New April Blog Challenge, not what you think

Crossposted from The Other Side.

 Tomorrow is April 1st. That has usually meant that I would have been participating in the April A to Z Blog Challenge. But not this year.

I have been aware now for a long time that while I find fun in the Challenge, any blog challenge really, I don't get the same sorts of interactions I do the other 11 months. I can see that my readership shifts and at least a portion of my normal readership changes. Like I said, I enjoy the challenge, and I enjoy interacting with new people. At some level, I also like to think I become, at least for 26 days out of 30, a bit of an ambassador of our strange little hobby to the wider world. Or at least my particular point of view on it.

I had written about 6-7 full posts for this year and had another 10-15 mapped out in outline and the rest at least figured out. My theme this year was going to Advanced Dungeons & Dragons to coincide with my son's group using it as their "second" game. But after working on a few of the posts, I could not help but feel I was shouting into the void. My regular readers (you reading this now) might not see many of these posts, and they were too esoteric for non-fans and casual gamers. Plus, in truth, any non-gamer coming here is going to want to hear about "the D&D" they can go buy at their local book stores or Amazon. Not a system that is 40 years old now. 

So. I am not going to do the challenge this year.

I am, however, still going to challenge myself. 

My April challenge is to visit and comment on every blog in my following. I don't want to go to other blogs and just post "great post!" and run away. I want to engage with their (your) topics authentically. I want to challenge myself to step outside of my "blog tunnel vision" and see what others are saying and doing. 

I *hope* I don't come off as an over-opinioned ass. I can be. I am in many respects, but you know I have own place for that. I honestly want to see what others are saying and doing and engage with that. Pull my head out of the sand as it were.

If you like, please feel free to comment here to let me know what you are doing. Add a reply with "check out this post!" Shameless self-promotion is welcome all month long. 

I still am not going to allow Anonymous posts or posts that attack others. That hasn't changed. But otherwise, go nuts. Tell me what you are doing and why it is the coolest thing ever.

Blogging in the world of video, Pateron, and Substack might feel "old" now. But I am committed to providing my thoughts and ideas in this free, written medium for as long as I can. 

And I want to read what you have as well.

The Ethics Layer: Designing AI-Driven Learning with Integrity

Innovation without ethics is a risk multiplier

 AI is transforming how we build and deliver learning, but without guardrails, it can amplify the very inequities we aim to dismantle. I’ve developed training modules that delve into hallucination, misinformation, and bias, not in theory, but in real-world enterprise use cases. When ChatGPT generates “plausible but false” answers, how do we help learners validate? When adaptive tools reinforce biased patterns, how do we design for inclusion?

Instructional designers are now ethicists

 I no longer treat responsible AI as a bonus topic. It’s a design pillar. I embed bias mitigation frameworks directly into learning content and scenario-based practice. I partner with SMEs to align ethical awareness with workflow reality. One project included role-based choices with immediate feedback; learners had to spot hallucinations and correct the course. The result? Stronger decision-making, not just faster automation.

Takeaway

 Responsible AI training isn’t just about content; it’s about intent, clarity, and accountability.

Discussion Prompt

Where have you seen AI's risks surface in learning, and how did your team address them?

Posted to LinkedIn

The LMS Isn’t the Strategy

Why platforms are tools, not solutions

Don’t confuse infrastructure with impact

I’ve led LMS migrations for institutions and built learning ecosystems from scratch for startups. In every case, the temptation was the same: expect the platform to “solve” engagement or scale. However, technology alone can’t fix what is missing in strategy. A great LMS amplifies a great plan, it doesn’t replace one, nor does it prop up a bad one. I’ve seen beautiful dashboards with zero uptake and basic systems with off-the-charts learner impact. The difference? Clear purpose and design thinking.

Start with the learner, not the platform

Effective learning ecosystems begin with mapping the journey: what learners need to know, feel, and do. Then we design the experience. Only then should we pick the tools. When we flip that order, we build backwards. I once consulted on a rollout where the LMS was locked before content existed. It added six months to the timeline and forced the team to retrofit ideas. Strategy should lead; platforms should follow.

Don't design for the tool. Design and find the right tool for the job.

