Using Analogies as Explanations
Back in my high school Spanish class I struggled to learn a new verb form. It didn’t fit into the neat little list of “I,” “you,” “he,” “she,” “we,” and “they.” I had no clue [...]
How to Have Success with Off-the-Shelf Content
You already know that off-the-shelf content can save your organization time and money. These courses are built for a wide audience and are applicable in almost any setting. Almost. Occasionally, you’ll choose a course on [...]
Be a Learner, Try Something New
You’re busy. You have deadlines to meet, errands to run, and occasionally some “down time” where you try to squeeze in something fun or relaxing. If it’s your job to create training then you do [...]
Know-it-Alls Need to Empty Their Cups
Trying to have a conversation with someone who “already knows everything” is like talking to a wall. Nothing you have to say matters because they’ll automatically tune you out. To them, the “conversation” is either [...]
Should Marketing Review eLearning Courses?
Recently, an instructional designer friend of mine asked me, “Should Marketing review eLearning courses and approve them before they are released?” I responded with a, “Yes, but…” There are legitimate reasons Marketing needs to see [...]
Videos in eLearning: A Snack Sized Solution
According to the website fortunelords.com, YouTube is the 3rd most visited website in the world. Additionally, the total number of hours of video watched on YouTube each month is 3.25 billion. You may think using [...]
The student will become the master! But how? Adapting the Feynman 3-Step Mastery Technique to Online Learning
How often do you feel like you understand something until someone asks you to tell them more about it? When teachers and learners want to convey information quickly there’s always a temptation to rely on [...]
The Learning Styles Myth
Some time ago, a colleague of mine wrote a blog called Learning Myths: Debunked, in which he stated that learning styles is a myth. Having obtained a degree in Elementary Education, I was shocked and [...]
The Suspenseful Season Finale of Training
It’s the season finale of your favorite show. You’re glued to the chair as everything falls apart. Your favorite character is in mortal peril and then the screen is suddenly black. No, not a cliffhanger! [...]
Learning Objectives Are Spoilers
Let’s run a quick experiment. Think of the beginning of a book, show, movie, or video game. How did you feel after getting through that opening for the first time? Who or what did you [...]