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ELE brings leaders together across companies and industries to work through the messy stuff: decisions, risk, handoffs, execution drag, and what it takes to move from idea to action.

UPCOMING CALENDAR

LATEST IDEA EXCHANGE

RECENT INSIGHTS

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Schedule a Meetup

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Contact ELE

Figure out if ELE is for you. Straight answers on what ELE is, who it’s built for, and how contributing members actually work together. Still have a question? Contact us.

Real challenges. Real peers. Clear next moves.

This is where people-leaders get sharper.

Executive Learning Exchange (ELE)

<blockquote data-start="589" data-end="711">
“This is your test kitchen. Use yourself as the case study before making the case for AI in your org.” —<a href="https://www.ele.llc/members/nicole-defalco" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nicole DeFalco</a>
</blockquote>
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-43041" src="https://wp.ele.llc/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/AI-Practical-Lab-with-Newt-Nicole-Phyllis.jpg" alt="✨ AI in Action: Create, Iterate, Elevate - Partnering with AI in Your Work" width="1920" height="739" />
This session provided a practical, hands-on experience for senior HR and L&amp;D leaders ready to explore how AI can support—not replace—human capability.
We started by reframing AI not as a tech initiative but as a personal learning opportunity. Instead of waiting for enterprise-wide rollouts, participants used their own roles as safe spaces to experiment—testing how AI could simplify tasks, spark creativity, and save time. That mindset shift—from fear to curiosity—became the launchpad.
As Nicole framed it, your role becomes the “test kitchen.” But then comes the real recipe for scale.

<blockquote data-start="1306" data-end="1415">
“Break down your job by tasks. Ask—what can a machine do, and what should be left to people?” —<a href="https://www.ele.llc/members/newton-moore" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Newt Moore</a>
</blockquote>
By dissecting roles at the task level, leaders discovered quick-win opportunities for AI collaboration: summarizing interviews, generating learning roadmaps, automating analysis, and more. This bottom-up experimentation revealed that smart adoption doesn’t require a massive overhaul—just a thoughtful starting point.
🔑 Key Takeaways:

<ul data-start="1758" data-end="2101">
 	<li class="" data-start="1758" data-end="1806">
AI augments human skill—it doesn’t replace it.
</li>
 	<li class="" data-start="1807" data-end="1869">
You don’t need permission to start—begin with your own role.
</li>
 	<li class="" data-start="1870" data-end="1937">
Task-based thinking unlocks practical, scalable AI opportunities.
</li>
 	<li class="" data-start="1938" data-end="2020">
Effective prompt writing (using frameworks like CAPS) is now a leadership skill.
</li>
 	<li class="" data-start="2021" data-end="2101">
L&amp;D is in a unique position to guide ethical, inclusive, and strategic AI use.
</li>
</ul>
💡 Actions You Can Take:

<ol data-start="2132" data-end="2537">
 	<li class="" data-start="2132" data-end="2215">
Audit your day: What tasks would you delegate to an assistant? Try them with AI.
</li>
 	<li class="" data-start="2216" data-end="2305">
Use the 6-step framework (Mindset → Empathize → Define → Generate → Prototype → Test).
</li>
 	<li class="" data-start="2306" data-end="2400">
Introduce CAPS prompt writing (Clarity, Audience, Precision, Structure, Tone) to your team.
</li>
 	<li class="" data-start="2401" data-end="2474">
Share personal AI wins to build trust and credibility across your org.
</li>
 	<li class="" data-start="2475" data-end="2537">
Encourage peer learning through AI communities of practice.
</li>
</ol>
This isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress. Use yourself as the case study, and then lead others with clarity, confidence, and curiosity.
Are you a senior HR leader passionate about talent and innovation? Ready to embrace the power of AI? Let's <a href="https://www.ele.llc/events?tags=4022">Learn together through monthly hands-on applications of AI in L&amp;D</a>

✨ AI in Action: Create, Iterate, Elevate - Partnering with AI in Your Work

future of work

Future of Work

Digital &amp; AI

digital transformation

newton.moore

leadership development

talent development

instructional design

learning and development

HR Innovation

AI in HR

human AI collaboration

workforce innovation

AI impact

AI Adoption

organizational learning

Practical AI

nicole.defalco

phyllis.king

wise2025

AI in action

leveraging AI

business operations

repeatable process

AI solutions

AI coworker

AI prototyping

test and iterate

playlab AI

talent and innovation

prompt engineering

skills-based strategy

L&amp;D leadership

Daikin Applied Americas

Intrepid by VitalSource

Post-Action Insights: Online Learning for Skills Development at Scale

In this session, Laura will discuss Daikin’s modality analysis and how they use that to select the best-fit tool for each learning challenge. She will then review how they design and implement cohort-based learning once they have determined that a collaborative approach will be most impactful. This session will allow instructional designers, learning architects, learning experience designers, and other industry professionals to engage in meaningful dialogue, fostering a deeper understanding of collaborative online learning and its impact on our field.

