Workplace learning and other musings

Two traits, two commitments, and one time-tested practice that every trainer should embrace … More 2+2+1 Trainer Tips

This article originally appeared as a guest post in the Train Like a Champion blog under the title: “Putting the How I See It Activity to Work in a Virtual Environment.“ In my work, I support a number of trainings that help the staff of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) deepen understanding … More Succeeding in the Virtual Space

Evaluating the effectiveness of learning Several years ago, I was actively banging my head against the same wall that has given countless other learning professionals headaches—that wall manifested itself as the seemingly simple question: How do I evaluate the effectiveness of learning activities? This short article will not answer that question—at least not directly or … More Learn ~ Apply ~ Achieve

I enjoy watching professional sports and attending a good improvisational comedy show. Seeing people perform and entertain at a high level is inspiring and thrilling, and it’s a great way to spend a few hours on the weekend. On the other hand, watching a group of 6-year olds play soccer or inexperienced improv actors try … More Lessons from Sports and Comedy for the Workplace

Recently, I was asked to be a guest on BizLibrary’s Podcast. The episode is called “Understanding Learning Retention,” and we did discuss learning retention theory and approaches. But I also highlighted the importance of linking learning to change in the workplace to achieve results. It was a fun 30-minute discussion, and a good preview of … More Connecting Effective Learning to Workplace Results (Podcast)

Aha! A recent ‘aha moment’ occurred while reading a 2003 article by Richard Mayer on reducing cognitive load in multi-media presentations[1]. I found the article to provide useful and evidence-based explanations for making PowerPoint and other visual aids more effective at supporting learning. But the real ‘aha’ came when I saw a version of the … More The Role of Prior Knowledge in L&D

To say that data is important for good decision making is not breaking news. In fact, Sherlock Holmes is ‘credited’ with saying: “It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data.” These days, the influence of data is all around us. Articles on or referencing data appear in my newsfeed daily. Software is … More Demystifying Data

I recently attended a training-of-trainers workshop for International Youth Foundation’s excellent Passport to Success life skills program. The final activity brought trainers and participants into a circle for each of us to share one thing we learned and one thing we appreciated about the group. As we shared our thoughts, we held a ball of … More To Learn and To Appreciate