How To Posts
Dec. 31, 2025
How to Use Data to Improve Instructional Design
Data-driven design gets thrown around a lot, yet many teams still chase vanity metrics or implement sweeping redesigns that create risk without results. The heart of effective instructional design is clarity: define what success looks like in learne…
Dec. 28, 2025
Reflecting on Growth: Highlights from the Designing with Love Podcast and What’s Next for 2026
As we close out another year, it’s essential to reflect on our achievements and set our sights on the future. In this special bonus episode of the Designing with Love podcast, host Jackie Pelegrin takes us through an insightful overview of 202…
Dec. 28, 2025
Embracing AI as Your Creative Partner with T. Renee Smith
In a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, many professionals find themselves at a crossroads—embrace this new technology or resist it out of fear or ethical concerns. In episode 76 of the Designing with Love podcast, host Jack…
Dec. 24, 2025
Feedback Without Fear
Great learning products rarely come from a lone genius; they come from steady loops of clear, respectful feedback that aim at outcomes. When we treat reviews as collaboration instead of confrontation, teams move faster and learners benefit sooner. T…
Dec. 17, 2025
Scope Creep Survival Guide
Projects rarely fail all at once; they slip one small “yes” at a time. That pattern is the heart of scope creep—expanded requirements that outgrow the original plan and drain time, budget, and focus. For instructional designers, it…
Dec. 14, 2025
Performance Beyond Training with Dr. Norina Columbaro
The recent episode of the Designing with Love podcast featuring Dr. Norina Columbaro offers a compelling exploration of modern instructional design practices that focus on performance rather than just creating training materials. As an instructional…
Dec. 10, 2025
The SME Connection: Your Roadmap to Success
Strong learning starts with strong partnerships, and the most important partnership in corporate training is the one between instructional designers and subject matter experts. When that relationship is grounded in clarity, respect, and a shared des…
Dec. 7, 2025
The Art of AI-Powered Video Storytelling with Jeremy Toeman
In the rapidly evolving landscape of digital content creation, AI-powered video tools are revolutionizing how we tell stories, market products, and educate audiences. I recently had the privilege of speaking with Jeremy Toeman, founder and CEO of Au…
Dec. 3, 2025
The Secret Sauce of Learning Experience Design
Learning experience design often gets framed as a matter of software choices, templates, and timelines, but the work that truly moves learners' lives at a deeper level. The through-line of effective design is not a tool—it’s a point of v…
Nov. 30, 2025
Guerrilla Scholarship: Breaking Academic Boundaries with Dr. Sheldon Greaves
In a captivating episode of the Designing with Love podcast, host Jackie Pelegrin welcomed Dr. Sheldon Greaves, an author and educator with a fascinating background. What unfolded was an illuminating conversation about unconventional approaches to l…
Nov. 26, 2025
Click, Swipe, Learn: Crafting Interactive Content That Works
Great learning design starts with intent, not with widgets. Before adding a single hotspot or video, define what learners should be able to do. Clear, measurable objectives anchor every interactive element to a purpose that matters on the job. Use a…
Nov. 23, 2025
Tech That Works For You, Not Against You with Michael Toguchi
In today's rapidly evolving educational landscape, technology plays a pivotal role in determining institutional success. The recent episode of the Designing with Love podcast featuring Michael Toguchi, Chief Strategy Officer at Orchestrate, del…
Nov. 19, 2025
Accessibility in Action: Inclusive Design for Every Learner
Accessibility in instructional design isn't merely a compliance requirement—it's a fundamental commitment to creating equitable learning experiences for all. As educators and designers, we have the responsibility to ensure that every learner, …
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. 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. 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 …