The eLearning Coach Podcast

Mark Shatz, Ph.D., teaches educational psychology, statistics and a course on writing humor at the University of Ohio, Zanesville. He's a coauthor of the book, Comedy Writing Secrets. Research shows that appropriate humor in the instructional setting can set the stage for a positive attitude toward learning. It can enhance interest, build rapport and heighten attention. In this conversation, Mark explains techniques for speaking and writing with humor. WE DISCUSS: * What funny is * How to "find funny" * Why it's easy to be funny in instructional settings * The psychology of why people laugh * How humor can benefit learning * Whether placement of humor affects learning * The pitfalls of using humor in learning * The best style for writing humor * Beginner mistakes * Techniques for making situations funny * The structure of stand-up comedy jokes * Finding your writer's voice RATE: Rate this podcast in iTunes TIME: 32 minutes TRANSCRIPT: Download the [Download not found] RESOURCE LINKS: * Comedy Writing Secrets: The Best-Selling Guide to Writing Funny and Getting Paid for It, 3rd Edition by Mark Shatz and Mel Helitzer * Enhancing Online Instruction with Humor by Loschiavo and Shatz (Download article on request) * Does Humor Enhance Learning? * Teaching Humor: An Interview with Dr. Mark Shatz   Get the latest articles, resources and freebies once a month plus my free eBook, Writing for Instructional Design. SEND EBOOK NOW

If you think of the learning management system (LMS) as an antiquated platform, then listen to this conversation with John Leh. He has a fascinating perspective on the evolution of LMSs and the value they can add to an organization. John is the CEO and Lead Analyst at Talented Learning, a learning management research and consulting firm devoted to helping organizations of all sizes choose and use LMS solutions and related technologies for their unique business needs. His company has reviewed scores of learning management systems and he shares his insights on this podcast. WE DISCUSS: * What a Learning Management System is * Number of LMSs in the market * Flavors of Learning Management Systems * The hottest category of LMS in the market today * Determining the use cases prior to purchasing an LMS * Criteria for reviewing an LMS * How LMSs are evolving and changing * Consolidating your credentials using Mozilla backpack, Credly and others * LMS platforms and xAPI integration (or not) * LMS and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) integration * LMS platforms with authoring tool integration * Costs of using a free open source LMS * How not to define your requirements and a better way to do it * How to measure the success of your LMS implementation RATE: Rate this podcast in iTunes TIME: 30 minutes TRANSCRIPT: Download the [Download not found] RESOURCE LINKS: * Talented Learning * The Talented Learning Show * Talented Learning LMS Directory * More on LMS and CRM Integration Get the latest articles, resources and freebies once a month plus my free eBook, Writing for Instructional Design. SEND EBOOK NOW

If you are frustrated with the limited models available for instructional design, then you’ll be interested in this conversation with Cathy Moore. She is the creator of Action Mapping and author of Map It, a model of training design that focuses on improving workplace performance. Cathy is a training designer, teacher, speaker and author. Her advice and designs have been used by many organizations and the U.S. government. She also teaches online workshops on scenario design. Cathy has made it her mission to save the world from boring instruction. In this conversation, we discuss her book, Map It!. We also talk about the changing role of learning experience designers, measuring the effects of training, how to tell whether training is the solution to a performance problem, tracking practice activities (or not), creating prototypes and much more. WE DISCUSS: * Providing effective solutions that go beyond training * Action Mapping process * Using business metrics to measure performance improvement and behavior change * How action mapping has evolved and changed over the years * Criteria to determine whether a performance problem can be solved with training * Action mapping as a method for practicing instructional design * When to use and not use action mapping * How to choose the tasks that require practice activities * Advantages of branching scenarios * Technical implementation of practice activities * Prototyping guidelines RATE: Rate this podcast in iTunes TIME: 24 minutes TRANSCRIPT: Download the [Download not found] RESOURCES: * Map It by Cathy Moore * Cathy's website * Is training the answer? Use this flowchart * Will Action Mapping work for my project? (interactive flowchart) * Action Mapping * Cathy's Scenario Design Course * Balsamiq (mockup tool) * Twine (for telling branching stories) Get the latest articles, resources and freebies once a month plus my free eBook, Writing for Instructional Design. SEND EBOOK NOW