Key takeaways from this session include:
<ol>
 	<li>Considerations for selecting the most effective learning strategy given a learning challenge.</li>
 	<li>Reflecting on the value and effectiveness of collaborative online learning.</li>
 	<li>Identify the most valuable aspects and strategies for incorporating cohort learning elements into your work.</li>
</ol>
Don't miss this opportunity to deepen your understanding of collaborative online learning, share your experiences, and connect with fellow professionals who share your passion for creating transformative learning experiences.

Reflecting on Collaborative Online Learning Experiences

learning strategy

Integrated Talent Management

Strategy

cohort learning

daryl.fleary

laura.masica

insights-wise-2023

skills development

collaborative online learning

learning tools

cohort-based learning

online learning

Genesee & Wyoming Inc.

Session Focus: This is the kick-off recording for a 3-week semi-synchronous learning experience with ELE peers.
In this thought-provoking session, learning leaders explore the paradigm shift from traditional instructional design approaches to designing for collaborative, cohort-based learning experiences. The discussion highlights the importance of moving away from the "push" model of information delivery and embracing strategies that "pull" engagement, reflection, and peer-to-peer learning from participants.
As Darl Fleary aptly states, "...when you start designing for collaboration what you really want to think about and even though we're trying to have some learning happen in the Learners what we want to think about is we want to think about pulling information not pushing information."
Key Takeaways:

<ol class="list-decimal pl-8 space-y-2 -mt-1">
 	<li class="whitespace-normal break-words">Shift from pushing information to pulling engagement from learners through collaborative activities that foster reflection, sharing, and peer learning.</li>
 	<li class="whitespace-normal break-words">Design for creating immersive learning experiences that leverage technology, build context, and align with learning objectives while relying on strong project management.</li>
 	<li class="whitespace-normal break-words">Unlearn traditional instructional design approaches by participating in programs like Intrepid's "Design for Collaboration" course to gain fresh perspectives and practical strategies for enabling effective collaborative online learning.</li>
</ol>
Join this 3-week semi-synchronous learning journey to explore practical insights, real-world case studies, and expert guidance on designing collaborative cohort-based learning experiences that drive active participation, knowledge sharing, and lasting behavioral change.

Designing Collaborative Cohort-based Learning

dirk.tussing

richard.busby

tomas.ramirez

learning design

edward.desrosiers

jesse.james

talent management

learning &amp; development

flow of work

online event

complimentary event

tim.chudy

rebecca.benson

ann.brownell

Scalable Global Cohorts

sam.herring

jr.burch

peer-learning

Session Focus: This is an optional live kick-off for a 3-week semi-synchronous learning experience with ELE peers. You will learn how to design impactful collaborative learning experiences, whether fully digital or blended online with live sessions.

Register, and we will create a 30-minute video that will be emailed to everyone to watch on-demand and kick off this 3-week, semi-synchronous cohort learning experience.
<blockquote>
<h2>Can online learning be collaborative?</h2>
<h2>Yes!</h2>
</blockquote>
Join our community of learning professionals who:
<ul>
 	<li>Expect more from learning technology</li>
 	<li>Want collaboration + available anytime, anywhere</li>
 	<li>Refuse to skimp on engagement</li>
</ul>
What is it? This 3-week semi-synchronous ELE/Intrepid cohort helps you design impactful collaborative learning experiences, whether fully digital or blended online with live sessions.

Who is it for? Instructional designers, learning architects, learning experience designers, and others who want to expand their career horizons!

You'll learn from and with the Intrepid Team and a global group of like-minded colleagues who share the same goal: improve the online learning experience.

Why is it important? Collaborative online learning is the modality chosen by BOTH learners and CLOs as the preferred approach for business-critical training topics. (See the <a href="https://blog.intrepidlearning.com/resources/high-stakes-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener">survey results</a>.)

<img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-37464" src="https://www.learningexecutive.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Cohort-Learning-Lets-Discuss-Designnig-1024x524.png" alt="Designing Cohort Learning to Scale Discussion Points" width="512" height="262" />

&nbsp;

When asked, "What did you find most useful?" our previous participants had these sorts of things to say:
<blockquote>"It was great getting to collaborate with others and knowledge share. I also really enjoyed the platform..."

"The variety of content, the relevancy, the connection to others outside of my organization..."

