The Art & Science of Learning

In a complex and ever-changing world, the role of futurists is becoming more prevalent. Governments and businesses are hiring futurists to help prepare for what is to come. However, what a futurist does is often misunderstood. In this episode, I speak with a futurist who helps organizations around the world and is an author of the Futures of Assessment Report by the Digital Education Futures Initiative at Cambridge University. Dr Fawaz Abu Sitta is a UNESCO Chair for Anticipatory Systems, a visiting fellow at Hughes Hall, the University of Cambridge and the Foresight Research Director at the Center of Futures Studies, the University of Dubai. He is also an adjunct faculty in the Master of Professional Studies: Future Foresight & Planning at Rochester Institute of Technology. Fawaz is the co-author of the first edition of Dubai e-Government Model that laid the foundation for Dubai Government Digital Transformation. He has received several recognition certificates and international awards for his work. Dr Abu Sitta’s research focus and interest is in the futures thinking, scenario planning, and systems thinking with emphasis on developing anticipatory systems. He has achieved his MSc in Foresight from the University of Houston and PhD from the University of Bath. Links: Dr Fawaz Abu Sitta: https://www.hughes.cam.ac.uk/about/our-people/seniors-members/dr-abu-sitta/ The Futures of Assessment Report: https://www.cambridgeassessment.org.uk/Images/698413-the-futures-of-assessment-navigating-uncertainties-through-the-lenses-of-anticipatory-thinking.pdf

What attributes impact an individual’s performance in the workplace? My guest in this episode addresses this with a technology he developed that uses an objective way to understand what knowledge, skills, motivation, perception, collaboration, information flow, and leadership attributes each individual has. Combining this unique data set with customer data and HR data, to understand what really contributes to profit and revenue from a workforce perspective. Patrick Veenhoff is the Founder and CEO of Outlier Lab in Switzerland. He has been exploring the question, of what behaviours drive performance, for 25 years. He has developed software helps people optimize their learning in the workplace. His approaches delivered a 25% increase in lead generation, a 10%-win ratio improvement through better collaboration, and a 30% sales enablement cost reduction. Patrick founded Outlier Lab to help people become the optimal version of themselves. He performs empirical research on behavioural indicators and holds a master's degree in business administration. His work has received multiple industry awards, most recently for "Best Use of Learning Analytics to Impact Business Performance". Patrick is a sought-after speaker and chair, engaging with audiences in over 50 events worldwide. Links: Patrick Veenhoff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickveenhoff/ Outlier Lab: https://outlierlab.io LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theoutlierlab/ Email: patrick.veenhoff@outlierlab.io

As technology evolves and we move into the age of AI, it is increasingly more important that we don’t just use technology, but we have a dialogue with the technology we use. Technology is a tool for collective thinking, but how do we use it well? My guest in this episode is a leading expert working on a dialogic theory of education appropriate for the Internet Age. Most recently he has published the book titled: The Theory of Educational Technology – Towards a Dialogic Foundation for Design. Prof. Rupert Wegerif is a professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Cambridge and the founder and academic director of the Digital Education Futures Initiative (DEFI) at Hughes Hall, Cambridge. He is the author of several influential books and articles in the area of educational theory, educational psychology and education with technology. His research focuses on the theory and practice of education with technology in the digital age, especially technology supported education for dialogue. He offers a new approach to education in the Internet Age: education as expanding dialogic space. Links: Prof. Rupert Wegerif: https://www.educ.cam.ac.uk/people/staff/wegerif/ https://www.rupertwegerif.name Digital Education Futures Initiative (DEFI): https://www.deficambridge.org

As we strive to improve ourselves, to reach our true potential, it is easy to feel stuck. Learning and developing is a natural process for children. However, as adults, we can experience debilitating friction as we try to learn and develop in different areas of our lives. Even after having developed in new ways, we can go back to previous old patterns. How do we change deeply without falling back into old ways of being? This is the topic of the fascinating new book - The Possible Self: A Leader's Guide to Personal Development. In this episode, I speak with the author, Professor Maja Djikic, about the book and what we should understand about ourselves in order to reach our full potential. Prof. Maja Djikic is a personality psychologist specializing in adult development. She is an Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management, Executive Director of the Self-Development Laboratory, and Academic Director of the Rotman Executive Coaching Certificate at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto. She has published more than 35 articles and book chapters in the area of personality development. Her research has been featured in over 50 media outlets (including The New York Times, Salon, Slate, and The Scientific American Mind) in 15 countries. Her first book, The Possible Self: A Leader's Guide to Personal Development is published in March 2024 by Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc. Links: Prof. Maja Djikicis https://discover.research.utoronto.ca/11970-maja-djikic Book: The Possible Self https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/743096/the-possible-self-by-maja-djikic/9781523006014

