Tutorial Design Glossary: eLearning Phrases to Know in 2025

As we method 2025, the panorama of educational 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 educational design phrases.

Whether or not you’re a seasoned skilled or simply beginning out within the Studying & Improvement (L&D) area, this information will give you easy, clear definitions of the frequent phrases you should know to navigate the ever-changing world of digital studying.

508 Compliance

In the USA, Part 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires federal digital and data expertise (EIT) be made accessible to individuals with disabilities. EIT consists of software program purposes and working methods, web-based intranet and web info and purposes, in addition to video and multimedia content material.

Adaptive Studying

Adaptive studying is a customized method to worker improvement, by which coaching is personalized to deal with an worker’s particular wants or talent gaps.

Accessibility

For educational designers, it’s vital 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 widespread assistive applied sciences (AT) akin to display screen readers. There are established accessibility requirements just like the Internet Content material Accessibility Pointers (WCAG) that present clear tips for making on-line content material accessible. 

Evaluation Design Improvement Implementation Analysis (ADDIE )

ADDIE is a framework utilized by educational designers and coaching builders to create efficient coaching packages, consisting of 5 phases: Evaluation, Design, Improvement, Implementation, and Analysis.

Utility Programming Interface (API)

Utility Programming Interfaces or APIs are a algorithm and protocols that allow totally different software program methods 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 info methods 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 studying codecs incorporate asynchronous components, akin to pre-recorded video modules, recordings of instructor-led coaching classes, or recorded webinars.

Authoring Device

A content material authoring software is used to create interactive SCORM programs. A robust authoring software will enable directors customizable model components, controls, and structure configurations, and also will give them the power to add exterior multimedia belongings like PDFs, YouTube hyperlinks, audio information, and PowerPoint displays. Tutorial designers can import programs created by exterior content material authoring instruments into their Litmos LMS, or they will use the embedded Litmos content material authoring software 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 studying 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 educational 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 selections, responses, and efficiency. This enables for a extra interactive and customized studying expertise by adapting content material and situations to fulfill particular person wants.

Persevering with Schooling

Professionals pursue persevering with training to earn post-graduate credentials from accredited increased training establishments or skilled our bodies. The purpose of constant training is enhancing expertise and information in a selected discipline of experience, via steady studying actions.

Design Doc

A design doc is an in depth blueprint that outlines the aims, scope, studying viewers, educational 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 software for employers who want to coach groups, no matter their location.

Analysis

In educational design, an analysis is outlined as a scientific and systemic method to assessing a venture’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 report system (LRS), which may 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 ideas to studying. In an LMS, gamification options may embody factors, ranges, or badges. Leaderboards are additionally a gamification characteristic that may foster pleasant competitors amongst staff whereas showcasing leaners who’re actively collaborating and ending coaching modules.”

Gen AI (Generative Synthetic Intelligence)

Gen AI or Generative AI is a type of synthetic intelligence powered by a Massive Language Mannequin (LLM), which permits customers to interact with it utilizing pure language as an alternative of code. Not like 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, photographs, or music, for instance) primarily based on patterns realized from present knowledge. Tutorial designers can use Gen AI to automate L&D duties, generate new studying content material, and supply learners with extra personalization and management of their improvement.

Inclusive Design

Designing with inclusivity needs to be a high precedence for any educational designer seeking to construct the very best studying experiences. Inclusive design merely means guaranteeing that your studying experiences and environments are accessible and usable by as many individuals as potential, no matter their talents or disabilities.

Casual Studying

Casual studying is a student-led, self-paced method that takes place exterior of a conventional instructional setting. Casual studying is modular and community-focused, selling engagement and retention, usually via hands-on or application-based experiences. When collaborating in casual studying, people discover matters of curiosity with out the strain of grades or strict timelines, usually setting their very own objectives and exchanging information with friends via boards or social media.

