This article explores how learner-centered design improves engagement and impact, with practical tips for instructor-led, eLearning, and blended formats. The takeaway: even small changes can make training more relevant, accessible, and effective for everyone. This post was first published on eLearning Industry.
Ask any teacher what makes learning meaningful, and you’ll hear words like relevance, curiosity, empathy, and hands-on problem solving. Now what if I told you there’s an approach that brings all of this together? It’s called design thinking. It goes back to the 1960s. Herbert Simon was one of the early voices who said design thinking offers a distinct way of thinking, not like the scientific method, but more focused…
Video quizzes are one of the easiest and most engaging ways to make lessons interactive. Instead of passive watching, students actively respond to questions as they go. This small shift in format turns a simple video into a powerful learning and assessment tool. In this post, I walk you through what video quizzes are, how to use them in your teaching, and which tools you can use to create them…
In previous posts I shared here and elsewhere, I discussed both qualitative research and quantitative research and in this post, I talk about mixed methods research. I also created an illustrative visual that you can download for free at the bottom of this page. What is Mixed Methods Research? Creswell (2019) defines mixed methods research as “an approach to inquiry that combines or associates both qualitative and quantitative forms. It…
When was the last time you heard someone talk seriously about digital literacy? I’d guess it’s been a while. And honestly, I think I know why. As Lankshear and Knobel (2011) pointed out over a decade ago, literacy as a concept has become so institutionalized and regulated (tied to national tests, international benchmarks, and endless checklists) that anything with “literacy” in it starts to feel, well, stale. Add to that…
A couple of weeks ago, I shared a visual on quantitative research and I was really glad to see how many of you found it useful, especially for teaching and workshops. Today I’m shifting the focus to qualitative research, a paradigm I’ve been immersed in since my master’s degree. Here is the thing: condensing the richness of qualitative research into a single visual is no easy task. It’s complex, interpretive,…
It’s quiz time, and tech is here to make it easier! I believe quizzing is one of those areas where technology (and now AI) can really make a difference. It saves you time, reduces repetitive work, and opens up new ways to engage your students. Back when I was in the classroom, creating a good quiz took time. You had to think of the right questions, make sure they covered…
Sometimes, I like to wander into the hidden corners of the internet, exploring the quirky, creative, and downright fascinating digital spaces that often go unnoticed. If you’re in the mood for a virtual adventure, here’s a list of weird but intriguing websites you probably didn’t know existed. Weird but Fascinating Websites You Probably Didn’t Know Existed From AI-generated art to interactive map games, these sites offer a mix of fun,…
Throughout my work, I come across literally hundreds of tools, but only a few make the cut into my recommendations. And no, I’m not affiliated with any of these tools, nor do I make a profit from sharing them – I share them out of a genuine passion for helping fellow educators save time and work smarter. In this visual, I’ve pulled together 32 Tools to Save You Hours of…
As part of my Simply Explained series, I’ve been covering a range of student-centered instructional approaches, from project-based learning to experiential and inquiry-based learning. Today, I cover Game-Based Learning (GBL), a topic that has been particularly influential in my work as an educator and researcher. James Paul Gee is one of the key theorists in this field, and his work has profoundly shaped my understanding of GBL. I was fortunate…