Designing a Coherent Learning Journey, and ABC Learning Design
This page introduces you to two key considerations for blended learning: Designing a Coherent Learning Journey, and ABC Learning Design, which is a rapid, collaborative curriculum design method developed at UCL that enables teaching teams to create a visual storyboard of the student learning journey. It is designed for those who want to take a structured approach to the design of modules or sessions.
Aligned to PSF: V1, V2, K1, A1
You can develop your understanding of a structured approach to learning design, and using ABC by engaging with our related workshops, such as ‘Designing for Engaging and Active Learning’ . Find out more on the Cardiff LTA CPD page. This is also developed further in the next Teaching Approaches section, where our teaching approaches toolkit highlights over 50 approaches categorised using ABC learning design.
Learning Design in Practice: Designing a coherent learning journey
A well-designed module helps students understand how learning activities, assessments, and resources fit together throughout their studies. Providing a clear and structured learning journey reduces unnecessary confusion, supports engagement and helps students focus on achieving the intended learning outcomes. Thoughtful module design, clear communication and consistent organisation help create a more effective and inclusive learning experience.
Practical tips
- Create a student-facing module map to show how topics, activities and assessments connect.
- Organise Learning Central content in a clear and consistent structure.
- Use a simple and predictable module layout to help students navigate learning resources.
- Clearly communicate what students should do before, during and after learning activities.
- Signpost connections between topics, assessments and previous learning.
- Focus on quality rather than quantity when selecting learning resources and activities.
- Share learning materials in advance where possible to support accessibility and preparation.
- Apply Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles by offering flexible ways for students to engage with activities, access resources and participate in learning.
- Use consistent communication methods and tools throughout the module.
- Regularly review your module from a student’s perspective to identify areas for improvement.
Structuring a Module
In this two minute video, Andre offers guidance on structuring a module including tips for creating an engaging and effective learning journey for your students.
Use the Learning Central Good Practice Guide to review and enhance your module in four key areas:
- Structure and Organisation
- Learning Materials
- Assessment and Feedback
- Module Communication
The guide provides both Essential and Enhanced practices to support a clear, accessible and engaging student experience.
Open the Learning Central Good Practice Guide and choose one of the four areas: Structure and Organisation, Learning Materials, Assessment and Feedback, or Module Communication. Review your module against the relevant checklist and identify one change that would make the learning experience clearer, more accessible or more engaging for students.
Learning Design in Practice: Designing Effective Learning with ABC Learning Design
Using six learning types, teams can quickly map learning activities, assessment and feedback to intended learning outcomes, helping ensure a balanced, active and engaging learning experience. ABC is particularly useful when designing new modules, reviewing existing curricula or developing blended and online learning.
The ABC Learning Design Approach (Expand to read more)
ABC Learning Design was developed by UCL as a fast-paced workshop methodology that helps programme and module teams visualise and design the student learning experience. During an ABC workshop, participants create a storyboard representing the sequence of learning activities required to achieve the intended learning outcomes and assessment requirements. The approach typically enables significant curriculum planning and redesign work to take place within a focused workshop session.
Central to ABC Learning Design are six learning types, adapted from Diana Laurillard's Conversational Framework, which help educators think about the different ways students engage with learning.
Acquisition
Students acquire knowledge through activities such as reading, listening, watching and exploring resources. Examples include lectures, podcasts, videos and core reading. Acquisition provides essential foundations for learning but should be balanced with more active forms of engagement.
Investigation
Students explore, analyse and examine information, data, evidence or problems. Activities might include research tasks, literature reviews, data analysis or enquiry-based learning.
Discussion
Students articulate ideas, question assumptions and develop understanding through dialogue with peers and educators. Seminars, debates, online forums and questioning activities all support this learning type.
Practice
Students apply knowledge and receive feedback as they develop skills and competence. Simulations, quizzes, laboratory work, clinical skills and draft submissions are all examples of practice-based learning.
Collaboration
Students work together to solve problems, create shared outputs and learn from one another. Group projects, peer review activities and collaborative problem-solving tasks support this learning type.
Production
Students consolidate and demonstrate their learning through the creation of outputs such as presentations, reports, portfolios, artefacts or assessments. Production activities allow learners to synthesize knowledge and showcase achievement.
Together, the six learning types provide a practical framework for designing balanced, engaging and constructively aligned learning experiences. By mapping activities against these categories, educators can create curricula that move beyond content delivery and actively support student learning, participation and achievement
Practical tips
- Start with the module learning outcomes before considering activities or technologies.
- Map learning activities using the six ABC learning types: Acquisition, Investigation, Discussion, Practice, Collaboration and Production.
- Ensure there is a balance of learning types across the module rather than relying heavily on content delivery.
- Use a visual storyboard to identify the sequence and flow of learning activities.
- Align assessment tasks with the learning activities students undertake.
- Consider where digital technologies can enhance engagement and participation.
- Involve colleagues and, where possible, students in the design process.
- Review the learning journey from the student’s perspective to identify potential barriers or gaps.
- Use the storyboard to evaluate whether workload and activity levels are realistic.
- Regularly revisit and refine the design based on student feedback and module evaluation.
Download: ABC Learning Design Storyboard and Cards
Application to Your Practice
In this four minute video, Punsisi provides an overview of the ABC method, which focusses on learning outcomes to plot engaging learning journeys.