Learning experience design
Learning designed around people and their work
I design face-to-face, online, and hybrid courses and programs, drawing on how people learn and over a decade of design experience.
Design choices that support learning
Grounded in learning science
Learning science and behavior change research inform the activities and support I design.
Experiential and social
People learn by doing with others, in experiences that are real-world and relevant.
Better at doing
The goal is getting better at doing, not just knowing more.
Confidence and commitment
I build confidence and commitment, not just knowledge.
Smaller and targeted
Smaller learning aimed at specific gaps works better than bigger courses.
Tied to performance
Every design is tied to performance improvement on the job.
Data and results
Skill checks, learner feedback, and evidence of application help us evaluate and improve the design.
When this may be useful
- Expert knowledge that needs to become a clear, useful course
- Onboarding that needs a clearer structure
- A learning program being built or refreshed
- Online or blended learning that needs useful activities
What we can work on
- Define what learners need to do and what success looks like
- Choose useful content with experts and learners
- Design real-world practice, feedback, and skill checks
- Support application and check what works
What the work can include
- A course or program plan built around learning goals
- Research, content development, and editing with your subject matter experts
- Practice activities, reflection questions, and skill checks
- Resources for those leading the course and learners using the skills
Designing for practical application
We start with what your learners need to do, not a list of content. With your subject matter experts, I develop videos, e-learning, podcasts, scenarios, simulations, and job aids. Learning science guides the activities; testing with learners improves them.
- 01
Set goals + decide how to check learning
- 02
Plan practice + skill checks
- 03
Create + test with learners
- 04
Check learning + use at work
Practice and how we check progress
From ideas to practice
Online learning can feel isolating. I have supported thousands of adult learners in more than 200 countries through forums, work review, office hours, and one-to-one coaching, and I plan support for applying learning after the course.
How we check progress
Skill checks and learner feedback guide revisions. Follow-up looks at application, not just completion or satisfaction.
We agree on scope, timeline, and responsibilities before starting.
Experience behind the work
At Harvard Business School Online, I partnered with faculty on courses in economics, strategy, management, leadership, and negotiation. At the IMF, I helped develop online training for government officials. At Wayfair, I worked on onboarding and development for technical roles.
Meet Patrick“Pat's genuine passion for teaching and learning, wide-ranging curiosity, and strong work ethic made him a valuable collaborator and an exceptional course developer.”
Peter Kuliesis
Former Director, HBS Online Content Development
“He has an innate ability to size up learning design problems and develop effective pedagogical solutions to help learners achieve their goals.”
Robert Keeley
Deputy Director, Vermont Agency of Education
A sample activity: building a career story through practice
The Career Story Worksheet moves from reflection on milestones to writing a story, sharing it, and getting feedback. The sequence gives the learner more to do than read advice.
An example from my resources, not a client case study.
See the worksheetServices that work together
You may need one service or a combination. We agree on what fits before starting.