After much anticipation and curiosity, I finally have the Learning Battle Cards (LBC) sitting right here on my desk! These innovative tools are revolutionizing the way professionals approach learning design. But what exactly are they? Essentially, Learning Battle Cards are a set of cards each representing a different learning method or activity that can be used during the instructional design process.

The concept was born from the necessity to diversify learning approaches and to facilitate more effective brainstorming sessions among instructional designers and educators. The deck of 108 cards encapsulates a wide range of learning methods—from role plays and simulations to storytelling and gamification—which can be combined and recombined to design unique educational experiences.

Each card in the LBC deck is more than just a term; it’s a gateway to an associated set of tools, techniques, and methodologies. On one side of the card, you find a brief description of the method, while the other side provides practical tips on its application and potential benefits for learners. This dual-sided format serves as both an educational resource and an ideation starter-kit.

Using Learning Battle Cards encourages educators and designers to step out of their comfort zones. By randomly drawing a card or deliberately selecting one that challenges conventional teaching methods, new instructional strategies emerge. It’s not just about picking a card; it’s about discovering how best to apply that method to achieve specific learning outcomes.

Learning Battle Cards also serve as excellent facilitators for group discussions. When placed on my desk during team meetings, they’ve invited colleagues to physically engage with them—picking them up, reading out loud, debating their use cases—which in itself becomes a collaborative learning experience.

The versatility of LBC is perhaps its greatest strength. They can be used in constructing lesson plans, designing workshops, or even mapping out entire curriculums. Whether I’m working solo or with my team, having these cards within an arm’s reach has injected creativity into our planning sessions and has led us to explore avenues we might not have otherwise considered.

In conclusion, having Learning Battle Cards on my desk has been nothing short of inspiring. They are more than just prompts; they have physically tangible representations of the dynamic nature of learning—a constant reminder that education should be adaptive, innovative, and above all else, engaging. Whether you’re a seasoned educator or new to the field of instructional design, I highly recommend getting your hands on a set! These little rectangles of knowledge might just revolutionize your approach to learning strategy development as they did mine.