Teacher-Led Coaching (ILT)

Teacher Led Coaching or ILT is delivered by an teacher, both in-person or in a digital setting, which known as Digital Teacher Led Coaching (VILT). ILT and VILT programs are taught stay, in order that instructors can guided learners via matters in real-time.

Simply-in-Time Studying (JITL)

Simply-in-Time Studying  or Simply-in-Time Coaching is a mode of instruction that gives coaching content material and assets to learners within the second they want it. In a office, staff can use JITL assets like job aids, video modules, and infographics to unravel issues, full duties, or apply lately acquired information on the job.

Learner Autonomy

Learner autonomy is outlined as the power of learners to take cost of their very own studying, goal-setting, useful resource choice, and progress By selling learner autonomy, staff can develop vital expertise like self-regulated studying and purpose setting.

Studying & Improvement (L&D)

Studying & Improvement  or L&D is a self-discipline that makes use of systematic and systemic methods to foster steady studying, information acquisition, and talent improvement to help private and organizational success . L&D seeks to facilitate studying and enhance efficiency by selling enchancment of expertise, information, and competencies inside a company, with the intention to improve efficiency and obtain organizational objectives.

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, educational designers and different customers to create, curate, ship, monitor, and report on studying supplies and actions from a single platform that integrates with their group’s enterprise and productiveness instruments.

Studying Path

A studying path is outlined as a structured sequence of programs or studying actions, designed to assist learners obtain particular objectives or competencies. Learners should full the required modules in a studying path earlier than advancing to the following stage.

Studying File Retailer (LRS)

A Studying File Retailer or LRS is a knowledge repository that shops studying information obtained from a number of sources, sometimes used together with xAPI.

Studying Instruments Interoperability (LTI)

An ordinary developed by the IMS International Studying 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 models. The apply 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 best microlearning module ought to concentrate on lowering cognitive load by solely offering info the learner wants. To realize this, educational designers are inspired to concentrate on one studying goal per microlearning module.

Module

A module is outlined as a self-contained unit of studying content material, usually centered on a selected subject or talent.

Wants Evaluation

A wants evaluation is an analytical investigation that educational designers conduct to grasp the foundation causes and constraints contributing to a spot in studying and/or efficiency.

Wants Evaluation

In educational 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.

Customized Studying

Customized studying is studying that an teacher tailors to the wants, objectives, pursuits, and/or talents of a learner or group of learners.

Prototype

A prototype is outlined as a preliminary draft of a venture 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 way by which instructors break down studying into manageable steps, providing steerage and assets as wanted, and progressively switch duty to learners as they develop proficiency. The time period “scaffolding” is used as a result of comparable methods are utilized in development, 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.

Talent Hole Evaluation

To conduct a expertise hole evaluation, a company should establish the abilities it wants, and assess the abilities that its staff at present have. In a tech firm, for instance, studying leaders may talk to executives to find out what enterprise objectives the corporate needs to attain within the coming fiscal 12 months, establish which expertise would assist them attain these objectives, and decide whether or not staff at present have these expertise. Studying leaders would then set up objectives that point out whether or not that hole was addressed by L&D initiatives.

Social Studying

Social studying is the apply of studying via 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 venture intimately and supplies an summary of the sequence and interactions throughout the lesson. Tutorial designers use storyboards to prepare the educational expertise in the course of the improvement part.

Topic Matter Skilled (SME)

A subject material knowledgeable or SME is particular person with specialised information 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 educational design framework that focuses on steady enchancment via repeated cycles of design, prototype, and evaluate.

Synchronous Studying

Synchronous studying is studying that happens in real-time. This will imply that each one members are current in the identical bodily area, akin to a classroom, or that members are all current on-line (in an ILT session or webinar, for instance] on the identical time.

xAPI (Tin Can)

xAPI or Tin Can is a specification that permits studying methods to speak with one another, capturing a variety of studying experiences each on-line and offline.

This record of eLearning definitions is not at all exhaustive, and we anticipate it to develop with yearly! However we hope that this glossary of educational design phrases be a useful reference for you and your crew in 2025 and past!