I've been producing The eLearning Coach podcast since January of 2013, and I've been learning and growing along with you. When I look back through the podcasts I see that there are many older ones that you may not have heard or certainly, you've forgotten. So I thought that every so often, I would pull out a few gems for you from years past and put them together into a Best of Show. I hope you enjoy this one. WE DISCUSS This episode includes segments from: * ELC 001: Joe Fournier on finding a job in instructional design * ELC 002: Jane Bozarth on how to use social media for learning * ELC 004: Lisa Cron on how to write awesome stories * ELC 007: Susan Weinshenck on working memory, schemas and mental models * ELC 010: Alberto Cairo on the purpose of visuals and information graphics RATE: Rate this podcast in iTunes TIME: 28 minutes TRANSCRIPT: Download the [Download not found]. RESOURCES: * Spot Learning: Joe Fournier's blog * Social Media for Trainers by Jane Bozarth * Wired for Story by Lisa Cron * 100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People and Neuro Web Design by Susan Weinschenk * The Functional Art by Alberto Cairo Get the latest articles, resources and freebies once a month plus my free eBook, Writing for Instructional Design. SEND EBOOK NOW

Practice and feedback. Seems easy, right? Actually, designing the appropriate type of practice and providing effective feedback requires a lot of know-how. Patti Shank, PhD., has been studying the research on this topic and wrote a book about it. In this conversation, she shares some of the key takeaways that she has gleaned from the research. Patti has more than 20 years of experience with performance and learning analysis, instructional design, learning sciences,information design and usability principles. She is deeply engaged in researching what works best for workplace learning and training outcomes. WE DISCUSS: * Difference between deep learning and superficial learning * Importance of practice and feedback * Why humans need a lot of practice to learn skills and retain knowledge * Types of practice that promote learning transfer (fidelity, consequences, variability, social interaction) * Types of practice that promote remembering (context, realism, reference) * Formative feedback versus summative feedback * Feedback for novices versus those with experience * Value of effortful learning RATE: Rate this podcast in iTunes TIME: 24 minutes TRANSCRIPT: Download the transcript: [Download not found] RESOURCES: * Practice and Feedback for Deeper Learning by Patti Shank * Patti Shank (Patti's website) Get the latest articles, resources and freebies once a month plus my free eBook, Writing for Instructional Design. SEND EBOOK NOW

If you use audio in your learning materials, then you'll be fascinated by what these voice actors reveal about their work and the scripts they are given. What do voice actors, voice artists and narrators need in a script? What can we provide to ensure we support them to do their best. How do we reduce the corrections cycle? These questions and more are answered in this episode by three excellent and experienced voice actors. WE DISCUSS: * Education and training needed to become a voice artist * Characteristics of good scripts * Script formatting that makes it easier for a voice actor to perform * What to provide prior to recording * Discussing rates and timelines * Common mistakes to avoid * What a voice over job for eLearning entails * Pronunciation keys * *How to make a dying sound for a video game RATE: Rate this podcast in iTunes TIME: 31 minutes TRANSCRIPT: Download the [Download not found]. RESOURCES: * Kim Handysides * George Washington III, VO Evolution * Rebecca Haugh, Love That Rebecca * If You Can Talk, You Can Write (Book) * World Voices * Voices.com *Extremely important Get the latest articles, resources and freebies once a month plus 12 Scripting Tips. SEND THE SCRIPTING TIPS

The future is now. I’m talking about the fact that software we use every day is based on artificial intelligence algorithms and the trend is growing. How will you be using AI in the future? Will you benefit from automation?  Will you design AI software for learning? Will you be training AI agents? In this session, I interview Chris Noessel, about a fascinating category of artificial intelligence known as agentive technology. Chris is the author of Designing Agentive Technology: AI That Works for People and coauthor of Make It So: Interaction Design Lessons from Science Fiction. He is also a UX professional, where he has designed products, services, and strategy for a variety of domains, including health, financial, and consumer. Chris currently works with IBM, as Global Design Practice Lead for the Travel and Transportation sector. WE DISCUSS: * Artificial intelligence categories: General AI, Super AI, Narrow AI * The Singularity * Machine learning versus deep learning * Differences between agentive AI and assistive narrow AI * How online services are using AI * Benefits of agentive technology * How agentive technology will affect your job * We step through the ux design process of agentive software (setup, touchpoints,monitoring) RATE: Rate this podcast in iTunes TIME: 40 minutes TRANSCRIPT: Download the [Download not found]. RESOURCES AND MENTIONS: * Chris Noessel's web page * Designing Agentive Technology: AI That Works for People by Chris Noessel (Amazon or Rosenfeld Media) * Make It So: Interaction Design Lessons from Science Fiction by Nathan Shedroff and Chris Noessel * Sci-fi Interfaces (Interaction design lessons from sci-fi) * Roomba Vacuum (Narrow AI machine) * Person of Interest (AI Show) * Near Future Laboratory * Society of Mind Get the latest articles, resources and freebies once a month plus my free eBook, Writing for Instructional Design. SEND EBOOK NOW

