Why isn't your course content landing, even though you have expertise in the subject?

We often think that just knowing a subject makes us ready to teach it, but effective instruction requires solid structure and curriculum design. In this episode, we chat with instructional design expert Jackie Pelegrin about how we can transform our expertise into valuable learning experiences.

Jackie helps us understand that the proven principles of instructional design transfer seamlessly from formal education (like higher ed and K-12) to informal settings, including online courses. We explore foundational models, such as ADDIE (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation), and discover why it is so crucial not to skip the Analysis and Evaluation phases.

A common mistake course creators make is content dumping—a practice that goes against cognitive load theory. Jackie shares practical tips on how we can properly structure content using scaffolding, break material into manageable chunks, and build in formative assessments like checks for understanding. She also highlights the importance of incorporating learner-centered design. Finally, we tackle the ethical challenges presented by new technologies like AI, recommending the "first draft principle" to ensure we maintain human oversight and deliver genuine value to our customers. By implementing these frameworks, we can create courses that truly engage learners and keep them motivated.

Key Takeaways

• Effective teaching requires a good curriculum structure; expertise in a subject alone is often insufficient.
• Always start course creation with analysis: identify your target audience's needs and pain points.
• Avoid content dumping; chunk content and include checks for understanding due to cognitive load limits.
• Evaluation is paramount for ethical course design, ensuring the consumer achieves the desired learning outcome.
• Use AI based on the "first draft principle," retaining the human loop to prevent content inaccuracy and hallucinations.

Resources

Guest:

• Jackie Pelegrin is an instructor and instructional design expert, primarily working in higher education (Grand Canyon University) and K-12 curriculum design and development. She hosts the Designing with Love podcast.
• Jackie Pelegrin's Podcast: https://www.designingwithloveblog.com/
• Jackie Pelegrin's Website: https://www.designingwithloveblog.com/
• Jackie Pelegrin's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackiepelegrin/

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