August 2, 2026
Greetings Reader,
Learning designers are often frustrated that decision-makers think training is the solution to every problem. Then, when it turns out that the problem persists even after training, it can make you or our field look less than stellar. Have you experienced this?
The first article is a way out. If you have enough credibility in your organization or with your clients, you can propose a root cause analysis to discover the underlying causes of a problem. I explain how to do this in the first article.
The next one is about planning a video production. Not the kind where you sit in front of your camera or record a screen, but one with live-action, on location, and with actors. This approach can be a powerful strategy for getting attention and changing behaviors.
The last item is a podcast episode about generating helpful and clear explanations. I think that’s part art and part science. I hope you enjoy this newsletter.
Are you attending the ATD Core4 Conference in Indianapolis? I’ll be there, and I’d love to meet you. Click reply and let me know.
Learn how to use systems thinking to identify the underlying causes of a problem rather than defaulting to training as a fix.
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Storytelling with actors is a dynamic and authentic way to enhance training videos. Here’s a brief guide on how to approach this method and where AI tools can help.
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The goal of an explanation is to make something clear or understandable to someone else. How often do we achieve that goal? Listen to this conversation by the author of The Art of Explanation.
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Now on to the goodies below.