In this excellent interview, Brigid sits down with Jez Anderson.
With over 30 years in L&D as a manager, leader, and consultant, Jez has a deep passion for understanding how people learn. He specialises in digital learning technologies, informal learning, and creating cultures that foster curiosity and growth.
In this episode, Jez draws on his extensive experience to provide a masterclass on the principles of effective learning design. He offers a thoughtful and practical guide for L&D professionals, including:
- Learning Design as Experience Design: Jez defines learning design not just as constructing content, but as creating learning experiences that engage, inspire, and empower people to make meaningful changes.
- Balancing Needs: He discusses the crucial (and often difficult) balance L&D must strike between meeting organisational objectives and catering to the individual learner's needs and how they best learn.
- Three Core Pedagogies: Jez outlines the spectrum of learning approaches, from traditional instructor-led methods to adult-centred (ecological) designs, and the learner-driven heutagogical model, advocating for a blended strategy.
- Keep It Simple, Focus on Context: Learn why effective design isn't about chasing the latest tech fad (like VR for VR's sake). Sometimes the best solution is simple and tailored to the learner's context, even if it's a well-designed PDF for shop-floor staff.
- Beyond Content Download: Discover how to make traditional classroom or synchronous virtual sessions more impactful by shifting the focus from instruction to facilitation, using methods like reverse classrooms, experiential activities, and scenario-based learning to embed knowledge and encourage application.
- The "So What?" Question: Jez emphasises the most critical question for any learning experience: "So what?" If learners can't articulate what they'll do differently as a result, the learning hasn't landed.
- Embracing Digital & Informal Learning: He stresses the importance of thinking digitally about the entire learner experience (not just the LMS) and fostering informal learning through communities of practice and social connection.
Jez offers a pragmatic and experience-led perspective, grounding innovative ideas in the fundamental principles of good learning practice. If you want to design more impactful and engaging learning experiences, this is a must-listen-to episode.
Connect with Jez on LinkedIn: Jez Anderson
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