Just because someone has access to a kitchen and ingredients doesn’t make them a chef. The same is true for course creation. While many professionals have access to tools, like the many features of Brightspace, and plenty of content at their fingertips, turning those raw materials into an engaging, effective learning experience requires a different skill set—that of an Instructional Designer.

Think of us as the master chefs of learning.

We don’t just throw content into a course shell and hit “publish.” We plan, prepare, taste-test, and refine—ensuring every element serves a purpose and contributes to the overall learning experience.

The Ingredients vs. The Recipe

Let’s break it down.

You might have everything you need to make a course: PowerPoint slides, readings, lecture videos, quizzes, discussion questions. These are your ingredients.

But ingredients alone don’t guarantee a great meal—or a great course. Without a recipe, without intention behind how those ingredients are combined, sequenced, and served, the result can feel scattered, overwhelming, or bland.

Instructional Designers bring the recipe. We know how to mix theory and practice, how to scaffold learning so it builds naturally, how to align each piece of content to a learning outcome. And we understand how to plate it all within the structure of your LMS.

Cooking Up a Course

Imagine you’ve been handed a fridge full of ingredients—steak, onions, herbs, a bottle of wine, and a few mystery items. An untrained cook might throw it all in a pan and hope for the best. Sure, you might end up with something edible. But will it be balanced? Will it delight your guests? Will they remember it the next day?

That’s where we come in.

We look at the ingredients and cook up an experience:

• What’s the goal of the meal? (What are the learning outcomes?)
• Who’s eating? (Who are the learners, and what do they need?)
• Any dietary needs or restrictions? (Accessibility, prior knowledge, cognitive load?)
• How will the course flow from appetizer to dessert? (Introduction to mastery.)

Then we build a learning journey that makes sense—structured, engaging, and memorable.

More Than Just Pretty Plates

A well-designed course doesn’t just look good—it works.

Instructional Designers understand how people learn. We apply appropriate learning principles, cognitive psychology, user experience design, and accessibility standards to every course we touch. We think about pacing, interactivity, and reflection. We ensure that feedback is meaningful, that assessments are aligned, and that learners are active participants—not passive consumers.

It’s not about flashy graphics or lots of content. It’s about designing with intention, so that the course feels natural to navigate and effective in achieving its goals.

Tools Don’t Make the Expert

Let’s talk about Brightspace (or any LMS, really). It’s a powerful platform—full of features, widgets, and different ways to deliver content. But like any kitchen tool, it’s only as good as the person using it.

Having access to Brightspace doesn’t mean someone is designing a pedagogically sound course. It just means they have access to the digital kitchen. Instructional Designers know how to use the tools to their full potential. We can turn a static slideshow into an interactive activity. We can take a quiz and use it to give real-time feedback. We can design for accessibility, mobile-friendliness, and learning analytics—all behind the scenes.

What We Bring to the Table

Here’s what happens when you partner with an Instructional Designer from the Learning Services team at D2L:

• Clarity: Your content is aligned to clear, measurable outcomes.
• Structure: Learning flows in a logical, scaffolded way.
• Engagement: Activities and assessments promote active learning.
• Accessibility: Every learner can participate fully.
• Simplicity: Courses are streamlined, not overwhelming.
• Support: You’re not alone—we’re with you from prep to plating.

We help turn your subject matter expertise into a learning experience that sticks. One that not only meets learners where they are—but helps them grow far beyond it.

Final Course: A Collaboration Worth Tasting

In the end, building a course isn’t about uploading content. It’s about creating a recipe for success—and delivering something learners will remember, use, and even enjoy.

So if you’re sitting on a fridge full of amazing content and not sure how to put it together, don’t go in it alone. Let an Instructional Designer step into the kitchen with you.

Together, we’ll cook up something exceptional!

Connect with your institute's D2L Customer Success Manager or Client Sales Executive, or reach out to the D2L Sales Team for more information about how Learning Services can support you on your learning journey.