Episodes

Summary In this episode, Holly Owens covers navigating the learning and development job market, emphasizing networking, authentic connections, and the skills needed for success as an instructional designer. She advises job seekers to be selective and find their niche. Holly also compares instructional design in corporate vs. educational settings, noting differences in innovation pace and audience. She offers guidance on the value of a master's degree or certificate, suggests relevant programs,...

Payam Bina, the chair of the instructional technology program at Touro University, discusses the unique offerings of the program and its focus on integrating technology into educational and corporate settings. The program emphasizes small class sizes, strong teacher-student relationships, and hands-on experience. It prepares students for the evolving demands of the technology and education sectors, including the use of artificial intelligence. The program also offers scholarships and financial s...

Summary In this episode of EdUp Learning and Development, host Holly Owens and Nadia Johnson interview Nicole L'Etoile, the founder and CEO of L'Etoile Education, about accessibility in learning management systems (LMS). Nicole shares her journey from being a classroom teacher to becoming a business owner and consultant in the field of L&D. She emphasizes the importance of creating a proactive culture of accessibility in organizations and provides practical tips for incorporating accessibility ...

Summary In this episode, Holly Owens and Nadia Johnson interview Jean-Claude Brizard, the CEO and President of Digital Promise. They discuss Brizard's journey in education and his role at Digital Promise. They also explore the challenges facing educators today, such as teacher shortages and the need for support and career growth opportunities. Brizard offers advice for teachers who are considering leaving the profession and emphasizes the importance of creating a career ladder in education. The...

In this episode, Holly Owens and Nadia Johnson interview Taresa Scott, the founder of Bleuprint. They discuss Taresa's journey as a founder and the work that Blueprint does. They also explore the importance of creating a learning culture within organizations and the trends in L&D and e-learning. The conversation ends with advice for individuals looking to transition into a role in learning and development. This amazing episode was sponsored by ⁠⁠iSpring Solutions ⁠⁠ Go check out all their produ...

In this video episode of EdUp Learning and Development, host Holly Owens and guest Anna Poli from iSpring discuss the updates and new features of iSpring Suite Max. Anna showcases the iSpring Cloud platform and demonstrates how to use the AI assistant to generate course titles and quiz questions. She also highlights the ability to customize the design of learning content, adjust column widths, and add audio to answer choices in quizzes. Additionally, Anna introduces the iSpring Content Library,...

In this episode of EdUp Learning and Development, host Holly Owens interviews Dr. Angie Besendorfer, Chief Impact Officer at AstrumU. They discuss the challenges of the current job application process and the need for a more equitable and effective system. AstrumU is a data and insights company that aims to level the playing field in the skills economy. They help individuals create verified skills profiles and work with learning institutions and employers to provide career insights and upskillin...

In this episode, we got interview the amazing Sean Jennison, the Senior DSP Learning Experience Manager at Amazon. Sean shares his journey into the learning and development space, starting from wanting to be a geography teacher to teaching English in Madrid. He discusses his role at Amazon, which involves developing learning strategies and delivering training interventions for last mile logistics. Sean emphasizes the importance of putting the learner at the heart of everything and seeking feedba...

In this episode, the hosts welcome Julie Dirksen, an instructional design and learning development expert. They discuss Julie's journey into the L&D space, her new book 'Talk to the Elephant,' and strategies for designing effective learning experiences that genuinely change behavior. Julie also shares valuable advice for transitioning teachers looking to enter the instructional design field. Takeaways Transitioning teachers should consider the differences in daily tasks and energy levels betwe...

Holly takes us on our journey and discusses the challenging (and anxiety-inducing) interview stages. By the end of this episode, you will feel comfortable and confident when stepping into the your next interview. Our journey starts with an understanding of the interview stages, from initial phone screenings to the final panel interviews. We kick off with the phone or video screening stage, discussing common questions like "Tell me about yourself" and "Why are you interested in this role?" We pr...