Gosh… 2019 feels such a long time ago now. The course was the original concept behind Lexedio and it took many months to research and develop, so it has always been very special to me. The idea grew out of my own experiences of becoming an instructional designer, then later mentoring, recruiting and line managing new learning designers and technologists.
When I first started out, I had worked in a few educational roles and projects, and education had always been a passion. But I knew I didn't want to be a teacher or lecturer. I was far more interested in how lessons were planned, how activities were designed and how people learn. At that point, I didn't know that instructional design was a distinct profession. Once I discovered it, I knew immediately that I had found my calling.
Getting into the role, though, was not easy. Almost every job required at least two or three years of experience, and there didn't seem to be a clear qualification pathway. I was fortunate to join British Gymnastics as an educational resource administrator at a time when they were planning their first online learning provision. Everything needed to be built from scratch, from the platform to the authoring tools and curriculum. Long story short, I became their first instructional designer.
They arranged access to an external mentor and sponsored me to study digital education online with the University of Edinburgh, but most of the practical skills I developed were self-taught or gained through experience. I continued to diversify my knowledge and skills, working in other roles in universities and as a freelancer.
Years later, as businesses everywhere moved towards online and blended learning, I saw that many aspiring learning designers were still facing the same barriers and challenges I had. There was still no formal professional development pathway. So that was when the idea for the course, and eventually the business around it, was born.
[Laughs] Well, the pressure really was on with this one. Designing a course about designing courses felt like the ultimate test. I'm glad to say I applied proper instructional design principles, and started by establishing clear aims and objectives.
I knew the target learners would probably be career changers with some professional experience already. So, the learning gap could vary significantly from learner to learner.
I decided in the end to structure the course around the ADDIE process. Even though there are some preferred alternatives to ADDIE, it's industry recognised and most projects require similar stages and activities. I reasoned that, if you have the knowledge and skills needed to implement an eLearning project end-to-end, then you'd be competent enough to qualify as a learning designer.
After that, it became a process of sharing my own knowledge and experience, supplementing it with relevant research, and seeking input and feedback from colleagues working in other sectors. The goal was always to create something grounded, practical and genuinely useful for someone starting out.
It was exciting and challenging in equal measure. My experience as a learning designer had not included much course marketing, so we were a bit shy on social media—still are actually, but working on it! But we still attracted a healthy first intake of enthusiastic learners. I really enjoyed getting to know them and learned a lot from their experiences, which I fed back into the course.
It did not take long to realise, though, that even with help from my freelance connections I would eventually need a team. We needed people who could manage the platform, support learners, develop new features, and help build a proper community of practice.
The original setup was a WordPress site with an LMS plugin. It had plenty of potential, but it would have needed a dedicated person to maintain and develop it. And if we grew the number of learners, we would also need much stronger support solutions. The capacity building required would have taken a huge amount of time and investment, so it felt like the right moment for a rethink.
The course continued with a manageable number of learners for a few years, but once a clearer relaunch plan started to form, I made the decision to pause enrolments and rebuild properly.
It was a risky decision, but one that I hoped would pay off in the long run. And I think we are starting to see that happen now.
The first priority was to take on new learning design and development
projects. This created a new income stream to help fund the rebuild, but it also aligned with my long-term ambition for Lexedio to become a practising learning experience design studio. I have always believed that courses should be designed by active practitioners. The projects took up a lot of my time, which inevitably slowed progress, but they also sparked new ideas and inspired several of the topics that now feature in the course.
A major development during this period was my involvement in a Trailblazer group to create the first Digital Learning Design apprenticeship for England. Working with specialist practitioners, recruiters and employers from across every sector gave me a valuable insight into the duties and competencies expected of learning designers today. I was also commissioned to design the first online training programme to support the apprenticeship. The learning from all of this fed directly into the redesign of the LDFC.
Another significant step forward was building a team. I was delighted to welcome Elaine Dalloway as a learning design consultant, followed by Rebecca Dewis as our learner engagement and support lead. We now have a strong, friendly core team, supported by a growing network of freelancers.
And finally, to complete the picture, we now have a new learning platform, a refreshed and extended curriculum, and lovely new interactive content. It feels like we have taken the time to build the foundation the course always deserved.
The new course has six self-directed modules that cover the full lifecycle of a learning design project. This includes project management, learning theories, designing different types of content and hybrid experiences, right through to evaluation and critical practice.
We have also added new topics that reflect how the role is changing. For example, there are AI tips and guidance throughout, along with a dedicated unit on using generative AI effectively and responsibly.
We have thought carefully about how the next generation of learning designers can respond to emerging concerns about wellbeing, digital overload and the impact of digital technologies on the environment. At Lexedio, we never let technology lead the design, and the course supports that philosophy throughout.
We know that professional portfolios are essential when applying for learning design jobs or freelance contracts, so the units and workbook include practical guidance on portfolio design and how to prepare a submission for ACMALT accreditation.
There are some great new features that I think really help us stand apart. One is a separate Moodle site where every learner has their own sandbox space. They can practise building content using H5P or another tool of their choice. We have included some quirky activities and puzzles too, and learners can use our #LXDhacks how-to guides to have a go at creating their own.
Another feature I am excited about is the discussion facility that sits alongside each activity. Learners can choose to use it to chat with one another, and our team will be on hand to respond to questions and offer support.
Learners can download a certificate of completion once they have worked through all the units. They will also receive a printed certificate and a Lexedio Certified Learning Designer pin badge if they submit additional evidence.
We are really proud of what this new version offers, and we hope learners will enjoy what we've created. We're looking forward to welcoming fresh feedback to inform continuous improvement.
Yes! The early-release 2026 edition can be accessed right now at a reduced price of £495. We think that's great value for money and hope it makes this fantastic career path affordable to more aspiring designers. We are also happy to discuss discounts for group purchases and as part of commissioned projects.
We also have a number of additional features scheduled for release throughout 2026. Anyone who enrols now will automatically receive these new elements as soon as they are launched, with no extra cost or upgrade required.
Absolutely. The role of learning designers is evolving quickly, and we have been researching the knowledge and skills people will need in the years to come, beyond the foundations covered in this course. It is genuinely exciting work, and the opportunities go far beyond AI.
There is definitely more to come… but that is all I can say for now! [cheeky grin]
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