The Learning and Development (L&D) Global Sentiment Survey takes the pulse of where workplace learning is headed this year. With thousands of L&D professionals from around the world answering the key question of “What will be hot in workplace L&D in 2024?” this survey for eleven years provided a unique overview of what is happening in workplace learning. This year, three key findings stand out in the report: the dominance of AI, the end of the pandemic effect, and a significant increase in the concerns of L&D professionals. I’m thrilled to have back on the podcast the person who founded and runs the Learning & Development Global Sentiment Survey. Donald Taylor is Chair of the Learning Technologies Conference in London, the leading workplace learning event in Europe and one he has led for the past twenty five years. He was also Chairman of the Learning and Performance Institute from 2010-2021. Donald is the author of the book Learning Technologies in the Workplace (Kogan Page, 2017) and many articles. In 2007, he received the Colin Corder award for services to training, and in 2016, an honorary doctorate from London’s Middlesex University, for services to the Learning and Development profession. Since 2014, Donald has run the Learning & Development Global Sentiment Survey, which provides valuable insights to leaders of organizations and L&D professionals. L&D Global Sentiment Survey 2024: https://donaldhtaylor.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/GSS-2024-Report-v-1.0-by-Donald-H-Taylor.pdf Donald Taylor: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donaldhtaylor/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DonaldHTaylor Book: How to be a Webinar Master can be downloaded from https://donaldhtaylor.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/How-to-be-a-webinar-master-v10-for-free-distribution-2020-v2.pdf Learning Technologies – London UK – 17-18 April 2024 https://www.learningtechnologies.co.uk

In the beautiful Swiss Alps, the International School Rheintal has just finished building a completely new campus. It is rare for an established school to build its campus from scratch, which offers a unique opportunity to design a building designed to reinforce the school's learning philosophy. In this episode, I speak with the CEO of the school, a phenomenal leader who led a collaborative design process to include students, teachers, and staff in the new design. We discuss ways of making spaces conducive to learning as well as strategies to leading an organization through major transformations. Liz Free is CEO and Director of the International School Rheintal, an IB continuum school in Switzerland. She is a globally recognised educator with expertise leading some of the world's most successful schools and in leading teacher professional learning at OUP, Oxford University and as founding Director of the International Leadership Academy in The Hague. Alongside this work, Liz is a founding trustee of the global charity WomenEd and board member for the Swiss Group of International Schools (SGIS) and TES Global. Liz is a Founding Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching and Fellow of RSA. She has authored many publications including the ‘International Perspectives’ chapter of the Amazon number one bestseller ‘10% Braver: Inspiring Women to Lead Education’ book published by Sage (2019) and ‘Being 10% Braver’ (2021) and has also written for education publications such as TES, Schools Week, International Schools Magazine and Independent Schools Magazine. Liz has been identified as a global influencer in international education by ISC in 2021 and 2022. As a visible school leader, Liz advocates for the profession and speaks around the world on the theme of leadership development, realising the potential of the profession and the global school workforce. Liz Free: https://www.isr.ch/our-school/our-team?sharedStaffId=63 International School of Rheintal: https://www.isr.ch/ Liz Free’ writing: https://lizfree.com

Design thinking is a skill that can transform all aspects of your work. However, it is not necessarily easy to fully understand the nuances and how to implement it effectively. I enjoyed reading the book Future Proofing by Design, which beautifully outlines the different steps of design thinking and provides clear examples of how to implement it in practice. In this episode, I speak with the author of the book about what we should know about design thinking. Nilufer Erdebil is an award-winning design thinking expert, TEDx and TEC speaker, and the author of "Future Proofing by Design: Creating Better Services and Teams in the Public Sector." With over 25 years of experience, she has been a driving force for change and strategy in both the public and private sectors. As the CEO of Spring2 Innovation, a renowned innovation and design thinking training company, Nilufer has been instrumental in mobilizing teams and facilitating transformation in both the public and private sectors. Her extensive background in telecommunications, application development, program management, and IT management has provided her with a profound understanding of the diverse business challenges organizations face today. Through her expertise and leadership, Nilufer continues to inspire organizations to embrace innovation and create impactful solutions. Spring2 Innovate - https://spring2innovation.com/ Book: Future Proofing by Design - https://spring2innovation.com/future-proofing-by-design/ TEDx Talk https://www.ted.com/talks/nilufer_erdebil_design_thinking_for_complex_environments Twitter https://twitter.com/digitalNil https://twitter.com/Spring2Inno LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/erdebil linkedin.com/in/spring2innovation Instagram https://www.instagram.com/spring2innovation/ Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIDxMfnPr4QedO3gLw5myEg/featured

