The Holistic Instructional Designer: Why Cross-Sector Experience Benefits Us All
Instructional design has emerged as one of the most boundary-spanning professions in education and workforce development. Professionals increasingly move among K–12 education, higher education, corporate learning, healthcare, government, and non-profit organizations while continuing to apply many of the same core competencies: analyzing learning needs, designing effective instruction, evaluating outcomes, and facilitating organizational change. Instructional designers possess a diverse portfolio of competencies […]
Executive Summary: Leadership Network Symposium
Background Leaders in higher education must consistently navigate rapid change, competing priorities, and limited time and resources, all while facing overstuffed calendars, throttled inboxes, and the perpetual ping of messages. Deep, strategic thinking and problem-solving require time and mental space as well as peers who can offer ideas and support. Opportunity The 5th Annual OLC […]
From Isolation to Connection: Practical Approaches to Minimize Loneliness Among Students in Digital Classrooms
Online and blended education have opened doors and created greater flexibility for learning for millions of students. At the same time, however, the pressing issue of student loneliness persists. Whether students are exclusively online, alternating between modalities, or balancing education with employment and family responsibilities, students today often experience a sense of isolation and separation […]
What Happens When No One Owns Online Learning
A few months ago, I sat down with a provost at a small regional institution. They were frustrated. Enrollment and budget concerns hovered over every meeting and conversation, but their online programs felt like a genuine source of hope. There were signs of life, but something was still off. Everyone I spoke with at the […]
Shake and Bake: The Power of “And I Helped” in Learning Design
The Shake and Bake Principle If you grew up watching television in the 1980s or 1990s, you may remember the old Shake ’n Bake commercials. A parent would be making dinner, a kid would help shake chicken in a bag of seasoning, and at the end the child would proudly announce, “Shake ’n Bake… and […]