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"Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned."
– Buddhist Teaching
Back-to-school season snuck up again. My daughter’s off on her victory lap—senior year of high school—and next week my son heads back to campus. All summer I was wishing for a bit more peace and routine, and now that it’s here… I kind of miss the noise. The house feels weirdly still, so I’m leaning into it: second cup of coffee, fresh projects on the horizon, and the sense that a new season’s underway. Here’s hoping any changes in your own rhythms feel just as good!
Thanks for reading!
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sponsored
SCORM 101 for all things eLearning
SCORM’s been around for decades, but some still find it confusing. This guide clears up the most common questions: what it is, how it works, and how to test your course without breaking anything. One short, readable PDF is all you need to understand SCORM.
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📰 News & Notes
Vibe Coding: Build learning apps with AI and no code
The Rundown
Tim Slade shows how vibe coding—a method of building software by talking to AI—lets anyone create a working learning app without writing code. Using Lovable.dev (an AI builder) and Supabase (a backend service), Tim demonstrates how easy it is to create some elearning applications without needing to know any code at all.
The Context
- No code, big power: Vibe coding is coding by prompting, not typing—perfect for non-tech creators.
- Fast + flexible: Define features, test, refine—AI handles the heavy lifting.
Why it matters
Instructional designers can now build interactive tools without developers. This means faster prototyping, more control over learning design, and stronger cross-functional skills. It’s not about coding—it’s about guiding the AI to do it for you.
What happens to the role of instructional designers when anyone can build a learning app with just a prompt—no coding required?
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Better data storytelling: How to turn stats into stories people want to read
The Rundown
People don't remember stats—they remember stories. Numbers alone are often dull, even though they can hold game‑changing insights. To make data matter, craft it into narratives rich with characters, conflict, and resolution. Tim King highlights five proven strategies to weave human curiosity into your data storytelling.
The Context
- Data is everywhere, but context and emotion are scarce. To stand out, your presentation needs narrative—not just numbers.
- Raw data feels lifeless until structured around the questions your audience cares about. Kick off with what your audience wants to know—not what your spreadsheet shows.
- Real-world examples (like community attitudes or Detroit’s segregation map) show how data can be humanized and grounded in context.
Why It Matters
For L&D and instructional designers, this approach shifts training from “data dump” to meaningful learning:
- Learners engage more deeply when data answers a question they care about or reflects their world.
- Retention improves—stories stick. Data behind narrative flows make it memorable.
- Behaviors change—a narrative tied to real-life pain points or wins inspires action, not just understanding.
How can we reshape our learning content so data isn’t just seen—but felt—by the people we’re trying to teach?
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Good Hooks: How to Grab and Keep Attention
The Rundown:
This article breaks down why most content hooks flop — and what makes a good one stand out. Their formula? Start with emotion, keep it human, and make the reader want to keep scrolling.
The Context:
- Great hooks tap into curiosity, urgency, or a sense of belonging. Think: “You’re not alone” > “5 common struggles.”
- Weak hooks fall flat because they’re too vague or too expected.
- Buffer suggests 5 types of hooks that consistently perform: problem-first, curiosity gaps, personal stories, contrarian takes, and visual/format-driven intros.
- You don’t need to be a writer to master hooks — just intentional.
Why it matters:
Whether you're building training modules, writing microlearning, or drafting course titles, the hook is your first impression. Strong openers boost engagement, set learner expectations, and reduce bounce. L&D pros: start thinking like a marketer — your learners already do.
How might rethinking the way we “hook” learners at the start of a course or module transform engagement—and are we prioritizing emotional connection as much as instructional clarity?
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sponsored
Webinar: Leverage AI to Transform Instructor-led training into eLearning
If your valuable instructor-led training (ILT) is trapped in a classroom—or worse, in a binder—AI can help you unlock its full potential, without losing the human touch.
We’ll show you practical tips for working with subject matter experts to capture and organize knowledge to create reusable training assets with AI.
Join us for an action-packed, 1-hour session on
Thursday, August 28, at 12 PM CT.
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🧰 Tech Tools & Tips
If tools are your jam, check out my Work Smarter newsletter.
Loveable
Lovable.dev lets you build full-stack web apps with just a prompt—no coding required.
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My Top 10 Tools
My picks for Jane Hart’s Top Learning Tools—AI’s climbing, but PowerPoint’s still hanging on!
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sponsored
The $350 Billion Training Industry's Best-Kept Secret
Organizations spend more than $350 billion on training annually. Yet most programs still fail to stick. Meanwhile, marketers consistently get people to change behavior, remember messages, and take action. What if you could borrow their playbook?
Biance Baumann and I just wrote the book that doesn't exist anywhere else: how to apply marketing strategies specifically to L&D. Not general business advice. Not basic engagement tips. Real marketing tactics adapted for learning professionals.
Download the first chapter free and see what you've been missing
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🎧 Podcast of the Week
This is the conversation that caught my ear this week. Check out previous episodes in the Friday Finds podcast playlist.
Social Learning Sucks? Gripes & Grumble Debunked
AI and online learning often zero in on solo experiences—but real power lies in social learning done right. This episode, Graeme and Luke grill explores how peer-to-peer interaction can supercharge comprehension and retention. They dig into what makes it work, how to get learners to care, and share real-world wins that prove it.
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🧳 Where’s Mike?
- Central Ohio ATD Technology & Design Day
September 9, Columbus, OH
- ATD Core 4, September 29 - October 1, Orlando, FL
- Cincinnati ATD, October 8, Cincinnati, OH
- DevLearn, November 12-14, Las Vegas, NV
If you or your event needs a speaker or workshop that is highly interactive and super practical, we should talk.
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Exit Through the Gift Shop
I wrote a book because apparently I have opinions now. " Think Like a Marketer, Train Like an L&D Pro" is for everyone tired of watching marketers effortlessly grab attention while we're over here begging people to care about compliance training. Available wherever you buy things to feel smarter than your coworkers. |
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Friday Finds is an independent publication that I produce in my free time. You can support my work by sharing it with the world, booking an advertising spot, or buying me a coffee.
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