Learning Experience Design Essentials Paperback – July 11, 2023

If you're interested in learning more about LXD, this book is an excellent read. My favorite parts are the author's listing of LXD capabilities and the overview of where LXD is typically practiced.I used the list of capabilities to assess where I am currently being in UX and considering a switch to LXD.I referred to the list where this work is done to consider my next steps - higher education, corporate, and consulting. The list of pros and cons really helps too. I highly recommend this book!

It's a sign of great writing when an author can make a book short! So many books are full of repetition and vague proclamations, but Cara North is a master at keeping chapters short and packed with substance. She shares practical advice about how to deliver learning experiences that actually improve real-life performance and advance business goals, illustrated by examples from her many and varied professional experiences. This book gave me a fantastic roadmap for expanding the ADDIE process to make it more usable, advice for creating more meaningful assessments and evaluations, a crash course in UX principles, and essential information about accessibility. It's a very actionable read, with reflection questions and advice for creating 30/60/90 day plans in every chapter - I am using it to make a plan to improve my skills. I'm a new learning experience designer, but I imagine this book would also be a wonderful resource for experienced L&D professionals who want to self-assess, learn about different types of L&D environments and company structures, and make plans for lifelong learning and growth. Buy the book, it's worth it!

Reading Cara North's new book, Learning Experience Design Essentials, for my 15 mins of PD reading a day goal and really enjoying it. If you've ever heard Cara speak at an event, you know she's warm, friendly, and realistic. Reading her book is similar. Her voice is practical, her 30/60/90 suggestions are easily implemented. If you need a partner in your L&D work, I highly recommend this book, it's kinda like having a coach right by your side. Kinda, 'cause Cara's a bit spicier in a Q&A and I bet she's hilarious in person.

A wonderful read for anyone who is a learning and development professional. The author walks you through the whole process of instructional design clearly and with helpful tips and best practices to ensure success. She is very open about her successes and failures and what she has learned from both. Reading this book was like having multiple meetings with an L&D mentor who is sharing their wealth of experience with you.

Cara North takes the time to organize her experiences into a lesson for all of us. From training and instructional design set up to leading SMEs into an agreeable project end, this book is a lifeline to sanity!

There are lots of books on learning and development focusing on theories, processes, tools, and theories. Cara's book covers what you need to know and do for real. With real examples. In real context. Especially in workplace learning, it is not enough to be right. You need to make a difference. Cara's book will help you prepare for what's really going on in the field.

My team purchased this book for a book study. This book might be ok for absolute beginners in the field but if you are more experienced, there isn't much to glean. My team didn't bother with the book study beyond the first week when we all agreed that it missed the mark. Additionally, the author's constant name dropping of her friends and speakers she listened to was distracting and seemed to change the focus to "look at MEEE!!!" rather than providing substance.

Reading this book is like sitting down with an expert who guides you through the instructional design process. It's full of practical tools and resources. My favorite feature is the 30/60/90 day plan at the end of each chapter, helping you implement and take action. What a wonderful resource - it belongs on every learning professional's bookshelf.