May 27 2025, 11:00 - 11:50 (AWST)
In an era where learners are constantly engaged by immersive digital platforms, they now expect the same experience from online learning. Platforms such as video games, social media and streaming are providing experiences that are user centred and intrinsically motivating. Online learning must now learn from these digital environments in capturing learner’s attention and motivating them, necessitating a transformation on its approach to increase retention and satisfaction.
The Learning Wave is a novel Learning Experience Design visual framework that addresses this challenge by using key concepts from videogames and other digital platforms to change how online learning is delivered. Two key psychological theories have driven videogames since their inception, Self Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan,2000) and Flow Theory (Csikszentmihalyi, 1990) as they create high levels of intrinsic motivation and engagement. By leveraged these theories, The Learning Wave enhances learning by fostering a sense of connection with the learning material using the three psychological needs of autonomy, competence and relatedness to generate a flow state, through immersion and incentives for personal growth.
At its core, The Learning Wave utilises a three-phase pattern: learn, reflect, and challenge, which replicates how video games engage and motivate players. This structure enables learners to progressively build understanding, review and reflect on their learning, and apply their knowledge and skills to real-world scenarios. The framework employs Semantic Waves (Maton, 2013) as a construction methodology, ensuring a thoughtful progression of the learner from basic understanding to advanced application of concepts, and facilitating the creation of Flow states by gradually increasing complexity and challenge to match learner skill development.
The Learning Wave has been used in 12 Microcredentials at Western Sydney University and will be the foundation for their construction going forward, with initial analysis showing positive learner feedback and strong completion rates.
The presentation will show how The Learning Wave allows instructional designers to visually map out the learning experience, using the three phases to create a series of events that constantly provide engagement and motivation opportunities, whilst moving the learner from novice to competent problem-solver. The framework’s flexibility accommodates both high-level design and intricate, complex experiences.
THETA acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands where we live, learn and work. We pay our respects to Elders past and present and celebrate the stories, culture and traditions of all First Nations people.