Learning Experience Design Specification Template

Use Bloom's taxonomy to select a measurable verb (explain, apply, analyze, create, evaluate) and pair it with a specific skill and context. Bad: "Understand SQL." Good: "Write SQL queries to filter and aggregate a customer dataset." Every objective should be testable. If you cannot design an assessment for it, rewrite it. The [Product Analytics Handbook](/analytics-guide) covers how to measure outcomes effectively.

Formative assessments happen during learning and provide feedback that helps learners improve. Examples include practice quizzes, reflection prompts, and short exercises. Summative assessments happen at the end of a module or course and evaluate whether learners met the objectives. Examples include final projects, certification exams, and portfolio submissions. A strong learning experience includes both types.

Research from the Online Learning Consortium suggests optimal module length is 15-30 minutes for self-paced content. Longer modules should be split into smaller lessons with activity breaks. The total course length depends on your learning objectives and audience. A professional certification might require 40+ hours. A microlearning series might deliver value in 2-3 hours total.

Social elements like discussion forums, peer review, and study groups can increase completion rates by 20-40% according to research from Harvard's HarvardX team. However, they add operational complexity. Start with async peer interactions (comments, peer review) before investing in live cohort features. Use the [engagement metrics](/glossary/engagement-rate) definitions to track which social features actually drive outcomes.

Design your content architecture with branching paths or optional deep-dive modules. Offer a pre-assessment that places learners at the appropriate starting point. Mark foundational content as "recommended" rather than "required" for advanced learners. Adaptive learning systems can automate this. See the [Adaptive Learning Template](/templates/adaptive-learning-template) for a detailed specification approach. ---