How To Episodes

Designing truly inclusive learning experiences requires more than good intentions—it demands practical knowledge of accessibility principles that benefit every learner. Whether you're creating content for higher education, corporate training, or digital platforms, accessibility transforms from a technical requirement into a powerful tool for equity when approached with intention and care. We dive into six actionable strategies you can implement immediately: adding meaningful alt text to images,...

What happens when the structures designed to support creativity start to suffocate it instead? Peter Swimm, project management consultant at Toilville, brings a refreshingly honest perspective to this tension that every designer faces. Ready to rethink how structure and creativity can work together in your design practice? Listen now, and then share your thoughts on how you're balancing these forces in your own work. 🔗 Website and Social Links: Please visit Peter Swimm’s website and social med...

Ever feel like your instructional design is missing that special something that makes learning truly stick? The answer might lie in the way you're structuring your content. In this episode, we explore Elaboration Theory—a powerful approach developed by Charles Reigeluth that transforms how we sequence learning experiences. Whether you're designing for a classroom, workplace training, or online learning, this episode provides actionable strategies to implement right away. As Reigeluth himself no...

What happens when you're thrown into a college classroom with zero preparation and told, "You start tomorrow"? Dr. Albert Bramante faced exactly this scenario when he unexpectedly became a psychology professor overnight. His remarkable journey from panicked novice to confident educator reveals powerful lessons about authenticity, intuition, and finding your teaching voice. For educators battling self-doubt, Dr. Bramante offers practical wisdom: reconnect with your "why," surround yourself wi...

Tracy King's journey from accidental instructional designer to learning strategist reveals the transformative power of well-designed training experiences. As founder and CEO of InspirEd, they have built their career on making learning accessible and impactful for everyone—especially those whose needs are often overlooked. One in five learners is neurodivergent, yet traditional training methods frequently create barriers rather than bridges. Tracy breaks down how neuro-inclusive learning appr...

Feeling overwhelmed by tight deadlines and shifting expectations in your instructional design projects? Discover how Rapid Prototyping can transform your approach to creating effective learning experiences. Rapid prototyping flips traditional design on its head by encouraging you to start with rough drafts—low-fidelity prototypes—instead of waiting until the end to test a final version. Through a continuous cycle of design, test, tweak, and repeat, you'll create learning products that genuinely...

In the latest episode of the Designing with Love podcast, host Jackie Pelegrin engages in an enlightening conversation with Grant Fullenbach, founder of GO First Consulting. The episode explores the fascinating intersection between construction methodologies and instructional design principles, revealing how systems thinking can transform businesses across industries. Imagine saving your business $27,000 with just one extra measurement check. That's the power of systems thinking, and it's trans...

When Jim Edwards graduated with a history degree in the 1980s, he never imagined he'd become a pioneer in AI-powered copywriting. After bouncing between seven sales jobs in 18 months, he discovered his talent for persuasion, eventually building a six-figure career in mortgage sales before turning to entrepreneurship. What followed was a fascinating evolution from rejected author to software developer to AI innovator. During our conversation, Jim delivered a powerful message about AI that chal...

What happens when you launch a learning experience that misses the mark despite solid content? The critical missing ingredient might be a deep understanding of your audience. In this episode, we explore the often-overlooked foundation of effective instructional design: learner needs assessment and persona creation. Drawing from years of experience, Jackie breaks down why understanding your audience is step one of truly human-centered design. She explores five practical methods for assessing lea...

When the classroom feels like a battlefield, who's there to pull you through? In this illuminating conversation with Dr. Goodier, we dive deep into the concept of "educational trenches" – those challenging periods when educators question their professional path. For instructional designers and those developing professional development, she provides actionable advice: know your audience, focus on outcomes, scaffold appropriately, and respect educators' time with blended learning approaches th...

Mathematics doesn't have to be intimidating, confusing, or useless. Dr. Craig Hane proves this through his remarkable journey from being told he wasn't "college material" to revolutionizing how math is taught and learned. Dr. Hane shares how his uncle taught him practical mathematics that put him ahead of his peers, yet traditional algebra instruction nearly derailed his academic future. This contradiction sparked a lifelong mission to transform mathematical education. With refreshing candor...

Welcome to episode 25 of the Designing with Love podcast, where I cover the benefits and drawbacks of using user surveys when designing learning experiences. In the episode, I also describe the most effective types of surveys you can incorporate to help ensure you obtain the data you need from your learners. 🔗Episode Links: Please check out the resource mentioned in the episode. Enjoy! Types of Survey Research Methods by SurveyMonkey 📑References: DeFranzo, S. E., & DeFranzo, S. E. (2023, Janua...

