Beyond the Classroom

  Blended learning is an educational approach that combines traditional face-to-face classroom instruction with online learning activities. In general, this kind of approach can be more flexible and can create a better personal experience for students, especially taking into consideration the benefits of engaging them in a face-to-face perspective and a digital perspective.  However, we normally see blended learning in an educational setting like K-12 and higher education. But blended learning is not just for the academic setting. Corporations can benefit from using the practice too.  Tim Slade, one of my favorite instructional designer "influencer", has a video on designing blending learning for the corporate world.  The main takeaway from this video is how, and why, to use blending learning in the corporate world is: Learning evolves – our teaching should too. It's an ongoing process, not a single event, and needs a flexible approach. You can beat the forgetting ...

I recently discovered Design Thinking, which is a great approach to structuring designs, especially for corporations. Design Thinking is a human-centered approach to problem-solving that prioritizes empathy, creativity, and iteration. This process is what we do all the time. There are five stages of Design Thinking which are:  Empathize,  Define,  Ideate,  Prototype,  Test Here's an infographic I made that delves deeper into the approach. This short Youtube Video titled "Design Thinking and How it Can Help Instructional Designers" should be watched for a visual explanation of what Design Thinking is and how you can apply it in your own work. He also recommend further learning into this by mentioning a d school workshop which I am also including. It is a bit longer but well worth the watch! Design Thinking enables instructional designers to create learning experiences that resonate with employees' needs and preferences. Designers can explore unconventional approa...

  Technology has always shaped our lives, but the post-COVID era has seen a surge in innovation. AI and virtual reality are rapidly becoming mainstream, transforming how we work and live. AI is everywhere. Apple just announced Gemini (Google answers to OpenAI) will be incorporated into the new iPhone. OpenAI has now ventured into text-to-image with Sora , which should be released to the public (the paying ones) within this year. Copilot AI (once known as Bing) has been added to all Microsoft packages, free to users.  So what does this mean for the workforce environment?  We are going to experience a change and it going to be fun. At least, for those who can handle increasing change and technology.  Here's what to expect: Gamification Unleashes Motivation : Forget the boring training seminars. Badges, points, and rewards will be integrated into the workplace.  For generations raised on video games, this approach feels intuitive and engaging, boosting motivation i...

Motivation matters.  That is obvious and well-documented. I need a lot of motivation to do half of the things I do. It doesn't help even if tasks or duties are incentivized. I have to care. Or nothing gets done.