It all started with the BIG question on the table.
How do we spark and sustain curiosity in learning?
This Coffee Chat dove into how our curiosity fuels engagement. We kicked things off by brainstorming ways to design learning experiences that get people questioning, exploring, and leaning in for more. Whether through interactive quizzes, thought-provoking scenarios, or unexpected challenges, the goal is to keep learners thinking, What’s next?
We want to build structured designs that keep learners engaged and prevent that dreaded click-through-and-forget syndrome. From branching scenarios to drip-feeding content, the right approach can make learning feel more like an adventure than a checklist.
Keeping curiosity alive takes some intention. Real-world examples, case studies, and unexpected challenges help hold attention, while showing immediate benefits keeps motivation high. The goal goes beyond sparking curiosity and into making learning feel like something worth coming back to.
Curiosity fuels engagement, but it also builds lifelong learners. How do we help people stay curious beyond a single course?
Stay curious!
-Shannon
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The Future of Instructional Design
Episode 66
Thursday, October 26, 2023 • Duration 31:24
It all started with the BIG question on the table.
What is the future of instructional design and what skills will we need to remain relevant?
L&D is undergoing a seismic shift. With the advent of new technologies and changing workplace dynamics, we are facing challenges that are far more complex than ever before.
And then there was the wake-up call.
In December 2021, ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, dissolved its entire L&D department. The reason? They felt that many of their learning initiatives were not adding value and were merely "feel-good activities" with limited impact.
Sure, there is more going on than meets the eye - but we can't deny that layoffs in L&D are on the rise. So, what to do?
We can prepare for the future because the future is now. Today, we are going to be discussing the skills that instructional designers, and L&D in general, will have to have in order to prepare and be successful for the future.
It all started with the BIG question on the table.
What are the different tools impacting the curation process, and what challenges do we need to overcome to ensure relevance and impact?
Curation seems to be the L&D buzzword at the moment and while curation seems to be on everyone’s agenda - there’s a lot of anxiety over how to get started.
Here's the Good News: advancements in technology have provided L&D professionals with an army of tools and platforms designed to streamline content curation.
The bad news? These advances lead us to an army of tools. The sheer volume of available resources can be overwhelming, making it difficult to decide which tools are effective and will help us meet our curation goals.
During our last Coffee Chat, we discussed how to align our curation efforts with the needs and goals of the business. This week, we're discussing the different tools and techniques we can use.
Plus – Special Bonus! Mike Taylor joins us to share his views on the different tools he uses.
It all started with the BIG question on the table.
What strategies does L&D need to consider to align curated content with business goals?
We’ve all seen the term “curation” used to describe the act of making generic content available either generally within the space of a social enterprise network such as Teams or Slack, or on a learning management platform.
However, without considering how the curated content impacts the people and the business, we’re doing the same thing we’ve always done – haphazardly throwing content to the wind with low engagement and, therefore, adding no real value to the business.
If we’re going to prove L&D value through curation efforts, then we can’t just keep doing the same thing only with a different name. We have to do more.
So, it was timely that Mike Taylors CURATED model burst unto to scene. We were able to incorporate his model into our discussion about connecting curation to business.
There was a lot to talk about and I hope you are able to take away key ideas to implement today.
We all have something in our backgrounds that silently informs how we act and what we do, and Mike is no different.
Mike’s journey
I was somewhat surprised, (but not really) to learn about Mike’s rich history in the IT space. His background in computer programming, IT and now cyber security clearly informs how he sees the internet. It developed his curious mindset around “what can the internet do for me” and setting up systems that allow him to find all the interesting bits from far-flung corners to share with all of us.
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The Skill of Creative Problem Solving: So What, Now What?
Episode 62
Thursday, September 7, 2023 • Duration 48:02
It all started with the BIG question on the table.
What are the important steps to prepare us and stakeholders for more creative thinking when it comes to learning solutions?
Note: Our previous coffee chat was different. The coffee chat crowd worked through a variety of creative problem solving techniques in break-out rooms and discussed their applicability. And because of this, we didn’t post the audio.
However, this week, we carried over the conversation and focused on the "So What, Now What?" behind our next steps.
Here’s the deal. We can't solve today's problems with yesterday's thinking. The world is simply evolving too quickly. As an L&D function, we must be more innovative and creative in how we treat learning solutions.
However, one man's creative thinking is another man's waste of time. So how do we get everyone on the same page? How can we get our teams and our stakeholders to buy into the idea of thinking creatively?
So today, we talked about the next steps to prepare us and stakeholders for more creative thinking. How do we get stakeholders on board with us, how can we put solid guard rails in place to host the most effective sessions, and what's the follow-up plan?
I hope you follow the conversation to the end - there will be many ideas shared, and I know you will be able to take at least one or two and begin using it today!
So, the big question on the table today is, "What is the ‘So What? Now What?’” and how can we get stakeholders onboard with more innovative thinking?
Stay Curious!
Rethink and Redesign: The Power of Creative Problem Solving
Episode 61
Thursday, August 31, 2023 • Duration 18:02
It starts with a question: Why are we trying to tackle today’s problems with yesterday's thinking?
Don’t you want to create learning solutions that are more than just “tick a box?”
Don’t you want solutions that are tailored to fit the unique needs and aspirations of the people in your organization?
Sure you do, and collectively getting ideas from key people allows the best innovations to bubble to the top.
So why do we try to develop innovative solutions with traditional development practices?
Let’s face it - In the L&D industry, resistance to change and the adoption of Creative Problem Solving (CPS) techniques can often be traced back to a reliance on the “we’ve always done it that way” approach.
It’s time for a new approach - and I hope this episode inspires you to step out of the box and try new methods to gain more innovative ideas.
This solo podcast calls back to this Learning Rebels Blog Post: Brainpower Bonanza: The Magic Of Groups In Creative Problem Solving:
After getting to know Kevin over the past year, his passion for the industry and his community was contagious and I knew I had to share his story.
Kevin’s journey
I did not know that Kevin had been a second-grade teacher! Just when you think you know someone…
How can you walk away from this conversation and NOT feel inspired?
This is a hometown boy from the southside of Chicago who has never left his roots. He saw a path that led to his inner passions and didn't give up.
As Kevin admits, sometimes the work gets boring. But, this doesn't mean we have to throw in the towel - it's about the ongoing process of discovery. What can we find to ignite our passions?
He didn't seek to become the L&D detective, it found him through exploration and curiosity. I hope you found his journey motivating and inspiring!
It all started with the BIG question on the table.
How can we tap into our inner business creativity more often?
When it comes to creativity, as L&D professionals, we often think about being creative in a meeting or a classroom, but how can we encourage creativity as a culture?
First, it means being aware of what is happening outside our own box, building relationships across departments, and providing the building blocks for creating a safe place to share creative ideas.
Second, it means in order for us to bring our creative best (as well as develop the creative best in others), we have to build connections first. Even the first spark of commonality creates a tentative bond where we are a little less afraid to share ideas.
So I hope this conversation sparked some ideas to help you connect and strengthen your creative tendencies.
The Art of Problem Solving 101: Improve Your Critical Thinking and Decision Making Skills and Learn How to Solve Problems Creatively: https://amzn.to/3Pjm5t9
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