"Acknowledging the issues of L&amp;D in a straightforward manner and then collaborating on solutions..."</blockquote>
When is it?  April 24 - May 12, 2023. About an hour of content and collaboration each week for three weeks. Do it at your own pace and when it's convenient for you.

And you'll earn Intrepid's Design for Collaboration badge to display on your LinkedIn profile.

&nbsp;

ELE produces this Learning Circle: Retooling Talent Development for the New Normal.

ELE's <a title="ELE's Idea Exchange" href="https://www.learningexecutive.com/idea-exchange/">Idea Exchange</a>: Collaborate online with your peers.

&nbsp;

single-event

Your Teams

Learning Circles

tim.treger

Complimentary

Digital

Evaluation-oriented instructional design that delivers business results.

Rethink how to design instruction to meet bottom-line business goals. With his eight-step framework for measurement and evaluation-focused instructional design, Kristopher Newbauer offers a straightforward process for helping instructional designers and talent development (TD) leaders demonstrate and actualize their value while also transforming their attitude toward an often-dreaded practice.

With Aligning Instructional Design With Business Goals, improve your business acumen by adopting the language of your business leaders. Enhance the partnership among measurement and evaluation specialists, instructional designers, and business leaders to improve the TD function. Uncover the root cause of performance gaps to design more meaningful instruction—and thus increase ROI.

With case studies and examples to illustrate, learn to:
<ul class="a-unordered-list a-vertical">
 	<li>Promote your TD function as a strategy for achieving business goals.</li>
 	<li>Ensure TD programs are aligned with the company’s strategic objectives.</li>
 	<li>Design and develop effective TD programs.</li>
 	<li>Demonstrate to business leaders measurable added value in revenue and employee success.</li>
</ul>

Aligning Instructional Design With Business Goals: Make the Case and Deliver Results

Operations

sean.stowers

strategic alignment

measurement

evaluation

business impact

organizational success

training evaluation

organizational goals

stakeholder alignment

nicholas.leonard

Analysis Should Occur in Every Phase of an Instructional Systems Design &amp; Development Effort Targeted at High Stakes Performance. That's how I've been approaching ISD efforts as an ISD Consultant since 1982. I've been avoiding Analysis Paralysis by getting exactly what I needed for my next steps, and no more. And by using a Facilitated Group Process of Master Performers and Other Subject Matter Experts for a focus on Tasks and Outputs and the Stakeholder Requirements for both! In this book, I share my approach, based on my decades of experience as an award-winning consultant, practitioner, and coach in the conduct of Performance-Based Instructional Development efforts.

Conducting performance-based Instructional Analysis

kery.mortenson

performance improvement

Performance Improvement

Learning is no longer activity or luxury that only occurs at specific stages in your life or career. With the digital revolution, learning has become immediate, real-time, and relevant whether you’re young, old, in the workforce, in school, or at home. As a learning and development professional, you’ve likely confronted the digital learning revolution armed with instructional design models from the pre-digital world. But today’s digital universe has a new model to address its wealth of new technologies and a new philosophy of learning experience design: learning cluster design.

Designing for Modern Learning: Beyond ADDIE and SAM offers you and your learners a new way to learn. It describes the fundamental shift that has occurred in the nature of L&amp;D’s role as a result of the digital revolution and introduces a new five-step model: the Owens-Kadakia Learning Cluster Design Model (OK-LCD Model), a new five-step model for training and design that meets the needs of modern learning.

The model’s five steps or actions are an easy-to-follow mnemonic, CLUSTER:
<ol>
 	<li>Change on-the-job behavior</li>
 	<li>Learn learner-to-learner differences</li>
 	<li>Upgrade existing assets</li>
 	<li>Surround learning with meaningful assets</li>
 	<li>Track transformation of Everyone’s Results.</li>
</ol>
In each chapter, the authors share stories of business leaders, L&amp;D professionals, and learners who have successfully adopted the OK-LCD Model, detailing how they altered organizational mindsets to meet the needs of modern learners and their organizations. Included are how-to features, tools, tips, and real-life “in practice” sections.

This is an exciting time to be in L&amp;D. It’s time to join the revolution.

Designing for Modern Learning

analytics

justin.anderson

digital learning

leveraging technology

cindy.pinkstaffmiller

Task Analysis is not only the most important component of Instructional Design but also the most often misconstrued and poorly executed. Starting with this premise these authors have developed a complete reference and instructional text on Task Analysis. The Handbook of Task Analysis Procedures fulfills three distinct purposes. As an overview of the field it presents a comprehensive collection of functions, techniques and tools that can be used in a variety of settings. Thirty-five different procedures are cataloged and described in individual chapters. Providing flowcharts and examples, it is organized to instruct the reader on how to perform these techniques. Finally all chapters have been consistently structed making it an ideal reference book.

