The Learning Hack podcast

AI shockwaves and human resilience in L&D At the Learning Technologies Conference 2025, John Helmer speaks with leading voices in learning and AI—including Josh Bersin, Daniel Hulme, David Kelly, Jerome Pereira, Sophie Costin, Tadelayo Sodipe, and Donald H. Taylor—about disruption, ethics, innovation, and the changing role of L&D.    00:03:08 - Intro 00:05:08 - Josh Bersin 00:41:44 - Daniel Hulme 01:01:39 - David Kelly 01:26:57 - Prof. Jerome Pereira 01:58:09 - Sophie Costin 02:12:23 - Tadelayo Sodipe 02:33:39 - Donald H. Taylor 03:01:44 - End   Connect with John Helmer LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer X: @johnhelmer Bluesky: @johnhelmer.bsky.social Website: learninghackpodcast.com

Leading Through Culture, Teams, and AI-driven Change John Helmer discusses organizational culture, collective leadership, and AI's impact on future workplaces with Kevin Oakes (CEO, i4cp), Kim McMurdo (Global Head of OD, Standard Chartered), and Terry Jones (International Head of Talent Development, ex-PaloAlto Networks). Key themes include culture renovation, developing team-centric leadership capabilities, and leveraging AI for enhanced human productivity in rapidly evolving organizations. The McKinsey paper mentioned in Kim's interview:  De Smet, A., D'Auria, G., Meijknecht, L., Albaharna, M., & Fifer, A. (2024, October 31). Go, teams: When teams get healthier, the whole organization benefits. McKinsey & Company. This article is available online at https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/go-teams-when-teams-get-healthier-the-whole-organization-benefits. (Please note that access to the full text may require a subscription or purchase.)   Timestamps: 00:00:00 – Start 00:01:09 – Intro 00:03:31 – Kevin Oakes on culture renovation vs. culture change 00:27:58 – Kim McMurdo on collective leadership and hybrid teams 00:48:41 – Terry Jones on innovation, disruption, and practical AI use 01:14:59 – End Contact: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer X: @johnhelmer Bluesky: @johnhelmer.bsky.social Website: learninghackpodcast.com

The Battle To Keep Inclusion on the Organizational Agenda. Is Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (D.E.I.) under existential threat? With political shifts and corporate cutbacks, is this the end of D.E.I. as we know it—or just a moment of transformation? In this episode, John Helmer speaks with Amri B. Johnson, author of Reconstructing Inclusion and CEO of Inclusion Wins, about the evolving landscape of D.E.I. in the workplace. They discuss whether D.E.I. is fundamentally flawed, if it will persist under different branding, and how organizations should adapt to changing times. Amri's links: Dr. Jonathan Ashong-Lamptey https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjonathan/ Dr. Lauran Star https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauranstar/ Dr. David Livermore https://davidlivermore.com/ Dr. R. Roosevelt Thomas, Jr. https://sdms360.com/2017/11/30/the-shamming-of-diversity/ Frederick G. Falker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ajf1iMlwi_o Peter Mousaferiadis https://www.linkedin.com/in/petermousaferiadis/ Aubrey Blanche-Sarellano https://www.linkedin.com/in/adblanche/   TIMESTAMPS: • 00:00 – Start • 01:09 – Intro • 04:36 – Does he still have a job? • 11:30 – Is the language of D.E.I. one of the problems with it? • 22:19 – Will D.E.I. persist, but change its name and go underground? • 25:40 – How does he respond to the studies that show D.E.I. training doesn't work? • 30:26 – Is D.E.I. just ‘woke capital' at work? • 51:41 – End   Connect with Amri B. Johnson: • Website: Inclusion Wins • LinkedIn: Amri B. Johnson's Profile • Twitter: @amribjohnson   Follow The Learning Hack: Website: learninghackpodcast.com LinkedIn: John Helmer X (Twitter): @johnhelmer Bluesky: @johnhelmer.bsky.social  

In this episode, John Helmer engages with UK-based artificial intelligence expert Robert Guidi to explore the potential impact of AI on Learning and Development (L&D). With a background in data science and technology policy, Robert has worked across industries to help organizations navigate the opportunities and risks of AI adoption, translating complex AI concepts into practical strategies. They discuss whether AI poses an existential threat to the L&D profession or offers new opportunities for growth and innovation. The conversation delves into practical applications of AI in L&D, the challenges of implementation, and the future landscape of learning technologies. They also discuss the book Robert is writing: ‘ChatL&D: A Practical Guide to AI-Powered Performance Support'.  Support the crowd funder for the book here (This link will be live from 4 March 2025) Timestamps: • 00:01:09 - Intro • 00:03:36 - Does the world need another book about AI? • 00:12:30 - Is AI an existential threat to L&D? • 00:17:31 - An opportunity for 70/20/10 approaches? • 00:25:27 - Generic versus specialized software tools • 00:28:43 - The problem of ‘model drift' • 00:31:35 - Implementation challenges • 00:43:23 - Change Management • 00:45:31 - Agentic AI • 00:55:29 - Small language models • 01:05:41 - When will the book come out? • 01:09:11 - End   Contact Robert Guidi: • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertguidi   Connect with Us: • Website: www.learninghackpodcast.com • Twitter: @johnhelmer • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-learning-hack-podcast

Mastering Skills Tech: Implementation, Validation & Organizational Change. In this episode, we delve into the evolving landscape of skills technology with Teresa Rose, an award-winning learning and performance consultant and founder of ConsultHer Ltd. With over 16 years of experience in organizational and people development, Teresa shares her insights on implementing skills technology, the importance of skills validation, and how organizations can adapt to make skills initiatives successful. We also explore topics such as process mapping, change management, and designing effective reskilling journeys. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of how to leverage skills to drive organizational success.   Timestamps: • 00:00 – Start • 01:09 - Intro • 03:35 - Implementing skills technology • 07:45 - Skills validation • 10:31 - Data sources for skills tech • 21:22 - How does an organization need to adapt to make skills technology work? • 24:24 - Process mapping • 29:08 - Change management • 37:44 - Skills portfolio management • 40:23 - Designing reskilling journeys • 46:45 - Further reading • 49:06 - End   Guest Contact Information: Teresa Rose • Website: www.consulther.co.uk • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teresar   Resources Mentioned: • Guy W. Wallace's work on process mapping and performance improvement • Peter Sheppard's insights on skill sensing networks at Ericsson • Uncommon Sense by Julia Galef – a recommended read on decision-making and critical thinking • The Oxford Review – for research on competencies and skills in organizational performance   Connect with Us: • Website: www.learninghackpodcast.com • Twitter: @johnhelmer • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-learning-hack-podcast  

Challenging assumptions about learning, performance, and the rise of AI. Nick Shackleton-Jones returns to The Learning Hack to challenge assumptions about learning theory, discuss his Affective Context Model, and reflect on the future of workplace learning. From TikTok as a learning platform to the risks of deceptive AI, this thought-provoking conversation will inspire and provoke in equal measure. Prepare for fresh insights and bold perspectives from one of learning's great minds. 00:00:00 - Start 00:01:09 - Intro 00:03:40 - TikTok: the ultimate learning platform? 00:09:28 - What has Nick been doing in the last 5 years? 00:22:43 - Is learning ROI based on magical thinking 00:27:37 - How has his thinking changed since he first wrote ‘How People Learn'? 00:36:26 - Have digital media become too poisonous for learning? 00:42:37 - Has the move to performance support really happened in L&D? 00:47:05 - AI: Is Nick a P-Doomer? 01:09:41 - Who does he follow in learning? 01:13:03 - End Contact John Helmer LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer X: @johnhelmer Bluesky: @johnhelmer.bsky.social Website: learninghackpodcast.com

