“Be content with what you have. Rejoice in the way things are. When you realize nothing is lacking, the whole world belongs to you.”
— Lao Tzu
I’ve been doing some reading lately on one of the most unlikely topics. I’ve been diving into the world of breathing. And I know what you’re thinking: “A whole book about breathing? What, are they just talking about inhaling and exhaling for 300 pages?!” But let me tell you, your breath can impact your stress levels and even the shape of your face! Crazy, right? Anyway, if you’re curious and want to check out the books I just devoured, here they are: “Breath”, by James Nestor and “The Oxygen Advantage” by Patrick McKeown. Trust me, your mind, body and face will thank you.
As always, thanks for reading.
What I’m Listening To: When I was in high school, I spent about a week one summer painting our house when Howard Jones had a popular album out and I’ve liked his stuff ever since. So that’s what I’m working along to today.
Last Week’s Most Clicked:
The Better Deck Deck
📰 News & Notes
The Learning Content Strategy Model
The Learning Content Strategy Maturity Model is a framework designed to help organizations assess their current state of learning content strategy and identify areas for improvement. It consists of five levels that represent a progression from an ad-hoc approach to a fully integrated approach to learning content strategy. At the first level, organizations have an ad-hoc approach to learning content, while at the final level, organizations have a fully integrated approach to learning content strategy.
By using this model, organizations can evaluate their learning content strategy and create a roadmap for continuous improvement. They can identify areas where they need to improve their strategy, such as aligning content creation with organizational goals, measuring the impact of their learning content on business outcomes, or adopting a data-driven approach to content creation.
🥡 Take away: Using this approach, organizations can create learning content that drives business outcomes and improves learner skills.
PowerPoint Accessibility Freebies
In this video, Stephy Hogan shares some great accessibility tools and resources for PowerPoint and reminds us about the importance of making PowerPoint presentations accessible to all. By following accessible slide design principles such as using preset layouts, readable fonts, descriptive links, and alternative text, everyone in the audience can acquire the same information and enjoy the same experience. If you like this one, check out the rest of the series on Presentation Accessibility.
Take away: Grab the free guide on Fundamental PowerPoint Accessibility and make sure your presentations are accessible to everyone.
How to use Google Bard as a research tool
Meet Google Bard – the AI-powered chatbot that can tackle a wide range of text-based tasks, from writing poetry to summarizing complex ideas and translating languages. With Bard, you can say goodbye to the hassle of sifting through multiple pages and links to find what you need. Simply ask Bard a question, and it’ll provide you with a concise, human-like response. Plus, you can ask follow-up questions to get more details. While it’s not perfect yet, Bard’s potential to revolutionize the way we search for information is undeniable. Check out this Google’s answer to ChatGPT and take a peek at the future of search today!
🥡 Take away: Unlike ChatGPT, Bard can access Google Search to provide up-to-date information.
How to use AI to unstick yourself
Ethan Mollick has become a must-read for me when it comes to using AI. In this article, the he delves into the potential of AI for breaking through mental blocks and sparking creativity. By using AI-powered tools like GPT-3, he explains, one can generate fresh ideas, explore new perspectives, and even enhance their writing skills. He goes on to provide a quick guide on how to use GPT-3 and offers some practical examples, such as generating blog post ideas or brainstorming.
🥡 Take away: This article highlights the value of AI as a tool for anyone seeking to overcome creative roadblocks and find inspiration.
The Operating Manual for Your Nervous System
Have you ever felt overwhelmed or stressed out and wondered how to take control of your nervous system? Well, wonder no more, because this article has got you covered. This article explains the basics of the autonomic nervous system and how it controls our responses to stress and relaxation. It also provides some simple, practical tips for regulating your nervous system, such as deep breathing exercises and progressive muscle relaxation.
🥡 Take away: By learning how to control your nervous system, you can improve your overall well-being and better manage stress and anxiety.
Say goodbye to manual work and save your brain for the big stuff. In the book, Automate Your Busywork, SaaS CEO and no-code enthusiast Aytekin Tank provides a guide on how to finally have the time to accomplish your most important work. Pre-order today.
What do skills, AI, learning analytics and other 2023 L&D topics mean for you as a training provider?
Do you want to stay ahead of the curve in the L&D world and prepare yourself for the future? Then don’t miss this upcoming webinar on April 25th, from 12:00 – 13:00 CEST!
Donald H. Taylor and Ger Driesen will clarify the results of the 2023 Global Sentiment Survey (GSS). How will topics like reskilling/upskilling, Artificial Intelligence and learning analytics, shape the L&D world in the coming year and how does this inform your strategy as a training provider? If you can’t make it live, they’ll send you the recording.
Join the webinar 👉
Get smarter in 5 minutes with Morning Brew (it’s free)
There’s a reason over 4 million people start their day with Morning Brew – the daily email that delivers the latest news from Wall Street to Silicon Valley. Business news doesn’t have to be boring…make your mornings more enjoyable, for free.
Check it out!
Tech news is confusing – so we changed that.
Join over 450K people reading Tech Brew – the 3-times-a-week free newsletter covering all updates from the intersection of technology and business. We provide free tech knowledge that’ll help you make more informed decisions.
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🎧 Podcasts
These are the podcasts that caught my ear this week.
🧰 Tech, Tools & Tips
If tools are your jam, check out my new WorkSmarter newsletter
Gemoo
With Gemoo, you can record and share video and image messages that are organized, informative, and engaging
Freepik Videos
Browse the Freepik collection and find the perfect video for your next project.
Icônes
⚡️ Icon Explorer with Instant searching, powered by Iconify.
Microsoft Loop – Think, plan and create together
If you have a work or school account, you can now kick the tires on Microsoft’s latest collaborative document/content creation tool.
Make blockbuster courses in PowerPoint
A pre-recorded webinar series
What makes blockbusters so exciting? Action. Special effects. Plot twists. Learn how to pack your learning content with the same elements to keep your learners engaged!
PowerPoint vs iSpring Suite is a series of pre-recorded webinar sessions on how to harness the power of these tools to design the most advanced eLearning content. Learn how to enhance your online courses with animations, mini-games, flashcards and more!
You’ll be able to confidently:
- Synchronize audio and PPT slides
- Set up triggers and animations in your course
- Create mini-games for online courses
- Create flashcards
🧳 Where’s Mike?
Microlearning Conference
April 27
Online
Learning & Marketing Conference
June 7-8
Online
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 