Welcome to the 100th episode of The Art & Science of Learning podcast in which we are celebrating this major milestone. What an incredibly rewarding and enjoyable journey it has been, I learned a lot and met many fascinating people. I not only learned how to create a podcast from scratch, but I also learned so much from the many guests I interviewed from around the world. In this special episode, I am speaking with two learning professionals and podcasters whom I admire. They both have very successful podcasts on learning that have gone far beyond 100 episodes. We discuss how they started their podcast, what inspired them, what they learned along the way, and what they are excited about in the field of learning. Prof. Chris Dede was the Timothy E. Wirth Professor in Learning Technologies at the Harvard Graduate School of Education for 22 years and currently, he is Senior Research Fellow. Chris is also the co-founder of the Silver Lining for Learning podcast and initiative. His fundamental interest is developing new types of educational systems to meet the opportunities and challenges of the 21st century. His research spans emerging technologies for learning, infusing technology into large-scale educational improvement initiatives, developing policies that support educational transformation, and providing leadership in educational innovation. Currently, Chris is a Co-Principal Investigator of the NSF-funded National Artificial Intelligence Institute in Adult Learning and Online Education. Prof. Chris Dede https://www.gse.harvard.edu/directory/faculty/christopher-dede Silver Lining for Learning https://silverliningforlearning.org John Helmer is the owner and senior consultant at John Helmer Consulting as well as the founder of the two highly successful podcasts The Learning Hack and Great Minds on Learning. In his consultancy, he advises businesses in communications and marketing. As a pioneer in digital marketing, John co-created and promoted more than thirty training courses on using the Internet for marketing and business. He is also a published novelist, lyricist for the group Marillion, has been on Top of Pops, and won a Perrier Award at the Edinburgh Festival. John Helmer https://johnhelmerconsulting.com The Learning Hack and Great Minds on Learning https://johnhelmerconsulting.com/category/podcast/

This special episode is a reflection on The Learning Ideas Conference that took place in June 2023 in New York City and online. The Learning Ideas Conference brings together experts from around the world, from industry and academia, who work on innovations in learning and technology for the workplace and higher education. This episode was created in collaboration with The Learning Ideas Conference, which also includes several mini video interviews with some of the speakers from the conference. In this episode I reflect on my experience at The Learning Ideas Conference 2023 and my key takeaways. In the second half I am joined by the founder of The Learning Ideas Conference, Dr. David Guralnick, and we will discuss highlights from the conference, the hybrid experience, and the upcoming online Winter Event on Artificial Intelligence in Learning. Dr. David Guralnick is President and CEO of Kaleidoscope Learning and a consultant specialized in the use of technology to improve job performance. He is also the current president of the International E-Learning Association, founder and chair of The Learning Ideas Conference and an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University. David has been credited with the creation of the first corporate training learning-by-doing simulation, the first e-learning-specific authoring tool, and the award-winning Watch, Rate, and Compare e-learning approach. David has won over 200 awards in the e-learning industry, and his unique approach to his consulting and project work have saved over $2 billion, due to improved employee performance, for Fortune 500 and multinational clients such as Target, IBM, GE, Time Warner, and many others. David focuses his deep knowledge of the industry to reimagine learning in higher education and the workplace.Dr David Guralnick: http://www.davidguralnick.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/dguralnick_IELAThe Learning Ideas Conference: https://www.learningideasconf.org/Kaleidoscope Learning: https://www.kaleidolearning.com/index.htmlInternational E-Learning Association: https://www.ielassoc.org/index.htmlWinter Event - Artificial Intelligence and Learning - Feb 15, 2024https://aiandlearning.orgVideo Interviews with Speakers:Dr. Joiselle Cunningham Smith – CEO, Pathways to Creative Industries, USAhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CP79dIRwzcADr. Christoph Knoblauch – Ludwigsburg University of Education, Germanyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFBKp-X_K8QDr. Alexandra Urban – Coursera, USAhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oZFk-0IIfYDr. Usman Naeem – Queen Mary University, UKhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaG1nKahmM4Elizabeth Huttner – MIT, USAhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llwOFggexYQVeronica Chehtman – AySA, Argentina https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh0ZaVXP36gJohn Hack – Interflexion, USAhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3vQXJ2WP44Gary Dickelman, EPSSCentral, USAhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sEMfx29L28Dr. Pat Herndon & Dee Gay – Daytona State College, USAhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6j2Uc-6Y6Q&feature=youtu.be