Takeaway

Technology should support your learning vision, not dictate it.

Discussion Prompt

When has a platform helped, or hurt, the impact of your learning program?

Posted to LinkedIn

What I’ve Learned Building 100+ Programs

Takeaways for scaling learning that sticks 

Designing at scale takes more than tools

After 25+ years and over 100 digital programs, I’ve learned that strategy, empathy, and iteration consistently outperform trend-chasing. Whether it’s onboarding, compliance, or leadership training, real impact comes from getting the basics right, and adapting them relentlessly.

Here’s what I carry forward

• Start with the learner’s reality, not the stakeholder’s wishlist.
• Define success before you pick the platform.
• Inclusive design isn’t optional; it’s strategic.
• Don’t just deliver content, engineer performance.
• Treat data as dialogue, not just validation.
• Build feedback into the process, not just the postmortem.
• Invite learning teams into business strategy early and often.

These ideas aren’t flashy. But there’s a difference between programs that look good and ones that work. I’m continually refining, always learning, and always ready to collaborate with teams that share the same values.

Takeaway

Learning that scales starts small: with clarity, care, and conversations that matter.

Discussion Prompt

Which of these lessons have you seen make (or miss) the biggest difference?

Posted to LinkedIn

The Designer Is the Strategist: Rethinking what “instructional designer” means in 2026

Designers aren’t order-takers anymore

In too many organizations, instructional designers are still brought in after the strategy is set. “Make it look nice.” “Turn this into a course.” But the most impactful work I’ve done happened when I was involved early, shaping goals, surfacing risks, and mapping user journeys. Instructional design is strategic work. We aren’t just building courses. We’re building performance systems.

We speak both languages

Designers translate business needs into learner experiences. That means understanding KPIs and adult learning, brand voice and Universal Design for Learning (UDL), AI tools, and team dynamics. When I’ve helped shift a program from slides to systems thinking, it wasn’t about prettier graphics. It was about identifying bottlenecks, shaping behavior, and showing measurable value. And that shift earned a seat at the strategy table.

Takeaway

Instructional designers don’t just execute vision; we need to help define it.

Discussion Prompt

How early are designers invited into strategic conversations where you work?

Posted to LinkedIn

Fail-Proofing Your Learning Strategy

How to bulletproof initiatives from day one

Prevention beats rework every time

I’ve seen learning initiatives fall apart, not because the design was weak, but because alignment wasn’t locked in. One healthcare client launched a compliance module without manager buy-in. Completion rates lagged for months. We rebuilt with stakeholder interviews, scenario mapping, and clearer metrics. Same topic, same tech, radically different outcome. Why? This time, it was anchored in real context.

Map expectations early and often

Before I create anything, I ask: What does success look like to each group, leadership, learners, and front-line managers? That simple question surfaces misalignment fast. I then design feedback loops into the rollout: check-ins, usage data, short surveys. This helps spot issues while they’re still small. It’s not flashy work, but it’s what keeps programs from stalling post-launch.

Takeaway

The best learning plans aren’t just well-designed, they’re co-owned from day one.

Discussion Prompt

What’s one thing you wish you'd asked before launching a learning initiative?

Posted to LinkedIn

What AI Can’t Do (Yet)

Keeping the human edge in an algorithmic age

AI is a partner, not a proxy

I’ve tested AI tools across course design, feedback loops, and learning analytics. They’re fast, scalable, and occasionally brilliant. But they still don’t understand nuance. AI can suggest a quiz, it can’t read a learner’s frustration. It can tag learning objectives, but not reframe them in language that inspires. In short, AI does pattern. People do meaning. And right now, that gap still matters.

Human insight builds learning that lands

I once used an AI tool to auto-generate course outlines. They looked sharp, but when we tested them with learners, they missed tone, pacing, and relevance. We kept the bones, but had to rewrite for clarity and connection. The real win was combining AI’s speed with a human filter for empathy and impact. That’s where I see the future, not automation, but augmentation.

Takeaway

AI can boost learning delivery, but people still craft the experience that connects.

Discussion Prompt

Where has AI helped, or hindered, your work in learning or design?

Posted to LinkedIn