The Gig Economy is a thing. What I mean here is that there are an increasing number of companies using independent contractors instead of employees. And, there are complex and limiting constraints about how you can work with these folks. Most importantly, you can’t require them to take training! So, what can you do? In […]

Training is more than we often think it is. It’s a way to teach standards, procedures, processes. It’s also a way to lead by example to show what sort of experience you want your customers to have. It is in fact "setting the stage" for how you expect your people to perform in order to deliver […]

Before reading this post, please take a few minutes to read Part 1 for important context and info on why emotion is so important to learning and why Emotional Intelligence needs to be considered in learning design. Enjoy, and then meet me back here! ~~~ Emotion in Learning (Part 2) Lead a horse to water.  Here's […]

The secret behind learning design? Emotion. You know the old saying:"leave the emotion out of it." I'm here to advise you to leave the emotion in, at least in regard to creating your training programs. Training at its core, is a change management effort, with any training program something needs to change. A skill needs to […]

As do most articles in the L&D space, I frequently talk about what we should do. And, it occurred to me, that I could (and should) also talk about what we shouldn’t do. So here’s my list of things to avoid. There’s no claim that this list is comprehensive, but it is grounded in a […]

Things have changed Today's workplace has changed and there are many references to the "Modern Workplace" in a variety of publications. Yet, we as an L&D industry are still designing training from a central point - that of the "learner". This is not a bad thing; however, it is not the only view we should […]

You may not often ask yourself what L&D pros have in common with neuro-scientists, but believe it or not, there's a bit of overlap! Modern developments in neuroscience give us exciting new insights into how our nervous systems work and why certain stimuli generate particular responses. As L&D professionals, having a basic understanding of the […]

One of the quickest and most effective ways to deliver online training is with video. In this article we'll look at ways to use video to deliver meaningful digital learning content. The most common way to create an 'eLearning Course' is with a rapid-authoring tool like Articulate Storyline or Adobe Captivate. The longer I spend […]

In the early 80’s, I read an article calling for a cognitive engineering: designing systems that matched how our brains work. I was designing educational computer games at the time, and was struggling to find good guidance to choose between interface (and learning) alternatives. I realized that this was a field that really meshed with […]

Guest blog post by Megan Pacella. Megan is a contributor for TechnologyAdvice.com, with specializations in HR, employee training, B2B marketing, and sales. She has also written for USA Today, Bearings Guide, 10Best Nashville, and other publications.   Learning management systems are a great way to conduct corporate training and help your staff improve their skills. […]

Supporting the social nature of work is not easy. It requires new ways of thinking and new ways of working. It also means discovering new ways of creating learning content, or courses. This isn't just for instructional designers and developers either. Managers, Directors, and CLOs need to reset their expectations as well. After you launch your […]

Product knowledge online training helps your sales force seal the deal. But how can you update your online training program on a regular basis to reflect the latest features and specs? In this article, I'll share 6 tips to develop a successful product knowledge online training course for your employees. How To Develop Effective Product […]

Today was Video Friday on L&D Talk. Mark Lassoff was our guest and he made some great points about the qualities of great online learning courses. The entire video of our conversation can be viewed here.  IMPORTANT NOTE: Mark Lassoff creates fantastic online courses that he sells. He is in the business of creating training […]

I recently blogged about modular design, presented on modular course design, and will be presenting more on modular design at #ATD2016. Are you using modular design? It doesn't really matter what tools you are using. But when you are designing/developing learning content, are you chunking content into loosely joined modules? Or are you simply creating […]

  What would you do if you had the power to travel back in time and offer some sage advice to your younger self? In this article, I'll share 5 eLearning trends we expect to see in the coming years that could have a direct impact on your eLearning course design and career path. What […]

Today on L&D Talk we had a great conversation about modular training course design and development. We covered the concern of consistency in modular design as well as wondering if consistency is even important. The issue of a complete course in one package versus a modular design covers a lot of territory. We didn't cover […]

If your course development projects are taking longer than a week or two you may need to rethink your strategy. In many cases I'd argue that your first course release should take less than a day. But I'm also practical enough to know that every situation is different. And there are many factors, outside of […]

How To Integrate Branding In eLearning Developing a successful brand image is not an easy task. In fact, it takes a great deal of dedication, planning, and determination to cultivate an online brand that stands the test of time. Fortunately, integrating your brand into your eLearning course design can help build your brand and make […]

Are you developing training products or learning processes? This is not one of those blog posts looking to divide the L&D community. It's a genuine question that I think we should all be asking ourselves. I would think that as with most things the best answer is, "a little bit of both". But what does that […]

How You Can Help Your Subject Matter Expert Create Effective eLearning Content An experienced Subject Matter Expert is one of the most valuable assets you can have at your disposal. The key is knowing how to help them create an amazing eLearning course. In this article, I’ll share 6 top tips you can use to […]

The 30-10-1 ILT Framework 30-10-1 is a formula for creating instruction in 10 minute blocks. The theory is borrowed from John Medina’s book Brain Rules. To keep the attention of a room full of adult learners you’ve only got about 10 minutes before you’ve lost them. Within each 10 minute segment is another pattern more […]

In 2012 I was introduced to the Business Model Canvas at a gathering of creative design thinkers. Recently I discovered that a colleague in the corporate training community had modified the canvas slightly to be an effective for learning & development. And the Learning Model Canvas was born. The creative mind behind the LMC is John Delano, CEO of […]

Introduction Today I'd like to highlight some posts from last year. It's my version of Throwback Thursday, or #tbt, in blog form. Back in April 2014 I shared these 5 tips after just leaving my job as Director of Training. So the realities of corporate training were fresh. As I reread this post I notice […]

You're a training professional in a SMB and you have few resources to achieve high expectations. The product team needs you to help train the sales channel, and the customer service team needs regular training sessions as well. There is new hire orientation to manage and annual compliance training requirements that need to be met. […]