The National Museum of Mathematics, MoMath for short, is a magical place in Manhattan NYC where you can experience mathematics. This is the only museum in North America dedicated to mathematics and it is an immersive experience like no other. With colourful hands-on exhibits, unique learning technologies, interactive games, and artwork, this is a place where children and adults alike are inspired to think and learn about math. I had the pleasure of experiencing MoMath a few weeks ago when Cindy Lawrence, CEO of MoMath, gave me a tour. In this episode I speak with her about how MoMath enables learning and how she helped found this unique place. Cindy Lawrence is the Executive Director and CEO of the National Museum of Mathematics in New York City. As an accountant, her education and career has been rooted in mathematics. She worked at Price Waterhouse as an auditor and later moved to Newsday as a senior accountant in the newspaper’s budget and financial management group. After becoming a mother, Cindy decided to move toward education by joining Becker Professional Education, working in various capacities on the organization’s CPA exam review program. She taught students all over the globe and was named one of four national editors for the program. In 2009, a friend approached Cindy with an idea to open a mathematics museum. This was the start of an exciting and life-changing project that has created incredible impact. MoMath: https://momath.org buzzfeed.momath.org momath.org/masters23testimonials

Learning in the flow of work can be an incredibly effective tool for continuous improvement and employee engagement. Axonify is a technology company that develops mobile learning for frontline workers in industries ranging from retail to finance. Employees learn skills and gain knowledge as needed and have stretch learning opportunities to advance in their role. I’m pleased to have the President and CEO of Axonify on the show to discuss how learning can be built into the flow of work and the opportunities it opens. Carol Leaman, CEO of Axonify, a learning and communications company focused on frontline enablement in Waterloo, Canada. Prior to Axonify, Carol was the CEO of PostRank Inc., a social engagement analytics platform she sold to Google. She was also the CEO at several other technology firms, including RSS Solutions and Fakespace Systems. Carol is a celebrated entrepreneur and trailblazer who has won multiple awards, and whose articles appear in leading learning, business and technology publications. She also sits on the boards of many organizations and advises a variety of Canadian high-tech firms. Carol Leaman: https://axonify.com/team/carol-leaman/ Axonify: https://axonify.com

The debate on whether to go back to the office or work from home has been getting louder in recent years, but not necessarily clearer. The reimagining of the office is revolutionizing many aspects of the workplace, including how we learn at work. In this episode I speak with the author of The Nowhere Office, who is a leading thinker and voice on the future of work. Julia Hobsbawm OBE is an award-winning writer, speaker, consultant and Bloomberg commentator and columnist about the future of work. The author of the acclaimed book The Nowhere Office: Reinventing Work and the Workplace of the Future. She was a founder of the US-led Workforce Institute, was Chair of the inaugural UK Demos Workshift Commission, and now co-hosts the popular podcast The Nowhere Office. Julia is the author of six books including the award-winning The Simplicity Principle which won two awards for Best Business Book and Best General Self-Help book 2020 in the USA, and Fully Connected: Social Health in an Age of Overload which was shortlisted for Management Book of the Year in the UK. Julia has been connecting people and ideas for many years. She is an acclaimed entrepreneur who founded the networks and podcast business Editorial Intelligence. She was awarded an OBE in the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Birthday Honours List in 2015 for ‘Services to Business’. She regularly consultants for and speaks to corporations, government and changemakers around the world. Julia Hobsbawm: http://juliahobsbawm.com/index.html Twitter: https://twitter.com/juliahobsbawm The Nowhere Office: https://thenowhereoffice.com/index.html

