Creative Blog
Oct. 1, 2025
Needs Analysis and Learner Personas: Your Secret Weapon for Effective Learning
In the fast-paced world of instructional design, deadlines often force practitioners to jump straight into content creation without taking the essential first step: truly understanding the learner. Episode 51 of the Designing with Love podcast addre…
Sept. 28, 2025
Educational Trenches: Surviving and Thriving with Dr. Dana Goodier
Educational trenches – those challenging periods that make educators question their career choice – are a universal experience in the teaching profession. In a recent conversation with Dr. Dana Goodier, educational consultant, author, an…
Sept. 27, 2025
Building Student-Centered Online Courses with Shannon Boyer
In episode 49 of the Designing with Love podcast, Jackie Pelegrin interviewed Shannon Boyer, an award-winning educator, curriculum strategist, and entrepreneur who specializes in helping purpose-driven entrepreneurs create effective online courses. …
Sept. 27, 2025
Designing for the Connected Learner: A Connectivism Guide
In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, traditional approaches to learning design often fall short. As information explodes and knowledge transforms at unprecedented speeds, instructional designers face a challenging question: how do we creat…
Sept. 27, 2025
Backward Design: Start with the End in Mind
The traditional approach to designing learning experiences often begins with content selection and activity planning. However, this approach can lead to disconnected learning experiences where students struggle to understand the purpose or relevance…
Sept. 27, 2025
The Kirkpatrick Model: Measuring Learning Impact That Actually Matters
As instructional designers, we pour our hearts and souls into creating meaningful learning experiences. But how do we know if our efforts truly make a difference? This question lies at the heart of effective instructional design and brings us to one…
Sept. 27, 2025
Solving Dyslexia: A Revolutionary Approach with Russell Van Brocklen
In a groundbreaking interview on the Designing with Love podcast, Russell Van Brocklen, known as "The Dyslexic Professor," shared revolutionary insights about dyslexia that challenge conventional understanding of learning disabilities. Russell, who …
Sept. 27, 2025
Designing for Everyone: A Guide to Universal Design for Learning
When we talk about creating learning experiences that truly work, we need to address a fundamental question: Are we designing for all learners? This question sits at the heart of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), a framework that has revolutioniz…
Sept. 27, 2025
Unlock Learning Potential with Mayer's 12 Multimedia Principles
In today's digital learning landscape, effective multimedia design isn't just about aesthetics—it's about respecting how the human brain processes information. On episode 43 of the Designing with Love podcast, we explored Richard Mayer's 12 Mu…
Sept. 27, 2025
Mastering the ARCS Model for Adult Learning
Motivation lies at the heart of effective adult learning. As instructional designers and educators, we often focus heavily on content development while overlooking the psychological aspects that drive engagement and knowledge retention. This is wher…
Sept. 27, 2025
Light the Fire, Don't Fill the Pail: Adult Learning Secrets
Understanding the principles of adult learning is crucial for any instructional designer or educator working with mature students. In episode 41 of the Designing with Love podcast, we explore the foundational aspects of adult learning theory and its…
Sept. 27, 2025
Breaking Free From Bad Course Design with Dr. Catrina Mitchum
In today's rapidly evolving educational landscape, the art of course design has never been more critical. The latest episode of the Designing with Love podcast features an illuminating conversation with Dr. Catrina Mitchum, founder of Catrina Mitchu…
Sept. 27, 2025
Faith Leads the Way: Building a Better World through Giving with Tommy Kilpatrick
Tommy Kilpatrick's journey from California to the Philippines represents a profound transformation in faith and purpose that offers valuable lessons for all of us. As a guest on the Designing with Love podcast, Tommy shared his remarkable life story…
Sept. 27, 2025
Beyond the LMS: Why Instructional Design Keeps Growing with Shane Strand
In a recent episode of the Designing with Love podcast, host Jackie Pelegrin interviews Shane Strand, an instructional designer working in higher education. The conversation illuminates the journey many educators take when transitioning into instruc…
Sept. 27, 2025
Career Shifts: From Classroom to Corporate Instructional Design with Sakina Brandford
The instructional design field continues to evolve rapidly, creating exciting opportunities for professionals willing to bridge the gap between education and corporate training. In a recent episode of the Designing with Love podcast, host Jackie Pel…
Sept. 27, 2025
Math Revolution: Rethinking Education with Dr. Craig Hane
Dr. Craig Hane, known to his students as Dr. Dell, is revolutionizing mathematics education with a practical, real-world approach that challenges decades of traditional teaching methods. In a recent conversation on the Designing with Love podcast, D…
Sept. 27, 2025
Mastering the SAM Model: A Guide to Rapid Instructional Design
The SAM (Successive Approximation Model) instructional design approach represents a significant shift from traditional, linear design methodologies. Developed by Dr. Michael Allen, founder of Allen Interactions and a renowned expert in instructional…
Sept. 27, 2025
The 5-Step Method to Reinvent Your Classroom in the AI Era with Dr. Matthew Metzgar
The education landscape is undergoing a seismic shift due to artificial intelligence, and educators who adapt quickly will best serve their students. In a recent conversation with Dr. Matthew Metzger, Clinical Professor of Economics at UNC Charlotte…
Sept. 27, 2025
From Cloud Architect to AI Specialist: Naveen Krishnan's Microsoft Journey
In a recent episode of the Designing with Love podcast, host Jackie Pelegrin welcomed Naveen Krishnan, an AI Solutions Architect at Microsoft, to discuss the transformative impact of artificial intelligence across various industries, with special fo…
Sept. 27, 2025
The Human Loop: How AI Can Transform Instructional Design with Nathalie Doremieux
The landscape of e-learning is rapidly evolving, and instructional designers must adapt to stay relevant. In a recent episode of the Designing with Love podcast, Jackie had the pleasure of interviewing Nathalie Doremieux, co-founder of Podcast Lead …
Sept. 26, 2025
Navigating the Instructional Design Journey with Caroline Amberson
Caroline Amberson's journey through instructional design education exemplifies how experienced educators can enhance their careers while maintaining their passion for teaching. As she shared in her interview on the Designing with Love podcast, Carol…