Sign up here to get Friday Finds in your inbox every Friday
The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.
― Walt Disney
At my good friend Karl Richter’s 50th birthday party last weekend, his amazing toast resonated deeply with me. He shared his 5 sources of gratitude: a supportive community, cherished places, your unique voice, life’s challenges (even the bad), and the constant potential for growth. It is a great reminder that you only get one life, so live it authentically, appreciate the journey, and find your own abundance of gratitude.
Thanks for reading!
🎶 What I’m Listening To
My buddy Karl Richter turned 50 into Fiddy and whipped up a playlist filled with gratitude as the soundtrack for his 50th birthday party.
👆 Last Week’s Most Clicked
BrightSlide: Supercharge your PowerPoint design productivity masterclass
📰 News & Notes
This week’s featured article is sponsored by Wynter
What L&D gets wrong about marketing tactics and how to do the things that work
Ross Stevenson emphasizes the importance of adopting marketing strategies in L&D). He argues (correctly, I believe) that L&D professionals should embrace marketing techniques such as understanding their audience, crafting compelling messages, and utilizing various channels to engage learners effectively. By doing so, L&D can enhance its impact and ensure that learning initiatives are more appealing and relevant to the target audience.
🎯 Take away: L&D professionals should think like marketers to create more engaging and effective learning experiences.
Why Writing by Hand Is Better for Memory and Learning
This Scientific American article explores the cognitive benefits of handwriting. It highlights research showing that writing by hand enhances memory retention and understanding compared to typing. The tactile and motor feedback involved in handwriting is believed to create more vivid memories and deeper learning. Additionally, the slower pace of handwriting allows for more thoughtful processing of information.
🎯 Take away: Handwriting boosts memory and learning by engaging the brain more deeply than typing.
Instructional Design 4.0
Dr. Philippa Hardman’s “Instructional Design 4.0” highlights the evolution of instructional design, emphasizing three key trends: the integration of artificial intelligence and prompt engineering, the importance of data-driven decision-making, and the need for cross-functional collaboration. These trends suggest a shift towards more technical, analytical, and collaborative roles in instructional design, requiring professionals to adapt to new technologies and methodologies.
🎯 Take away: The future of instructional design is increasingly technical, data-driven, and collaborative, with a strong emphasis on AI integration and cross-functional teamwork.
🧰 Tech Tools & Tips
If tools are your jam, check out my new Work Smarter newsletter.
ButterDocs | Google Docs Alternative for Serious Writers & Teams
Complete writing 50% faster with a built-in notes app, outlining board, tools for focus, and professional co-writing & editing workflows. Start writing free.
Coassemble
Create and deliver beautiful online training with a drag-and-drop course builder, customizable templates, quizzes, and assessments, as well as reporting and analytics to track learner progress and engagement.
Enter the 7taps Challenge for a chance to win an Apple Vision Pro! Unleash your creativity with just a free 7taps account – there’s never been a more compelling reason to dive in. Elevate your entry and increase your chances of winning by leveraging the innovative “dialog” feature in your submission. I’ve already submitted my entry. What will your masterpiece be?
Unleash your creativity with 7taps and enter by March 11th for a chance to win an Apple Vision Pro – join the challenge now! →
🎧 Podcast
This is the conversation that caught my ear this week. Check out previous episodes in the Friday Finds podcast playlist.
What Is The Modern Learning Ecosystem? With JD Dillon
In this episode of The eLearn Podcast, L&D expert JD Dillon discusses the importance of influence for L&D professionals and the challenges of integrating learning into large organizations.
🧳 Where’s Mike?
- aNewSpring World Learning Content Cleanup Day Webinar, April 9
- ATD ICE, New Orleans May 19-22
- Canadian eLearning Conference, Toronto, June 13-14
- Greater Cincinnati ATD, September 4
If you or your event needs a speaker or workshop that is highly interactive and super practical, we should talk.
sponsored
A Complete Breakdown of Building a Course From Scratch
Have you ever wanted to create an online course to support your teaching process or as a stand-alone learning experience? It may seem like a complicated task at first, but it actually isn’t difficult. Learn how to structure an online course and create a module that includes content, video, role-playing, interactions, and assessment — all in a single session!
Speaker: Frank Bergdoll, a technology expert, a seasoned educator with almost two decades of experience in post-graduate teaching, and owner of the YouTube channel, “Learning and Technology with Frank.”
Department of Shenanigans
Like this post? Share it with someone you love. Don’t like it? Share it with someone you don’t!
Friday Finds is an independent publication that I produce in my free time. You can support my work by sharing it with the world, booking an advertising spot, or by buying me a coffee.
Mike Taylor 