Interactive Learning Methods

Early in my facilitation career, I made a big mistake. Spent hours crafting engaging activities and perfecting every little detail… Thinking that amazing learning design is what would make my workshops stand out and get me rehired. Some went great. Some bombed. You know the ones, sessions where: - One participant dominated the conversation. - People quietly disengaged, barely participating. - half the group visibly frustrated but not saying anything. I would push through, hoping things would course-correct. But by the end, it was a bit… meh. I knew my learning design was great so... What was I missing? Why the inconsistency between sessions? 💡I relied too much on implicit agreements. I realised that I either skipped or rushed the 'working agreements'. Treating it like a 'tick' box exercise. And it's here I needed to invest more time Other names for this: Contract, Culture or Design Alliance, etc... Now, I never start a session without setting a working agreement. And the longer I'm with the group, the longer I spend on it. 25 years of doing this. Here are my go-to Qs: 🔹 What would make this session a valuable use of your time? → This sets the north star. It ensures participants express their needs, not just my agenda. 🔹 What atmosphere do we want to create? → This sets the mood. Do they want an energising space? A reflective one? Let them decide. 🔹 What behaviours will support this? → This makes things concrete. It turns abstract hopes into tangible agreements. 🔹 How do we want to handle disagreement? → This makes it practical. Conflict isn’t the problem—how we navigate it is. ... The result? - More engaged participants. - Smoother facilitation. - Ultimately, a reputation as the go-to person for high-impact sessions. You probably already know this. But if things don't go smoothly in your session. Might be worth investing a bit more time at the start to prevent problems later on. Great facilitation doesn't just happen, It's intentional, and it's designed. ~~ ♻️ Share if this is a useful reminder ✍️ Have you ever used a working agreement in your workshops? What’s one question you always ask? Drop it in the comments!

🎡 UX Workshops With Users (Scripts + Templates) (https://lnkd.in/evqDZSFe), a helpful overview of practical techniques to turn a verbal-only interview into a collaborative UX workshop — with sticky note mapping, card sorting, feature location, solution drag’n’drop and voting. Kindly put together by Laura Eiche. 👏🏽 🤔 Users and designers often a speak a different language. ✅ Insights are clearer when you see users performing tasks. ✅ Switch question-answer sections with small visual tasks. ✅ Sticky note mapping: for user flows, journeys, org maps. ✅ Card sorting: organize data, filters, menu items into groups. ✅ Feature location: ask users where they’d expect a new feature. ✅ Drag’n’drop: ask users to design their own UI or page layout. ✅ Solution voting: get feedback on many design directions. ✅ When explaining a task, show what you’d like them to do. ✅ Track where users are undecided, and follow up in a debrief. Personally, when I jump in a new project, I like to run walkthroughs with actual users as a way to understand the domain and the product. I invite them to show me the product, how it works, the features they use, the quirks they’ve discovered and the shortcuts and loopholes they rely on. And then I ask them to actually complete a few routine tasks on spot. From start to finish. That’s when insights emerge, and that’s when you might notice that the things said and the things done are not necessarily the same thing. And: you might not need to ask users to speak loudly about their experience. No ongoing conversation, no answers, no confirmation — keep it as realistic as possible, and in the setting that the customers are actually used to. 🗃️ Useful resources: UX Research Templates, by Odette Jansen https://lnkd.in/ekMDU9yJ Usability Testing Notion Templates (Script + Report), by Slava Shestopalov https://lnkd.in/gZyBtK6u Remote UX Workshop Activities, by Jordan Bowman https://lnkd.in/e8wSMVwC UX Workshop Scripts + Templates https://theuxcookbook.com UX Research Field Guide (Books + Templates), by UserInterviews https://lnkd.in/e4Ygsyuu Complete Guide to UX Interviews (+ Template), by Anna Savranska https://lnkd.in/eKt2WmrJ --- 🧲 Miro and Notion templates: UX Research Templates (Miro), by ServiceNow https://lnkd.in/e48nKzKA User Task Canvas (Miro), by Geoffrey Crofte https://lnkd.in/eFaD3Rmu Miro Templates For UX Designers https://lnkd.in/e8Hkp-ws Notion Templates For UX Designers https://lnkd.in/en_VBc6r #ux #research

