Blog
Nov. 16, 2025
From Structure to Freedom: Balancing Creative Flow in Design with Peter Swimm
In a recent episode of the Designing with Love podcast, host Jackie Pelegrin welcomed Peter Swimm, a project management consultant at Toilville, to discuss the delicate balance between structure and creativity in design processes. Peter shared his u…
Nov. 12, 2025
From Theory to Practice: Bringing Learning Theories to Life in Instructional Design
As instructional designers, we often encounter various learning theories during our education and professional development. However, understanding these theories conceptually and applying them effectively to our design projects are two different cha…
Nov. 9, 2025
Think, Do, Reflect: Using Constructivism in Instructional Design
In the ever-evolving landscape of education and training, instructional designers are constantly seeking approaches that create meaningful, lasting learning experiences. Among these approaches, Constructivist Learning theory stands as a powerful fra…
Nov. 5, 2025
Designing with Layers: Exploring Elaboration Theory
Charles Reigeluth's Elaboration Theory has transformed the way instructional designers approach content sequencing since its development in the 1970s. Unlike traditional methods that often overwhelm learners with complex information, this theory adv…
Nov. 2, 2025
Beyond the Burnout: Finding Your Why in Education with Dr. Albert Bramante
In the latest episode of the Designing with Love podcast, host Jackie Pelegrin engaged in a thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Albert Bramante, a veteran talent agent, coach, and college professor. The discussion revealed fascinating insights i…
Oct. 29, 2025
Training with Heart: Where Science Meets Inclusive Design with Tracy King
In a recent episode of the Designing with Love podcast, host Jackie Pelegrin welcomed Tracy King, a learning strategist and the founder and CEO of InspirEd, to discuss the evolving landscape of instructional design and learning development. Their co…
Oct. 26, 2025
Start with the Core: Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction
In the world of instructional design, countless models and theories promise to enhance learning outcomes. However, few have the enduring power and versatility of Merrill's First Principles of Instruction. Developed by Dr. M. David Merrill, this fram…
Oct. 22, 2025
Designing on the Fly: How Rapid Prototyping Speeds Up Smarter Learning Design
In today's fast-paced educational and corporate environments, instructional designers face mounting pressure to create effective learning experiences under tight deadlines and with evolving requirements. Traditional linear design approaches often fa…
Oct. 19, 2025
The Power of Just-in-Time Learning with Grant Fuellenbach
In the latest episode of the Designing with Love podcast, host Jackie Pelegrin engages in an enlightening conversation with Grant Fuellenbach, founder of GO First Consulting. The episode explores the fascinating intersection between construction met…
Oct. 15, 2025
Designing Effective Learning: A Deep Dive into the Dick and Carey Model
The Dick and Carey Systems Approach Model has remained a cornerstone of instructional design since its introduction in 1978. Unlike linear approaches to creating learning experiences, this model embraces a systematic perspective where each component…
Oct. 12, 2025
Beyond Learning Outcomes: Designing for Humans or Learners?
When designing learning experiences, instructional designers often hear terms like "human-centered design" and "learner-centered design" used interchangeably. However, these approaches, while complementary, serve distinct purposes and involve differ…
Oct. 8, 2025
Data vs. Soul: Finding Your Value in the AI Revolution with Jim Edwards
Jim Edwards' journey from a history graduate to becoming a pioneer in AI-powered copywriting offers profound insights for anyone navigating today's rapidly evolving technological landscape. His transformation began not with coding expertise or marke…
Oct. 5, 2025
Mastering Complex Learning with the 4C/ID Model
When it comes to designing effective instruction for complex skills, traditional approaches often fall short. Enter the Four-Component Instructional Design Model (4C/ID), a robust framework specifically designed to support learning that goes beyond …
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…