High-Touch Learning Design That Drives Action
How do you create learning experiences that go beyond just sharing information?
Today’s audiences—whether employees, customers, or partners—expect more. They want content that’s relevant, engaging, and actionable. That’s where thoughtful, hands-on learning design and effective knowledge mobilization come into play.
Learning design isn’t just about checking a box. It’s about crafting experiences that drive real results.
When instructional design is done well, it ensures information is not only shared but applied, turning insight into action.
What Is High-Touch Learning Design?
High-touch learning design combines expertise in instructional design with a people-centered approach, seamlessly integrating knowledge mobilization to ensure ideas are transformed into meaningful outcomes.
The goal is to connect deeply with learners by understanding what motivates them, how they retain information, and—most importantly—how to inspire them to take action.
Every learner is different, so learning materials must meet them where they are. When learners feel seen and engaged, they’re more likely to absorb ideas and apply them. Knowledge mobilization helps bridge the gap between learning and action.
The Engagement Challenge
Here’s the problem many organizations face today: Learning materials that simply don’t engage.
How often have you heard complaints from employees saying, “This training was a waste of time,” or seen external audiences barely interact with your e-learning tools? It’s not just bad for morale—it’s bad for results.
People forget 50% of what they learn within an hour if it’s not engaging or applied.
After 24 hours, that number skyrockets to 70%.
Learning experiences that fail to capture attention are a lost investment.
That’s why high-touch learning design, combined with knowledge mobilization strategies, makes a real difference. It flips this script, ensuring your learners retain knowledge, move beyond passive participation, and apply it in their daily tasks.That’s why high-touch learning design, combined with knowledge mobilization strategies, makes a real difference. It flips this script, ensuring your learners retain knowledge, move beyond passive participation, and apply it in their daily tasks.
The Aurora Approach to Successful Learning Design
At Aurora, we focus on using information to drive engagement. We follow a few key steps to ensure learning sticks, inspires change, and promotes effective knowledge mobilization:
1. Start With the Learner’s World
Understanding your audience is non-negotiable. Whether you’re educating employees about new policies or crafting public-facing materials that teach consumers about sustainable practices, the first step is empathy.
- What do your learners care about?
- What’s their day-to-day reality?
- What’s their biggest barrier to action?
By answering these questions, we design learning materials that speak directly to your audience’s needs. Knowledge mobilization turns ideas into action, making shared information useful and impactful.
2. Make Learning Tangible
Abstract concepts rarely lead to action.
That’s why we focus on:
- Real-world examples
- Hands-on exercises
- Concrete takeaways
Learners need to see how training connects to their reality—not just in theory, but in application.
3. Use Storytelling to Create Connection
Stories are powerful—they make information memorable. A well-designed learning module doesn’t just present information; it frames that information in a way that resonates deeply.
At Aurora, storytelling isn’t just a method—it’s our superpower, seamlessly woven into every aspect of our design to create memorable, human-centered learning experiences.
Take the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC), for example.
Through their SPARK Knowledge Translation Program, they trained participants to turn mental health research innovations into scalable initiatives. By weaving storytelling into these workshops, we:
- Combined effective learning design with knowledge mobilization
- Featured real-world cases where impactful knowledge sharing led to action
A powerful approach to transforming ideas into real change.
4. Design for Interaction
Learners crave interaction. That’s why our designs include:
- Quizzes that keep things exciting.
- Decision-based learning paths for a choose-your-own-adventure vibe.
- Collaborative workshops to bring people together.
These features do more than just engage—they challenge learners to think critically and apply what they’ve learned.
It’s the difference between sitting back and zoning out versus leaning in and taking part.
By integrating knowledge mobilization, these interactions go beyond fun—they’re actionable, driving real-world change.
5. Measure and Adapt
Data-driven learning matters. High-touch learning design doesn’t stop once the materials are delivered. We actively analyze how each learning experience performs—Who’s engaging? Where are they getting stuck? Are they acting on what they’ve learned?
Knowledge mobilization thrives on this feedback loop, ensuring the learning materials evolve and continue to help learners turn knowledge into meaningful, measurable outcomes.
These insights allow us to tweak and improve learning design continuously, ensuring it hits the mark every time.
The Results of High-Touch Learning Design
When done right, learning design isn’t just effective—it’s transformational. The organizations we’ve worked with have seen real results. Employees understand and apply new protocols faster. Policies roll out seamlessly across departments. Customers connect more meaningfully with brand values and take action.
This approach works.
Why It Matters Now
Here’s the thing—information is everywhere. Anyone can Google facts or watch a YouTube tutorial. What sets apart effective education and training is not what you’re teaching but how.
High-touch learning design turns stagnant materials into dynamic experiences that your learners won’t forget.
For decision-makers, this approach doesn’t just save time—it saves resources. Employees and audiences learn faster, execute better, and produce long-term results.
Bring Real Learning to Life with Aurora
At Aurora, we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. We believe in high-touch learning design tailored to your goals and your audience. Whether you’re rolling out a complex internal policy, creating public education materials, or seeking to engage learners on a deeper level, we’re here to help.
It’s time to turn underwhelming learning into actionable understanding. Reach out to us today, and let’s design learning experiences that inspire action.
