A Transformational Summit Experience: Personal Reflections
Last week, I had the opportunity to attend XCHANGE’s Appreciative Inquiry Summit and Certification program – a 3-day immersive gathering that turned out to be a truly transformational learning experience. Because I am part of the xchange community, I had an idea of...
Beyond Chat—Using Breakout Rooms Strategically in vILT
Research shows breakout rooms are more than optional—they’re essential. According to InSync Training, small-group discussions in virtual settings foster intellectual, emotional, and environmental engagement by reducing distractions and encouraging deeper thinking....
Camera On, Mic Off? Managing Participation in Virtual Classrooms
You log in, launch the session, and greet your learners… crickets. Cameras off. Mics muted. Not even a wave in chat. Virtual instructor-led training (vILT) can feel like shouting into the void—but it doesn’t have to. Managing learner participation starts before the...
Keep Them Awake—Strategies to Boost Learner Engagement in Virtual Instructor-Led Training (vILT)
Let’s face it—virtual training fatigue is real. We’ve all seen it: the blank stares, the cameras off, the “Sorry, can you repeat the question?” moments. But engagement in virtual instructor-led training (vILT) doesn’t have to be a battle to keep learners awake. With...
How to Make Webinars a Cornerstone of Engaging Virtual Learning
Let’s face it, too many webinars still feel like a chore. But what if virtual Instructor-Led Training (vILT) wasn’t just something your learners endured, but something they actually looked forward to? At their best, webinars can be an immersive, interactive part of...
How Gamification Enhances eLearning Outcomes
As instructional designers, we’re always on the lookout for ways to make learning more engaging, sticky, and effective. One strategy that continues to deliver exceptional results is gamification, and no, it’s not just about playing games. What Is Gamification...
The Secret Sauce of virtual Instructor Led Training
The Secret Sauce of virtual Instructor Led Training (vILT)—Why Every Session Needs a Technical Producer You’ve built an amazing virtual instructor led training session. Your slides are polished, your content is aligned to learning objectives, and your engagement...
Designing Impactful vILT—From Objectives to Engagement
About half of the projects we are working on right now are creating new Virtual Instructor-Led Training (vILT) or repurposing Instructor Led Training (ILT) to vILT courses. Through the pandemic, we saw a massive shift from ILT to vILT, and then, post-pandemic, the...
Level Up Your Learning Materials with Canva: A Must-Have Tool for Instructional Designers
As an instructional designer, creating visually compelling learning materials isn’t just a nice-to-have — it’s critical. In a world where learners are constantly bombarded with information, designing content that captures attention and drives retention has never been...
Canva Create 2025 Recap Game-Changing Features Every L & D Professional Needs to Know
Canva's recent unveiling of Visual Suite 2.0 at Canva Create 2025 introduces a suite of innovative tools designed to enhance creativity and productivity for instructional designers, eLearning developers, and trainers. Here's a breakdown of the key features and their...
Building Cohesive Teams—One Relationship at a Time
In today’s workplace, we can’t afford to simply form teams—we need to build cohesive ones. Cohesive teams are aligned, trust each other, navigate conflict gracefully, and operate with shared purpose. Whether you're a training manager, an L&D leader, or an...
Leading Through Change: Mastering the Emotional Journey and Strategic Actions
Effective change management requires a deep understanding of both the emotional journey employees undergo, and the strategic actions leaders must take. In today’s blog, I want to share insights from the Change Curve model and the steps you can take as a leader to help...