How to Create a Learner’s Profile for Your Course in Serena

March 9, 2025 - Nicola Mattina

A well-crafted learner profile is the foundation of effective course design. Serena guides you through a simple yet powerful process for understanding your learners and their needs. By defining key attributes—like background, experience, and goals—you can create a course that genuinely speaks to your audience.

This guide will walk you through Serena’s learner profile form and explain why each section matters. From professional background to learning challenges, every detail helps shape an engaging, learner-centered course.

Professional Role & Education Level

Why it matters: Understanding learners’ professional backgrounds and education levels helps Serena craft relevant content. Are they seasoned professionals who thrive on industry-specific case studies or students who need foundational explanations? Knowing their starting point allows you to adjust the complexity of your material accordingly.

For example, an executive MBA course assumes prior business experience, while an undergraduate class may need a step-by-step introduction. Whether your learners are software engineers, school teachers, or college freshmen, Serena helps you tailor the course’s tone and depth to match their expertise.

Age Range & Demographics

Why it matters: Different age groups have different learning preferences. A course for teenagers might include interactive, game-like elements, while one for busy professionals might focus on self-paced modules.

Demographics like cultural background or socio-economic context also influence how learners connect with content. By identifying these factors, you can ensure your course is inclusive and engaging. In Serena’s form, this section helps you design with empathy, making sure your learners feel like the course was made for them.

Current Knowledge & Experience

Why it matters: Meeting learners at the right level prevents frustration from boredom or feeling overwhelmed. This section prompts you to assess what your learners already know so you can build on their existing skills.

For instance, in a coding course, are your learners complete beginners, or do they already have experience with programming basics? Serena’s profile helps you determine the right starting point to balance challenge and accessibility, keeping learners engaged from the first lesson.

Learning Motivations & Goals

Why it matters: Every learner has a reason for taking your course—career advancement, certification, solving a specific problem, or personal growth. Identifying these motivations helps you align course content with what truly matters to them.

You might integrate practice quizzes if learners are preparing for an industry exam. If they’re exploring a new hobby, you could include creative projects. Serena’s learner profile ensures that your course outcomes resonate with learners, keeping them motivated and engaged.

Technological Proficiency & Device Access

Why it matters: Not all learners have the same tech expertise or access to high-end devices. Some may only have a smartphone with limited internet, while others may be comfortable navigating complex software.

This section helps you design an accessible course—whether offering mobile-friendly content, providing extra guidance for tech novices, or ensuring multimedia resources are compatible with various devices. By removing technical barriers, you set all learners up for success.

Preferred Learning Style

Why it matters: Some learners absorb information best through visuals, others prefer audio, and some need hands-on practice. While no course can cater to every learning style, recognizing patterns can help you offer a mix of formats.

For example, if most learners prefer visual content, you might include more diagrams and videos. If they enjoy interactive learning, you could add quizzes or simulations. Serena’s profile form prompts you to think about these preferences, helping you create a dynamic and engaging experience.

Language Proficiency

Why it matters: If your learners aren’t fluent in the course’s language, complex vocabulary and idiomatic expressions may create obstacles. This section helps you simplify your language, provide glossaries, or include subtitles.

Even for native speakers, knowing whether they’re familiar with technical jargon allows you to adjust explanations accordingly. In Serena, documenting language proficiency ensures clarity and inclusivity, making learning smoother for everyone.

Learning Challenges

Why it matters: Learners may face barriers such as limited study time, learning disabilities, or a lack of prior experience. By recognizing these challenges upfront, you can design accommodations that support all learners.

For instance, if some learners have dyslexia, you might offer audio versions of lessons. You could break content into short, digestible modules if they have limited time. Serena’s learner profile helps you build an inclusive learning environment where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.

Bringing It All Together

We know that defining a learner profile can feel overwhelming—especially when you don’t have all the details at hand. But don’t worry—we are here to help.

To make this process effortless, we’ve created a simple prompt that you can copy and paste into ChatGPT. Just add a few key details about your learners, and the prompt will guide ChatGPT to generate a complete learner profile for you.

Once you have your responses, simply copy and paste them into Serena, and you’re all set to create a learning experience that truly resonates with your audience.

You are an expert in instructional design and learner analysis. Your task is to complete a learner profile form based on an incomplete or vague learner description.
Use logical inference, best practices in course design, and structured assumptions to fill in missing details while maintaining relevance and accuracy.

Learner Description:
[Enter the information you have here]

Instructions:

Extract Information: Identify key details from the given learner description, even if fragmented or incomplete.

Infer Missing Data: If certain fields lack explicit details, use industry norms, typical learner characteristics, or contextual clues to provide a reasonable answer.

Ensure Cohesion: Maintain logical consistency across all responses. If one answer implies a particular industry, education level, or challenge, ensure other fields align.

Follow a Structured Response Format: Answer each of the following questions clearly and concisely.

Serena Learner Profile Form Questions

Professional Role/Industry or Education Level
Provide a detailed description of the learners' job role, industry, or education level.

Age Range and Demographics
Provide the typical age range and any demographic details about the learner.s

Current Knowledge and Experience
Describe the learners' current knowledge or experience level in the subject matter.

Motivations/Goals
Describe why the learners are taking the course and their specific goals.

Technological Proficiency and Device Access
Describe the learners' comfort level with technology and their preferred devices.

Preferred Learning Style
Describe the learners' preferred learning methods or styles.

Language Proficiency
Describe the learners' language proficiency levels.

Learning Challenges
Describe any specific learning challenges or barriers the learners might face.

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