The Learning Hack podcast
What are the significant innovations shaping the future of learning? How is digital technology and scientific discovery changing the way we learn, train, teach and educate? Join John Helmer in conversation with the people who are visioning and actively creating that future. Published fortnightly (don't forget to subscribe!).
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LH #98 The Knower & The Known with Leonard Houx
04/08/2024
LH #98 The Knower & The Known with Leonard Houx
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 Follow Leonard Linkedin: Email: Contact John Helmer X: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: Website: Patreon:
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LH #97 What Do We Speak About When We Speak About AI? with Donald H. Taylor
03/25/2024
LH #97 What Do We Speak About When We Speak About AI? with Donald H. Taylor
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 Sponsor event: Webinar: Designing a Successful Learning Content Strategy with Mike Taylor and Bianca Baumann on 9 April 2024, register now at: The Mindtools visualization of GSS over time: Follow Don Linkedin: Website: Contact John Helmer X: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: Website: Patreon:
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LH #96 Uncertainty with Katherine Templar Lewis & Sam Conniff
03/11/2024
LH #96 Uncertainty with Katherine Templar Lewis & Sam Conniff
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: Follow Katherine Linkedin: Website (company): https://www.kindastudios.com/ Follow Sam Linkedin: Website (company): Website (company): Website (company): Contact John Helmer X: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: Website: Patreon:
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LH #95 The Human Moment with Rob Hubbard
02/26/2024
LH #95 The Human Moment with Rob Hubbard
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: Follow Rob Linkedin: Website (company): Email: [email protected] Contact John Helmer X: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: Website: Patreon:
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LH #94 The Language of Learning with Peter Manniche Riber
02/12/2024
LH #94 The Language of Learning with Peter Manniche Riber
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: Follow Peter Linkedin: Email: Contact John Helmer X: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: Website: Patreon:
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LH #93 Just improvise! with Belina Raffy
01/29/2024
LH #93 Just improvise! with Belina Raffy
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: 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: Website (company): @Maffick (Twitter for Maffick) @BelinaRaffy (Twitter for Belina) Email: [email protected] Contact John Helmer X: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: Website: Patreon:
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LH #92 AI: The Product and the Problem with Egle Vinauskaite
01/15/2024
LH #92 AI: The Product and the Problem with Egle Vinauskaite
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: Mentioned in the discussion: Ethan Mollick: Follow Egle Linkedin: Website (company): Email: [email protected] Contact John Helmer X: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: Website: Patreon: Contact John Helmer X: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: Website: Patreon:
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LH #Bonus: Should You Use Podcasts In Learning?
11/06/2023
LH #Bonus: Should You Use Podcasts In Learning?
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)
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LH #89 The Horses of Instruction with Sarah Ratcliff
10/16/2023
LH #89 The Horses of Instruction with Sarah Ratcliff
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: Website (company): Email: [email protected] Contact John Helmer X: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: Website: Patreon:
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LH #88 Finlandization with Jussi Hurskainen
10/02/2023
LH #88 Finlandization with Jussi Hurskainen
'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: Website (company): X: @jhurska Email: Contact John Helmer X: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: Website: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LearningHack
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LH #87 The Pirate Code with Lauren Waldman
09/18/2023
LH #87 The Pirate Code with Lauren Waldman
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: Website (company): X: @LearningPirate YouTube: Contact John Helmer X: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: Website: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LearningHack
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LH #86 The L&D Detective with Kevin M. Yates
09/11/2023
LH #86 The L&D Detective with Kevin M. Yates
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 Follow Kevin Linkedin: Website (personal): Website (voluntary work) Email: X (Twitter): @kevinmyates Contact John Helmer X (Twitter): @johnhelmer LinkedIn: Website: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LearningHack
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Hack in Ukraine - Ep3: Coming Home, feat. Yuliia Kovach
09/04/2023
Hack in Ukraine - Ep3: Coming Home, feat. Yuliia Kovach
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: Donate: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ukrainefundraiser2022 Contact John Helmer X(Twitter): @johnhelmer LinkedIn: Website: Patreon:
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Hack in Ukraine - Ep2 Being There, feat. Vladimir Polo
08/29/2023
Hack in Ukraine - Ep2 Being There, feat. Vladimir Polo
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: Donate: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ukrainefundraiser2022 Contact John Helmer X(Twitter): @johnhelmer LinkedIn: Website: Patreon:
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Hack in Ukraine - Ep 1: Getting There
08/15/2023
Hack in Ukraine - Ep 1: Getting There
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: Donate: Contact John Helmer X (Twitter): @johnhelmer LinkedIn: Podcasts: Patreon:
