The rise of LX Design

In the past year, online learning has advanced a decade, like skipping through a movie.

Most institutions and corporates conduct online and blended learning. Yet, much of it remains a glorified mix of power-points and videos, with quiz and animation thrown in.

Increasing screen fatigue and the need for experiential content are growing concerns in the e-learning industry. The solution to this lies in the domain of Learning Experience Design (LX).

LX for Learning Experience

Humans respond to and learn optimally from experiences than from modules. LX designers create experiences to meet the needs and outcomes of the learner. By blending Learning Sciences with User Experience, you can come up with a well-crafted digital learning programme that goes beyond instruction and content.

In conventional learning, you are being instructed. In the LX environment, you are solving something. So, the primary job of a LX designer is to bring engaging experiential content by threading learning pathways that result in durable learning. Niels Floor, who coined the term LX Design or LxD, says it enables the learner to achieve the desired learning outcome in a human-centred and goal-oriented way.

A day in a LX designer’s life

LX design starts with analysing the requirements and objectives of the learners. In an average workday, LX designers create outlines, scripts, storyboards, play with multiple file formats, design concept maps, slice them for microlearning, brainstorm ideas, plan engagement styles, study course progression, make corrections, track assessments, work on feedback, interact with subject experts and perform different iterations of the entire process.

A lot of it resembles the design of User Experience (UX) and Instructional Design (ID). Some of it is reminiscent of Learning Analytics (LA).

LX designers, like instructional designers, apply the best practices in andragogy (practices in adult education) and pedagogy.

Analysing the available job descriptions of LX in India may not throw up many differences between Instructional Design and LX Design, but their work approach will.

LX involves detailed need analysis with an obvious emphasis on the experiential component, compared to ID. Some consider LX an extension or a new branch of ID. While traditional ID is constrained to the functionalities of authoring tools, LX uses a wider technology range.

Skills and job outlook

Interaction design, principles of learning, instructional technology, creativity and design thinking are the skills required for LX designers. Knowledge of cognitive psychology will help, though you need not be a cognitive scientist, just like you need not be a mechanic to be an outstanding chauffeur.

In India, job boards are yet to include LX on a noticeable scale. Positions for LX designers are in the broader space of the Learning and Development industry. This comprises edtech companies, consultative training organisations, and independent training providers.

For those starting in the field, the possible employers are corporate education providers and education consulting firms from the online learning and blended learning market.

Those with a bit more experience can look at the learning and development or training department of organisations.

In a later stage, traditional educational institutions may also consider such openings.

Currently, most LX positions are on a remote basis. Though the prevailing job outlook of LX is limited to the digital space, it may change in the future.

For instance, I designed a travel course in 2013 on the history of a southern state by visiting four dozen historical spots: a non-digital LX without a traditional classroom or computer or a lecture.

As an emerging domain, it is early to portray a straight career path for Learning Design. A background or portfolio in UX or ID or LMS authoring will be an explicit advantage. Professionals from these areas and subject experts, teachers and trainers can find a lateral entry as well.

The linear career thinking of doing a course and entering a ready market does not apply to LX, at least for now.

Instead, make an early entry with portfolios and plan to grow along with the learning design territory. As I write this, there are hardly any comprehensive courses for LX Design in India. But courses in instructional design, education design and UX are good starts. Online courses may also come in handy.

Future forces

India’s evolution as the second largest e-learning market will drive demand for LX designers. The need for shorter courses, alternative certifications, unbundling of courses, stacking of learning pathways, and call for experiential learning will together push the market further.

In the future, our teachers will be more of designers of experience than lecturers and curriculum creators. LX opens for those interested in education as a non-traditional academic career. A design opportunity in education is akin to solving a puzzle; the puzzle for India is how to do it affordably, even in the most remote locations.

A Learning Experience Designer of the future is expected to have the answer.

(The author is an education officer with University Grants Commission. Views are personal)