Ebook: Design Alchemy: Transforming the way we think about learning and teaching

The promise of online learning--flexible, learner-centered, responsive--was forward-looking and poised to revolutionize education. But too often online learning courses have little room for student engagement and their design does not reflect the potential for interactive and collaborative learning.

Design Alchemy counters this trend by synthesizing the art and science of educational design to model a whole that transcends the sum of its parts. Challenging yet accessible,

it clearly sets out steps for harnessing innovative strategies and designer creativity to provide educational platforms that reduce learner boredom and instructor burnout, and encourage deeper interaction with subject matter. Activities, assessment methods, and sample course materials are designed toward improving quality, embracing diversity, and adapting positively to change. And the book's palette of resources enables readers to effectively apply the principles in their own practice:

• The evolution of Design Alchemy in the context of online learning.
• Alignment with core theories and practice models.
• The framework: elements of pedagogy and components of practice.
• Case studies showing Design Alchemy in real-world learning.
• Tools, templates, and a sample syllabus.
• The Design Alchemy Manifesto, summarizing key ideas.

Researchers and practitioners in technology and education will look to Design Alchemy as a transformative work to help make the most of student potential, learning opportunities, and their own professional growth.

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The provision of online learning is increasing almost exponentially, with both established and emerging educational institutions creating new and revised courses to meet the needs of students demanding flexible access and delivery. However, the staff recruited to support this development often does not have the design skills or experience to generate courses that bear the hallmarks of effective online learning experiences. While the principles associated with the practice of instructional design provided pedagogical guidance for these design efforts, it remains commonplace for courses to present as little more than information delivery with no clear strategies for student engagement and interaction. The purpose of this book is to expand on the design concepts documented by the lead author and to present both a design framework and design strategies that will allow organisations to provide courses that embed the affordances of the online, social environment and maximize opportunities for engagement and learning in formal learning contexts. The authors contend that to truly achieve the potential of learning in an online environment, designers need to be alchemists - ensuring the current face-to-face classroom ''gold'' is not turned to lead and to transform those ''leaden'' online courses that do not engage or provide interaction into motivating and engaging ''golden'' learning experiences.