Voices from Berlin: Learning in the Age of AI. In this episode, John Helmer reports from the Online Educa Berlin (OEB) Conference, engaging with four influential voices in learning and development: futurist Gerd Leonhard, workplace learning expert Laura Overton, digital education innovator Maribel Reyes-Millán, and L&D thought leader Donald H. Taylor. Together, they discuss the transformative power of AI, strategies for navigating disruption, and the evolving demands of learning in an uncertain world. 00:00:00 - Start 00:01:06 - Intro 00:03:08 - Gerd Leonhard 00:22:32 - Laura Overton 00:46:23 - Maribel Reyes Millán 01:00:52 - Donald H. Taylor 01:21:06 - End Contact John Helmer LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer X: @johnhelmer Bluesky: @johnhelmer.bsky.social Website: learninghackpodcast.com

Revisiting Learning Theories: Insights and Challenges for the Future In this special live episode of Great Minds on Learning, recorded at Online Educa Berlin 2024, Donald Clark and John Helmer tackle listener questions about learning theory's relevance, biases, and practical applications. They reflect on three years of the podcast, exploring 2,500 years of educational thought, and discuss the future of learning, including the transformative impact of AI. Engaging and insightful, this episode is a must-listen for learning professionals and enthusiasts alike.   00:00 - Start 00:59 - Introducing GMoL Question Time 08:17 - Why this podcast? 30:52 - What are the ‘lessons learned'? 47:48 - What next? AI and the future of institutional learning The Blog that started it all:  https://donaldclarkplanb.blogspot.com/2021/09/these-were-written-as-quick-readable.html   Contact Donald X: @DonaldClark LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donald-clark-04553022/ Blog: http://donaldclarkplanb.blogspot.com/   Contact John Helmer X: @johnhelmer Email: john@learninghackpodcast.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer/ Website: https://learninghackpodcast.com/

Breaking Barriers: Disability Awareness and Cultural Change in Workplaces In this episode, Chris Jay, founder of Bascule Disability Training, shares insights into creating inclusive workplaces and tackling stereotypes about disability. Drawing from personal experiences as a wheelchair user with cerebral palsy, Chris discusses the economic benefits of inclusion, the challenges of hidden disabilities, and the importance of cultural change. He also explores disability representation in media through his film initiative, Bascule Entertainment, advocating for authentic, empowering narratives. 00:00 - Start 00:51 - Intro 08:31 - Has disabilty awareness improved? 12:42 - The economic case for workplace inclusivity 15:42 - Hidden disabilities 20:04 - Does DEI training work? 24:03 - What really works in inclusiveness training? 28:51 - Do mental health disabiities get more ‘airtime' nowadays than physical? 31:14 - Chris's work in showbiz 36:55 - Where does he go for inspiration and information? 40:02 – End Follow Chris Jay: ·      LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/chris-jay-bascule ·      Websites: bascule.com (Bascule Disability Training) bascule.com/training/business-training (Training for Businesses) bascule.com/online-training (Bascule's online training) Email: chris@bascule.com    Contact John Helmer X: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer Website: learninghackpodcast.com Patreon: patreon.com/LearningHack

Send in your questions for the Great Minds on Learning Q&A! Donald Clark and John Helmer will answer them at Online Educa Conference in Berlin, which will be recorded for a podcast episode to be issued before Christmas 2024. Email them in to john@learninghackpodcast.com or reach out on social media.

Strategic Insights on Leadership, AI, and Skills for Tomorrow John Helmer explores the future of learning with Anne-Valérie Corboz (HEC Paris), Jane Underwood (Reckitt), and Sarah Otley (Akkodis Academy). They discuss leadership evolution, generative AI's impact, and strategies for building future-ready skills. From innovation challenges to aligning L&D with business goals, this episode offers actionable insights for learning professionals navigating rapid technological change and preparing for tomorrow's workplace. A must-listen for those shaping the future of education and work. 00:00:00 - Start 00:01:11 - Intro 00:01:50 - Anne_Valerie Corboz 00:22:45 - Ad - iVentiv 00:23:26 - Jane Underwood 00:43:32 - Sarah Otley 01:13:49 – End  Guest contacts: Anne-Valérie Corboz: Associate Dean for Executive Education at HEC Paris. Email: annevaleriecorboz@gmail.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/corboz X: @AnneVCorboz Jane Underwood: Global Head of Learning at Reckitt.   LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/janeunderwoodorganisationaldevelopment X: @JaneUnderwood Sarah Otley: Global Head of Akkodis Academy. LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sarah-otley-0a065620 X: @SarahOtley Contact John Helmer X: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer Website: learninghackpodcast.com

The Future of Learning with AI: Moving Past Simple Applications to Transformational Impact (Learning Leaders pilot) This episode premieres the newest podcast from the Learning Hack stable, Learning Leaders, produced by NIIT in association with The Learning Hack. In this pilot episode, John explores the future of AI learning with Gregg Collins and Sailesh Lalla. Moving beyond content creation, they discuss how AI can drive performance by delivering personalized, real-time learning experiences. Discover the next wave of AI-powered simulations, intelligent tutoring, and immersive learning that goes beyond traditional courses, aiming to transform how organizations approach skill-building and unlock true business impact. 00:00:00 - Start 00:00:18 - Intro 00:02:03 - Will AI only intensify L&D's addiction to courses 00:07:12 - Will AI be a solution looking for a problem in learning (like VR?) 00:19:44 - Does interacting with AI teach management skills? 00:38:10 - Learning and The Business 00:44:04 - What is the next step in AI for learning? 00:51:35 - What is the top level or goal of NIIT's maturity model for AI? 01:04:36 - How do we preserve humanity in AI-driven learning? Sponsored by NIIT Website: https://www.niit.com/en/learning-outsourcing/   Follow Greg: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gregg-collins-54a3971 Email: gregg.collins@niit.com  Follow Sailesh: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sailesh-lalla-3224b2 Email: saileshl@niit.com Contact John Helmer X: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer Website: learninghackpodcast.com Patreon: patreon.com/LearningHack

Exploring Appalachia's Culture and Countering Stereotypes Through Podcasting In this episode, John Helmer is joined by Brigid McCormack, podcast producer and researcher, to discuss her study on podcasting in the Appalachian region of the United States. Brigid shares how local podcasters in this culturally rich yet often stereotyped region are using the medium to tell authentic stories and challenge long-standing negative narratives. She also touches on the power of oral storytelling and podcasting as a learning medium and reflects on her role at Assemble You. For her research, McCormack focused on four podcasts created by five podcasters from the Appalachian region: Appodlachia by Chuck Corra: A podcast that takes a critical look at politics and economics in Appalachia, often addressing current issues and challenging stereotypes. What's Appalachian? by Gabe and Cody: A more casual, conversational podcast where the hosts discuss their daily lives, providing an authentic glimpse into contemporary Appalachian experiences. Now Appalachia by Eliot Parker: This podcast focuses on storytelling and also touches on political and social issues in the region. Appalachian Imagination by Jason: A conversational podcast featuring local friends and community members, offering diverse perspectives on Appalachian life.  Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 03:44 - Brigid's research work on digital futures 06:03 - About Appalachia 07:49 - Appalachian stereotypes 16:47 - What did she learn about Appalachia? 19:19 - What podcast formats did they use? 23:23 - What conclusions did she draw from her work? 29:22 - What did she learn about learning? 39:51 - Her role at Assemble You 43:31 - End   Follow Brigid McCormack: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brigid-mccormack Website: podsandprose.com   Contact John Helmer X: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer Website: learninghackpodcast.com Patreon: patreon.com/LearningHack

