As a new Instructional Designer at UCO, using Learning Environment Modeling has been a game changer. I received my Certified Learning Environment Architect credential in 2016, right before taking this position. The skills and tools I came away with provided me with the necessary framework to step into the job with ease.
Learning Environment Modeling, LEM, makes your learning design easy to understand by anyone viewing the model. I have found this to be instrumental in my consultations with faculty. Not only am I able to talk about the elements of their course, but I can quickly and easily model it out for visual representation.
“When you’re designing a course, it’s easy to think that you have everything you need, that everything is perfect.”
Once the symbols are laid out visually, it’s easy to spot missing elements in the design, such as feedback or discussion. When you’re designing a course, it’s easy to think that you have everything you need, that everything is perfect. It’s not that LEM is used to point out errors or mistakes, it really just helps create a well-rounded, engaging, and effective course.
Just recently, the use of LEM in a course design helped me uncover a missing element…discussion. Noticing that the course did not have any peer-to-peer interactions, I was able to consult with the faculty member and suggest areas that could benefit from a discussion/group activity.
I would recommend LEM to anyone in an academic role. It is easy to learn and even easier to use. Its simple concept makes it ideal to use across professions, as well as with individuals at all levels. Sharing ideas, course designs, meeting agendas, etc., is effortless when using LEM.
