| name | learning-design-review |
| description | Review educational content against the Four Learning Design Pillars framework. Use when users want to evaluate course materials, lessons, tutorials, e-learning modules, or any instructional content for alignment with evidence-based learning design principles. Provides structured feedback with specific principle references (e.g., 1.1.1, 2.3.4) and actionable recommendations. |
Learning Design Review
Evaluate educational content against the Four Learning Design Pillars - an evidence-based framework synthesized from multimedia learning research, cognitive load theory, and UX best practices.
Skill Purpose
This skill provides structured reviews of educational content by evaluating it against 46 research-based principles organized into four pillars:
- Pillar 1: Clear, Purposeful Structure - Content organization, design consistency, learning path clarity, adaptive design
- Pillar 2: Active, Engaging Learning Content - Content design, multimedia elements, engagement techniques, quality standards
- Pillar 3: Continuous Practice & Feedback - Practice variety, feedback mechanisms, metacognition support
- Pillar 4: Simple, Intuitive UX - Navigation, accessibility, media controls
Usage
Invoke this skill when users say things like:
- "Review this course against learning design principles"
- "Evaluate my lesson plan"
- "Check if my tutorial follows best practices"
- "Analyze this e-learning module"
- "Review this educational content"
Workflow
Step 1: Gather the Content
Ask the user to provide the educational content in one of these formats:
To review your content against the Four Learning Design Pillars, please provide it in one of these ways:
1. **File path** - Path to a document, HTML file, or course export
2. **URL** - Link to a publicly accessible course page or lesson
3. **Pasted text** - Copy and paste the content directly
4. **Description** - Describe the course structure and key elements
What would you like me to review?
Step 2: Load the Principles
Read the principles file to ensure access to all current principle definitions:
{SKILL_DIR}/../principles/learning-design-pillars.yaml
Note: {SKILL_DIR} refers to this skill's directory. When installed at ~/.claude/skills/learning-design-pillars/, the principles file is at ~/.claude/skills/learning-design-pillars/principles/.
This file contains the complete framework with 4 pillars, 13 categories, and 46 principles.
Step 3: Analyze Content Against Each Pillar
Evaluate the content systematically against each pillar. For each pillar, identify:
- Strengths: What the content does well (cite specific principle IDs)
- Areas for Improvement: Where the content falls short (cite specific principle IDs)
- Evidence: Specific examples from the content supporting your assessment
Pillar 1: Clear, Purposeful Structure (Principles 1.1.1-1.4.2)
Evaluate:
- Content segmentation and organization (1.1.x)
- Design consistency and formatting (1.2.x)
- Learning objectives and alignment (1.3.x)
- Adaptive and learner-controlled elements (1.4.x)
Pillar 2: Active, Engaging Learning Content (Principles 2.1.1-2.4.4)
Evaluate:
- Content presentation and visual design (2.1.x)
- Multimedia and interactive elements (2.2.x)
- Engagement and relevance techniques (2.3.x)
- Quality, accuracy, and accessibility (2.4.x)
Pillar 3: Continuous Practice & Feedback (Principles 3.1.1-3.3.4)
Evaluate:
- Practice variety and authenticity (3.1.x)
- Feedback quality and timeliness (3.2.x)
- Metacognition and reflection support (3.3.x)
Pillar 4: Simple, Intuitive UX (Principles 4.1.1-4.3.2)
Evaluate:
- Navigation and orientation (4.1.x)
- Accessibility and device optimization (4.2.x)
- Media controls and time estimates (4.3.x)
Step 4: Calculate Scores
Score each pillar on a 1-5 scale:
| Score | Rating | Description |
|---|
| 5 | Exemplary | Consistently demonstrates best practices across all principles |
| 4 | Strong | Good alignment with most principles, minor gaps |
| 3 | Developing | Meets basic requirements, notable improvement areas |
| 2 | Emerging | Significant gaps, limited alignment with principles |
| 1 | Beginning | Major redesign needed across most principles |
Calculate an overall weighted score (equal weight per pillar).
Step 5: Generate the Review Report
Produce a structured report using this format:
# Learning Design Review
**Content Reviewed:** [Name/description of content]
**Review Date:** [Date]
**Overall Score:** [X.X/5.0] - [Rating]
---
## Executive Summary
[2-3 sentence overview of key findings]
---
## Pillar 1: Clear, Purposeful Structure
**Score: X/5**
### Strengths
- [Strength 1] (Principle X.X.X)
- [Strength 2] (Principle X.X.X)
### Areas for Improvement
- [Gap 1] (Principle X.X.X): [Specific recommendation]
- [Gap 2] (Principle X.X.X): [Specific recommendation]
---
## Pillar 2: Active, Engaging Learning Content
**Score: X/5**
### Strengths
- [Strength 1] (Principle X.X.X)
- [Strength 2] (Principle X.X.X)
### Areas for Improvement
- [Gap 1] (Principle X.X.X): [Specific recommendation]
- [Gap 2] (Principle X.X.X): [Specific recommendation]
---
## Pillar 3: Continuous Practice & Feedback
**Score: X/5**
### Strengths
- [Strength 1] (Principle X.X.X)
- [Strength 2] (Principle X.X.X)
### Areas for Improvement
- [Gap 1] (Principle X.X.X): [Specific recommendation]
- [Gap 2] (Principle X.X.X): [Specific recommendation]
---
## Pillar 4: Simple, Intuitive UX
**Score: X/5**
### Strengths
- [Strength 1] (Principle X.X.X)
- [Strength 2] (Principle X.X.X)
### Areas for Improvement
- [Gap 1] (Principle X.X.X): [Specific recommendation]
- [Gap 2] (Principle X.X.X): [Specific recommendation]
---
## Priority Recommendations
Ranked by impact and effort:
[Recommendation] (Addresses: X.X.X, X.X.X)
Why: [Rationale]
How: [Specific action steps]
[Recommendation] (Addresses: X.X.X)
Why: [Rationale]
How: [Specific action steps]
[Recommendation] (Addresses: X.X.X)
Why: [Rationale]
How: [Specific action steps]
---
Small changes with immediate impact:
[ ] [Quick win 1]
[ ] [Quick win 2]
[ ] [Quick win 3]
Principle Reference Quick Guide
When citing principles, use the hierarchical ID system:
- 1.x.x = Structure (Organization, Consistency, Learning Path, Adaptive)
- 2.x.x = Content (Design, Multimedia, Engagement, Quality)
- 3.x.x = Practice (Variety, Feedback, Metacognition)
- 4.x.x = UX (Navigation, Accessibility, Media Control)
Example citations:
- "Clear learning objectives at module start (1.3.1)"
- "Short, focused video segments under 5 minutes (2.2.3)"
- "Low-stakes practice quizzes with unlimited attempts (3.1.6)"
- "Mobile-responsive layout (4.2.3)"
Notes
- Always reference specific principle IDs to make feedback actionable
- Prioritize recommendations by impact on learning outcomes
- Consider the content's context (audience, constraints, platform)
- Focus on actionable suggestions, not just critique
- When in doubt about a rating, err toward constructive feedback