📚 This study explors stakeholder perspectives on integrating AI into medical education curricula. The study interviewed 38 stakeholders including lecturers, clinicians, students, AI experts, and institutional stakeholders. It found diverse understandings of AI and its potential in medicine across stakeholder groups. The key competencies identified for medical students included 1) basic AI understanding, 2) data literacy, 3) ethics, and 4) awareness of AI applications. Stakeholders emphasized the need for practical, interactive AI education integrated throughout the curriculum. The study highlights the importance of developing a common language and interdisciplinary approach to AI in medical education. This is a good study to bookmark as you are considering where to start in curriculum development with AI. 🔑 Key Insights: 🧠 Varied AI perceptions underscore need for clear definitions and common understanding 💻 Programming skills viewed as optional, not required for all medical students 🔬 Practical experience with AI applications in medicine is crucial 🤝 Interdisciplinary collaboration essential for effective AI integration 🔄 Curriculum must remain adaptable to rapidly evolving AI landscape https://lnkd.in/esat-cib

Finding the right mentor can change the trajectory of your career. But in today’s job market, and especially when nearly a quarter of recent grads are unemployed, traditional mentors alone may not be enough. That’s why Alexis Redding and I wrote a new piece for Fast Company about the overlooked value of peer mentors, or what we call “mirror mentors.” These are the friends and colleagues who know you well, who can keep you accountable, offer encouragement, and share tactical support along the way. Sometimes mirror mentors can even be more helpful than senior mentors. They’re in the trenches with you, they understand your struggles in real time, and they often have the bandwidth to provide the kind of consistent, hands-on support that’s critical during a job search. We shared three key ways mirror mentors can transform your job search: ✔️ Sourcing opportunities, including the hidden job market ✔️ Providing tactical help, from résumés to negotiations ✔️ Offering encouragement and accountability when the process gets tough By building a small mentor pod, you can make the journey less isolating and much more effective: https://lnkd.in/ezJPbFWs Who are your mirror mentors, and how have your peers supported you in your own career journey?

Immersive learning isn’t the future—it’s happening now at the American University of Ras Al Khaimah. Over the past term at AURAK, my students and I embarked on a journey to transform traditional teaching materials into interactive, immersive learning modules using ThingLink. Across five departments—from AI and Chemistry to Biotechnology and Media Production—we’ve built something special: a scalable model for faculty-led, student-powered e-learning innovation. In this article, I reflect on our process, share real student projects, and explore the learning theories that guide this work. I also talk about why empowering faculty to design their own immersive content is more sustainable than outsourcing. I’d love for you to read, share, and join the conversation on how we can rethink education together. A big thank you to all the innovators and leaders from AURAK Cijo Vazhappilly Khouloud Salameh Prof. Irshad Ahmad Dr. Sara Faiz Mohamed Sharul #EdTech #ImmersiveLearning #InstructionalDesign #HigherEducation #ThingLink #FacultyDevelopment #VRinEducation #DigitalPedagogy

