As we method 2025, the panorama of educational design and eLearning continues to evolve at a fast tempo. That can assist you keep forward of the curve, Litmos has compiled this complete glossary of educational design phrases.
Whether or not you’re a seasoned skilled or simply beginning out within the Studying & Growth (L&D) area, this information will give you easy, clear definitions of the widespread phrases it’s good to know to navigate the ever-changing world of digital studying.
508 Compliance
In the US, Part 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires federal digital and knowledge know-how (EIT) be made accessible to folks with disabilities. EIT contains software program purposes and working programs, web-based intranet and web data and purposes, in addition to video and multimedia content material.
Adaptive Studying
Adaptive studying is a customized method to worker growth, by which coaching is custom-made to deal with an worker’s particular wants or ability gaps.
Accessibility
For educational designers, it’s important to make all studying content material and experiences accessible to people with disabilities. Accessibility in eLearning requires movies with clear captions, transcripts for any in-course audio, keyboard navigation for on-line programs, and eLearning content material that may be interpreted by common assistive applied sciences (AT) akin to display screen readers. There are established accessibility requirements just like the Internet Content material Accessibility Tips (WCAG) that present clear tips for making on-line content material accessible.
Evaluation Design Growth Implementation Analysis (ADDIE )
ADDIE is a framework utilized by educational designers and coaching builders to create efficient coaching applications, consisting of 5 phases: Evaluation, Design, Growth, Implementation, and Analysis.
Utility Programming Interface (API)
Utility Programming Interfaces or APIs are a algorithm and protocols that allow totally different software program programs to speak with one another. Litmos APIs and webhooks, for instance, allow builders to attach exterior purposes to their LMS. With APIs, organizations can streamline information and processes throughout data programs for operational effectivity, together with the automation of coaching assignments and the moderation of administrative duties.
Asynchronous Studying
Asynchronous studying is outlined as studying that may be consumed at any time, permitting learners to finish coursework at their very own tempo. Many studying codecs incorporate asynchronous components, akin to pre-recorded video modules, recordings of instructor-led coaching periods, or recorded webinars.
Authoring Software
A content material authoring instrument is used to create interactive SCORM programs. A robust authoring instrument will permit directors customizable model components, controls, and format configurations, and also will give them the flexibility to add exterior multimedia property like PDFs, YouTube hyperlinks, audio recordsdata, and PowerPoint displays. Educational designers can import programs created by exterior content material authoring instruments into their Litmos LMS, or they’ll use the embedded Litmos content material authoring instrument to simply create programs with out leaving their LMS occasion.
Blended Studying
Blended studying is a format that mixes a number of modes of coaching, from conventional face-to-face instruction, to digital instructor-led coaching (VILT), to self-paced on-line studying, digital simulation, and just-in-time coaching. Blended studying will be useful as a result of it tackles a subject with a number of, complementary modes of instruction that improve and reinforce one another.
Branching
Branching is an educational design approach that presents learners with a number of situations that result in totally different paths or outcomes. This design technique permits learners to discover totally different studying paths based mostly on their decisions, responses, and efficiency. This permits for a extra interactive and personalised studying expertise by adapting content material and situations to fulfill particular person wants.
Persevering with Training
Professionals pursue persevering with schooling to earn post-graduate credentials from accredited increased schooling establishments or skilled our bodies. The aim of continuous schooling is enhancing expertise and information in a selected discipline of experience, via steady studying actions.
Design Doc
A design doc is an in depth blueprint that outlines the aims, scope, studying viewers, educational content material, and timeline.
eLearning
eLearning or e-learning is a type of instruction that’s delivered digitally, often on-line. Learners entry eLearning modules on their laptops, desktops, smartphones, or tablets. As distant and hybrid workplaces turn out to be extra widespread, eLearning has turn out to be a useful instrument for employers who want to coach groups, no matter their location.
Analysis
In educational design, an analysis is outlined as a scientific and systemic method to assessing a venture’s outcomes to find out effectiveness and areas for enchancment.
Expertise API (xAPI/Tin Can)
xAPI or Tin Can tracks and data on-line and offline learner information in a studying document system (LRS), which may exist inside a Studying Administration System (LMS) or by itself.
Gamification
Educational designers use gamification to reinforce learner engagement and motivation by making use of sport design components and rules to studying. In an LMS, gamification options may embrace factors, ranges, or badges. Leaderboards are additionally a gamification function that may foster pleasant competitors amongst staff whereas showcasing leaners who’re actively taking part and ending coaching modules.”
Gen AI (Generative Synthetic Intelligence)
Gen AI or Generative AI is a type of synthetic intelligence powered by a Massive Language Mannequin (LLM), which permits customers to interact with it utilizing pure language as a substitute of code. Not like conventional AI, which relied on pre-programmed guidelines to make predictions or carry out particular duties, Gen AI can create new content material (textual content, photographs, or music, for instance) based mostly on patterns discovered from current information. Educational designers can use Gen AI to automate L&D duties, generate new studying content material, and supply learners with extra personalization and management of their growth.
Inclusive Design
Designing with inclusivity ought to be a high precedence for any educational designer trying to construct the absolute best studying experiences. Inclusive design merely means making certain that your studying experiences and environments are accessible and usable by as many individuals as potential, no matter their skills or disabilities.
Casual Studying
Casual studying is a student-led, self-paced method that takes place exterior of a conventional instructional setting. Casual studying is modular and community-focused, selling engagement and retention, typically via hands-on or application-based experiences. When taking part in casual studying, people discover subjects of curiosity with out the strain of grades or strict timelines, typically setting their very own objectives and exchanging information with friends via boards or social media.
