FAQ
Answers to some of your questions
LEARNING DESIGN
What do learning designers do?
Learning designers work with people who want to create courses or workshops, either in person or online. On any design project, we bring expertise in education, the subject matter expert (SME) brings expertise in the topic, and together, we work in partnership to create the learning experience.
One way we provide expertise is in crafting learning outcomes, developing interactive learning activities and assessments, and making sure these align with each other. We know how to design great learning experiences in all modes and enjoy guiding SMEs along the way.
We also prefer to use the term “learning designer” instead of “instructional designer” because it better reflects a learner-centred approach. We place learners at the heart of our learning design process.
What topics can you design courses in?
We can design courses in any topic because we usually work in partnership with a subject matter expert (SME) who is familiar with the topic. We put ourselves in the shoes of the learners and ask clarifying questions of the SME so we can create course materials and activities that are understandable, meaningful, and relevant to learners.
What type of learning do you create?
We create online learning in all modes, including in-person, virtual, on demand e-learning, asynchronous online facilitated, and blended modes. For information about each of the modes, refer to our Learning Design page.
How do I know how much it will cost me to have you design a course?
Since every learning design project is different, we usually have an “exploration” meeting with you first to learn about your project. We know what questions to ask in this meeting, so don’t worry if you aren’t exactly sure how to prepare for it.
Once we learn the details of what you’d like to do together, we’ll draft a comprehensive written proposal outlining project deliverables, proposed timelines, process details, and a budget.
Our proposals include information about the roles and responsibilities of our team members and yours, including any subject matter experts you plan to involve. The proposal process helps us clarify the purpose and intentions of the project before we sign a contract with you and begin our work together.
What age or demographics do you design learning for?
Much of our work involves designing for and facilitating with adults, although we have worked on facilitation, consulting, and learning design projects related to youth education as well. We place a high priority on inclusive design and facilitation practices, expanding our knowledge and practices every year to be able to design and facilitate more inclusive and accessible courses, workshops, and meetings.
What is your learning design process?
We lead clients through a structured design process supported by custom templates and resources. We’ll explain more in our initial exploration meeting with you and lay out the project process, timelines, and deliverables in a comprehensive proposal.
What geographical location do you do work in?
While our team is based in Greater Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, we work with clients across Canada and worldwide. Because learning design collaboration can happen online, we’re able to work with clients in any location using tools such as Zoom and Google Drive. On the facilitation side of our work, we are available to facilitate workshops and meetings virtually, and to travel to other locales.
Where does your team find inspiration for your learning design projects?
Who do you work with the most?
How can I connect with you?
For the latest news, follow our company on LinkedIn or follow Beth Cougler Blom on Instagram. You can also sign up to our newsletter, which is sent out about every 8 weeks. And, our blog is a great place to catch up on our latest project highlights and find insights related to learning design and facilitation.
FACILITATION
What kinds of events do you facilitate?
We offer two different types of facilitation: meetings and workshops. Read more on the Meeting Facilitation or Workshop Facilitation pages of our site.
What is your approach to facilitation?
Our facilitation approach is rooted in creating purposeful, engaging, and inclusive experiences that drive meaningful outcomes for individuals and groups. We believe that facilitation is more than leading a discussion—it’s about guiding groups toward clear goals through active engagement, thoughtful design, and collaborative dialogue. We want every experience we facilitate to be impactful and memorable.
How far in advance should we book your facilitation services?
Ideally, reach out to us at least 8-12 weeks before your desired session (longer if travel is involved) to discuss your needs. In an exploratory meeting, we’ll explore if we’re a good fit for what you’re hoping to accomplish, and then create a statement of work that outlines the way forward. We appreciate planning well in advance so that we can book the facilitation into our calendar and have adequate time to prepare a wonderful, effective experience for your group.
Can you create customized workshops for our group?
Yes! We design and facilitate customized workshops on a wide array of topics related to learning design and facilitation. Our focus is on creating a custom event that aligns with your organization’s goals and needs.
While we can accommodate shorter sessions, we specialize in full-day and multi-day workshops that allow for deeper learning and meaningful engagement. In these extended sessions, participants have time to explore complex topics, engage in thoughtful conversations, and apply new skills through interactive activities. This approach fosters a richer learning experience and supports lasting change.
How do you ensure inclusive and accessible facilitated sessions?
We recognize that learning about and implementing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility into our work is an ongoing journey, and we are committed to growing in these areas. As part of this, we strive to intentionally implement inclusive design and facilitation practices into our work. We acknowledge the diverse needs of learners and strive to create learning that is accessible to all.
One way (of many) that we do this is by inviting learners, through pre-session communication, to let us know in advance how we can best support them in the session. We also frequently double design activities with flexibility to enable learners to choose between working in groups or individually.
For projects involving content designed specifically for marginalized or underrepresented groups, we require representatives from these groups to be part of our design team or, at a minimum, to serve as project reviewers. We believe this collaboration is essential to authentically and respectfully address the unique perspectives and experiences of these communities.