An innovative performance support project in healthcare points the way to significant productivity improvements. In this episode, John Helmer is joined by Saskia Huusen, Sanne Mateman, and Callum Clark to discuss a groundbreaking AI-powered learning project at the Alrijne Healthcare Group. This practical conversation dives deep into the real-world application of AI in learning, demonstrating eye-opening time savings and efficiency improvements in a healthcare setting. The team shares how they implemented AI to improve workflow learning for surgical assistants, reducing SME time by 70% and shortening project timelines by 40%. They discuss the challenges of working with AI, how it differs from traditional performance support, and what they've learned through this innovative project. For anyone interested in AI for learning, this episode is packed with valuable insights on integrating AI into workplace learning.   Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 02:57 - Introducing the project 06:11 - Meet the team 09:51 - What part did AI play? 12:13 - What couldn't be done by more traditional means? 14:54 - How different was project management? 20:41 - Did it help that they are young? 23:01 - The solution 29:14 - What did they learn as a team from doing the project? 43:02 - What are they doing next? 50:33 - Who to follow on AI (and who to avoid!) 54:58 - End Follow Saskia Huusen: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/saskia-huussen Website (company): https://xprtise.com/en/   Follow Sanne Mateman: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sanne-mateman   Follow Callum Clark: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/callumclark   Contact John Helmer X: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer Website: learninghackpodcast.com Patreon: patreon.com/LearningHack

The Chair of iVentiv's upcoming Learning Futures conference talks AI, performance and L&D complacency. John Helmer speaks with Charles Jennings, managing director of Duntroon Consultants and a founding partner of the 70:20:10 Institute. Charles has over 40 years of experience in corporate learning and performance improvement and is widely known for advocating the 70:20:10 framework. The conversation delves into the future of workplace learning, exploring how L&D professionals can evolve their strategies to drive organizational success in a rapidly changing environment. Charles shares his thoughts on generative AI and its potential role in reshaping learning. He also discusses the importance of shifting focus from individual learning to team performance, emphasizing that teams are the “atomic units” of delivery in any organization. The episode further explores the current obsession with skills mapping and competency frameworks, with Charles offering a more holistic approach. He challenges the idea that skills development alone can drive organizational excellence and highlights the broader systemic factors that contribute to high performance. 00:00 - Start 03:16 - Is his a ‘restless intelligence?' 06:19 - Will Gen AI prevent or reinforce bad habits in L&D 09:39 - Implications of AI for L&D's role in the organisation 12:54 - The ‘skills obsession' of L&D 17:17 - Are skills mapping exercises a waste of money 21:08 - Are we getting any better at thinking systemically 25:52 - Performance support: what are we waiting for 35:26 - Teams and social media 39:56 - Introducing the iVentiv conference Charles is Chairing 45:27 - Who does he follow? 50:41 – End Sponsor link: https://iventiv.com/learninghack Follow Charles LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/charles-jennings 70:20:10 Institute: https://702010institute.com/ Duntroon: http://www.duntroon.com/ Blog: https://charles-jennings.blogspot.com/ Contact John Helmer X: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer/ Website: https://learninghackpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LearningHack

How a top CLO, author and podcaster transforms learning strategy. In this special 100th episode of The Learning Hack podcast, we celebrate a milestone by diving deep into curiosity and corporate learning with Simon Brown, Global Learning and Development Leader at EY and best-selling author of The Curious Advantage. Simon, formerly CLO at Novartis, shares his insights on the pivotal role curiosity plays in driving personal and organizational growth. We explore how AI is reshaping learning landscapes, and Simon offers invaluable lessons on fostering innovation, building effective learning strategies, and navigating rapid change. Join us for an engaging conversation that marks our centenary episode with a true thought leader. 00:00 - Start 00:41 - Intro 03:26 - Why curiosity? 11:22 - Simon's journey to top CLO 16:09 - How did he form his team at Novartis? 21:15 - How did he get the resources and C-Suite buy-in for the change? 26:58 - How specific is his take on strategy to the sectors he has worked in? 31:34 - His role at EY 36:07 - Is there substance behind the skills hype? 39:34 - Will AI-driven learning shut down curiosity? 47:47 - How does he pursue his own learning, and what sources does he follow? 53:25 - End Sponsor link: https://iventiv.com/learninghack Follow Simon Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/simoncbrown1 The Curious Advantage (podcast): https://open.spotify.com/show/0fhW2Xj66JcumYeh6gljZ The Curious Advantage (book): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53731453-the-curious-advantage Contact John Helmer X: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer/ Website: https://learninghackpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LearningHack

Learning Technologies London is Europe's leading showcase of organisational learning and the technology used to support learning at work. John Helmer visited the show and talked to a rich mix of the most interesting people he found there: the analyst, the ingenue, the philosopher, the CLO, the keynoter, the vendor, the budget holder and the pirate (yarr!). The result is a snapshot of the industry, and a deep dive into key themes and insights shaping the future of the learning profession. 00:00:00 - Start 00:00:48 - Intro 00:03:01 - Adam Lacey 00:08:19 - Hannah Frame 00:20:12 - Julian Stodd 00:29:42 - Paul Matthews 00:37:44 - Thimon de Jong 00:51:38 - Lauren Waldman 01:02:44 - Egle Vinauskaite 01:16:06 - Dani Johnson 01:27:31 - David Perring 01:46:16 - Caroline Ford 02:19:52 - Don Taylor 02:30:21 - End Follow John Helmer X: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer/ Website: https://learninghackpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LearningHack

An award-winning learning designer reflects on 30 episodes of our sister podcast, Great Minds on Learning. This episode features a deep dive into the history of learning theory with Leonard Houx, Director of Learning Design at the Cambridge Education Group. Host John Helmer and Houx embark on an intellectual journey through the evolution of educational philosophy, touching on the contributions of ancient Greeks, German idealists, and the foundational concepts of modern education systems. 00:00:00 - Start 00:00:36 - Intro 00:03:12 - Reflections on Great Minds on Learning 00:10:22 - The Greeks 00:39:02 - Separating the knower from the known 00:53:28 - The German Idealists 01:10:47 - Hegel & recognition 01:20:07 - Previewing next season of Great Minds on Learning 01:32:19 - End Sponsor event: Celebrating its 25th year, the Learning Technologies conference & exhibition 17-18 April 2024 is Europe's leading workplace learning event. Register today at https://www.learningtechnologies.co.uk/ Follow Leonard Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonardhoux Email: leonard.houx@gmail.com Contact John Helmer X: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer/ Website: https://learninghackpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LearningHack

What does the intense focus on AI in learning today have to say about the future of L&D? Don Taylor is a well-recognised commentator and thinker in the fields of workplace learning and supporting technologies. He speaks world-wide, and has chaired the Learning Technologies Conference in London since 2000. His annual L&D Global Sentiment Survey, started in 2014, provides a unique perspective on L&D trends from over 100 countries, asking the question, what's going to be hot in L&D? No surprise, perhaps, that the answer this year was AI. But the scale of the vote for AI was unprecedented, and raises serious questions about the future of L&D. 00:00 - Start 01:06 - Intro 03:39 - An unprecedented survey result 06:07 - Has any other tech ever dominated the survey quite so much? 08:42 - How has the sentiment about AI changed over time? 21:13 - Are we on the verge of a ‘correction' to AI enthusiasm? 28:37 - What does the survey tell us about L&D challenges? 32:27 - With all the focus on AI, what are we NOT focusing on? 36:38 - Preview of Learning Technologies Ex & Conf, London 45:56 - Who does Don draw inspiration from? 51:30 - End Sponsor event: Celebrating its 25th year, the Learning Technologies conference & exhibition 17-18 April 2024 is Europe's leading workplace learning event. Register today at https://www.learningtechnologies.co.uk/ Sponsor event: Webinar: Designing a Successful Learning Content Strategy with Mike Taylor and Bianca Baumann on 9 April 2024, register now at: https://hubs.la/Q02qdB160 The Mindtools visualization of GSS over time: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/gent-ahmetaj_lndtrends-data-ai-activity-7165807077620195328-SftU   Follow Don Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donaldhtaylor Website: http://www.donaldhtaylor.co.uk/ Contact John Helmer X: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer/ Website: https://learninghackpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LearningHack

