The Weekly Learning RoundUp - Edition 2

Welcome to the second edition of The Weekly Learning Roundup. In this edition, you'll find some interesting learning conversations, resources for instructional designers, tips/advice for folks transitioning into the industry, and an assortment of other interesting posts. Let's dig in.

The World of Learning

Interesting Learning Conversations

Amanda Nolen has a hot take on organizations perpetually trying to find the magic bullet that will educate, engage, and create a learning culture.

Check out Andrew Kiel's story of Dudik Bucks , a semester-long learning experience that students unwittingly participated in and learned some long-lasting lessons. A great example of learning by doing.

Will Thalheimer's 2022 Learning Trends Diagnostic Questions survey is now live until Jan 14. It's a great way to reflect on the practices within your team/organization. If anything, it's a wonderful exercise in learning more about effective SMILE sheets.

Another reminder on the futility of buying LMSs/LXPs, filling it with content, and expecting the learners to come, by David James.

Christopher Lind on the other hand caved in to his feelings and put together a list of his favorite technologies of 2021 . Some hidden gems on this list.

Do you script your videos word-for-word or do you wing it? Luke Westwood had a query on scripting for videos, and this prompted some insightful comments from folks on the art of scripting and recording videos .

Do videos need to be long or short? Can you make long videos that are effective as well? Check out this article from Josh Cavalier.

What makes a good learning game? Would it work if learners can play it only once? Yes, according to Karl Kapp. Check out this Unauthorized, Unofficial History of Learning Games that takes a look at the MIT Beer Distribution Game . It has one objective, one aha moment, and that's it.

If you have an interest in XR, check out Kristin Torrence's article summarizing 25+ research studies. This research has implications for LXD in the field of XR.

Ed Price has been looking into VR as part of an assignment, and here are his findings.

WOINA (What is Old Is New Again ) is a series of posts from Guy Wallace. It's amazing how new fads are often practices dating back to a few decades.

How much do instructional designers actually earn? There's been a lot of back and forth on this topic over the past couple of weeks with the pro 100K and sub 100K clubs sparring against each other with their "I know of IDs who..." argument. However, here's Tracie Cantu with some stats from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics . Also, check out Tracie's post on the various roles within L&D if you're looking to transition.

What are you currently reading? Can't pick a book? Amit Garg read about 17 books last year and reviewed all the books for learning designers .

I'm a few months late to this, but check out this 7Taps course from Susan Ogilvie on picking appropriate Halloween costumes . It's short, on point, and the theme is on-brand.

What is the alternative to locked eLearning? Do you test every item that the learner must know? Turn the whole course into blocks of True/False, drag n drop, and MCQs, and insist that they get 90% right? Interesting conversation on locked navigation by Lubna Pardesi.

Online learning is proven to increase knowledge retention by 25% to 60%. Or does it? I found this article shared by Gary Trimble really interesting as it follows the breadcrumbs of this claim that has no substance to back it up.

Jess Almie believes that L&D is behind the times in the way it operates. She lists eight items , including running L&D like a business and ensuring that a learning solution isn't the goto solution, which can move L&D forward.

Rick Jacobs in the same vein about why businesses that fall back on smile sheets don't really care about business .

Content writers often use this hack for writing new articles: scouring reddit and quora. Have you ever considered using it to craft authentic scenarios for learning? Here's Ryan Martin on using Reddit to create realistic dialog . If you're interested in writing about employee conflict, head to Blind. It's a rabbit hole, mind you.

Anamaria Dorgo wrote a great article on Seven neuroscience backed-up facts for better learning experience design . This is definitely recommended reading for this week.

Mirjam Neelen and Paul Kirschner make a great point about why sometimes knowing is enough . You don't always have to strive for understanding.

Are you looking for a quick reference guide on applying insights from learning sciences ? Check out this guide from Sanica Sharma.

Nicole Papaioannou Lugara has 7 phrases that IDs should stop saying in 2022 . Also included are recommendations of what can be said instead and why shifting your speech makes a difference.

Brandie Jenkins on why people should stop saying they follow ADDIE principles . I agree wholeheartedly. If you go by the way ADDIE is described by most people who say they follow it, then it seems more of a project management process more than a model to develop learning solutions.

Dallas Jensen sparked an interesting discussion on adult learning theory . Are adults really more self-directed than those who aren't?

The brain processes an image 60K times faster than text... Every time you hear this 60K nonsense, Zsolt gives you permission to ask for the original scientific research.

Would you be interested in a discussion on transformative learning ? Reach out to Dave McAlinden. This promises to be an interesting discussion on Meizrow's work.

This earnest plea from Jaime Ann Sanborn to Articulate caught my attention.

Joanna Cappuccilli has a few visual design tips for folks transitioning to ID.

Resources

Brandon Cestrone has five inspirational L&D resources for the week. #4 on community-curated knowledge networks is spot on. It's an interesting read on how with all the information that bombards us, we are happy for others (humans, not bots) to curate a reading list for us. My own experience with Refind (referral link) has been incredible. I love their curation of reading lists (both, from bots and humans).

Mike Taylor has a weekly newsletter in which he shares interesting tools. And now, Mike has created a webpage where you can find all of these tools and filter them by category.

