Lecture 3 - Learning Design

In this learning design lecture, I learned how to create a sequence of learners' tasks, employ resources and provide support in a learning environment, all of which will allow learning to take place. In a learning design, the three important shapes (square, triangle and circle) each represent tasks, resources and support respectively.

For tasks, there are different classifications of tasks designed to aid learning. Assimilative tasks include reading and viewing that allows learners to acquire information. Productive tasks are tasks that require learners to produce something original, such as writing and composing.
Resources are materials that can be referred to for more information regarding the topic of learning. Content resources include materials such as books and articles. Support refers to an electronic platform that will facilitate exchanges and feedback between the instructors and the students, and even between students themselves.

I think that an effective learning design should consist of a systematic procedure of tasks that will allow learners to achieve the final learning objective. The tasks should always start with the obtaining of knowledge so as to establish a learning basis. Subsequently, learners will be able to process this knowledge and produce something original. Throughout the entire process, resources must be relevant to the course studies and add value to the learner's knowledge. Support will be readily available to everyone who needs help and feedback.

In the learning design that my groupmates and I created, the overall learning objective is for learners to adapt and implement an efficient method of recycling into a country where recycling is not prevalent.



The first task is an online game which learners will play, so that they can learn the appropriate classification of litter. This task is an experiential task that supports memorising of correct classification. This game also employs behaviorism as a learning theory, because the learners will be told which options are correct or wrong throughout the game.

The next task would be a productive task that will require learners to write a term paper based on the readings (resources) that they are provided with. This task will engage the learners' cognitive abilities and allow them to obtain more relevant information regarding recycling. A forum (support) will also be created to allow discussions.

The last task is an adaptive task that will engage the learners' cognitive abilities - so as to come up with a readapated model of recycling that can be implemented in another country. Resources provided will be case studies that will teach learners the model of recycling in specific contexts. Support will still include forums, but chatrooms will also be introduced to provide real-time feedback and discussions.