Color Theory Basics: Part 1
Gillian McLean Gillian McLean

Color Theory Basics: Part 1

This is part one of a two-part series on colour theory. As instructional designers, it’s important for us to understand how colour works, and how we can use it to our advantage and the advantage of our learners when designing courses.

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What is a Learning Design System and Why Does it Matter?
Amanda Douglas-Young Amanda Douglas-Young

What is a Learning Design System and Why Does it Matter?

The benefits of a Learning Design System extend far beyond the creation of individual courses. In today’s fast-paced educational environment, organizations must be agile and responsive to the needs of their learners. An LDS not only supports this agility but also empowers organizations to deliver high-quality, inclusive, and engaging learning experiences.

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What is Quality Matters?
Quality Assurance Neil Cole Quality Assurance Neil Cole

What is Quality Matters?

In November 2023, Desire2Learn announced a partnership with Quality Matters, emphasizing the transformations happening in education right now and a need for high quality and accessible content for learners.

We are thrilled to see these types of partnerships, as it connects with what we know to be true - the applications of best practices and learner-centric designs are more important than ever as we experience a real shift in the education industry across all sectors.

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10 Steps to a Successful Online Course Launch
Higher Education Jennifer Elliott Cropper Higher Education Jennifer Elliott Cropper

10 Steps to a Successful Online Course Launch

When it comes to teaching online, a common myth is that it is somehow easier than face-to-face instruction – and there is no doubt that each method of delivery has its challenges. That said, when it comes to preparing for the first day, there is just something – or many things – about teaching an online course (and having to launch an entire course at once – even if you can stagger the opening dates of lessons) that can feel even more stressful than preparing to walk into the classroom. The truth is that learners may not be the only ones who might be feeling uncertain and overwhelmed. What follows is a step-by-step process designed to help you ensure your online course is in tip-top shape on the first day of class

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The Importance of Buy-In in Instructional Design
Instructional Design Amanda Douglas-Young Instructional Design Amanda Douglas-Young

The Importance of Buy-In in Instructional Design

Starting a cool new course design, excited to jump into the process, and we are met with resistance, lack of interest, or - my personal favourite - that glazed over look in their eyes. As instructional designers, we know how important each step of the process is when designing learning experiences, and no matter how much we may wish we could change this sometimes - the quality of the final product is highly dependent on our relationship with the Subject Matter Expert (SME).

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