Learning Value with John Howie and Laara Archers

Can artificial intelligence be used as a channel to improve the world around us? Israel Peck with Cratic Ai shares a brand new perspective on AI with John and Laara, and his excitement is evident in training an AI that teaches us to be more emotionally aware and trusting in a team.

In this episode, we learn about the process of change. Join John and Laara in this honest and eye-opening conversation as Jade courageously shares her personal journey of change and the process of unlearning and relearning that she and others experienced.

Hope is not just a feeling; it is a well-researched and evidence-based topic that has an impact on our mental and physical health. John and Laara discuss the science of hope with an Expert in Hope, Lindsay Recknell. Join us as we learn how to increase hope in ourselves and in those around us.

Subject matter experts are critical to the success of any instructional design project. John and Laara discuss projects they've worked on over the years, and highlight what they've learned when it comes to engaging SMEs: when to bring them into the project, what role they need to play in the instructional design, and how best to engage them throughout the project in order to make the most of their talents.

John and Laara welcome back senior instructional designer and former health and wellness practitioner Michael Dettner to talk about our universal quest for better slumber. Quality sleep is especially important for learners as they seek to acquire new information and skills, and learning professionals can support learners by encouraging healthy sleep habits. Michael walks John and Laara through a number of practical changes we can all make during the day and evening in order to set the stage for a good night's sleep. 

John and Laara are joined by Tom Morin, author of Your Best Work: Create the Working Life That's Right for You. Tom shares how significant, life-changing events gave him a new perspective on his work. By examining his own working life, he now helps others do the same. John, Laara and Tom share their perspectives about the value of meaningful work, and why it's OK to love your job.  

In order to be effective, learning has to "fit" within an organization. While org structure is important, John and Laara discuss how it is even more critical for learning professionals to develop their own fit within often complex organizations by building key relationships with internal partners and departments. Managed thoughtfully, these relationships can result in much more successful learning projects.

John and Laara welcome senior instructional designer Michael Dettner to complete their review of the ADDIE model (analyze, design, develop, implement and evaluate). Implementation and evaluation are critical final steps in an ADDIE process that can be more circular than linear. When applied effectively, these steps can successfully change the behaviour of teams. This won't be Michael's only visit to the Learning Value podcast ... stay tuned for Learning to Sleep, an upcoming episode about our universal quest for better slumber. 

John and Laara are joined by Paul McCarthy, CEO of FIRED Leadership, to explore the five qualities common among transformative leaders, and how positive disruption in the workplace is necessary but challenging for organizations. Hear about the plight experienced by some top leaders, where they are fired for exhibiting the very qualities for which they were hired. John, Laara and Paul discuss how organizations can adopt a new way of thinking, preparing for tomorrow's leaders, today. 

Part two in a three part series, John and Laara continue their review of the ADDIE model (analyze, design, develop, implement and evaluate). After completing the necessary analysis step covered in part one, instructional designers and learning professionals can turn their attention to designing and developing compelling content for learner success. Part three coming soon!

John and Laara talk about the best way to manage an instructional design or training project. Using the ADDIE model (analyze, design, develop, implement and evaluate) as a guide, this podcast dives deep into the value of analysis as a critical first step in the success of any educational project. Part one in a three-part series. 

John and Laara are joined by Dr. Wilma Slenders of Transcend Management Advisors Inc. to uncover leadership trends and what learning professionals can do now to prepare themselves and their clients for 2030. Topics include the value of a futurist mentality, how leaders can learn and grow within an ever-changing landscape, and how they can recognize and adapt to the emerging needs of their teams.

John and Laara talk about all the things learning professionals aren't allowed to talk about! Whether it's the pitfalls of compliance training, the shortcomings of  "checkmark training," or a desire for learning professionals to gain the respect they deserve, John and Laara tackle the training challenges so many of us face in our day-to-day roles.

John and Laara welcome Dr. Richard Rush, Director of Program and Business Development with the University of Victoria, to chat about how learning professionals can harness the power of data to make strategic decisions and create positive change in a learning environment.

John and Laara are joined by Dr. Terry Anderson, Professor Emeritus at Athabasca University, and an early adopter in the realm of distance and online learning. Dr. Anderson talks about those first days of distance education, how it evolved to what we know today, and how learning professionals can best prepare themselves for the future of online education.

Embrace your inner learning geek! Learning geeks John Howie and Laara Archers talk about the early days of their own learning journeys, and how those experiences have shaped their approach to adult learning today.