“The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance; it is the illusion of knowledge.” — Daniel J. Boorstin
Man, it's still freezing and snowy here! I'm so ready for some sunshine and to ditch the layers. Seriously, I'm practically hugging my office heater for warmth these days! Is anyone else feeling this? Spring HAS to be close, right? Like, any day now?! RIGHT?! I need some vitamin D, stat!
There is something about Louis Armstrong's music that makes me feel good inside - so that's what I'm playing today.
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Looking to boost learner engagement?
Would you like to infuse your eLearning content with energy, making it more interactive and engaging? Join iSpring’s upcoming webinar to learn how custom characters and the text-to-speech feature in iSpring Suite can help you create captivating learning experiences.
The Art of Emotion — Norman’s 3 Levels of Emotional Design
The Rundown: Good design isn't just about aesthetics—it’s about making users feel something. Emotional design taps into psychology to create products that resonate deeply, boosting engagement and usability.
The Context:
Emotional design considers three levels: visceral (first impressions), behavioral (usability), and reflective (lasting impact).
Positive emotions lead to better user experiences, making interactions smoother and more enjoyable.
Companies like Apple and Tesla leverage emotional design to create strong brand loyalty.
Why it Matters: While this concept is rooted in UI design, the same principles apply to learning content. Well-crafted lessons should not only inform but also engage and emotionally connect with learners, leading to better retention and motivation.
2025 L&D Trends: AI Leads, But Value Takes Center Stage
The Rundown:
The Rundown: Donald Taylor's L&D Global Sentiment Survey 2025 confirms AI’s continued reign as the hottest topic in workplace learning, surpassing last year’s record-breaking interest. Data-driven learning remains strong, while a renewed focus on demonstrating L&D’s value is emerging.
The Context:
AI led the survey for the second year in a row, growing in popularity despite expectations of a decline.
Data-centric strategies—like learning analytics and adaptive learning—continue to hold top positions.
A noticeable comeback for “Showing Value” and “Consulting with the Business” signals a shift towards proving L&D’s impact.
Why It Matters: L&D is at a crossroads: AI is reshaping the landscape, but many teams are still using it mainly for efficiency rather than transformation. The real challenge now? Moving beyond content creation to using AI for deeper business impact. With budget constraints and strategic alignment concerns on the rise, proving L&D’s value is becoming just as critical as embracing new tech.
Why Not Just Use ChatGPT? The Case for Specialized AI in Instructional Design
The Rundown: New info comparing generic AI tools like ChatGPT with Epiphany, a specialized instructional design AI, reveals major differences in quality, efficiency, and usability.
The Context:
A/B testing across Fortune 500 L&D teams found that specialized AI tools dramatically outperformed ChatGPT in course creation.
Unlike ChatGPT, which requires users to craft their own prompts, Epiphany structures the workflow into research-backed phases (Brief, Outline, Storyboard) to optimize learning outcomes.
Epiphany integrates instructional design principles, such as Self-Determination Theory and Cognitive Load Theory, ensuring higher-quality course design.
Results showed an 87.5% reduction in design time, a 75% improvement in quality, and a 50% increase in learner application of new skills.
Why it Matters: While ChatGPT is a powerful tool for general content generation, instructional design requires structured workflows and deep research integration. This study underscores the importance of using AI tailored for specialized fields—delivering superior results, faster workflows, and more effective learning experiences.
How can employee onboarding help your organization?
While offering an employee onboarding program is essential, many companies miss the mark in helping new hires start their jobs or careers with a strong foundation.
Discover how to deliver an effective onboarding program—whether in-person or online—with tips, topics, ideas, and more.
Tired of stakeholders questioning your training impact?
Join Dr. Alaina Szlachta and Roy de Vries in this free, interactive masterclass and discover simple ways to collect, analyze, and showcase training impact using the tools you already have!
What You'll Walk Away With:
✅ Practical strategies to measure and prove training effectiveness
✅ Actionable insights you can apply right away
✅ More confidence in using data to improve learning outcomes
This is the conversation that caught my ear this week. Check out previous episodes in the Friday Finds podcast playlist.
Everything You Know About Learning Theory Is Wrong
Nick Shackleton-Jones revisits The Learning Hack to challenge learning theory, discuss his Affective Context Model, and explore the future of workplace learning.
If you or your event needs a speaker or workshop that is highly interactive and super practical, we should talk.
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