Instructional designers must be thoroughly grounded in knowledge of how people learn. After all, our goal is to design learning experiences that reach varied types of learners. There is no singular way to craft a learning experience; to create a design that addresses learners’ different needs, knowledge of different learning theories is necessary. Depending on the content, one theory may prove to be more viable than another. The designer must be able to take their knowledge of theory and use it to make those choices when positing solutions or crafting the materials for learners.
Instructional designers benefit from deep comprehension of behaviorist, cognitivist, and constructivist approaches because these theories all provide insight on how to ensure that knowledge is not only gained, but also retained. Learning theories also outline different roles for instructors and students. Awareness of these roles can help an instructional designer when it comes to tailoring a learning experience that balances instructor guidance and student engagement.
These theories enable me to understand how learning happens. They also offer multiple windows through which I can view the problems my designs are intended to solve. A firm foundation in learning theory ensures that I have the tools I need to not only empathize and connect with learners, but also create the experiences that will maximize their learning and success.
I believe that empathy is central to both teaching and learning. As a former teacher, I have experienced the power of empathy to build rapport, foster supportive learning environments, and strengthen the impact of a lesson through human connection. Striving to reach individual learners is like learning a unique language every time. Empathy enables me to translate each learner’s needs and deliver content in the ways that work best for them. I believe that empathy will help me forge the same connections in the solutions I craft as an instructional designer.