Digital curation is emerging as a sound strategy in learning experience design to replace or enhance courses. It's also a strategy for building community and a way to support informal learning and a backchannel. In this episode, I speak with Allison Anderson and Ben Betts, co-authors and editors of Ready, Set, Curate: 8 Learning Experts Tell You How. Allison is a Chief Learning Strategist at Learning EcoStrategies. She has more than 20 years of experience as a learning leader in both higher education and the private sector. Ben leads the team at his startup, HT2 Labs, an R&D company for learning and performance technology. Ben is a thought-leader in Learning Technology with more than 15 years of experience and a doctorate where he studied the impact of gamification on adult social learning. WE DISCUSS: * Defining digital curation * Difference between aggregation and curation * Why curation is a viable solution for workplace learning * Examples of how digital curation can be used: Imagination, Instruction, Integration and Implementation * How curation is supported by instructional science * Curation and community—the social aspect of curation * Curation strategies for learning experience design * Effective curation process * Determining valid sources to curate * Curation copyright and licensing issues * Common mistakes new curators make * Curation tools TIME: 31 minutes RATE: Review this podcast in iTunes TRANSCRIPT: Download the [Download not found]. RESOURCES: * Ready, Set, Curate: 8 Learning Experts Tell You How by Allison Anderson and Ben Betts * HT2 Labs where Ben is the CEO * Scoop.it: curation tool * Medium: writing platform * AndersPink: automated curation tool * Curatr: Ht2 Labs curation tool that incorporates social learning and gamification * Degreed: micro-credentialing platform * PathGather: enterprise learning platform * Review of Ready, Set, Curate Get the latest articles, resources and freebies once a month plus my free eBook, Writing for Instructional Design. SEND EBOOK NOW

The possibilities in our field are changing rapidly. Do you ever want to take a moment to get a bird's eye view of the current landscape and where things are headed? That’s what we do in this episode, which is a conversation with Donald Taylor. We also talk about the keys to having a successful technology implementation, which is the theme of his book, Learning Technologies in the Workplace. Donald Taylor is a veteran of the learning, skills and human capital industries, with experience at every level from delivery to chairman of the board. Donald is the chair of the Learning and Performance Institute, Chairman of the Learning Technologies Conference, international speaker, independent consultant and author. He also published the L&D Global Sentiment Survey. See links at the end. WE DISCUSS: * Difficulties explaining learning in the workplace * The schoolroom assumption * Drivers of change in organizations * What employees expect as solutions to performance problems * Providing immediate solutions versus building long-term capabilities * How L&D can benefit from user-generated content * New mindset required by L&D for future * Effective enterprise-wide learning technology implementations * Future of learning technology and L&D roles * Impact of artificial intelligence as it predicts behaviors at work TIME: 34 minutes RATE: Rate this podcast in iTunes TRANSCRIPT: Download the [Download not found]. RESOURCES: * Donald's Website * Learning and Performance Institute * Learning Technologies in the Workplace: How to Successfully Implement Learning Technologies in Organizations (Book) * L&D Global Sentiment Survey Get the latest articles, resources and freebies once a month plus my free eBook, Writing for Instructional Design. SEND EBOOK NOW