In this episode the author of the book How, Organizations Can Make the Most of Online Learning, discusses key strategies and insights on how to improve online learning. Although online learning has become an important part of many organizations learning and development strategy, there is still a lot to understand in how to make it an engaging and effective experience. Dr David Guralnick is President and CEO of Kaleidoscope Learning, a consultant specialized in the use of technology to improve job performance, and the author of How, Organizations Can Make the Most of Online Learning. He is also the current president of the International E-Learning Association, founder and chair of The Learning Ideas Conference and an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University. David has created the first e-learning-specific authoring tool, and the award-winning Watch, Rate, and Compare e-learning approach. David has won over 200 awards in the e-learning industry, and his unique approach to his consulting and project work have saved over $2 billion, due to improved employee performance, for Fortune 500 and multinational clients such as Target, IBM, GE, Time Warner, and many others. David focuses his deep knowledge of the industry to reimagine learning in higher education and the workplace. Dr David Guralnick: http://www.davidguralnick.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/dguralnick_IELA Book: How, Organizations Can Make the Most of Online Learning https://www.amazon.com/Organizations-Make-Most-Online-Learning/dp/1637422733 The Learning Ideas Conference: https://www.learningideasconf.org/ Kaleidoscope Learning: https://www.kaleidolearning.com/index.html International E-Learning Association: https://www.ielassoc.org/index.html

In the seventh, and final, episode of the special series - Reinventing Hybrid Learning Events in collaboration with the The Learning Ideas Conference - we reflect on the experience of creating a hybrid event a year after the conference was designed as a fully hybrid experience. With less than three weeks until The Learning Ideas Conference in NYC and online, we reflect on the process and learnings of creating a this hybrid conference. My guest, the founder and chair of the conference, who shares tips and insights that can help others design successful hybrid. Creating a successful hybrid class, conference, or meeting requires new skills. In this collaboration with The Learning Ideas Conference 2022, we explore the different aspects of how to create a successful hybrid event. In the months leading up to the conference, we followed the journey of how The Learning Ideas Conference prepares a new hybrid experience for June 2022. The Learning Ideas Conference is dedicated to reimagining education and workplace learning, using new technologies to provide us with new opportunities. With the goal to always innovate, in 2022 The Learning Ideas Conference is creating new approaches to hybrid experiences, and exploring what collaboration and networking could be in a hybrid environment. In this special series of The Art & Science of Learning podcast, we will follow the progress of creating this new hybrid experience, discuss the best practices in the field, and share useful tips on creating successful hybrid events. I am very happy to have back on the podcast the founder of The Learning Ideas Conference. Dr David Guralnick is President and CEO of Kaleidoscope Learning and a consultant specialized in the use of technology to improve job performance. He is also the current president of the International E-Learning Association, founder and chair of The Learning Ideas Conference and an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University. David has created the first e-learning-specific authoring tool, and the award-winning Watch, Rate, and Compare e-learning approach. David has won over 200 awards in the e-learning industry, and his unique approach to his consulting and project work have saved over $2 billion, due to improved employee performance, for Fortune 500 and multinational clients such as Target, IBM, GE, Time Warner, and many others. David focuses his deep knowledge of the industry to reimagine learning in higher education and the workplace. Dr David Guralnick: http://www.davidguralnick.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/dguralnick_IELA The Learning Ideas Conference: https://www.learningideasconf.org/ Kaleidoscope Learning: https://www.kaleidolearning.com/index.html International E-Learning Association: https://www.ielassoc.org/index.html

The Learning and Development (L&D) Global Sentiment Survey takes the pulse of where workplace learning is headed this year. With thousands of L&D professionals from around the world answering the key question of “What will be hot in workplace L&D in 2023?” this survey for nine years provided a unique overview of what is happening in workplace learning. In this episode, I’m thrilled to have back on the podcast the person who founded and runs the Learning & Development Global Sentiment Survey. Donald Taylor is Chair of the Learning Technologies Conference in London, the leading workplace learning event in Europe and one he has led for the past twenty years. He was also Chairman of the Learning and Performance Institute from 2010-2021. Donald is the author of the book Learning Technologies in the Workplace (Kogan Page, 2017) and many articles. In 2007, he received the Colin Corder award for services to training, and in 2016, an honorary doctorate from London’s Middlesex University, for services to the Learning and Development profession. Since 2014, Donald has run the Learning & Development Global Sentiment Survey, which provides valuable insights to leaders of organizations and L&D professionals. It’s a pleasure to have Don back on the podcast to discuss the results of the L&D Global Sentiment survey for 2023.Donald Taylor: https://donaldhtaylor.co.ukLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donaldhtaylor/Twitter: https://twitter.com/DonaldHTaylorL&D Global Sentiment Survey 2022GLOBAL SENTIMENT SURVEY 2023 - Donald H TaylorBook: How to be a Webinar Master can be downloaded from  www.webinarmaster.com Learning Technologies – London UK – 3 - 4 May 2023https://www.learningtechnologies.co.uk

