As we method 2025, the panorama of tutorial design and eLearning continues to evolve at a fast tempo. That will help you keep forward of the curve, Litmos has compiled this complete glossary of tutorial design phrases.
Whether or not you’re a seasoned skilled or simply beginning out within the Studying & Growth (L&D) house, this information will give you easy, clear definitions of the frequent phrases it’s essential to know to navigate the ever-changing world of digital studying.
508 Compliance
In the US, Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires federal digital and data know-how (EIT) be made accessible to folks with disabilities. EIT contains software program purposes and working techniques, web-based intranet and web data and purposes, in addition to video and multimedia content material.
Adaptive Studying
Adaptive learning is a customized method to worker improvement, during which coaching is personalized to handle an worker’s particular wants or ability gaps.
Accessibility
For tutorial 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 well-liked assistive applied sciences (AT) comparable to display screen readers. There are established accessibility requirements just like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) that present clear tips for making on-line content material accessible.
Evaluation Design Growth Implementation Analysis (ADDIE )
ADDIE is a framework utilized by tutorial designers and coaching builders to create efficient coaching packages, consisting of 5 phases: Evaluation, Design, Growth, Implementation, and Analysis.
Software Programming Interface (API)
Software Programming Interfaces or APIs are a algorithm and protocols that allow totally different software program techniques 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 knowledge and processes throughout data techniques 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 learning formats incorporate asynchronous components, comparable to pre-recorded video modules, recordings of instructor-led coaching classes, or recorded webinars.
Authoring Instrument
A content material authoring device is used to create interactive SCORM programs. A robust authoring device will enable directors customizable fashion components, controls, and structure configurations, and also will give them the flexibility to add exterior multimedia belongings like PDFs, YouTube hyperlinks, audio information, and PowerPoint shows. Tutorial designers can import programs created by exterior content material authoring instruments into their Litmos LMS, or they will use the embedded Litmos content authoring tool 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 learning might be helpful 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 tutorial 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 primarily based on their decisions, responses, and efficiency. This permits for a extra interactive and customized studying expertise by adapting content material and situations to satisfy particular person wants.
Persevering with Schooling
Professionals pursue persevering with schooling to earn post-graduate credentials from accredited greater schooling establishments or skilled our bodies. The objective of continuous schooling is enhancing expertise and data in a selected discipline of experience, by steady studying actions.
Design Doc
A design doc is an in depth blueprint that outlines the aims, scope, studying viewers, tutorial 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 into extra frequent, eLearning has turn into a useful device for employers who want to coach groups, no matter their location.
Analysis
In tutorial design, an analysis is outlined as a scientific and systemic method to assessing a challenge’s outcomes to find out effectiveness and areas for enchancment.
Expertise API (xAPI/Tin Can)
xAPI or Tin Can tracks and information on-line and offline learner knowledge in a studying file system (LRS), which might exist inside a Studying Administration System (LMS) or by itself.
Gamification
Tutorial designers use gamification to reinforce learner engagement and motivation by making use of sport design components and rules to studying. In an LMS, gamification features would possibly embody factors, ranges, or badges. Leaderboards are additionally a gamification characteristic that may foster pleasant competitors amongst workers 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 Giant Language Mannequin (LLM), which permits customers to have interaction with it utilizing pure language as a substitute of code. In contrast to 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, photos, or music, for instance) primarily based on patterns realized from present knowledge. Tutorial designers can use Gen AI to automate L&D tasks, generate new studying content material, and supply learners with extra personalization and management of their improvement.
Inclusive Design
Designing with inclusivity ought to be a high precedence for any tutorial designer seeking 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 doable, no matter their skills or disabilities.
Casual Studying
Casual studying is a student-led, self-paced method that takes place exterior of a standard academic setting. Casual studying is modular and community-focused, selling engagement and retention, typically by hands-on or application-based experiences. When taking part in casual studying, people discover matters of curiosity with out the stress of grades or strict timelines, typically setting their very own targets and exchanging data with friends by boards or social media.