Stuck in a rut? Does coming up with a good idea feel like picking something to watch on Netflix? (every choice is mediocre, you end up arguing/scrolling for 2 hours) I have a few ‘good ideas’ to help. Here are 4 brainstorming techniques for UX problems. 💡 🧠 The HMW Reframing Method Start with a challenge—users aren't completing sign-up. Now, reframe it as a How Might We question—how might we make sign-up irresistibly easy? This simple switch kickstarts solution-oriented thinking.  Pro tip: Generate multiple HMWs for each problem to explore different angles. 🧠 The Intersection matrix Create a grid with user needs on one axis and random objects or concepts on the other. For example, "Quick checkout" meets "Rollercoaster." How could the thrill and speed of a rollercoaster inform your checkout process? It's weird, agreed. But you never know, you might end up with unexpected brilliance. 🧠 Reverse brainstorming Flip the script. Instead of asking "How do we improve user engagement?", ask "How could we completely destroy and annihilate user engagement?" List all the terrible ideas, then reverse them. It's a fun way to identify pain points and generate solutions you might have overlooked. 🧠 The 5 Whys You know this classic. Basically, become a toddler. Start with a problem statement and ask "Why?" five times. Each answer becomes the basis for the next "Why?" This helps you dig deeper and uncover root causes. For example: - Users aren't using the new feature. Why? - They don't know it exists. Why? - We haven't promoted it effectively. Why? - Our notification system is broken. Why? - It wasn't properly tested before launch. Why? - We rushed the development process. Boom. Now you know where to focus your problem-solving efforts. It also helps to begin ideation with the ‘hair on fire’ problem. Here’s how. https://bit.ly/4dHyjWl Let’s do opposites. What’s a brainstorming exercise you hate, and why do you think it doesn’t work? Looking to find some interesting answers in the comments! 🥸

Interactive content has emerged as a powerful tool to engage audiences and generate leads. This shift towards interactive experiences – encompassing quizzes, polls, and interactive videos – represents a dynamic way to captivate potential clients. Unlike traditional content, interactive elements encourage active participation, making the experience more memorable and engaging.   Types of Interactive Content in B2B Marketing: ✅ Quizzes and Assessments: These tools not only engage users but also help in segmenting them based on their responses, enabling more targeted follow-up. ✅ Interactive Videos: They offer immersive experiences, with clickable elements that can lead to product demos, webinars, or detailed information pages. ✅ Polls and Surveys: These are excellent for gauging audience opinions, providing insights that can shape future content and product development. ✅ Calculators and Tools: Custom calculators or tools (like ROI calculators) help potential clients understand the value proposition in a tangible way.   Benefits of Interactive Content: ✔ Enhanced Engagement: Interactive content holds the user’s attention longer than static content, increasing the chances of message retention and conversion. ✔ Improved Lead Quality: The data gathered through interactive content often results in higher quality leads, as it reflects genuine interest or specific needs. ✔ Higher Shareability: Engaging and unique interactive content is more likely to be shared within professional networks, expanding its reach organically. ✔ Feedback Mechanism: It serves as a two-way communication channel, offering immediate feedback from the audience, which is invaluable for B2B marketers.   Strategies for Effective Implementation: ➡ Align with Buyer Journey: Ensure that the interactive content aligns with different stages of the buyer’s journey, providing relevant information at each step. ➡ Seamless Integration: Integrate interactive elements with existing marketing tools (like CRM systems) for a streamlined process of lead collection and analysis. ➡ Consistent Branding: While focusing on interactivity, maintain consistent branding to reinforce brand identity and message.   Real-World Examples: ✴ HubSpot’s Website Grader: A tool that evaluates and provides feedback on website performance, turning a simple analysis into a lead generation opportunity. ✴ Deloitte’s Executive Quiz: A quiz designed for C-level executives to assess their company’s readiness for digital transformation, effectively generating relevant leads.   In conclusion, interactive content represents a significant shift in B2B marketing, moving away from one-way communication to engaging dialogues. With this marketing mix, B2B companies can not only captivate their audience but also gather meaningful data, driving both lead quantity and quality. #b2bmarketing #ABM #GTM #leadgeneration #PaliwalTalks #B2B #LinkedinCreators

Active learning is one of the coolest techniques you'll use out there. If you need to label a ton of data: 1. Take a small portion of the data 2. Label these samples manually 3. Train a model with these labels 4. Use that model to label the remaining unlabeled data 5. Select the most informative samples from the data 6. Label these samples manually 7. Train another model with the labeled data 8. Repeat until your model is good enough The key to this process is selecting "the most informative samples" using the predictions generated by the model. There are many ways to do this, but generally, we want to pick a combination of samples that increase the diversity and the uncertainty of the data we'll use to train the model. • Diversity: Identify any unusual, underrepresented, or unknown samples to the model. • Uncertainty: Identify samples near a decision boundary that are more likely to be misclassified by the model. You can build a model using Active Learning without labeling the entire dataset, and this model can be as good—if not better—than a model trained with the entire dataset. Of course, there's no free lunch: getting Active Learning right takes time. Creating a good process to select the "most informative" samples is not always obvious.