Why aren't design critiques a standard part of our design process? Why aren't critiques visualized as an iterative loop in every design model diagram? Design critiques, whether formal or informal, are an important tool to have in your toolbox. When they focus on the goal of meeting your objectives (rather than personal likes and dislikes), they may provide some of the most valuable feedback you can get. Design critiques can be for anything you choose: user interface, instructional design, visual design, game design, story design, etc. In this episode, I speak with Adam Connor, co-author of Discussing Design. Adam is VP of Organizational Design at Mad*Pow, where he designs and develops products, services, and strategies aimed at tackling challenges in healthcare, finance, and education. WE DISCUSS: * Critiques defined * Value of critiques to the design and the team * What a design critique looks like * What form or level of detail the design can be in * How do start implementing critiques in your organization or team * Formal versus informal critiques * Common mistakes that newbies make * Frameworks and types of feedback for design critiques * Best way to receive feedback * What to do when a critique goes downhill * Recommended roles at a critique * Ideal number of people to participate * Bad habits at critiques TIME: 34 Minutes RATE: Rate this podcast in iTunes TRANSCRIPT: Download the [Download not found]. RESOURCES: * Discussing Design by Adam Connor and Adam Irizary * Adam's Website * Adam's Writings Get the latest articles, resources and freebies once a month plus my free eBook, Writing for Instructional Design. SEND EBOOK NOW

How much do you think about writing test items? Do you have a strategy or do you throw together a test at the end? Don't miss out on the valuable data you can derive from a well-designed test. In this episode, you'll find guidance and advice from professor, author and psychometrician, Michael Rodriguez, PhD. Michael is the Campbell Leadership Chair in Education and Human Development and associate professor in the University of Minnesota Department of Educational Psychology. He teaches courses in educational measurement and assessment. His research is on understanding the psychometric properties of tests, and developing ways to maximize test accessibility to diverse test takers, including those with cognitive impairments or limited English proficiency. WHAT WE DISCUSS: * Definition of psychometrics * When it's best to write test items in the instructional design process * The role of validity in test development * Important guidelines for making sure that test items contribute to validity * Things to avoid when writing test items * A new type of test format: Multiple True/False * Whether true/talse questions provide a good measure of student learning * Some ways to write effective true/false questions * How to plan for test design * Whether Bloom's Taxonomy is based on research * Ways to test higher-order thinking * How to choose an item format * Common errors that novice test developers make * Benefits of instructional design * The focus of new academic research on assessment TIME: 45 minutes RATE: Rate this podcast in iTunes TRANSCRIPT: Download the [Download not found]. RESOURCES: * More about Dr. Rodriguez * Developing and Validating Test Items: Textbook written by Thomas Haladyna and Michael Rodriguez Get smarter about online learning with articles, tips and resources delivered to your Inbox once a month. (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//forms.aweber.com/form/66/775275066.js"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, "script", "aweber-wjs-v9wwc4idc"));

Do you want to design learning games, but you're not sure where to get help? I suggest listening to the learning game guru, Karl Kapp. He is an Instructional Technology Professor at Bloomsburg University and an author of many books on learning games (see Resources below). In addition to teaching and writing, Karl  speaks and consults on topics related to the convergence of learning, manufacturing, and e-technology. He helps organizations transition into learning organizations through the effective application of technology. WE DISCUSS: * Latest trends in games and gamification * Differences and similarities between games and gamification * The evil trifecta of gamification * Game elements that are highly motivating * Advantages of games for learning * Commercial gamification, game tools and learning game developers * Criteria for selecting a learning game vendor * Philosophical approach to making your courses game-like * Are "fake games" okay? * Deconstructing engagement * Learning research on games: criteria for a well-designed game * Common novice mistakes in game design * Sensible uses of VR TIME: 37 minutes RATE: Rate this podcast in iTunes TRANSCRIPT: Download the [Download not found]. RESOURCES: * Karl's Website: Lots of great information. Be sure to check out Kapp Notes * Zombie Sales Apocalypse: Game designed by Karl * Play to Learn: New book by Sharon Boller and Karl Kapp * The Gamification of Learning and Instruction: by Karl Kapp * The Gamification of Learning and Instruction Fieldbook: by Karl Kapp, Lucas Blair and Rich Mesch Gamification Tools Mentioned: * Axonify * Badgeville * Bunchball * Desire 2 Learn * GamEffective * Growth Engineering * Knowledge Guru * Insight Hub * mLevel * Open Badges (Listen to an interview about badges) * Poll Everywhere * QStream *