The start of a new year provides an opportunity to reflect on the past and make plans for the future. On this podcast we talk about different aspects of lifelong learning, with a focus on learning at work. In order to be able to learn and work at our best it is important to care for our overall health and wellbeing. But this is not solely the responsibility of the individual, as our environment, which includes our workplace, also has a role to play. As the first episode of 2023, I’m very pleased to have an expert in this field to discuss wellness at work and what organizations can do to incorporate wellness into the environment. Lydia Di Francesco, is a workplace health and performance practitioner and CEO of Fit + Healthy 365 in Ottawa Canada. She has worked with corporate clients for over a decade to improve individual and organizational wellness, she is a weekly radio host of a wellness segment on CHIN Radio Ottawa 97.9FM and a regular TV guest expert on CTV and Rogers TV and has been published in national and local magazines. Lydia Di Francesco: Website: http://www.fithealthy365.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lydiadifrancesco/

What does intelligence really mean? Throughout history humans have looked in the mirror and defined intelligence in their image. Tests have been designed to measure people, and even animals, against a narrow definition of intelligence. Although in recent times there have been advances in understanding the flaws in how we test for intelligence, and it’s been recognized that there are more diverse forms, there is still a long way to go. The octopus is a mysterious creature that defies what we consider intelligence to look like. Studying and appreciating the different forms of intelligence of the octopus, and other living creatures, can free us from too narrow assumptions of what it is and open us up to the possibilities of other forms of intelligence and problem solving. As humanity strives to design artificial intelligence and other technologies, it is humbling and imperative to look at all forms of life and what they can teach us about intelligence and problem solving. My guest in this episode is an expert in octopus behaviour and was the scientific advisor on the award winning Netflix documentary My Octopus Teacher. Prof Jennifer Mather is Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Lethbridge in Canada, and is a leading expert in the ethics of octopus. Prof Mather has been studying octopuses for more than 40 years and found her love of sea life while growing up in Victoria, British Columbia. She served as the scientific advisor on the 2021 Oscar-winning documentary My Octopus Teacher. The film tells the story of how Craig Foster, a South African filmmaker, spent a year with a wild octopus in the Great African Seaforest. In this time, he built a connection with the creature and started to understand the incredible intellect of the octopus. This connection between humans and animals is something Prof Mather studies extensively and has created the popular course called Human-Animal Interactions. In 2017 she received the Distinguished Teacher award at the University of Lethbridge for her innovative approach to teaching. Prof Jennifer Mather: https://directory.uleth.ca/users/mather

In the hybrid workplace it can be challenging to communicate in a way that fosters engagement. However, there are some new strategies and tools to that can help enhance organizational engagement. My guests in this episode have been helping people communicate more effectively in the workplace for over 40 years. Combining their research and industry experience, they help create engagement and turn conflicts into productive conversations. Dr Susan Glaser and Dr Peter Glaser are the founders of Glaser & Associates Inc, providing essential interpersonal communication and leadership development consulting services to organizations. They earned their doctorates in Communications from the Pennsylvania State University. Their BreakThrough Communication series won the Gold Award for best hybrid learning of 2022 from the International E-Learning Association. As married business partners and co-presenters for 40 years, Susan and Peter have published over 40 research articles and three books, including the internationally acclaimed book Be Quiet, Be Heard: The Paradox of Persuasion. Their research on transforming organizational culture has received the International Association of Business Communication Research Foundation Award for bridging communication theory and practice. Feature stories have been written about them in Psychology Today, Fast Company, Business Week, Newsday, Nation’s Business, Working Woman, Success Magazine, and the Washington Post. They have served as members of the University of Oregon’s faculty, as well as consulting globally with leaders in business and government. Dr Susan Glaser & Dr Peter Glaser https://www.theglasers.com

