I'm often contacted by potential applicants to Stanford's Learning Design and Technology Program, asking about my experience, the application process, etc. This write-up contains answers to the questions I'm asked most frequently. I was part of the LDT 22-23 cohort. In this write-up, I have discussed the application process, experience at LDT & Stanford, and the outcomes of the program. Please read through these before reaching out to me with questions. I hope you find this useful! :)
An LDT student is chosen to be part of a cohort. My cohort was diverse in terms of age, professional background, and ethnicity. One of the program's goals is to build a supportive community where members can grow and learn from each other. A cohort typically comprises educators, designers, and technologists. The common thread connecting everyone in the program is a passion for developing effective learning experiences. Each student in the cohort is usually excited about creating learning experiences for different types of learners—some might focus on adult learners, others on early childhood education, some on corporate employees, to list a few. It’s usually a wide range.
To answer the main question, a successful LDT application demonstrates the following:
No, as long as you are passionate about creating effective learning experiences you are good to go. From the student portfolios itself, one can see that everyone comes from different walks of life.
Same as the previous answer. Having strong design and technical skills would definitely help be more independent in projects and assignments though. It entirely depends on what one wants to gain out of the program - whether they want to be more strong in the education side or in the technology side.
I really liked my LDT experience. In my opinion, it’s one of the best designed programs at Stanford (after all the program itself is about designing best learning experiences, so it makes sense). There’s a strong emphasis on building community which makes the program very special.