Turning uncertainty from a problem into an opportunity. We are living in a time of great uncertainty. Economies are still suffering the effects of Covid. Countries that are home to nearly half the world's population will hold elections in 2024. Meanwhile the climate is going mad, and geopolitics seem balanced on a knife edge. How do we cope with all this uncertainty in our personal and working lives? Katherine Templar Lewis and Sam Conniff are uncertainty experts, who bring their learning in neuroscience, psychology, history and social entrepreneurship to bear in helping organizations and individuals improve uncertainty tolerance. 0:00:00 - Start 00:00:31 - Intro 00:03:16 - Is uncertainty more than just a trend? 00:12:23 - Where does all this uncertainty come from 00:20:42 - How can we deal with uncertainty? 00:30:09 - Is AI increasing uncertainty? 00:38:22 - Be more pirate to profit from uncertainty 00:44:45 - Practical advice for coping with uncertainty 01:02:12 - End Sponsor event: 21st March is World Learning Content Clean-up Day: https://www.anewspring.com/articles/introducing-world-learning-content-cleanup-day Follow Katherine Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ktemplarlewis Website (company): https://www.kindastudios.com/   Follow Sam Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samconniff Website (company): http://www.samconniff.com/ Website (company): http://www.uncertaintyexperts.com/ Website (company): http://www.bemorepirate.com/ Contact John Helmer X: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer/ Website: https://learninghackpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LearningHack

In the age of AI, what do we need humans for? The latest advances in AI are highlighting human capabilities, and particularly shortcomings, in a way that causes us once again to re-evaluate what it is to be human. Rob Hubbard is Founder of LearningAge Solutions, an award-winning provider of digital learning services that practices what it calls human-centred learning. What exactly does that mean in the age of AI – and what does the future, for people who want to continue to work and provide value in the learning industries, look like? 00:00 - Start 00:31 - Intro 03:06 - What does he mean by ‘Human-centred Learning'? 11:13 - What is technology telling us about our strengths & weaknesses as humans? 23:45 - Mindfulness and attention 27:11 - Human thinking vs machine thinking 31:00 - Dealing with the shortcomings of technology 41:45 - Advice for employees in the new future of work 52:16 - Who does he follow? 57:41 - End   Sponsor event: 21st March is World Learning Content Clean-up Day: https://www.anewspring.com/articles/introducing-world-learning-content-cleanup-day Follow Rob Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robhubbard16 Website (company): https://www.linkedin.com/in/robhubbard16 Email: rob.hubbard@las-hq.com Contact John Helmer X: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer/ Website: https://learninghackpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LearningHack

Does the way we talk about learning improve our understanding – or hold it back?  The language of learning is charged with resonant abstract nouns that mobilize professionals around new ideas and concepts. But are these concepts really so new in all cases – and do they provide a focus for practical action? To what extent is the debate driven by the commercial imperatives of Learntech vendors rather than the real needs of employees and students? Peter Manniche Riber is Head of Digital Learning at Novo Nordisk, Europe's most valuable company, and a formidable critic of this 'buzzword bingo'. He talks to John Helmer about the language of learning. Does it help or hinder? 00:00:00 - Start 00:00:33 - Intro 00:03:19 - Is the language we use in learning fit for purpose? 00:09:06 - Peter's Top 3 buzzword dislikes 00:12:34 - Drilling into those top 3 buzzword hates 00:26:17 - Digital Transformation 00:36:35 - Gamification 00:38:41 - GenAI and the language of learning 00:49:51 - The language of L&D 01:05:42 – End  Sponsor event: AI & Training Design Masterclass with Dr. Philippa Hardman presented by aNewSpring, sign up at: https://hubs.la/Q02f-8PZ0 Follow Peter Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/peter-manniche-riber-5565628b Email: petermr@me.com Contact John Helmer X: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer/ Website: https://learninghackpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LearningHack

Can business professionals perform better with improv skills? We admire great improvisers in music (Charlie Parker, Jimi Hendrix, etc.) while tending to be suspicious of leaders in business and government who seem to be 'making it up as they go along'. But are we right to think that way? Berlin-based Belina Raffy runs a consultancy and training company that helps people in organisations develop improvisation ability. She's lived in many different countries including the UK, and worked in Finance before finding her vocation as a learning person. Institutions she has studied at include Ithaca College New York, the Chinese University in Hong Kong and Cranfield School of Management. Does this peripatetic early life, we wanted to find out, perhaps hold the key to her skills as an improviser? 00:00 - Start 00:33 - Intro 03:10 - What use is improv to serious business people? 11:04 - How relevant are her exercises to the working situation? 21:27 - Leadership, improv and integrity 27:38 - Theoretical underpinnings of improv? 39:59 - Belina's journey in learning 50:47 - End Sponsor event: AI & Training Design Masterclass with Dr. Philippa Hardman presented by aNewSpring, sign up at: https://hubs.la/Q02f-8PZ0 Book mentioned in the discussion: The Dawn of Everything. (2023, August 24). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dawn_of_Everything Follow Belina Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/belina-raffy Website (company): http://www.maffick.com/ @Maffick (Twitter for Maffick) @BelinaRaffy (Twitter for Belina) Email: belinaraffy@gmail.com Contact John Helmer X: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer/ Website: https://learninghackpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LearningHack

What is the best approach to using AI for learning in an organisation? My guest this time on the Learning Hack thinks that it's really important to know what problem you are trying to solve with AI in order to use it effectively for learning. The product has to come before the product. Egle Vinauskaite is the award-winning director of the learning innovation consultancy Nodes. Her expertise in learning, behavioural science, and technology has made her a sought-after edtech advisor by top startups and blue-chip companies. In this fascinating discussion, Egle describes how AI is ushering in entirely new ways of doing things in the world of learning and edtech. 00:33 - Intro 02:47 - What is ‘product mindset'? 11:22 - How well does the interface between buyers and sellers function? 22:17 - Generative AI and learning 40:01 - Egle's journey in learning 46:56 - End   Sponsor event: AI & Training Design Masterclass with Dr. Philippa Hardman presented by aNewSpring, sign up at: https://hubs.la/Q02f-8PZ0 Mentioned in the discussion: Ethan Mollick: https://mgmt.wharton.upenn.edu/profile/emollick/ Follow Egle Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/vinauskaite Website (company): https://www.nodes.works/ Email: egle.vinauskaite@gmail.com Contact John Helmer X: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer/ Website: https://learninghackpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LearningHack Contact John Helmer X: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer/ Website: https://learninghackpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LearningHack/

BONUS EPISODE: A talk by John Helmer recorded at the New Learning Conference, Netherlands. Podcasts are everywhere, and have become recognised as a powerful information medium. But can a podcast really cut the mustard as a learning experience? This talk by John Helmer of the Learning Hack podcast, given as a 'live podcast session' at the Next Learning event, provides some answers. John looks at the learning theory around audio learning, practical considerations for using podcasts in an organisational (or institutional) context, and examples of podcasts being used to teach skills and support people in their learning. - Introduction to podcasts for learning - What the literature says - The eye versus the ear - Cognitive load - Drawbacks & caveats - The affective domain - Practical exercise: sleep and learning (Stickgold & Walker)

What can horses and brain damage teach us about learning? Sarah Ratcliff is an award-winning Learning Consultant, Speaker, and Ambassador for Learning, with over twenty years experience in the industry. She is currently a spokesperson for the learning provider Cegos, and a regular chair for the Learning Technologies conference. In 2020, she earned the esteemed Learning Professional of the Year award from the LPI. She talks to John about how the experiences in her life that have formed her views about learner engagement, including her love of horses and a debilitating head injury. 00:00 - Start 02:52 - How did Sarah get into learning? 09:47 - How do horses inform her view of learning? 14:48 - Her car crash and recovery 23:57 - Learner engagement 26:47 - Are marketing techniques useful for learner engagement? 36:10 - The extended L&D toolkit of today 42:59 - End Follow Sarah Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/sarahratcliff Website (company): http://www.cegos.co.uk/ Email: sarah.ratcliff@cegos.co.uk Contact John Helmer X: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer/ Website: https://learninghackpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LearningHack

