Dr. Luke Hobson on Life, Lessons & Legacy

Dr. Luke Hobson shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Luke, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Ah, that’s an easy one. I just became a dad! My wife and I welcomed our baby girl, Riley Rose, into the world on June 16th. She has instantly changed our lives and is all that we think about. I honestly didn’t know this kind of love could exist and can’t wait for her to experience all that life has to offer.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Luke, and I’m an award-winning instructional designer, educator, author, public speaker, and, most importantly, learning nerd. I serve as the Assistant Director of Instructional Design at MIT xPRO and as a Lecturer at the University of Miami’s School of Education and Human Development.

Alongside my academic work, I’m a content creator and entrepreneur. I run a blog, newsletter, podcast, YouTube channel, and offer courses on designing meaningful learning experiences.

What makes my work unique is the blend of theory, practice, storytelling, and real-world application. Even though I’m an academic, I’m passionate about bringing the real world into the classroom and ensuring my students are set up for success. I believe instructional design is at its best when it’s informed by the learning sciences and brought to life through human connection and relevance. Whether I’m teaching students, designing courses, or speaking at events, my focus is always on making learning practical, accessible, and aligned to the needs of today’s learners.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
When you fail out of high school, it certainly puts things into perspective. Growing up, I despised school, and by my junior year, it reached a boiling point. I simply could not connect how what I was learning would help me in the real world. Whenever I asked teachers why I needed to learn a certain topic, the answer was always, “You’ll get it when you are older.” That day never came.
The lack of motivation sent my mental health and grades spiraling, and I eventually stopped caring altogether. After attending several courses to catch up, I had the opportunity to enroll in a public school that offered music programs. At the time, I wanted to be a musician, and it felt like I was finally firing on all cylinders for the first time in my life. I loved every bit of it.

I never imagined I’d one day build a career in education, but I’ve never forgotten that feeling of being stuck. It drives me to do everything I can to help my students overcome similar challenges.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
After my first year as an instructional designer, I almost gave up on the field.
When you think about it, the role is unusual. I cannot name another profession that expects someone to be a learning scientist, researcher, technologist, relationship manager, and project manager all at once. That is exactly what an instructional designer is. We wear many hats, and while we take pride in being skilled multitaskers, it is incredibly challenging to learn all those skills at the same time. Every time I felt like I was progressing in one area, I would take several steps back in another.

My first year was full of professional growth, more than I thought possible. I will always be grateful for the mentors who patiently walked me through the ins and outs of the role, forgave my rookie mistakes, and saw potential in me that just needed a little more time to be polished.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
This is a tough question to respond to because, while I do have an answer, it needs some background information.

One common misconception in this field is that instructional design is an afterthought. People assume the colleagues you work with do not care about processes and that it is impossible to change those who are set in their ways. Unfortunately, after so many negative experiences, it is understandable to develop this mindset. When I hear this from instructional designers, I start by asking how much the change matters to them. If it truly is important for the learning experience, the students, or the organization, I believe it is worth fighting for. That means preparing for a long and uphill battle.

While MIT is revolutionary and innovative in many ways, I have found that some faculty still hold incorrect perceptions about online learning. Some assume it is simply the older, traditional model of readings, discussions, and quizzes. Once I show them what an online learning experience is truly capable of, they often want their courses to be the best they can be. These conversations take time, and they require consistent effort to build genuine relationships. Over time, ideas can change, and people become more open to suggestions. It is all in the approach.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I think so, at least that is what my students tell me! I love teaching. God, do I love to teach! Seeing that light bulb moment go off over my students’ heads and then hearing how they have made an impact fires me up.

I always look forward to starting a new course and welcoming students. From reading my background, I think they expect a traditional kind of course. After the first few minutes of my lectures, you can tell they are thinking, “Whoa.” In college, I had so many monotone professors who did not seem to care whether I was there or not. I strive to create the exact opposite learning experience. I want my students there. I am here to serve, and I promise to bring the energy to every class. No matter what, you will not be bored. I can promise you that.

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