Welcome to episode 24 of the Designing with Love podcast, where I provide the key details about empathy and journey maps. In the episode, I describe how to create them, the benefits of using them when designing learning experiences, along with some best practices. 🔗Episode Links: Please check out the resources and templates mentioned in the episode. Enjoy! How to Create a Customer Journey Map Canva Journey Map Templates EDIT.org Free Customer Journey Map Templates Visual Paradigm Online Empath...

In this episode of the Designing with Love podcast, Jackie explores the differences between formative and summative assessments in educational settings. She discusses the importance of each type of assessment, provides examples, and shares strategies for tracking learner progress effectively. The episode emphasizes the need for both types of assessments to create a comprehensive learning experience. Takeaways Formative assessments are evaluations of learning progress. Common formative assessme...

Welcome to episode 21 of the Designing with Love podcast, where I cover how to effectively use images, icons, and infographics as visual aids when designing learning materials for your instructional solutions. In addition, the episode covers how you can utilize AI-generated technology to help you create visual aids when needed. 🔗Episode Links: Please check out the resources mentioned in the episode. Enjoy! Canva Color Wheel Genially Noun Project 📑References: Mayer’s 12 Principles of Multimedi...

Welcome to episode 20 of the Designing with Love podcast, where I cover the most effective methods to start using audio and video recording software when designing interactive experiences for your learners. 🔗Episode Links: Please check out the resources shared in the episode. Enjoy! Audacity Camtasia Canva ScreenPal Snagit Send Jackie a Text Join PodMatch! Use the link to join PodMatch, a place for hosts and guests to connect. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purc...

Welcome to episode 19 of the Designing with Love podcast, where I cover five key aspects to help you successfully create and manage eLearning courses for your learners. In the episode, I also share some key statistics to indicate how popular online learning is among learners and organizations. 🔗Episode Links: Please check out the resources shared in the episode. Enjoy! eLearning Industry eLearning from Adobe The eLearning Coach The Rapid eLearning Blog 📑References: Online Learning Statistics:...

Welcome to episode 18 of the Designing with Love podcast, where I cover some tips for creating a learner workbook so that you can engage your learners to effectively interact with the content in meaningful ways. There are a total of five tips included as you consider creating effective materials for your learning solution. 🔗Episode Links: Please check out the resource shared in the episode. Enjoy! Blog Post by Sprout Labs 📑References: Designing a learning workbook. (n.d.). https://sproutlabs....

Welcome to episode 17 of the Designing with Love podcast, where I cover the benefits of creating a facilitation plan when designing a learning experience in any industry. The episode covers five main areas that you should include in your facilitation plan, along with how to properly review and adjust as needed, and what else to consider. 🔗Episode Links: Please check out the resources mentioned in the episode. Enjoy! What's the Best Way to Design a Facilitation Plan That Meets Everyone's Needs?...

Welcome to episode 12 of the Designing with Love podcast, where I cover several key aspects of writing effective objectives so that you can create the best experience for your learners while also being able to fully measure and assess their learning. 🔗Episode Links: Please check out the resources mentioned in the episode. Enjoy! Backward Design: The Basics Authentic Assessment in Action 📑References: Gonzalez, J. (2021, April 29). Backward design: The basics | Cult of Pedagogy. Cult of Pedagogy...

Welcome to episode 11 of the Designing with Love podcast, where I share how to use polls during lesson delivery, training, and professional development for learner engagement. This episode also provides information on three well-known and trusted polling software tools I have used, along with five different ways to engage your learners. 🔗Episode Links: Please check out the resources mentioned in the episode. Enjoy! Poll Everywhere Slido Polly 📑References: 9 reasons to use live polls to drive e...

Welcome to episode 7 of the Designing with Love podcast, where I share how to use Canva to create visually appealing learning materials. In the podcast, I cover the types of designs you can create with Canva, some of the popular apps you can use with your designs, and the features and benefits of the Canva Design School. Send Jackie a Text Join PodMatch! Use the link to join PodMatch, a place for hosts and guests to connect. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchas...

Welcome to episode 5 of the Designing with Love podcast, where I share how to incorporate Christian principles into your everyday work. In the podcast, I cover several principles, such as servant leadership, the fruit of the Spirit as outlined in the Bible, and how our work matters to God. 📑References: Work, T. O. (2023, February 24). 10 key points about work in the Bible every Christian should know | Theology of Work. Theology of Work. https://www.theologyofwork.org/resources/what-does-the-bib...

Welcome to episode 3 of the Designing with Love podcast! In this episode, I provide an overview of AI-generated software by discussing the common uses and how to leverage the tools, along with the benefits and potential drawbacks of using AI-generated tools. 📑References: Biswal, A. (2023). AI Applications: Top 18 Artificial Intelligence Applications in 2023. Simplilearn.com. https://www.simplilearn.com/tutorials/artificial-intelligence-tutorial/artificial-intelligence-applications Send Jackie ...