'It all started when NASA read our code ...'   Jussi Hurskainen is CEO and co-founder of Valamis, a learning systems company with offices in in the US, India, and across Europe, but headquartered in Finland. In a crowded market, Valamis distinguishes itself by the sophisticated way its platform handles data. Jussi tells John about how the product got its start when Nasa engineers read and were impressed by its code – and what it has been like over the last few years running a company whose worforce straddled the Russian border.   00:00 - Start 00:35 - Intro 03:48 - What is Valamis? 05:01 - Market condition in learning technologies 07:19 - How does Valamis differentiate in the crowded mid-market? 11:50 - How does his LXP deal with personalization? 14:33 - What part does AI play in the solution? 17:17 - How have acquisitions featured in the development of the company? 21:11 - Origins of the company 23:29 - Jussi's learning journey 25:38 - Effects of the Ukraine invasion on Valamis 28:42 - Jussi's influences 31:04 - End Follow Jussi Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jussihurskainen Website (company): http://www.valamis.com/ X: @jhurska Email: jussi.hurskainen@valamis.com Contact John Helmer  X: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer/ Website: https://learninghackpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LearningHack

Lauren Waldman is a learning consultant, educator, and the founder of The Learning Pirate. She is a certified training and development professional and has received qualifications in Neuroscience from Harvard and John Hopkins University, and in Medical Neuroscience from Duke. She works with organizations to create bespoke, scientifically designed learning programs using the latest cognitive and behavioural science. But with whole learning and development departments being laid off currently, she believes the profession faces an existential threat. Could embracing neuroscience help to prevent its demise?   00:00 - Start 00:35 - Intro 03:39 - The Pirate Code 11:00 - Does learning theory conflict with neuroscience 15:34 - What does neuroscience tell us about how possible (or impossible) it is to change the way we think & feel? 17:12 - Is there a serious side to the piracy stuff? 23:26 - Joining Forces With Your Brain 30:06 - Mythbusting 33:30 - How did she get into learning? 42:55 - End Follow Lauren Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-waldman-learning-pirate-4666bab Website (company): http://www.learningpirate.com/ X: @LearningPirate YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@learningpirate6046 Contact John Helmer X: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer/ Website: https://learninghackpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LearningHack

Kevin M. Yates is known in the global training, learning, and talent development community as the L&D Detective. He investigates impact and solves measurement mysteries with facts, clues, evidence, and data. His rigorous but pragmatic approach is informed by 25+ years industry experience serving in diverse roles across multiple industries and brands including Grant Thornton, Kantar, McDonald's, and Meta (Facebook). Kevin talks to John about how he see the current state of learning evaluation in organisations – he's optimistic – and what AI holds for the future of his practice. 00:00 - Start 00:35 - Intro 03:03 - What crimes does the L&D detective detect 05:00 - How did he get his start in learning? 06:26 - Where are we with measurement in L&D? 09:50 - What can and should we measure in learning? 15:01 - Is training that can't be measured even worth doing? 20:30 - Useful models For measuring learning 26:48 - Is measurement different in an algorithm-driven company? 32:39 - Will AI kill xAPI? 37:16 - Meals in the Meantime 39:57 - Kevin's inspirations 42:27 - End The Six Disciplines of Breakthrough Learning: How to Turn Training and Development Into Business Results, By Roy Pollock Andrew Jefferson Calhoun Wick https://www.td.org/books/the-six-disciplines-of-breakthrough-learning-3rd-edition   Follow Kevin Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinmyates Website (personal): http://kevinmyates.com/ Website (voluntary work) http://mealsinthemeantime.org/ Email: kevin@kevinmyates.com X (Twitter): @kevinmyates Contact John Helmer X (Twitter): @johnhelmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer/ Website: https://learninghackpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LearningHack

With their delivery of humanitarian aid to Ukraine accomplished, Andy and John head back home, retracing their tracks across Northern Europe. In a harrowing interview, John talks to a Ukrainian elearning specialist now based in Germany following the sad death of her husband on the frontline in Bahmut. And in Theorists Corner we feature John Comenius and Eric Kandel. 00:00 - Start 00:44 - Intro 02:39 - TFI Friday 15:29 - Theorists Corner: John Comenius 18:36 - Interview: Yuliia Kovach 28:18 - How Yuliia met Viktor 32:45 - Russia invades 41:49 - Life after Viktor 53:56 - Theorists Corner: Eric Kandel 56:04 - Final update from Run 19 58:59 - Outro Ukraine Fundraiser 2022 More information: http://www.ukrainefundraiser.co.uk Donate: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ukrainefundraiser2022  Contact John Helmer X(Twitter): @johnhelmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer/ Website: https://learninghackpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LearningHack

  Arrived in Ukraine, Andy and John deliver their aid to the hospital in Lviv. With the main object of the trip accomplished, they take a walk around the city and assess the mood. John interviews Vladimir Polo, a learntech entrepreneur based in Odesa about what it has been like to run a learning company in a war zone. And, in Theorists Corner we feature Lev Vygotsky and Wilhelm Reich. 00:00 - Start 01:11 - Intro 01:43 - From the border to Lviv 04:47 - Theorists Corner: Lev Vygotsky 06:34 - Fulfilling the Prime Directive 09:48 - Interview: Vladimir Polo 15:00 - Managing a dispersed business from a war zone 21:25 - The invasion and its impact on the company 30:29 - Lviv vibes 32:21 - Theorists Corner: Wilhelm Reich 34:16 - Outro Ukraine Fundraiser 2022 More information: http://www.ukrainefundraiser.co.uk Donate: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ukrainefundraiser2022  Contact John Helmer X(Twitter): @johnhelmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer/ Website: https://learninghackpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LearningHack

Over three episodes we tell the story of what happened when John Helmer hitched a ride with Andy Wooler, chair of Ukraine Fundraiser 2022, to help deliver humanitarian aid to recently bombed Lviv. They chat about the conflict, about learning ... and about the history of the continent they are crossing from West to East. 00:00 - Start 00:44 - Intro 01:32 - JH thoughts before leaving 05:09 - The rehearsal 07:26 - Introducing Theorists Corner  07:47 - Dover 08:23 - Dunkirk 08:34 - Belgium 09:12 - Netherlands 10:07 - Theorists Corner: Huizinga 11:45 - Theorists Corner: Erasmus 14:31 - Adaptive learning & AI 21:15 - Germany 22:44 - Military training 28:07 - Theorists Corner: Ebbinghaus 29:15 - Theorists Corner: Luther 31:25 - Poland 40:30 - Outro   Ukraine Fundraiser 2022 More information: http://www.ukrainefundraiser.co.uk Donate: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ukrainefundraiser2022 Contact John Helmer X (Twitter): @johnhelmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer/ Podcasts: https://learninghackpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LearningHack

  Oceans cover 71% of the earth's surface, and a huge workforce crews and manages the ships that sail on them. These people all have to be trained. While learntech companies now largely work across business sectors, there are those whose learning needs are so niche and specific that they call for a specialist. Maritime is such a sector. In this episode, John talks to Raal Harris, Chief Creative Officer at Ocean Technologies Group, a global learntech vendor servicing the Maritime Industry. Raal definitely IS a specialist, and knows the sector inside out.   0:00 - Intro 3:37 - How important is Maritime to global business? 5:37 - How Raal got into the sector 8:38 - Uniqueness in the sector's training 16:52 - Importance of Language Learning 22:48 - Decarbonising Shipping 31:49 - How Ocean came together 38:14 - Differences between learning sectors 51:18 - Where Raal gets his knowledge in learning development Follow Raal Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raal-harris-05827710 Website (company): https://oceantg.com/ Email: raal.harris@oceantg.com Contact John Helmer Twitter: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer/ Website: https://learninghackpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LearningHack

