Whenever there is a hard job to be done I assign it to a lazy man. He is sure to find an easy way of doing it.
Walter Chrysler
It is hard to believe that July is here already. Seems that summer just started and we’re already on the countdown towards the end of it. Speaking of countdowns, I can’t wait for our upcoming family adventure to Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Tetons National Parks. If you’ve been and have any “pro tips” I’d love to hear them.
Thanks for reading!
What I’m Listening to: Since I’m in a roadtrip state of mind, today I’m tuning into this “70’s Road Trip” playlist.
Last week’s most clicked item:
5 Behavioral Biases That Trip Up Remote Managers
All You Need is 5 Fonts
“In the new computer age, the proliferation of typefaces and type manipulations represents a new level of visual pollution threatening our culture. Out of thousands of typefaces, all we need are a few basic ones and trash the rest.”— Massimo Vignelli
What do you think about this idea? In the related discussion over on LinkedIn there have been some design heavyweights weighing in on both sides.
https://uxdesign.cc/all-you-need-is-5-fonts-1166690768a
The Nuts & Bolts of Instructional Design: A Beginner’s Toolkit
This free ebook from the Learning Guild is a compilation of useful insights related to instructional design from Jane Bozarth’s “Nuts & Bolts“ columns
The 10 Deadly Sins of Education
n this session from the recent Festival of Education, Professor Paul Kirschner and Dr Carl Hendrick discuss several of the most common misconceptions about learning such as the idea that you don’t need to know stuff in an age of Google, that kids today are ‘digital natives’, the learning pyramid and why discovery learning is not always a good way to discover things.
The Long and Surprising History of ‘Teaching Machines’
Long before the advent of personal computers, inventors and researchers created what they called “teaching machines” in hopes of revolutionizing education. Some of these creations date back to the 1920s, and were made from wood and brass.This is an interesting look back at some educational technologies you may not know about.
My Top Learning Tools for 2021
Now in its 15th year, Jane Hart’s Top Tools for Learning survey is now open for submissions. These are my personal top 10 tools for learning. What are yours?
https://mike-taylor.org/2021/06/29/top-tools-for-learning-2021/
Podcasts
- John Hagel explores the importance of narratives, platforms, and the passion of the explorer on the Beyond Curiosity podcast.
- Animation for learning with Selina Wagner on the MindTools podcast
- Visual Effectiveness and Persuasion with Mike Parkinson on the 356 Labs podcast
Tools & Tips
- FocoClipping is the best background removal tool I’ve ever used.
- Adobe Puppet Maker is a beta preview that lets you customize an animated character and get a unique puppet to use in your own creations.
- XSplit VCam makes cutting edge background removal and blurring possible with any webcam, without the need for expensive green screens, and complicated lighting setups.
- TypeStudio has a new free online webcam and screen recording tool.
- Bookmark Manager Finder is a collection of tools for managing your bookmarks. You’ll probably be surprised by how many options there are.
Where You Can Find Me
- Kansas City ATD – August 17
- Nashville ATD – Using Technology for Training – September 16
- DevLearn October 20-22
- New Jersey ATD – Future of Work – November 10
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Mike Taylor 