What questions do you need to ask before joining an academy? Cara North has you covered in this carousel with 10 questions you can ask .

If you're looking for a practice project to build your next portfolio piece, I'd suggest diving into the eLearning Practice Drills series of articles by Dana Kocalis. Each article contains the project scope, an outline, a timeline, and pointers on how to go about the project.

Did you know about this website that has 78 million free images ? Check out this tip from Tracy Parish.

Curious about roles focused on measurement, data, and analytics for L&D ? Kevin M Yates has you covered with a bunch of job titles, role descriptions, qualifications, and requirements from well-known brands in multiple industries.

Are you finding it difficult to create a portfolio with good examples to showcase your skills? Here's Melissa Milloway walking you through her process .

We're running Canvathon in the Teaching: A Path to L&D group. On alternative days through the week, a challenge will go live on the Canvathon page on the TPLD website. Each challenge will have its own card containing learning resources, suggested materials, templates, and more. Once you've completed the challenge, you can share your work on the Canvathon post for the day (in this group). Above is my take1 for Day 3.

Another great opportunity on TPLD is the new instructional program development . You get to create a self-paced program for new instructional designers, aided by mentors and SMEs. It's quite meta. You learn to be an ID by creating a How-To course for IDs. How cool is that?

How do you estimate time to create learning resources ? Here's an interesting share from Starla Wehrli.

JamPan's Becoming a Learning Content Curator Course is now live and free. In true spirit, the course itself comprises curated resources.

May N Chang shared this great article from Connie Malammed on magazine-style eLearning . That might be an interesting format to try out, especially for people who are used to this format. Will it be as effective though? I guess I'll have to try it out.

Career Transitions

Tim Slade's feed was a hotbed of activity this week, as usual. But this post on thot leaders seems to have kicked up a storm. TL;DR: don't fall for the popularity of Linkfluencers (I think I just made that up for all the "influential" folks on LinkedIn). Instead, connect with folks who work in the industry, even those who maintain a low profile. After all, "empty vessels make more noise."

David D., along the same lines, cautions folks from fly-by-night enterprises looking to cash in on your desperation . Instead, try approaching other folks in the industry who might help you for free.

Laura Hoyer has some fantastic advice on not wasting your opportunity to get valuable advice from other people: don't waste it on asking questions that you can Google .

Sarah G has some advice on spotting affiliate links . This is one of my pet peeves too. You have a right to know if the other person is gaining materially by "helping" you.

Leticia Montelongo begins this post on academies, quite tongue in cheek and follows up with some good tips on vetting your choice of academy .

You've successfully transitioned from teaching to an alternative career. Now what? Here's Jasmine Toledo about her learning curve during the first few months.

If you don't like instructional design, is there another career option for a transition teacher? In the Teacher Career Coach podcast hosted by Daphne Gomez, hear how Bonnie Hanks went from teacher to potential curriculum writer to software engineering.

Here's Stojanka Berry with a great example of how you can share more meaningful information about the course you just completed, rather than just the certificate. Also, check out Stojanka's Educators in Ebb newsletter for free resources.

Three great posts on why you are are more than the fact that you're trying to pivot to a new career. Don't make that your entire story. First, by Anneliese Pixton on focusing your energy toward the right outcomes. Next, by Anna Murphy on not making "job seeker" your personal brand . Lastly, by Gerard Dawson on why a "one and done" is better than constantly beating the "I'm a pivoter" drum.

Tiffany Dorris has some words of encouragement for teachers looking to transition to instructional design: don't listen to the naysayers .

Casey Mitchell echoes some of my thoughts on teachers leaving education for the corporate world. It's the education system's loss really to have talented folks moving away. But, how do you overhaul the education system so they don't leave?

TLDC is organizing The Road to L&D : From Teaching to Instructional Design, featuring a great lineup of speakers.

Do you need an Instructional Design academy to help you enter the field? Here's a take from Alexander Salas.

If you're a teacher, check out Matt Sustaita's new newsletter, Out Of Class. The first edition, 4 Signs of Teacher Burn Out , is a good read.

Lastly, check out The ID Transition Toolkit , if you want to compare certification programs, academies, courses on instructional design. Or if you're looking for recommended podcasts and youtube channels on everything learning and development. There are also 100s of other free resources listed, from resume optimization to image repositories. The website was built with no-code tools such as Airtable and Softr.

Life and Such

Have you ever wondered about accessibility in gaming? LaToya V.S and the?3S Tech and Talent team are hosting a live chat to discuss the accessible mobile games and their new project Anvaya Feats: Shadow Rush!

Having been on both sides of the recruitment fence, Evgeny Mironov has a sadly hilarious take on the 5 worst recruitment practices that need to go . And I agree with all of them.

Shirleen Wong shared a retrospective of her year as a freelancer. Some great brainfood . You should also check out Lin's wonderful series on visual design from earlier last year.

I love a good pun and here are some L&D puns from Parker A Grant.

If you're an elearning developer, you'll like this meme from Ciara McCarthy .

That's it for this edition of The Weekly Learning Roundup.

Let me know if you liked it, didn't like it, or anything in between. Thanks to everyone who contributed to this edition.