Shell is an organisation in transition. It's moving from a federated model of training to something more centralized. At the same time it's bringing together L&D with organizational development, and knowledge management is moving closer to learning as well. And all this is happening against a background of a huge shift in skills needed within the organization as it moves into more sustainable forms of energy alongside its traditional businesses. In this episode, John talks to Jaap Hoogendoorn, VP Learning Solutions at Shell. Jaap leads a large, globally dispersed team of learning professionals in delivering these changes. He talks about the challenges, the progress made, and the effects of the Green Transition on Shell's learning function. 0:00 - Intro 3:51 - Shell and the Green Transition 6:56 - Jaap's background and career journey 10:13 - From federated to centralised learning 20:16 - Has tech helped the change? 24:16 - Uniting L&D and OD 37:56 - Innovative approaches to reskilling 45:32 - Results of the change so far? 50:38 - Where does he draw inspiration from?   Follow Jaap  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaap-hoogendoorn-10942a1 Website (company): https://www.shell.com/ Email: jaap.hoogendoorn@me.com     Contact John Helmer Twitter: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer/ Website: https://learninghackpodcast.com/

The 'Jobs To Be Done' approach (or framework) encourages a focus on what your end-user is trying to achieve when they access a product, service or experience. As professor Theodore Levitt puts it: 'People don't want a quarter-inch drill, they want a quarter-inch hole'. John talks to Ger Driesen, Learning Innovation Leader at the learning system provider aNewSpring, about how it can be applied to learning. Could this make for a more learner-centred approach to learning design, or might it raise conflicts with the priorities of organizational development? And what is the role of AI under this framework? 0:00 - Intro 3:24 - Ger's journey in learning 6:36 - The jobs-to-be-done framework 8:57 - How it will affect learning 12:14 - Examples of how the framework specifics work 20:41 - How the framework plays in an organisation 22:29 - The impact on L&D professionals 24:03 - Does AI have a role in this? 26:27 - Where to follow Ger Links An overview blog for JTBD for learning design: https://www.anewspring.com/the-jobs-to-be-done-approach/ A 'why JTBD' blog: https://www.anewspring.com/improve-learning-design-jobs-to-be-done/ Follow Ger Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gerdriesen/ Twitter: @GerDriesen Ger's learning notes: https://www.anewspring.com/gers-learning-notes/ Website (company): https://www.anewspring.com/ Contact John Helmer Twitter: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer/ Website: https://learninghackpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LearningHack

Adaptive learning systems were among the first to use artificial intelligence, creating a subcategory in learntech that has been on a slow burn since the 2010s. With the meteoric rise to prominence this year of AI in the headlines, thanks to ChatGPT and other publicly accessible generative AI tools, does the future now look bright for adaptive learning – or does it risk being swept away in the tsunami of over-hyped hopes and fears that this phenomenon has generated? John talks to Markus Bernhardt, Chief Evangelist of adaptive vendor Obrizum about this and other current topics concerning AI. Markus brings hope, some reassurance, but also further causes for concern about the use of AI in corporates that haven't so far registered in the public debate. 0:00 - Intro 4:51 - Origin of OBRIZUM 5:47 - How AI is used to adapt their learning courses 16:41 - Markus's background 20:05 - Should we rule out ChatGTP for its lack of imagery? 26:47 - What role do human trainers play? 36:28 - Future of corporate learning 41:52 - Risks of AI within corporate learning 48:21 - Where to follow Markus - and who Markus follows Follow Markus: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markus-bernhardt Website (company): http://obrizumgroup.com/ Contact John Helmer: Twitter: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer/ Website: https://learninghackpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LearningHack

      This episode is part 2 of a podcast swap with the Video Learning Lab podcast run by Kevin Alster. Kevin is a Learning Strategist at Synthesia, the Denmark-based video learning company, and was previously employed as a designer of learning experiences at The New York Times and Sotheby's. John talks to him about Synthesia's AI-generated avatars, which are rapidly gaining use in learning programmes. This wide-ranging discussion covers many of the most topical questions about use of AI in learning. And in a first for the Learning Hack podcast, the episode is introduced by AI generated avatars, replacing the usual cast of human presenters.   0:00 - Intro 3:08 - Technology behind Synthesia's AI 11:15 - Ensuring inclusive avatar representation 20:53 - The impact on elearning 27:54 - Success stories in AI-assisted learning 35:47 - How L&D people will evolve with AI-generated Avatars  52:14 - Addressing risks of AI Avatars 55:11 - What challenges are there? 1:05:05 - Where to follow Kevin? Episode links: 'GPTs are GPTs: An early look at the labor market impact potential of large language models': https://openai.com/research/gpts-are-gpts Karen X. Cheng: https://www.karenx.com/ Nina Schick: Https://ninaschick.org/ Follow Kevin: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinalster Website (Synthesia): https://www.synthesia.io/ Synthesia academy: https://www.synthesia.io/academy Website: (personal) http://kevinalster.wordpress.com/ Email: kevin.alster@gmail.com Twitter: @Kalstere Contact John Helmer Twitter: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer/ Website: https://learninghackpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LearningHack

    Coming from a background of digital transformation, Matt Wilkinson has created a live elearning company that combines human-delivered and digital learning in a scalable way, stealing a bit of a march on more content-focused competitors. His company, CEyX, help teams build the technology skills and confidence necessary to positively impact their performance. Clients include Deliveroo, PA Consulting and the Department for Culture Media and Sport. John asks him what is unique about his model, and why he thinks more technology training vendors haven't, to date, adopted it. 0:00 - Intro 3:15 - What does CEyX do? 5:28 - Matt's Background 7:42 - Perception of how tech skills are taught 10:58 - How CEyX teaches this different? 14:00 - How scale-able and tangible are these results? 18:54 - How unique is this model? 27:10 - Biggest challenges in scale-up companies 30:06 - Matt's thoughts on A.I. 42:29 - Where can we follow Matt Wilkinson? Follow Matt LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-wilkinson-ceyx Website (company): https://www.ceyx.uk/ Website (personal) http://www.nutcrackermtb.co.uk/ Contact John Helmer Twitter: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer/ Website: https://learninghackpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LearningHack

    This episode we're giving the channel over to one of our favourite podcasts, Video Learning Lab. The podcast is hosted by Kevin Alster, who runs an innovative video learning company called Synthesia, which uses lifelike AI-generated avatars as presenters. We're going to feature Kevin as a guest on the Learning Hack very soon, but in this podcast he interviews John. Kevin wanted to know what he'd picked up from running his two podcasts about how best to design learning. They also explore John's insights gleaned over the years from working in communications and also in the creative arts (he was in a top ten band, had a novel published and wrote and appeared in a series of comedy mini-musicals on Channel 4 in the UK). Due to a technical glitch the interview here is a bit truncated, but if you desperately need that last 5 minutes, you can listen to Kevin's channel on YouTube or Spotify – links below.   Key Takeaways: Instructional design can get in its way with an extremely narrow focus on instructional design principles. L&D has a marketing problem. We should always try to excite the desire for people to listen/complete our entire learning program. Learning can channel a marketing mindset by tapping into creativity – not only in how we structure content, but also by how we deliver it. If you're putting learning into video, that is a creative act and you should think about how you're engaging learners. Get the extended episode on Kevin's channels: YouTube: http://youtu.be/K_bCZEaQbRI Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/63vvFB7DpWr6eacW0qjR9X Follow Kevin LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinalster Website (Company): https://www.synthesia.io/ Website (personal): http://kevinalster.wordpress.com/ Email: kevin.alster@gmail.com Twitter: @Kalstere Contact John Helmer Twitter: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer/ Website: https://learninghackpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LearningHack