Earlier this week, I shared an AI-powered role play I developed with LinkedIn to help job seekers prepare for one of the trickiest interview questions: “What salary are you looking for?” Today, I’m excited to introduce another scenario that many people find just as intimidating: reaching out for—and leading—an informational interview. I'm a huge proponent of informational interviews, done well. These conversations can open doors, give you 'insider scoop,' and expand your network in powerful ways. But asking someone for their time? Knowing what to say? That’s not always easy. That’s why I created this new LinkedIn Learning AI role play: 🎯 Conduct an Impactful Informational Interview In this interactive exercise, you’ll practice how to: • Craft a concise, compelling outreach message • Guide the conversation with smart, curious questions • Keep the focus on learning—not asking for a job • Follow up in a way that builds real connection and momentum 🆓 Try it out (free!): https://lnkd.in/gGAgJDZX You can use text or voice—and get instant feedback to improve your delivery. 👍 Why I recommend it: If you’ve ever felt nervous about initiating a networking chat or unsure how to lead one with confidence, this tool offers a safe, practical way to build those skills—before it really counts. I’d love to hear what you think after trying it! #LinkedInLearning #AIRolePlay #LinkedInLearningInstructor #informationalinterviews

Navigating power imbalances and fostering psychological safety in brainstorming sessions can be a challenge for facilitators. I recall a CEO of a law firm who was hesitant to run strategy workshops due to past experiences where the Chairman's voice dominated the room, making it difficult for other partners to share their perspectives freely. I assured them that as a facilitator, my role was to ensure that everyone's voice was respected, heard, and valued. I'm happy to say it worked well. 😊 Creating a psychologically safe space is crucial. This can be achieved by setting clear expectations at the start of the session, encouraging respectful dialogue, and managing the room to bring in all voices in a way that works. Here are some ways I run an idea generation or brainstorming session. ⭐ Start by clarifying what challenge or problem we’re here to address. Do this by reframing it as a 'How Might We…’ statement - a common method used in design thinking. This approach encourages collaborative thinking and ensures everyone in the room can contribute their perspectives. ⭐ Another design thinking tool I use is Crazy 8s, a great way to generate ideas quickly (handy when workshop time is tight). It involves generating eight ideas in eight minutes, which pushes participants to think beyond their initial ideas and stretch their creative boundaries. - Give each person a blank A4 sheet. Fold it in half 3 times so you have 8 equally spaced squares. - Each person silently writes or draws one idea per square per minute. - Go around the room so each person shares their ideas. Each idea has its moment. No judgement. Most senior persons share last. - Pop them up on a wall. - Each person then selects their top 2 to 3 ideas. - Discuss the ideas and collectively build on them (encourage the use of ‘and’ and ban ‘but’). - Collectively select the ideas you want to action. ⭐ But what about those quieter voices in the room? Silent Brainstorming is a way to encourage those who prefer to work independently to have their ideas heard. - It starts with individual ideation, where everyone writes their ideas independently before the session. - These ideas are then shared in an in person or virtual session and built upon collectively in a non-judgmental environment. These are just a few methods to address power imbalances and foster psychological safety in idea generation sessions. I'm curious, what other methods do you use to ensure that all voices, not just the loudest, are heard and valued in your brainstorming sessions? Thanks to Adam Grant for sharing the Work Chronicles cartoon below. ——————————————————————————- 👉 If you're looking for an experienced facilitator for your upcoming sessions or workshops, whether defining a strategy, mapping a plan, or crafting your purpose and values, I can help. #facilitation #psychologicalsafety #creativity #inclusion