UTS’ Graduate Certificate in Learning Design Program has been awarded the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) Learner Engagement Division’s 2022 Excellence in Innovation Award.
The award recognises “an individual or group who have furthered the field of learner engagement in new and creative ways. The recipient of this award serves as an exemplary model for other researchers and educators working in the area of learner engagement”.
Learning Design refers to the careful structuring of what, when, where and how to teach, with consideration for the content, outcomes, technology and timing. The AECT is an international organisation for those involved in designing and improving education, their members can be found globally, finding better ways to help people learn.
A joint nomination by Course coordinator, Dr Keith Heggart, Dr Camille Dickson-Deane and Dr John Vulic, was favourably received by AECT, an international organisation for those actively involved in instructional design and the development of a systematic approach to learning. The award also reflects the exemplary work of an extended network including the PGLD team, led by John Vulic, the teaching team, including casual academics from industry, and professional staff Sita Chopra, Director SFL and PG Coursework and Inês Soares, Teaching and Learning Coordinator.
Learning Design at UTS
The Graduate Certificate in Learning Design at UTS strives to prepare learning designers for the many sectors in which they are in demand, such as education, government, healthcare, and financial organisations. These organisations seek out Learning Designers to better educate their stakeholders, especially for training in online learning and digital technologies.
The program is offered both as microcredentials and as a graduate certificate, with clear articulation pathways. The microlearning approach, offering the course in smaller chunks, lifts student engagement and allows for increased flexibility. This is also seen in the courses’ fully online delivery.
The positive responses of graduates have led to the growth of a thriving community of Learning Designers, as both current and past students connect via LinkedIn and The Australian Association of Learning Designers. This community highlights job and internship opportunities for students to pursue.
Graduates put to work at UTS Futures Academy
Earlier this year a team of UTS Learning Designer graduates were despatched to UTS Business School to contribute to the re-design of a leadership program within a public sector organisation. Christina Bobryk, Manager of Education Development at UTS Futures Academy (within UTS Business School) says:
We work with industry clients on the design, development and delivery of Enterprise Learning programs. We require highly skilled experts with the technical knowhow and also the ability to work with clients, to work on client briefs to design and develop learning solutions that are engaging and applicable.
Ann Duncan, one of the graduates employed in the program, noted that she “refers to concepts she learnt in the course daily”, when working with the client. The process involves closely working with the stakeholder to “write content in a clear way with the audience in mind. There are a lot of meetings with stakeholders to clarify content and give and exchange ideas and feedback”. On why she chose to study Learning Design at UTS, Ann says:
I wanted more formal training in Learning Design, and because being a teacher during COVID made me realise that online learning is not always engaging. The part I really enjoy is making endless paragraphs of texts come alive for learners through storytelling, scenarios or interactive activities.
Dr Keith Heggart notes:
The Graduate Certificate in Learning Design is designed to combine theory and practice in such a way that students are ready to start work as learning designers immediately. We do this through internship-like experiences, work integrated learning and contextual assessments. This approach has been vital in ensuring that students transition successfully into new roles.
If you're interested in studying Learning Design at UTS: