This article is one of a series on learning science and corporate training and development. We invite you to click HERE to see the other articles and follow Ingenuiti as more articles are released weekly.
Jerry Zandstra (JZ) – Senior Director of Learning
Miriam Taylor (MT) – Customer Success Manager
(JZ) Before we jump into our topic, can you provide a synopsis again of Learning Science as a whole?
(MT) Sure, this is mostly a summary statement, but I think it helps us understand the main elements. Learning science is a field made up of a variety of disciplines focusing on how people learn and develop. It draws on principles and theories from psychology, education, neuroscience, cognitive science, sociology, linguistics, behavioral studies, and consumer science to study the factors that contribute to effective learning and skill development.
(JZ) How do instructional designers apply learning science as they design learning experiences and programs?
(MT) Instructional designers aren’t experts in all of these fields but have a good broad understanding of them. I like to think of them as the proverbial bookshelf that an instructional designer can pull a reference book from when needed although I suppose that analogy is pretty outdated. When an ID approaches a new project, they use their knowledge of the learning sciences and filter that through the grid of instructional design to create the best possible learning solution in that given situation. I think we’ll see how sociology, in particular, is very helpful especially when designing for a global audience.
(JZ) Thank you for the helpful segue, let’s introduce the learning science topic for this article which is Linguistics. First, can you define what we mean by Linguistics for the purpose of this conversation?
(MT) Linguistics is considered a learning science because it studies how humans learn, process, and use language. It delves into the cognitive processes involved in language acquisition, understanding how language is structured and how it shapes our thoughts and communication.
To spell out some specific things, it includes grammar, syntax, vocabulary, and cultural nuances.
(JZ) I think I can make the leap here but can you spell out for us why instructional designers need to understand linguistics when they design learning experiences?
(MT) Linguistics is a learning science I’m definitely not an expert in and it’s just not as commonly thought of but I’ll do my best here to explain it.
Instructional designers need to understand linguistics so they can make sure the language used is clear, effective, and appropriate for the target audience or learner. If they do this well, designers can create learning materials that are easy to understand, free from ambiguity or confusion, and tailored to the specific needs of the learner. Really, we’re talking about the instructional designer in their role as a writer here. So much of what you would expect from a good writer is what an instructional designer needs to apply here. This means considering grammar, syntax, vocabulary, and cultural nuances, all of which can impact the effectiveness of the learning materials. At the end of the day, the goal is to effectively communicate the intended message and facilitate learning.
(JZ) That makes a lot of sense when I think about the principles of good writing. Could you break it down into some practical explanations of something you might consider every day?
(MT) Absolutely! Did you know that the average American reads at a 6th grade level? So that’s a general rule of thumb to keep in mind but, a good instructional designer will make sure they have a very developed learner profile. They will know the demographics of their audience and write towards that education, experience, and other demographic levels. And of course, for global companies, it’s important to consider the learner’s first language, especially if translation isn’t an option.
Another consideration is whether the tone should be formal or casual to match our audience’s style. And sometimes this can be a complicated endeavor if you’re writing for a global company. Some cultures prefer a more formal writing style while others are more conversational. As a very clear example, we chose to write this series of articles in an interview format and a conversational style because it’s easier to understand and the concepts are broken into smaller chunks in these paragraphs.
(JZ) Speaking of understanding concepts, I know a big part of an instructional designer’s job is to help the learner understand new and sometimes complex concepts. Does understanding linguistics play any role in that?
(MT) It’s funny you mention that because it’s a big part of what we need to do. Sometimes, the experts give us awesome content, but forget that the learners might be encountering these terms and concepts for the first time ever. We may create a digital or job aid glossary or introduce key terms at the start of a learning session. We can also create hotspots over commonly confused terms or concepts that provide knowledge right at the point of need.
(JZ) Now I want to go back to a phrase you said at the beginning when you were explaining linguistics. How does understanding grammar, syntax and vocabulary specifically help an instructional designer write better training? I certainly understand a good writer must do these things but how does this specifically impact the learning materials you’re designing?
(MT) Understanding grammar, syntax, and vocabulary is crucial for instructional designers to write better training materials in a couple of different ways:
1. Clarity and precision: A solid grasp of grammar and syntax helps ensure that the writing is clear, coherent, and free from ambiguities. Proper sentence structure and punctuation can prevent misunderstandings and facilitate comprehension. It’s often surprising to me what passes for good writing anymore and how a poorly worded sentence can completely confuse a learner.
2. Effective communication: This seems obvious but sometimes one word can make a big difference and often less is more. Well-chosen words and phrases can enhance the clarity and precision of the training materials. An instructional designer will often find themselves really “tightening” up content that a subject-matter expert sent them because it was too wordy and therefore not effective.
3. Compliance with language standards: Knowledge of grammar and syntax helps ensure that training materials comply with language standards and conventions. This is particularly important when creating materials for formal or professional settings. Some of the training we create is written with clear legal, financial, or medical standards in mind and it must be written precisely right.
(JZ) So far we’ve focused on language generically but at Ingenuiti we have a global audience and our clients do as well. So I imagine understanding how linguistics works would be even more important in these situations.
(MT) Absolutely. That could really be the topic of another entire article. But here are a few of my thoughts.
1. Culturally sensitive content: An understanding of cultural nuances allows instructional designers to create training materials that are sensitive to the cultural backgrounds and values of the audience. This can help in avoiding inadvertent biases or stereotypes, making the content more relatable and engaging for learners from different cultural backgrounds.
Just for fun, here are a few things I’ve run into over the past few years. There’s no direct word for “fun” in Russian. It’s not that they don’t understand the concept but a common American salutation “have fun”. That doesn’t translate in any meaningful way. Or think about the difference between making a “home” versus owning a “house”. Lastly, and I think this comes up a lot when we write scenarios, those little phrases, like “ugh,” “hmm,” and “ow” can get us in a lot of trouble because they don’t mean the same depending on the culture.
2. Tailored examples and scenarios: I think this takes the most work but understanding cultural differences allows designers to incorporate examples and scenarios that resonate with diverse audiences. If you have access to a global learning team or global colleagues, enlist their help. Ask for examples, have them review your writing, and make sure it makes sense. By using them to provide culturally relevant contexts, the training materials can become more relatable and meaningful to you viewers across the globe.
(JZ) I think linguistics is a learning science that we could spend a lot more time on and I thank you for your thoughts.
(MT) Next time, let’s bring in a linguistics expert. I’d love to hear from their expertise because I think it’s an area that, if we understood it better, could have a big impact on our design of learning materials.
About Miriam Taylor
Miriam Taylor is Ingenuiti’s Customer Success Manager. She holds a master’s degree in Educational Technology and has been in the learning and development for more than 25 years, working with higher education, non-profit, and corporate clients. Her recent work has been focused on thought leadership through content writing, webinars, and podcasts. In the past, she led learning teams, focusing on instructional design, project management, and continuous improvement processes. She also has spent significant time helping organizations develop, through roles in leadership training, coaching, and mentoring.
