Instructional Design Episodes

Welcome to episode 41 of the Designing with Love podcast, where I cover why understanding Adult Learning Theory is fundamental to creating effective and engaging learning experiences for adult learners. Ever wondered why some learning experiences resonate deeply with adult learners while others fall flat? The answer lies in understanding how adults learn differently from children – a critical distinction that shapes effective instructional design. In this illuminating episode, I dive into the ...

Ever wondered why so many online courses fail to deliver meaningful learning experiences? In this enlightening conversation with Dr. Catrina Mitchum, founder of Catrina Mitchum Learning Design, we uncover the critical mistakes that derail course creators and the powerful solutions that can transform digital learning. Dr. Mitchum shares her journey from higher education professor to course design specialist, revealing how she became an "accidental instructional designer" when her community colle...

Ever wondered how educators transform into instructional designers? Shane Strand takes us through his fascinating journey from high school teacher to curriculum coordinator to instructional designer in higher education. What begins as a story of career transition unfolds into a masterclass on navigating the evolving landscape of instructional design. For those entering the field or looking to advance, Shane offers practical advice: "There's always new tools popping up. Almost all of them have f...

The journey from classroom teaching to corporate instructional design can seem daunting, but it's entirely possible with the right education, strategy, and mindset. In this revealing conversation, recent Grand Canyon University (GCU) graduate Sakina Brandford shares her successful transition story just one week into her new role as an instructional design specialist in the oil and gas industry. The conversation also explores how AI is transforming the field, from voice-overs to multi-languag...

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...

Ready to revolutionize your instructional design approach? The SAM (Successive Approximation Model) might be exactly what you need. This episode explores how this agile alternative to traditional linear design can transform your learning development process. Dr. Michael Allen created the SAM model to address common frustrations with traditional approaches like ADDIE, where problems are often discovered too late in the process. Whether you choose the streamlined SAM1 for small projects or the mo...

When students suddenly started acing exams while finishing them in record time, Dr. Matthew Metzgar knew everything about education was about to change. Rather than fight this AI revolution, he embraced it – developing a practical framework that's now helping educators worldwide transform their courses for this new reality. Drawing from his experience as a Clinical Professor of Economics and author of "The Overnight Educator: Transform Your Course in 24 Hours," Dr. Metzgar walks us through his ...

Artificial Intelligence may be revolutionizing education, but are we using it effectively? In this eye-opening conversation with Nathalie Doremieux, we dive deep into the reality of online learning and how to create experiences that actually work. The statistics are sobering—only 3-5% of people typically complete online courses. But this isn't just a student motivation problem; it's a fundamental design issue. "People don't want more; they want results," Nathalie explains, challenging the commo...

What happens when a veteran educator with decades of classroom experience decides to formalize their instructional design skills? In this enlightening conversation, Caroline Amberson opens up about her journey balancing over 22 years of elementary teaching with a master's program in instructional design at Grand Canyon University (GCU). Whether you're considering a master's in instructional design, curious about educational technology, or wondering how classroom teaching experience translates t...

Welcome to episode 30 of the Designing with Love podcast, where I cover the Nine Events of Instruction and how to apply the model when designing a course. In addition, I share some tips for effective implementation and common pitfalls to avoid. 🔗 Episode Links: Please check out the resources mentioned in the episode. Enjoy! Nine Events of Instruction Infographic Nine Events of Instruction: Tips and Pitfalls Cheat Sheet 📑 References: OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT (May 20 version) [Large language mode...

Welcome to episode 29 of the Designing with Love podcast, where I provide an overview of Bloom's Taxonomy and why it is an important tool for instructional designers to utilize when creating learning objectives, assessments, and activities. In addition, I outline some practical applications of using Bloom's Taxonomy in instructional design. Due to the amount of information covered in this episode, an interactive diagram has been created for you to reference in the future. 🔗 Episode...

Welcome to episode 28 of the Designing with Love podcast, where I describe what Cognitive Load Theory is and why it is important in the instructional design field. In addition, I discuss the science behind cognitive load theory and some practical tips for managing it in your instructional design projects. Due to the amount of information covered in this episode, an interactive guide has been created for you to reference in the future. A copy of the guide and a visual of the Dr. Seuss quote I sha...

Welcome to episode 27 of the Designing with Love podcast, where I cover the benefits and drawbacks to consider when utilizing the ADDIE Model in designing instructional solutions. In addition, I discuss my personal experiences with using this model in instructional design. The show notes include an infographic and an inspiring quote as resources for you to utilize. 🔗 Episode Links: Please check out the resources mentioned in the episode. Enjoy! The ADDIE Model Infographic Inspiring ID Quote Im...

Welcome to episode 26 of the Designing with Love podcast, where I review the top 10 instructional design models and theories that are used in the field today. The episode includes a brief description, the strengths, and how it is commonly used. The show notes include an interactive infographic to help you visualize the content. 🔗 Episode Links: Please check out the resource mentioned in the episode. Enjoy! Top 10 Instructional Design Models and Theories Infographic 📑 References: OpenAI. (2025)...

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 22 of the Designing with Love podcast! In this episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Charlene Drews and Markeda Johnson, two recent graduates of the Master of Science in Instructional Design program at GCU. In this interview, Charlene and Markeda share their overall experiences with the classes they completed in the program together and advice that they have for current students who are completing the program. Send Jackie a Text Join PodMatch! Use the link to join PodMa...

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 16 of the Designing with Love podcast! In this episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing a recent graduate of the Master of Science in Instructional Design program at GCU, Shane Wolfe. In this interview, Shane shares his overall experiences with the classes he completed in the program and advice that he has for current students who are completing the program. Send Jackie a Text Join PodMatch! Use the link to join PodMatch, a place for hosts and guests to connect. Disclaime...