Michelle Parry-Slater is Learning & Development Director of Kairos Modern Learning, and author of the Learning And Development Handbook. This guide for learning practitioners is realistic about the organizational context in which L&D has to operate, with its many new stresses and conflicting priorities. She encourages L&D people to think more strategically, and indicates mindsets, skillsets and toolsets for each of the major challenges L&D faces.   0:00 - Intro 2:51 - The Learning & Development Handbook 4:54 - L&D and String Theory 6:59 - The dividing line between L&D and Organisational Development 9:15 - Conversation between learning and the business 11:36 - Skillsets to think strategically 20:42 - Thoughts on A.I. Development 27:40 - Where to follow Michelle's thoughts   The Learning & Development Handbook:  https://www.koganpage.com/product/the-learning-and-development-handbook-9781789663327   Follow Michelle  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelleparryslater Website (Company): http://www.kairosmodernlearning.co.uk/ Email: michelle@kairosmodernlearning.co.uk Twitter: @MiPS1608 Contact John Helmer Twitter: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer/ Website: https://learninghackpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LearningHack

    People use podcasts to gain information and knowledge, about a huge variety of things, in their downtime. Organisations and institutions have been slow to leverage this powerful source of potential to date, but things are changing fast. John talks to Adam Lacey, co-founder of Assemble You, an 'audio-first' provider of learning content. How different are learning podcasts from ordinary podcasts? And how easily – or otherwise – does audio learning sits alongside other forms of digital content within a learner journey?   0:00 - Intro 2:58 - Differences between The Learning Hack and Learning Podcasts 6:23 - How Adam got into learning podcasts 8:30 - Podcast Access 14:02 - Attention and Engagement 26:34 - Any theorists that influence his podcasts? 36:59 - Three tips for starting learning podcasts Links The York University / BBC study mentioned in this episode: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1074320 Assemble You's research report: https://www.assembleyou.com/audio-report-2023 Follow Adam LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamlacey Website: https://www.assembleyou.com/ Email: adam@assembleyou.com Podcast: https://www.assembleyou.com/podcast Contact John Helmer Twitter: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer/ Website: https://learninghackpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LearningHack

    At the Learning Technologies France show in Paris this February, John talked to two of the industry's leading commentators, who both released significant pieces of research at the show. The L&D Global Sentiment Survey, run by Donald H Taylor, takes the pulse of the L&D community world-wide. The one-minute online poll asks L&D professionals internationally what they think will be hot in the following year. The Fosway 9-Grid™ report for Learning Systems plots the relative position of solutions and providers, predominantly within the UK and European market. Different solutions can be compared based on their Performance, Potential, Market Presence, Total Cost of Ownership and Future Trajectories across the market. Between them, these two surveys give a picture of where Learntech systems are in the post-pandemic world, and what is firing the expectations and imaginations of the learning community. 00:00 Intro 02:15 Don Taylor: What's changed since last year? 05:23 Is it unusual for a 'macro' issue like skills to dominate the survey? 07:21 AI 13:22 Metaverse 18:45 VR 21:07 Leading trends in the US 24:15 Is this a return to the pre-pandemic world? 26:45 David Wilson: The new 9-Grid for learning 28:05 Any surprises in the changes compared to last year? 33:43 'Ecosystemness' 42:40 Learning Systems market development Follow Donald H. Taylor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donaldhtaylor Website: https://donaldhtaylor.co.uk/insight/gss2023-results/ Twitter: @DonaldHTaylor Follow David Wilson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dwil23 Fosway website: https://www.fosway.com/ Twitter: @dwil23 Email: david.wilson@fosway.com Contact John Helmer Twitter: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer/ Website: https://learninghackpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LearningHack

    A passion for learning brought Dinye Hernada, she says, from a muddy school field in Indonesia to the boardrooms of Germany's top companies. With a double masters in international management, she began her working life supporting digital transformation. Realizing, however, that investing in people often had a bigger and more sustainable impact, she switched to L&D. Dinye is now Senior Learning and Development Manager at HeyJobs. John talks to her about her career path to date, the challenges she has overcome, and what the future holds for her profession.   0:00 - Intro 3:21 - How Dinye got into the learning profession 5:15 - Dinye's learning career 7:11 - 30 under 30 10:08 - Progressing in business despite prejudices 13:11 - Where did the older generation of learn-tech go wrong? 21:24 - Dinye's take on the L&D profession 30:37 - AI taking over decision making 39:19 - Where to follow Dinye's future endeavours Follow Dinye LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dinyehernanda Website (personal): https://www.dinyehernanda.com/ Email: dshernanda@gmail.com Contact John Helmer Twitter: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer/ Website: https://learninghackpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LearningHack Download the white paper from Learning Pool written by Lindsey Coode – Skills are your Organization's Superpower https://learningpool.com/skills-are-your-organizations-superpower/

  Ethical Angel is a company that brings together learners in need of development opportunities with charities and good causes in need of the practical skills they are developing. John talks to the company's founder and CEO, Alexander Fahie, a young entrepreneur with a background in investment management. Alexander explains how he had the idea of bringing these two communities togther, how the collaboration works, and the results Ethical Angel is achieving for charitable causes though giving learners in organizations opportunities to try out the skills they are learning in real world situations.   0:00 - Intro 3:24 - Ethical Angel 5:54 - What do the causes get out of it? 11:40 - Cooperates and Employee's side 14:17 - The learning design 20:29 - How the solution facilitates 28:45 - Examples of working in practice 33:10 - What's an efficient business model? 39:03 - How can people get involved? Follow Alexander LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-fahie Twitter: @ethicalangels Website: https://www.ethicalangel.com/ Email: alexander@ethicalangel.com Contact John Helmer Twitter: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer/ Website: https://learninghackpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LearningHack Download the white paper from Learning Pool written by Lindsey Coode – Skills are your Organization's Superpower https://learningpool.com/skills-are-your-organizations-superpower/

Leadership learning is perhaps the most prestitigious and well-funded of training staples. In a changing world, it has become democratized in recent years, and now embraces a more progressive (some would say liberal) agenda. Nevertheless it faces criticism from academics in highly respected institutions, who question its value. In this wide-ranging discussion about the current state of leadership learning, John talks to Gustaf Nordbäck, CEO of Headspring Executive Development, a joint venture between the Financial Times and IE Business School. Under Gustaf's direction Headspring has become a top provider of leadership solutions for clients around the world. How does he answer leadership's critics – and what is the future for leadership learning, in a world where decision-making becomes increasingly delegated to AI? NB: We apologise for the crackles on John's mic during the interview, and hope these technical shortcomings do not detract too badly from your enjoyment. 0:00 - Intro 3:13 - Leading Headspring 9:16 - Vision for leadership in the 21st Century 17:27 - How diverse is Leadership Learning? 24:35 - Differences in leadership styles 28:19 - Answering critics 35:47 - Digital Technology in course delivery 40:23 - AI in Leadership Follow Gustaf: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gustaf-nordback Headspring Website: https://www.headspringexecutive.com/ Email: gnordback@gmail.com Contact John Helmer: Twitter: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer/ Website: https://learninghackpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LearningHack Download the white paper from Learning Pool written by John Helmer – The Spacing Effect: Harnessing the Power of Spaced Practice for Learning That Sticks https://learningpool.com/spacing-effect-harnessing-power-of-spaced-practice/

  Stephen Downes is a prominent speaker and writer in the field of educational technology and learning, known for his work on open educational resources, digital learning, and the development of the MOOC (massive open online course). He's currently a researcher at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. Downes sees three current technologies as being critical for the development of online education; metaverse, blockchain and AI. But rather than making airy pronouncements in clickbait blog posts about this techno-troika, he has thought hard about how they operate together, creating a possible future for online education. But in this new distributed, learner-driven world, will we still need universities?   0:00 - Intro 3:53 - The MOOCs of today 8:04 - Physical state of the brain 13:28 - The Metaverse 32:32 - Blockchain 38:57 - Artificial Intelligence 56:02 - What the university looks like in the future? YouTube talks by Stephen mentioned in the discussion. https://youtu.be/iGi4DDCuzRw https://youtu.be/zCojHtC1aCw Follow Stephen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stdownes Website (Personal): https://www.downes.ca/ Blog: http://halfanhour.blogspot.com/ Website (personal): http://leftish.media/ Email: stephen@downes.ca Contact John Helmer Twitter: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer/ Website: https://learninghackpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LearningHack Download the white paper from Learning Pool written by John Helmer – The Spacing Effect: Harnessing the Power of Spaced Practice for Learning That Sticks https://learningpool.com/spacing-effect-harnessing-power-of-spaced-practice/  