Teacher-Led Coaching (ILT)
Instructor Led Training 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 reside, in order that instructors can guided learners by matters in real-time.
Simply-in-Time Studying (JITL)
Simply-in-Time Studying or Just-in-Time Training is a mode of instruction that gives coaching content material and sources to learners within the second they want it. In a office, workers can use JITL sources like job aids, video modules, and infographics to resolve issues, full duties, or apply lately acquired data 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, workers can develop important expertise like self-regulated learning and goal 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, data acquisition, and ability improvement to help private and organizational success . L&D seeks to facilitate studying and enhance efficiency by selling enchancment of expertise, data, and competencies inside a corporation, so as to improve efficiency and obtain organizational targets.
Studying Administration System (LMS)
A Studying Administration System or LMS is a software program utility used to centralize and distribute studying supplies. An all-in-one LMS permits leaders, tutorial 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 learning path is outlined as a structured sequence of programs or studying actions, designed to assist learners obtain particular targets 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 an information repository that shops studying information acquired from a number of sources, sometimes used along with xAPI.
Studying Instruments Interoperability (LTI)
An ordinary developed by the IMS Global Learning 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 follow of breaking programs into smaller items of content material is sometimes called “chunking.” Microlearning modules can are available many codecs, together with (however not restricted to): movies, podcasts, simulations, job aids, worksheets, and quizzes. The perfect microlearning module ought to give attention to decreasing cognitive load by solely offering data the learner wants. To realize this, tutorial designers are inspired to give attention to one studying goal per microlearning module.
Module
A module is outlined as a self-contained unit of studying content material, typically targeted on a particular subject or ability.
Wants Evaluation
A needs analysis is an analytical investigation that tutorial designers conduct to know the foundation causes and constraints contributing to a spot in studying and/or efficiency.
Wants Evaluation
In tutorial 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, targets, pursuits, and/or skills of a learner or group of learners.
Prototype
A prototype is outlined as a preliminary draft of a challenge that’s used to check ideas and information the design course of. Prototypes are sometimes used to collect preliminary suggestions from stakeholders earlier than being absolutely developed right into a completed product.
Scaffolding
Scaffolding is a method during which instructors break down studying into manageable steps, providing steerage and sources as wanted, and progressively switch accountability to learners as they develop proficiency. The time period “scaffolding” is used as a result of related strategies are utilized in building, 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.
Ability Hole Evaluation
To conduct a skills gap analysis, a corporation should determine the abilities it wants, and assess the abilities that its workers at the moment have. In a tech firm, for instance, studying leaders would possibly discuss with executives to find out what enterprise targets the corporate desires to attain within the coming fiscal yr, determine which expertise would assist them attain these targets, and decide whether or not workers at the moment have these expertise. Studying leaders would then set up targets that point out whether or not that hole was addressed by L&D initiatives.
Social Studying
Social studying is the follow of studying by interplay and collaboration with friends. This type of studying is usually 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 challenge intimately and supplies an outline of the sequence and interactions inside the lesson. Tutorial designers use storyboards to prepare the educational expertise throughout the improvement section.
Topic Matter Knowledgeable (SME)
A subject matter expert or SME is particular person with specialised data or expertise in a selected discipline or subject, who can present steerage within the improvement of studying content material.
Successive Approximation Mannequin (SAM)
Successive Approximation Mannequin or SAM is an iterative tutorial design framework that focuses on steady enchancment by repeated cycles of design, prototype, and assessment.
Synchronous Studying
Synchronous studying is studying that happens in real-time. This will imply that each one members are current in the identical bodily house, comparable to a classroom, or that members 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 techniques to speak with one another, capturing a variety of studying experiences each on-line and offline.
This checklist of eLearning definitions is in no way exhaustive, and we count on it to develop with yearly! However we hope that this glossary of tutorial design phrases be a useful reference for you and your workforce in 2025 and past!