Handbook of Task Analysis Procedures is designed to help the reader select a specific task analysis technique for a particular situation. Having done this, the reader can then refer to the appropriate chapter for his chosen technique. This chapter provides a statement of purpose, an overview, and applications. It then presents a step by step description of how to use the procedure. The chapter concludes with examples, an evaluation, and a complete set of references. Designed to be used in education and by trainers in the business sector, this volume is a unique reference book. Part I provides an overview of Task Analysis and describes the variables that affect how task analysis is performed. A decision table and discussion help the reader select specific techniques. The techniques are grouped in Part II, III, and IV according to their functional similarity--learning analysis, job analysis, content analysis. Part V describes information gathering tools. This Handbook is essential for the reader who believes that competent task analysis is a vital part of instructional design.

Handbook of Task Analysis Procedures

human factors

task analysis

performance analysis

workflow optimization

training development

job analysis

process improvement

workplace efficiency

susan.c.guest

<div class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" aria-expanded="true">

Ensure Your Instructional Design Stands Up to Learning Science

Learning science is a professional imperative for instructional designers. In fact, instructional design is applied to learning science. To create effective learning experiences that engage, we need to know how learning works and what facilitates and hinders it. We need to track the underlying research and articulate how our designs reflect what is known. Otherwise, how can we claim to be scrutable in our approaches? Learning Science for Instructional Designers: From Cognition to Application distills the current scope of learning science into an easy-to-read primer.

</div>
<div aria-expanded="true"></div>
<div class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" aria-expanded="true">A good instructional design makes learning as simple as possible by removing distractions, minimizing the cognitive load, and chunking necessary information into digestible bits. But our aim must go beyond enabling learners to recite facts to empowering them to make better decisions―decisions about what to do, when, and how.</div>
<div aria-expanded="true"></div>
<div class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" aria-expanded="true">This book prepares you to design learning experiences that ensure retention over time and transfer to the appropriate situations.</div>
<div aria-expanded="true"></div>
<div class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" aria-expanded="true">Gain insights into</div>
<ul>
 	<li class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" aria-expanded="true">Providing spaced practice and reflection</li>
 	<li class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" aria-expanded="true">Tapping into motivation and challenge to build learner confidence</li>
 	<li class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" aria-expanded="true">Using performance-support tools, social learning, and humor appropriately</li>
</ul>
Prompts at the end of each chapter will spark your thinking about how to use these concepts and more in your daily work.
<div class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" aria-expanded="true">Written by Clark N. Quinn, author of Millennials, Goldfish &amp; Other Training Misconceptions: Debunking Learning Myths and Superstitions, this book is perfect for anyone who strives for their instruction to stand up to learning science.</div>
<div class="a-expander-header a-expander-partial-collapse-header"><a class="a-declarative" role="button" data-csa-c-func-deps="aui-da-a-expander-toggle" data-csa-c-type="widget" data-csa-interaction-events="click" aria-expanded="true" data-action="a-expander-toggle" data-a-expander-toggle="{&quot;allowLinkDefault&quot;:true, &quot;expand_prompt&quot;:&quot;Read more&quot;, &quot;collapse_prompt&quot;:&quot;Read less&quot;}" data-csa-c-id="1pus6z-lxfwk-a8ejwh-q5qwoi">Read less</a></div>

Learning Science for Instructional Designers: From Cognition to Application

evidence-based research

neuroscience

david.shoemaker

The international bestseller that has helped millions of students, teachers, and lifelong learners use proven approaches to learn better and remember longer.

“We have made Make It Stick a touchstone for our instructors … to gain a real advantage for our learners as they tackle some of the toughest work in the world.” ―Carl Czech, former Senior Instructional Systems Specialist/Advisor, US Navy SEALs

Are you tired of forgetting what you learn? This groundbreaking book, based on the latest research in cognitive science, offers powerful strategies to boost memory and learning.

To most of us, learning something “the hard way” means wasted time and effort. Good teaching, many believe, should be tailored to the different learning styles of students and should use strategies that make learning easier. Make It Stick turns fashionable ideas like these on their head. Drawing on recent discoveries in cognitive psychology and a ten-year collaboration among some of the world’s leading experts on human learning and memory, the authors explain what really drives successful learning. With clear, real-world examples, they show how we can confidently hone our skills and learn more effectively.

