I want to show you exactly how I go from a blank document to a finished video asset that is ready to drop into Rise, Storyline, or a slide deck for a live session. Not the ideal version. The actual version I use when I have a real deadline and a stakeholder who needs...

I want to tell you about a small shift that changed how our team starts every Articulate Storyline eLearning project. (You could do the same for Captivate too). Early in my career, my storyboard lived in a Word doc. That is what I learned to do in my master’s program....

Not a feature tour. Not a sponsored post. Just the five things I actually reach for when I'm under pressure and need my work to look professional without adding three hours to my day. I want to be upfront about something before we get into this. I'm not going to tell...

Let me guess how Canva shows up in your work right now. You open it when you need a quick title slide that doesn't embarrass you. Maybe a job aid that your SME won't tear apart from being too plain. Sometimes an infographic, if you have the bandwidth. And then you...

We’ve covered the design mindset. We’ve dug into platform tools. We’ve broken down breakout rooms. And every week, the through-line has been the same: intentional design, not better technology, is what makes virtual training work. This week I want to talk about the...

We’ve covered the design mindset. We’ve dug into platform tools. This week we’re tackling the feature most facilitators both love and dread: breakout rooms. When breakout rooms work, they’re the most powerful tool in your virtual facilitation toolkit. Small groups,...

Last week we talked about the design framework that separates intentional vILT from sessions that just happen. This week we’re getting tactical. One of the most consistent things I see when I work with facilitators is this: they’re using about 20% of what their...

Last week we established something important: better virtual training doesn’t require a bigger budget or a fancier platform. The tools you already have are more than enough—if you use them with intention. This week we go one level deeper. Because knowing that...

Most virtual training feels flat for one simple reason: the tools are there, but the activities aren't designed around them. It's not a technology problem. It's a design problem. And the good news is that some of the most effective engagement tools available to...

And How to Shift into Professional Positioning There is a subtle difference between a portfolio that feels academic and one that feels professional. Many talented instructional designers unintentionally create portfolios that read like graded projects rather than...

A Clear Framework for Turning Projects into Proof If you feel unsure whether your portfolio is “good enough,” it is usually not a talent issue, but rather a structure issue (or, maybe, you suffer from perfectionism). Most instructional designers were never taught how...

The Portfolio Shift Hiring Managers Are Actually Looking For One of the most common portfolio mistakes instructional designers make is this: They build a gallery. Screenshots. Storyline interactions. Rise modules. Canva graphics. Vyond videos. Beautiful work, but no...