  'We are on a highway to climate hell with our foot still on the accelerator' (António Guterres, United Nations Secretary General speaking at COP 27). Successive COPs have revealed a lack of will among the world's governments to make commitments that they'll actually stick by. So increasingly, people who aren't in government feel it's down to them to do something. Every institution and organization of any size, it seems, has an environmental policy, and it falls to HR, L&D and educators of all stripes to communicate these policies. Learning professionals are therefore heavily involved in the response to the climate emergency. In this episode, John discusses with a distinguished climate scientist exactly where we are with controlling climate change and how best learning professionals can contribute. Robert Nicholls is Professor and Director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, based at the University of East Anglia. He has contributed extensively to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (the IPCC). His particular focus is the implications of sea-level rise, especially on coastal areas. He has published over 200 peer-reviewed papers and is the co-editor of six books. 0:00 - Intro 3:18 - The state of climate change 9:55 - Warming in coastal areas 14:02 - Effect of the energy crisis 23:50 - Confidence in engineering solutions 28:59 - Learning Departments' response 32:14 - Impact of grassroots activities 34:31 - What's improving? Follow Professor Robert Nicholls LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-nicholls-2a97706 Website (Personal): https://www.southampton.ac.uk/engineering/about/staff/rjn.page Website (Tyndall Centre): https://tyndall.ac.uk/people/robert-nicholls/ Email: robert.nicholls@uea.ac.uk Contact John Helmer Twitter: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer/ Website: http://johnhelmerconsulting.com/ Download the white paper from Learning Pool written by John Helmer – The Spacing Effect: Harnessing the Power of Spaced Practice for Learning That Sticks https://learningpool.com/spacing-effect-harnessing-power-of-spaced-practice/

    Empathy is a big word in learning. We want to have more of it, so learning professionals are increasingly charged with helping to promote and somehow inculcate it in their learners. But the efficacy of programmes designed to do that thing has been highly questionable. In this episode we look in depth at an innovative programme designed by Make Real that has pioneered a way of increasing empathy. The programme has shown surprising results, and not just by the (often limited) standards by which training programmes are normally judged. Make Real collaborated with Empathy and VR researcher, Lynda Joy Gerry, to carry out a scientific evaluation of the programme. John talks to Lynda and Sophie Costin, of Make Real about the programme, and its implications for the future of learning.   02:00 Intro 03:36 Setting up the programme 08:38 More detail about the learning programme 10:18 Why not do the programme over headsets? 11:32 Experiment description 16:34 What were the results? 23:26 Scientific analysis of the results 24:12 Why were these results surprising? 31:33 Implications for future research The programme https://makereal.co.uk/turning-your-learners-into-activists/ (download a summary, the full academic paper, and watch a talk that Lynda and Sophie did at Learning Technologies about the research).   Follow Sophie Twitter: @MakeRealLtd LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-costin-609a5935 Website: https://makereal.co.uk/ Follow Lynda Twitter: @VirtualAlterity LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyndajoygerry Website: http://www.lyndajoygerry.com/ Blog: http://www.whatisexperience.com/ Contact John Helmer Twitter: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer/ Website: http://johnhelmerconsulting.com/ Download the white paper from Learning Pool written by John Helmer – The Spacing Effect: Harnessing the Power of Spaced Practice for Learning That Sticks https://learningpool.com/spacing-effect-harnessing-power-of-spaced-practice/

Learning Hack is on a mid-season break but here's another chance to hear one our most downloaded episodes.   John talks to Dr. Jane Bozarth, Director of Research at The Learning Guild, about how the rise of digital technology is changing expectations about the sort of skills and qualifications a learning professional should have in the 21st Century – and about her own, long career in learning. That career includes numerous books, work as a columnist for Learning Solutions Magazine, and a long-standing position as E-Learning Co-ordinator for the US state of North Carolina. More than all that, Jane has always been a fount of no-nonsense, practical advice for learning professionals, and there's planty on display in this interview.   00:00 Intro 02:54 Role at the Learning Guild 06:07 The Guild Masters' view on future of learning 11:36 Proliferation of tools raises L&D skills issues 16:46 How educated is L&D? 20:56 Is learning theory important to learning professionals? 25:25 Where is L&D with the pandemic right now? 28:55 The widening L&D skillset 33:28 Is L&D a buying function? 37:43 What has been her career journey in learning? Mentioned in the discussion The Johari Window: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johari_window Report: Guild Masters on The Future of Learning: https://www.learningguild.com/insights/266/guild-masters-on-the-future-of-learning/?from=home Report: Degrees for L&D Professionals: What, Why, and Worth? https://www.learningguild.com/insights/263/degrees-for-ld-professionals-what-why-and-worth/?from=content&mode=filter&source=insights Many other reports by Dr. Jane Bozarth can be found on the Learning Guild website: https://www.learningguild.com/ Contact Dr. Jane Twitter: @JaneBozarth LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/janebozarth Website/Blog: http://bozarthzone.blogspot.com/ Contact John Helmer Twitter: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer/ Website: http://johnhelmerconsulting.com/

  New research says that while workflow learning is thought to be the most effective way of learning by employees, neither L&D or the learners themselves have the time to implement it. What is going on here? To find out, John talked to David James, whose company sponsored the research. David has worked in People Development for more than 20 years, most notably as Director of Talent, Learning & OD for The Walt Disney Company across EMEA. He is now Chief Learning Officer for 360 Learning, working with clients to develop and implement their digital learning strategies. David also hosts the Learning & Development podcast.   0:00 - Intro 2:54 - Learning in the flow of work 5:24 - David's definition of learning 13:14 - Stand out findings from the report 18:36 - Interpreting the time problem 33:50 - Recommendations for action 37:18 - David's background in learning The Report: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjameslinkedin/overlay/1495204428082/single-media-viewer   Follow David LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjameslinkedin Website: https://davidinlearning.com/ Twitter: @DavidInLearning Contact John Helmer Email: john@learninghackpodcast.com Twitter: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer/ Website: https://johnhelmerconsulting.com/ Download the white paper from Learning Pool written by John Helmer – The Spacing Effect: Harnessing the Power of Spaced Practice for Learning That Sticks https://learningpool.com/spacing-effect-harnessing-power-of-spaced-practice/

  Children often ask challenging questions, but according to John's guest this time, we should see these as valuable opportunities for learning. Dr Rebecca Rolland is a speech pathologist and education lecturer whose recently published book, “The Art of Talking with Children”, gives parents and educators practical strategies for holding what she calls 'rich 'conversations' which she sees as central to effective parenting and education. John discusses these strategies with Rebecca, and explores how applicable these techniques might be to older students and the field of workplace learning.   00:00 Intro 03:09 'Rich' conversation 08:34 How do you stop it feeling awkward? 11:40 What part do rich conversations play in learning? 13:31 What are her theoretical underpinnings? 22:12 Is there adequate support for difference? 29:56 Does elearning support good conversations? 35:54 What advice does she give to businesses about employee needs?   Follow Rebecca LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-rolland-b0a95bb Website: http://www.rebeccarolland.com/ Blog: http://eepurl.com/hQnyxz Twitter: @rolland_rg The Book: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-art-of-talking-with-children-rebecca-rolland Contact John Helmer Email: john@learninghackpodcast.com Twitter: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer/ Website: https://johnhelmerconsulting.com/ Download the white paper from Learning Pool written by John Helmer – The Spacing Effect: Harnessing the Power of Spaced Practice for Learning That Sticks https://learningpool.com/spacing-effect-harnessing-power-of-spaced-practice/