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LH #85 The Sea, The Sea with Raal Harris
07/17/2023
LH #85 The Sea, The Sea with Raal Harris
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: Website (company): Email: Contact John Helmer Twitter: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: Website: Patreon:
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LH #84 Shell in Transition with Jaap Hoogendoorn
07/03/2023
LH #84 Shell in Transition with Jaap Hoogendoorn
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: Website (company): Email: Contact John Helmer Twitter: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: Website:
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LH #83 Jobs To Be Done with Ger Driesen
06/19/2023
LH #83 Jobs To Be Done with Ger Driesen
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: A 'why JTBD' blog: Follow Ger Linkedin: Twitter: @GerDriesen Ger's learning notes: Website (company): Contact John Helmer Twitter: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: Website: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LearningHack
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LH #82 The Wizard of Oz with Markus Bernhardt
06/04/2023
LH #82 The Wizard of Oz with Markus Bernhardt
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: Website (company): Contact John Helmer: Twitter: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: Website: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LearningHack
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LH #81 The Great AI Takeover with Kevin Alster
05/22/2023
LH #81 The Great AI Takeover with Kevin Alster
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': Karen X. Cheng: Nina Schick: Follow Kevin: LinkedIn: Website (Synthesia): Synthesia academy: Website: (personal) Email: Twitter: @Kalstere Contact John Helmer Twitter: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: Website: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LearningHack
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LH #80 The Joy of Ceyx with Matt Wilkinson
05/09/2023
LH #80 The Joy of Ceyx with Matt Wilkinson
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: Website (company): Website (personal) Contact John Helmer Twitter: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: Website: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LearningHack
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LH #79 BONUS: Video Learning Lab turns the tables
04/17/2023
LH #79 BONUS: Video Learning Lab turns the tables
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: Spotify: Follow Kevin LinkedIn: Website (Company): Website (personal): Email: Twitter: @Kalstere Contact John Helmer Twitter: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: Website: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LearningHack
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LH #78 The L&D Handbook with Michelle Parry-Slater
04/03/2023
LH #78 The L&D Handbook with Michelle Parry-Slater
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: Follow Michelle LinkedIn: Website (Company): Email: Twitter: @MiPS1608 Contact John Helmer Twitter: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: Website: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LearningHack
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LH #77 Podcasts for Learning with Adam Lacey
03/20/2023
LH #77 Podcasts for Learning with Adam Lacey
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: Assemble You's research report: Follow Adam LinkedIn: Website: Email: Podcast: Contact John Helmer Twitter: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: Website: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LearningHack
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LH #76 Bonus: Donald H. Taylor & David Wilson
03/13/2023
LH #76 Bonus: Donald H. Taylor & David Wilson
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: Website: Twitter: @DonaldHTaylor Follow David Wilson LinkedIn: Fosway website: Twitter: @dwil23 Email: Contact John Helmer Twitter: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: Website: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LearningHack
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LH #75 Under Thirties Assemble with Dinye Hernanda
03/06/2023
LH #75 Under Thirties Assemble with Dinye Hernanda
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: Website (personal): Email: Contact John Helmer Twitter: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: Website: Patreon: 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/
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LH #74 Ethical Learning with Alexander Fahie
02/20/2023
LH #74 Ethical Learning with Alexander Fahie
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: Twitter: @ethicalangels Website: Email: Contact John Helmer Twitter: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: Website: Patreon: 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/
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LH #73 The Leading Edge with Gustaf Nordbäck
02/06/2023
LH #73 The Leading Edge with Gustaf Nordbäck
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: Email: Contact John Helmer: Twitter: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: Website: Patreon: 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/
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LH #72 The University in the Future, with Stephen Downes
01/23/2023
LH #72 The University in the Future, with Stephen Downes
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. Follow Stephen LinkedIn: Website (Personal): Blog: Website (personal): Email: Contact John Helmer Twitter: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: Website: Patreon: 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/
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LH #71 Climate: Will We Ever Learn? with Robert Nicholls
11/28/2022
LH #71 Climate: Will We Ever Learn? with Robert Nicholls
'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: Website (Personal): Website (Tyndall Centre): Email: Contact John Helmer Twitter: @johnhelmer LinkedIn: Website: 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/
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