Become an IDOL: Instructional Design and Online Learning

In this episode of the Become an IDOL Podcast, Dr. Alaina Szlachta, author of the book "Measurement and Evaluation on a Shoestring," shares her insights on simplifying measurement and evaluation strategies for learning and development professionals. Tune in to hear: How Dr. Szlachta's research on the challenges of measurement and evaluation led to the writing of her book. Strategies for getting buy-in from stakeholders and being a strategic business partner when it comes to measurement. Ways to leverage AI and technology to save time and make measurement and evaluation more efficient.

In this episode of the Become an IDOL Podcast, Matthew Campbell, a former Senior Director at McGraw Hill, shares his insights on transitioning from a social studies teacher to a successful career in educational technology. Tune in to hear: The key skills and qualities needed to break into instructional design and EdTech. How Matthew leveraged his teaching experience and networking to land his first corporate job. Matthew's tips for aspiring EdTech professionals, including building a portfolio and developing self-belief. Connect with Matthew on LinkedIn Are you looking for a no-nonsense formula for creating engaging courses and training? Check out my new book, The Do It Messy Approach: A Step-by-Step Guide for Instructional Designers and Online Learners (IDOLs) on Amazon.

In this episode of the Become an IDOL Podcast, Tamara McLemore, a project management expert, shares her insights and strategies for effective project management, particularly in the context of learning and development. Tune in to find out: Tamara's approach to building relationships and communicating with stakeholders, including her emphasis on understanding people's perspectives and what's in it for them. Tamara's tips for self-management and staying productive when working on solo projects, such as the importance of understanding your own work style and environment. Tamara's advice on identifying and leveraging team members' strengths to improve collaboration and project success, regardless of personality type.

In this episode, Utdam Song, an instructional designer from Cambodia, shares his career journey from being a high school teacher to landing his first instructional design job. Utdam discusses how the IDOL courses Academy provided him with practical, hands-on learning that complemented his academic studies. This helped him succeed in the interview process and secure his current role. The episode highlights Utdam's success story and the value of the IDOL program in supporting career changers and aspiring instructional designers.

In this episode of the Become an IDOL podcast, host Dr. Robin Sargent interviews Juliana Stancampiano, founder and CEO of Oxygen Experiences. Tune in to hear:- Juliana's journey from working at Microsoft to founding the US office of Oxygen and eventually acquiring ownership of the business- How Juliana's company creates engaging learning experiences through hands-on activities and emphasizes understanding the business perspective- Advice for new instructional designers around finding a mentor, understanding how businesses work, and tying learning outcomes to business goals

In this episode of the Become an IDOL podcast, Betty Dannewitz and Dr. Robin Sargent discuss leadership training and overcoming imposter syndrome in L&D. Tune in to hear: Betty’s background in learning and development and how she became a known conference speaker Insights into imposter syndrome, including common causes and coping strategies discussed Tips for overcoming imposter syndrome during a career transition or when learning instructional design

In this episode of the Become an IDOL podcast, Alyssa Coiro shares her journey from teacher to instructional designer. Tune in to hear: - Alyssa's story of how she discovered instructional design during the COVID pandemic and decided to pursue it through IDOL. - Details about Alyssa's experience building her portfolio within 8 weeks of the IDOL program and starting to apply for jobs. - An overview of Alyssa's career progression so far, including her roles at Lowe's and a large construction company. Connect with Alyssa on LinkedIn Are you looking for a no-nonsense formula for creating engaging courses and training? Check out my new book, The Do It Messy Approach: A Step-by-Step Guide for Instructional Designers and Online Learners (IDOLs) on Amazon.

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In this episode, Robin Sargent interviews Chris Skees, a Learning Product Manager at Cisco, about his career progression in the learning and development industry. He provides insights into career development and upskilling strategies, emphasizing mindset, curiosity, and stretch projects. Tune in to hear:1. Chris Skees discuss his career journey from content creation to learning product management and the various roles and industries he has worked in. 2. Strategies for career development and upskilling, including taking online courses, reading, conferences, and stretch projects to expand skills.3. Advice for aspiring instructional designers on clarifying career goals, researching job descriptions, and applying instructional design skills in different professional roles. Connect with Chris on LinkedIn Are you looking for a no-nonsense formula for creating engaging courses and training? Check out my new book, The Do It Messy Approach: A Step-by-Step Guide for Instructional Designers and Online Learners (IDOLs) on Amazon.

In this episode of the Become an IDOL podcast, Robin Sargent interviews Destery Hildenbrand, an XR Solution Architect who helps clients realize their immersive technology dreams through virtual reality, augmented reality, and blended learning solutions. Tune in to find out: Destery's career journey from graphic designer to XR Solution Architect and how he got involved with immersive technologies. Examples of use cases for augmented reality and virtual reality in learning and why certain modalities are better suited for different scenarios. Advice for instructional designers on getting started with no-code AR tools like Zappar and how to incorporate emerging technologies into their work.

In this episode, Susan Teague shares her career journey in learning and development. Tune in to find out: How Susan transitioned from her first training role to becoming an instructional designer and elearning project manager. Susan's insights into leadership development and how she helps companies think about professional development for their employees. Advice Susan gives to new instructional designers for learning about different businesses and the challenges they face.

In this episode of the Become an IDOL podcast, host Dr. Robin Sargent interviews JD Dillon, the Chief Learning Officer at Axonify and author of the book The Modern Learning Ecosystem. JD discusses his background transitioning from operations management into learning and development, focusing on supporting frontline workers. He shares examples of understanding workers' needs and problems to design effective performance support solutions rather than traditional training. JD emphasizes the importance of focusing on problem-solving over learning and using a variety of tactics beyond just courses. Tune in to find out: - How JD made the transition from operations management into learning and development while working for Disney- JD's example of redesigning performance support for grocery store employees by understanding their workflow and challenges - JD's advice to focus on understanding problems rather than "learning" and using a variety of tactics beyond just courses to solve problems Connect with JD on LinkedIn Are you looking for a no-nonsense formula for creating engaging courses and training? Check out my new book, The Do It Messy Approach: A Step-by-Step Guide for Instructional Designers and Online Learners (IDOLs) on Amazon.

In this episode, I'm chatting with Randi Myers and Teresa O from OWL which is Open World Learning, a FREE online training platform being offered to all registered charities in the US and Canada! Tune in to hear about this amazing resource and the process for volunteering as an instructional designer. Learn more about OWL-Open World Learning Are you looking for a no-nonsense formula for creating engaging courses and training? Check out my new book, The Do It Messy Approach: A Step-by-Step Guide for Instructional Designers and Online Learners (IDOLs) on Amazon. Interested in learning more about IDOL Academy-click here! It is the only trade school for Instructional Design and Online Learning in the world. Your one stop shop for all your instructional design needs. Now including a tool suite!