Many common study habits simply don’t work. Underlining, highlighting, rereading, cramming, and single-minded repetition of new skills create the illusion of mastery, but gains fade quickly. Science shows that more durable learning comes from self-testing, introducing certain difficulties in practice, waiting to re-study new material until a little forgetting has occurred, and interleaving the practice of one skill or topic with another. Make It Stick breaks down these proven approaches in compelling ways and offers concrete techniques for becoming more productive learners.

Full of eye-opening and inspiring stories for students, educators, and parents, Make It Stick is an indispensable guide for all those interested in the challenge of lifelong learning and self-improvement.

Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning

Coaching

training effectiveness

employee training

learning strategies

Knowledge Retention

Learning Effectiveness

Cognitive Science

Memory Improvement

Effective Learning

This pioneering text describes a rationally consistent basis for instructional design, based in cognitive psychology and information-processing theory. The authors prepare teachers to design and develop a course, unit, and module of instruction, outline the nine stages of instructional design procedure, and integrate current research and practice in the movement toward performance systems technology. The Fifth Edition of PRINCIPLES OF INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN emphasizes the social and cultural context of learning, learner-centered principles, and the affordances of new technologies and learning environments.

Principles of Instructional Design 5th Edition

training and development

E-Learning design

Trends and Issues in Instructional Design and Technology, Third Edition, provides readers with a clear picture of the field of instructional design and technology, the trends and issues that have affected it in the past and present, and those trends and issues likely to affect it in the future. The text will prepare its readers to master the skills associated with IDT, clearly describe the nature of the field, familiarize themselves with the field's history and its current status, and describe recent trends and issues impacting the field.

Rich Busby shares his insights in Chapter 13. Managing Scarce Resources in Training Projects.
Every training organization has a limited amount of people, time, and/or money available to complete a project. This limited resource availability undoubtedly will affect the scope and success of the organization's projects. Busby and Goldsmith discuss the knowledge and skills in the instructional design field to successfully address these circumstances. The authors begin the chapter by defining what they mean by "resources" and "resource scarcity" and then describe how resource availability and the scope of a project affect one another. They then discuss such basic economic concepts as supply and demand and the economic cycle, factors that profoundly influence resource availability. The authors then conclude by providing strategies a training manager can adopt to address the problems presented by resource scarcity.

Trends and Issues in Instructional Design and Technology (3rd Edition)

learning technology

What Makes a Great Training Organization reveals the key practices that set top training organizations apart. Backed by data from <a class="HwfnrGwzbVhgqrHJQnWsTubRGppSSZmI " tabindex="0" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/training-industry-inc-/" target="_self" rel="noopener" data-test-app-aware-link="">Training Industry, Inc.</a>, this book offers practical strategies to align L&amp;D with business goals, measure success, and build a culture of continuous learning.

If you're ready to move beyond check-the-box training and drive real impact, this is a must-read.

Learners have changed―radically. Businesses have changed―even more radically. If you're a learning leader, you know your organization must change just as profoundly. You may already be working to lead that change. This book shares best practices that will help you focus your scarce resources on achieving excellence where it matters most today and where it will matter most tomorrow. Doug Harward and Ken Taylor have spent more than 10 years identifying and validating the specific processes and practices associated with outstanding training organization performance. Building on this unprecedented research, they help you define priorities that tightly align with business goals and objectives, choose best practices you can realistically implement, and get results.
Reflecting comprehensive new research, this book identifies eight sets of training processes proven to drive the greatest sustainable performance improvements. Drawing on their pioneering training industry experience, Doug Harward and Ken Taylor drill down into each set of capabilities, helping you build on what you're already doing well, and achieve excellence on the business metrics that matter most. This evidence-based best-practice guide helps you focus your efforts where they will deliver the greatest value, build implementation roadmaps based on the field's hard-earned wisdom, and successfully execute. Reflecting profound insights into today's learners and corporate goals, it will help you excel whether you deliver training internally, purchase services from suppliers, or supply training services to businesses.

Optimize the value of training by focusing on these eight process areas:
<ul>
 	<li>Strategic Alignment: Design learning programs that align with business objectives.</li>
 	<li>Content Development: Assess, design, manage, and maintain content.</li>
 	<li>Delivery: Manage instructor networks and deliver via multiple modalities.</li>
 	<li>Diagnostics: Identify causes of problems and recommend solutions.</li>
 	<li>Reporting &amp; Analysis: Define business metrics, report data, make improvements.</li>
 	<li>Technology Integration: Integrate learning technologies with each other and enterprise systems.</li>
 	<li>Administrative Services: Support learners via scheduling, registration, and more.</li>
 	<li>Portfolio Management: Manage, rationalize, and maintain large program portfolios.</li>
</ul>

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