Profiling Target and Potential Learners Today and into the Future

Abstract

Conducting an early learner profile for a particular subject domain may help identify whether there is a potential market for the conceptualized open-shared learning objects and sequences…and may inform learning designs for target and potential learners. This chapter focuses on the importance of learner-centered design or the general idea that the design of learning accommodates understood learner needs and interests. This is not to say that all learner needs are accommodated because there are learning benefits for those who are able to adjust and adapt to the learning context. This chapter describes the importance of rough learner profiling as a framework, some relevant dimensions of such profiling, and how to use such profiles to enhance the design, development, and delivery of open-shared learning contents. This work shows the importance of using empirics to profile target and potential learners, and also to use profiles to constructive ends, not any potentially harmful ones (such as stereotyping and limiting learner options or denying access to particular groups). Also, this work emphasizes the efficacy-testing of learner profiling on learning resource designs and development and the resultant learning.