How To Posts

Step-by-step, actionable posts designed to help you apply a skill or solve a specific problem quickly.
From Structure to Freedom: Balancing Creative Flow in Design with Peter Swimm
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…
From Theory to Practice: Bringing Learning Theories to Life in Instructional Design
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…
Think, Do, Reflect: Using Constructivism in Instructional Design
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…
Designing with Layers: Exploring Elaboration Theory
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…
Beyond the Burnout: Finding Your Why in Education with Dr. Albert Bramante
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…
Start with the Core: Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction
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…
Designing on the Fly: How Rapid Prototyping Speeds Up Smarter Learning Design
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…
Designing Effective Learning: A Deep Dive into the Dick and Carey Model
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…
Beyond Learning Outcomes: Designing for Humans or Learners?
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…
Data vs. Soul: Finding Your Value in the AI Revolution with Jim Edwards
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…
Mastering Complex Learning with the 4C/ID Model
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 …
Needs Analysis and Learner Personas: Your Secret Weapon for Effective Learning
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…
Designing for the Connected Learner: A Connectivism Guide
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…
Backward Design: Start with the End in Mind
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…
The Kirkpatrick Model: Measuring Learning Impact That Actually Matters
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…
Solving Dyslexia: A Revolutionary Approach with Russell Van Brocklen
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 …
Designing for Everyone: A Guide to Universal Design for Learning
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…
Unlock Learning Potential with Mayer's 12 Multimedia Principles
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…
Mastering the ARCS Model for Adult Learning
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…
Light the Fire, Don't Fill the Pail: Adult Learning Secrets
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…
Math Revolution: Rethinking Education with Dr. Craig Hane
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…
Mastering the SAM Model: A Guide to Rapid Instructional Design
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…
The 5-Step Method to Reinvent Your Classroom in the AI Era with Dr. Matthew Metzgar
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…
From Cloud Architect to AI Specialist: Naveen Krishnan's Microsoft Journey
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…