Exams can send shivers down a student’s spine, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Exams can be a positive learning experience, not a punitive exercise that induces unnecessary stress. In this episode we discuss an innovative form of testing that is student generated, collaborative and was found to reduce anxiety. An added bonus, it is also less time consuming to mark, allowing educators more time to work with students. This new and innovative testing methodology was developed by Prof Melanie Adrian, and together with doctoral candidate Emily-Jean Gallant, they studied the impact of this form of testing. Prof Melanie Adrian is Associate Professor in the Department of Law and Legal Studies at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. She has been appointed to the Order of Ontario, the province’s highest honour, for establishing Carleton University as a global leader in protecting vulnerable scholars and co-founding the not-for-profit Be the Choice that helps cancer patients navigate their treatment options. In addition to her academic work, Prof Adrian is also a pioneer and innovator in her pedagogical approach. In 2019 she was appointed to Carleton University’s inaugural Chair in Teaching Innovation. This prestigious position is awarded to educators who have demonstrated teaching excellence and innovation across their academic careers. It provides the professor with funding to develop a scholarly project to advance teaching excellence, with a particular emphasis on strategies to foster student success. Throughout her career, Prof Adrian has been recognized as an exceptional teacher. At Harvard University she was awarded five distinctions in teaching, and at Carleton University she received several teaching awards from the Faculty of Public Affairs and several at the University level. In 2021 she was named one of Ontario’s most outstanding university teachers by the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA). She received the prestigious OCUFA Teaching Award for her outstanding contributions to the quality of higher education at Ontario’s universities. Emily-Jean Gallant is a Doctoral Candidate in Legal Studies at Carleton University. She recently presented research on Engaged Testing with university students at the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. She has extensive experience working as a research and editorial assistant across multiple disciplines. Emily-Jean's background is in philosophy and anthropology, and her Master's thesis is on Martin Heidegger's conception of time. Her current research is focused on the impact 20th century Continental philosophy has on Critical Legal Studies. Dr. Melanie Adrian: https://carleton.ca/law/people/melanie-adrian/ Email: MelanieAdrian@cunet.carleton.ca Twitter: https://twitter.com/melanieadrian Be the Choice: https://bethechoice.org Scholars at Risk Network: https://www.scholarsatrisk.org/ Articles: All Together Now: Teaching Trailblazer Melanie Adrian Wants to Make Remote Learning a Social Experience https://carleton.ca/ravenmag/story/melanie-adrian-remote-learning/ Carleton’s Melanie Adrian Appointed to Order of Ontario https://newsroom.carleton.ca/2021/melanie-adrian-order-of-ontario/ Emily-Jean Gallant: https://carleton.ca/law/people/gallant-emily-jean/

Creating and fostering effective learning communities in the workplace requires a lot of skill, particularly in a hybrid world. There are many strategies, tools, and platforms that can help support learning communities, but it’s important to know how to use them effectively. In this episode I speak with a fantastic community builder who creates and fosters vibrant global learning communities. We discuss why it’s important to have learning communities in the workplace, how to create them, and she shares many wonderful tips from her extensive experience in the field. Anamaria Dorgo is the Head of Community at Butter, a platform for planning and hosting collaborative sessions, and the founder of L&D Shakers, an international learning community for L&D professionals. With degrees in psychology and human resources, as well as being a true lifelong learner, she creates engaging learning experiences for a global community. Together with a core team, she has grown L&D Shakers to over 2,000 members from all over the world in the past two years. The community is fully members-led, and it's a breeding ground for collaborative learning projects and experiments. In 2021, Anamaria joined the team at Butter and has built the community from the ground up into a place where facilitators, trainers, consultants, designers, and educators gather to hone their facilitation skills and learn more about Butter. Anamaria is also advising companies and NGOs on how to build their internal communities of practice to boost their learning culture, innovation, employee engagement, and sense of belonging, as well as driving change from within. Anamaria Dorgo LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/anamariadorgo/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnamariaDorgo L&D Shakers: https://www.notion.so/Welcome-to-the-L-D-Shakers-23972fa0a18f419a9abe1bd59cb174c0 Butter Community: https://community.butter.us/c/start-here/our-mission-vision-and-values Butter: https://www.butter.us Resources mentioned: Drive by Daniel Pink The Learning Communities Handbook by Louise Wilson and Dr. Toby Lowe The Art of Community by Charles Vogl The CMX YouTube channel