | Reflection encourages metacognition, students learn how they learn best. |
Start exploring how human-centered design and design thinking are reshaping the instructional design process. It’s not just about creating better courses; it’s about fostering deeper engagement, greater agency, and ultimately, thriving learners.
Shifting to a learner-centered, human-focused approach does not have to feel overwhelming. Often, it starts with small, intentional changes like experimenting with new strategies, rethinking how we structure materials, or inviting students into the design process.
To help you take that next step, we’ve gathered a collection of resources from our website that can support you in bringing these changes into your course:
- Transforming Your Student Instructions and Policies for the AI Era: Rethink your language and policies to align with evolving learning contexts and technologies.
- QU Syllabus Guide: Reimagine the syllabus as a design artifact that empowers learner agency and sets the tone for collaboration from day one.
These tools can help you move from traditional teaching to more flexible, learner-centered experiences.
