Have you ever wondered, what is the difference between an instructional designer (ID) and a learning experience designer (LXD)? I’ve been grappling with that question for a while now. Recently, I came across a website that offered a decent explanation. The LXD.org website stated to think about an ID as a scientist and an LXD as an artist. I created the figure below to help me better understand their differences and I thought I’d share it with you.
So, IDs focus on the methods of instruction, based on learner needs and the desired learning outcomes. LXDs focus on the experience of the learning journey based on the learners’ needs and the desired learning outcomes. IDs use learning theory to prescribe optimal learning blueprints while LXDs use design theory to describe optimal personalized pathways towards learning outcomes.
Which one strikes your fancy? If you’d like to read more about IDs and LXDs, I recommend checking out Devlin Peck’s blog post Learning Experience Design vs Instructional Design.
Reference:
Floor, N. (2021). Learning Experience Design vs Instructional Design. LXD.org, https://lxd.org/news/learning-experience-design-vs-instructional-design/ Retrieved on November 20, 2021.