Agile principles call for iterative and incremental development that improves as a project advances. It's an effective way to make project corrections as requirements change. In this session, I speak with Megan Torrance about Agile project management for eLearning design and development. Megan is the chief energy officer of TorranceLearning, an eLearning design and development firm. She has spent over two decades knee-deep in projects involving change management, instructional design, consulting, and systems deployment. She and the TorranceLearning team have developed the LLAMA project management approach, blending Agile with instructional design. WE DISCUSS: * Where Agile started and what it's about * How Agile is different than Addie or the waterfall method * Six key Agile practices that apply to eLearning project management * How to improve through iteration and making incremental advancements * Determining what to include in the early iterations * The meaning of LLAMA and the model * Reputation of the eLearning industry * How to run an Agile project adapted for LX design * Convincing clients that an iterative approach results in the best solution * Tool recommendations for Agile project management TIME: 30 minutes RATE: Rate this podcast in iTunes TRANSCRIPT: Download the [Download not found]. RESOURCES: * TorranceLearning * Agile for eLearning * 6 Things Agile Teams Do Well * Reconciling ADDIE and Agile * Adopting an Agile approach in your organization * 12 Principles Behind the Agile Manifesto * Cathy Moore's Action Mapping * Leaving ADDIE for SAM (book) by Michael Allen: An iterative approach to design and development * User Stories for Agile TOOLS MENTIONED: * DominKnow Flow * Trello: Project management app * Slack: Team communication app * One Note: Note-taking app * Card Colors for Trello: Chrome extension * Scrum for Trello or

Does learning with technology rewire our brains? How can we leverage technology to enhance attention and memory? If you ever ask yourself these questions, you'll enjoy this conversation with Michelle D. Miller, author of Minds Online: Teaching Effectively with Technology. Michelle is Director of the First Year Learning Initiative and Professor of Psychology at Northern Arizona University. WE DISCUSS: * How Minds Online contributes to the body of knowledge about online teaching. * Thinking in new ways about comparing classroom learning with online learning. * The benefits of blended learning. * Whether certain ideas about the brain in the popular culture are myths. * Strategies for improving learner attention. * A way to conceptualize working memory and long-term memory. * Strategies for avoiding excessive cognitive load. * How to use technology to enhance memory. * Why irrelevant or disconnected information won't be remembered and what to do about it. * Ways to promote learning transfer in online instruction. * Key research findings on using multimedia in online learning. TIME: 32 minutes RATE: Rate this podcast in iTunes TRANSCRIPT: Download the [Download not found]. RESOURCES: * Michelle's book: Mind's Online: Teaching Effectively with Technology * Michelle's blog: Minds-Online Blog * Michelle on Twitter: @mdmillerphd * Michelle on Facebook * Articles and essays: * At The Conversation, read Michelle Miller’s look at how millennials—a population frequently lauded as “digital natives” and for their facility with multitasking—really deal with technology in the classroom * On KTEP (El Paso, TX)’s Focus on Campus, listen to Michelle Miller discuss helpful techniques from cognitive psychology that both students and teachers can use to improve learning and memory * At Inside Higher Ed, read Miller’s essay on the module she designed to educate students about the limits of attention—and just how much they miss when they choose to multitask * At the Chronicle of Higher Education, read more about Miller’s research into how online tools and strategies can increase access to education and improve learning experiences Get smarter about online learning with articles, tips and resources delivered to your Inbox once a month. (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.

In this episode of The eLearning Coach Podcast, I speak with Kevin Thorn about a hot topic in our field—how to write storyboards. Kevin teaches storyboarding classes and is an award-winning eLearning designer with over 30 years of experience in the training industry, with the last decade in eLearning. His experience in instructional design, storyboarding, eLearning development, LMS implementation, illustration, graphic design, storytelling, cartooning, and comics makes him unique in the industry. Kevin is the "chief nuggethead" and owner of NuggetHead Studioz. WE DISCUSS: * What a storyboard is * Kevin's storyboarding process (the storyboard workbook) * Benefits of using storyboards * The design hats of the learning experience designer * Who writes the storyboard * Problems with designing and developing at the same time * The moving parts in an assessment * Depicting global access and isolated access * Approaches to visual storyboarding * Value of thumbnail sketches TIME: 26 minutes RATE: Rate this podcast in iTunes TRANSCRIPT: Download the [Download not found]. RESOURCES: * Nuggethead Studioz (Kevin's website) * Storyboard Depot (Storyboard templates including one from Kevin) * Storyboard and Project Documents by Kevin (on eLearning Heroes) * Storyboards for eLearning (article) * 8 Tips for Preparing Audio Scripts for Recording (article) * The Art of Writing Great Voiceover Scripts (article) Get The eLearning Coach in your Inbox once a month, with articles, tips and free resources and tools. (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//forms.aweber.com/form/66/775275066.js"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, "script", "aweber-wjs-v9wwc4idc"));