Teacher-Led Coaching (ILT)
Teacher Led Coaching or ILT is delivered by an teacher, both in-person or in a digital setting, which is known as Digital Teacher Led Coaching (VILT). ILT and VILT programs are taught dwell, in order that instructors can guided learners via subjects in real-time.
Simply-in-Time Studying (JITL)
Simply-in-Time Studying or Simply-in-Time Coaching is a mode of instruction that gives coaching content material and sources to learners within the second they want it. In a office, staff can use JITL sources like job aids, video modules, and infographics to resolve issues, full duties, or apply lately acquired information on the job.
Learner Autonomy
Learner autonomy is outlined as the flexibility of learners to take cost of their very own studying, goal-setting, useful resource choice, and progress By selling learner autonomy, staff can develop important expertise like self-regulated studying and aim setting.
Studying & Growth (L&D)
Studying & Growth or L&D is a self-discipline that makes use of systematic and systemic methods to foster steady studying, information acquisition, and ability growth to assist private and organizational success . L&D seeks to facilitate studying and enhance efficiency by selling enchancment of expertise, information, and competencies inside a corporation, with a purpose to improve efficiency and obtain organizational objectives.
Studying Administration System (LMS)
A Studying Administration System or LMS is a software program software used to centralize and distribute studying supplies. An all-in-one LMS permits leaders, educational designers and different customers to create, curate, ship, observe, and report on studying supplies and actions from a single platform that integrates with their group’s enterprise and productiveness instruments.
Studying Path
A studying path is outlined as a structured sequence of programs or studying actions, designed to assist learners obtain particular objectives or competencies. Learners should full the required modules in a studying path earlier than advancing to the following stage.
Studying Document Retailer (LRS)
A Studying Document Retailer or LRS is a knowledge repository that shops studying data obtained from a number of sources, usually used along with xAPI.
Studying Instruments Interoperability (LTI)
A normal developed by the IMS World Studying Consortium to combine studying purposes with platforms like LMS software program.
Microlearning
Microlearning is a mannequin of instruction that breaks studying content material in small, manageable items. The observe of breaking programs into smaller items of content material is sometimes called “chunking.” Microlearning modules can are available in many codecs, together with (however not restricted to): movies, podcasts, simulations, job aids, worksheets, and quizzes. The perfect microlearning module ought to concentrate on decreasing cognitive load by solely offering data the learner wants. To attain this, educational designers are inspired to concentrate on one studying goal per microlearning module.
Module
A module is outlined as a self-contained unit of studying content material, typically targeted on a selected subject or ability.
Wants Evaluation
A wants evaluation is an analytical investigation that educational designers conduct to grasp the foundation causes and constraints contributing to a niche in studying and/or efficiency.
Wants Evaluation
In educational design, a wants evaluation is the method of figuring out gaps in efficiency between the present state of affairs and the specified state of affairs.
Personalised Studying
Personalised studying is studying that an teacher tailors to the wants, objectives, pursuits, and/or skills of a learner or group of learners.
Prototype
A prototype is outlined as a preliminary draft of a venture that’s used to check ideas and information the design course of. Prototypes are sometimes used to assemble preliminary suggestions from stakeholders earlier than being totally developed right into a completed product.
Scaffolding
Scaffolding is a method by which instructors break down studying into manageable steps, providing steering and sources as wanted, and progressively switch accountability to learners as they develop proficiency. The time period “scaffolding” is used as a result of comparable methods are utilized in development, to carry up buildings as they’re constructed.
Sharable Content material Object Reference Mannequin (SCORM)
Sharable Content material Object Reference Mannequin or SCORM is a set of technical requirements and specs web-based eLearning purposes. SCORM modules meet these requirements, making them interoperable – transferrable throughout varied platforms or software program options.
Talent Hole Evaluation
To conduct a expertise hole evaluation, a corporation should establish the talents it wants, and assess the talents that its staff presently have. In a tech firm, for instance, studying leaders may consult with executives to find out what enterprise objectives the corporate needs to attain within the coming fiscal 12 months, establish which expertise would assist them attain these objectives, and decide whether or not staff presently have these expertise. Studying leaders would then set up objectives that point out whether or not that hole was addressed by L&D initiatives.
Social Studying
Social studying is the observe of studying via interplay and collaboration with friends. This type of studying is commonly facilitated by social media, boards, or on-line communities.
Storyboard
In eLearning, a storyboard is a visible define that outlines every a part of a venture intimately and supplies an summary of the sequence and interactions inside the lesson. Educational designers use storyboards to arrange the training expertise in the course of the growth part.
Topic Matter Professional (SME)
A material professional or SME is particular person with specialised information or expertise in a selected discipline or subject, who can present steering within the growth of studying content material.
Successive Approximation Mannequin (SAM)
Successive Approximation Mannequin or SAM is an iterative educational design framework that focuses on steady enchancment via repeated cycles of design, prototype, and assessment.
Synchronous Studying
Synchronous studying is studying that happens in real-time. This will imply that every one individuals are current in the identical bodily area, akin to a classroom, or that individuals are all current on-line (in an ILT session or webinar, for instance] on the similar time.
xAPI (Tin Can)
xAPI or Tin Can is a specification that enables studying programs to speak with one another, capturing a variety of studying experiences each on-line and offline.
This listing of eLearning definitions is under no circumstances exhaustive, and we count on it to develop with yearly! However we hope that this glossary of educational design phrases be a useful reference for you and your workforce in 2025 and past!
