The Learning Alchemy Lab: A Modern Approach to Teaching Online with Dr. Alexis Bjelica

When you're ready to create an online course, one of the first questions that comes up is: "What LMS should I choose?" In this episode, Dr. Alexis breaks down the learning management system (LMS) selection process so you can make a confident, informed decision without getting overwhelmed by all the options.An LMS can be a powerful tool for housing your course materials, tracking learner progress, facilitating community, and creating a seamless learning experience. But with so many platforms available—and so many bells and whistles being marketed—it's easy to feel stuck before you even begin.Dr. Alexis shares her top six questions to ask when evaluating an LMS, drawing from her experience using at least 12 different platforms throughout her career in education and instructional design. This episode will help you become a savvy consumer of educational technology and choose a platform that truly serves your needs and your learners.What You'll Learn in This Episode:What an LMS actually does and whether you even need oneThe six essential questions to ask before purchasing a platformHow to evaluate pricing structures and avoid overpaying for features you won't useWhy mobile responsiveness and integration capabilities matterThe difference between testing a platform as a creator vs. as a learnerHow to assess support services before committing to a platformBudget-friendly alternatives to traditional LMS platformsConnect with Dr. Alexis:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexis-bjelica/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelearningalchemist/Subscribe to The Learning Alchemy Lab for more episodes on designing learning experiences that truly transform.

You ask what you think is a brilliant question. Then… crickets. That awkward silence makes you wonder: Was it my question? Is it me? Should I just start talking for them?In this episode, Dr. Alexis tackles one of the most uncomfortable moments in facilitation—when participants stay silent and you're left scrambling. Drawing from her own experience in a leadership training program full of awkward pauses, she breaks down the real reasons people don't speak up (hint: it's usually not what you think) and shares evidence-based strategies from instructional design to create conditions where engagement feels natural, not forced.Whether you're leading webinars, workshops, coaching sessions, or online courses, this episode will change how you think about silence—and give you practical tools to work with it instead of against it.In This Episode:• Why silence doesn't always mean disengagement—and the three types of silence you need to recognize• The psychological risk of speaking first that keeps your most thoughtful participants quiet• How vague or overly abstract questions sabotage participation (and what to ask instead)• The "one word" strategy that lowers cognitive load and invites everyone into the conversation• How to use chat, polls, and emojis to create multiple on-ramps for participation• The power of breakout rooms for reducing social pressure • The icebreaker technique that creates psychological safety without being cheesy or awkward• How to acknowledge vulnerability in a way that unlocks the room and encourages brave sharing• Why silence feels twice as long to you as the facilitator—and how to get comfortable with the pause• The mindset shift that transforms facilitationConnect with Dr. Alexis:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexis-bjelica/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelearningalchemist/Subscribe to The Learning Alchemy Lab for more episodes on designing learning experiences that truly transform.

Being brilliant at your subject doesn't automatically make you great at teaching it.In this episode, Dr. Alexis introduces the Empathy & Edges™ framework, a three-part approach to designing online learning experiences that actually transform students. Whether you're building your first course or reimagining an existing program, this framework will help you create learning experiences that feel both human and effective.In This Episode:• Why being an expert doesn't automatically make you a great teacher• A powerful framework used in online education (that most course creators have never heard of)• The three ingredients missing from most failing programs, and how to add them back in• Why "structure" isn't about control, it's actually your secret weapon for student success• One counterintuitive truth about transformation that will change how you design learning• Why most programs fail (and how to fix them with this framework)• One small step you can take today to improve your teachingConnect with Dr. Alexis:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexis-bjelica/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelearningalchemist/

People always assumed learning came easily to me—but honestly, it didn’t.As a neurodivergent learner, traditional education felt overwhelming. I spent years thinking I was the problem… when really, it was the way learning was designed.That changed when I discovered online learning. For the first time, I could learn at my own pace, revisit ideas, and actually process information in a way that worked for my brain. It completely shifted my confidence—and my career.Now, after 20+ years in education and 15 years in online course design and instructional design, I help educators, coaches, and experts create learning experiences that actually work.In The Learning Alchemy Lab, we break down how to create online courses and programs that people don’t just start—but finish, apply, and come back to.Inside this episode:Designing learning with empathy and structureUsing technology to support learning (not distract from it)Creating engaging, effective online coursesBuilding learning experiences that feel human and accessibleIf you’re creating a course—or want to—and care about real transformation, you’re in the right place.Follow the show and start designing learning that actually sticks.