The EdUp Learning and Development Podcast

In this episode, Holly Owens and Josephine Coco discuss the journey into the field of instructional design and technology. Josephine shares her personal story of returning to education later in life, the challenges she faced, and the importance of mentorship and networking in the industry. They explore the value of pursuing a master's degree, the realities of freelancing, and the transition ba...

In this episode of EdUp Learning and Development, Holly Owens interviews Isaac Herskowitz, the Dean of the Graduate School of Technology at Touro University. Isaac shares his journey from working at IBM to becoming the Dean and highlights the importance of practical education in the field of instructional technology. The Graduate School of Technology at Touro University stands out for its practica...

Some might ask... What is L&D? In this episode, hosts Holly Owens and Nadia Johnson discuss their experiences and expertise in the field of learning and development (L&D). They share their personal journeys from teaching to instructional design and highlight the transferable skills that teachers possess. The hosts emphasize the importance of creativity and dynamic approaches in education a...

The tables have turned and our host, Holly Owens is being interviewed about her experience as an Instructional Designer and her love for teaching by guest host, Shriti Panda, Digital Marketing Specialist at Touro. In this episode, Holly discusses her journey from being a high school teacher to working in higher education and corporate instructional design. She teaches courses on designing online i...

Summary In this episode, Holly Owens covers navigating the learning and development job market, emphasizing networking, authentic connections, and the skills needed for success as an instructional designer. She advises job seekers to be selective and find their niche. Holly also compares instructional design in corporate vs. educational settings, noting differences in innovation pace and audience....

Payam Bina, the chair of the instructional technology program at Touro University, discusses the unique offerings of the program and its focus on integrating technology into educational and corporate settings. The program emphasizes small class sizes, strong teacher-student relationships, and hands-on experience. It prepares students for the evolving demands of the technology and education sectors...

Summary In this episode of EdUp Learning and Development, host Holly Owens and Nadia Johnson interview Nicole L'Etoile, the founder and CEO of L'Etoile Education, about accessibility in learning management systems (LMS). Nicole shares her journey from being a classroom teacher to becoming a business owner and consultant in the field of L&D. She emphasizes the importance of creating a p...

Summary In this episode, Holly Owens and Nadia Johnson interview Jean-Claude Brizard, the CEO and President of Digital Promise. They discuss Brizard's journey in education and his role at Digital Promise. They also explore the challenges facing educators today, such as teacher shortages and the need for support and career growth opportunities. Brizard offers advice for teachers who are conside...

In this episode, Holly Owens and Nadia Johnson interview Taresa Scott, the founder of Bleuprint. They discuss Taresa's journey as a founder and the work that Blueprint does. They also explore the importance of creating a learning culture within organizations and the trends in L&D and e-learning. The conversation ends with advice for individuals looking to transition into a role in learning...

In this video episode of EdUp Learning and Development, host Holly Owens and guest Anna Poli from iSpring discuss the updates and new features of iSpring Suite Max. Anna showcases the iSpring Cloud platform and demonstrates how to use the AI assistant to generate course titles and quiz questions. She also highlights the ability to customize the design of learning content, adjust column widths, and...

In this episode of EdUp Learning and Development, host Holly Owens interviews Dr. Angie Besendorfer, Chief Impact Officer at AstrumU. They discuss the challenges of the current job application process and the need for a more equitable and effective system. AstrumU is a data and insights company that aims to level the playing field in the skills economy. They help individuals create verified skills...

In this episode, we got interview the amazing Sean Jennison, the Senior DSP Learning Experience Manager at Amazon. Sean shares his journey into the learning and development space, starting from wanting to be a geography teacher to teaching English in Madrid. He discusses his role at Amazon, which involves developing learning strategies and delivering training interventions for last mile logistics....

In this episode, the hosts welcome Julie Dirksen, an instructional design and learning development expert. They discuss Julie's journey into the L&D space, her new book 'Talk to the Elephant,' and strategies for designing effective learning experiences that genuinely change behavior. Julie also shares valuable advice for transitioning teachers looking to enter the instructional des...

Summary In this episode, we got interview Dave Fano, the CEO and co-founder of Teal. Dave shares his background and journey, from studying architecture to starting a consulting business and eventually being acquired by WeWork. He discusses the challenges and lessons he learned as an entrepreneur and emphasizes the importance of focusing on your craft and simplifying the job search process. Dave al...

In this live demo, Kavitta Ghai, the CEO and co-founder of Nectar, showcases Nectar AI, their newest product. Nectar AI is an AI assistant that can be customized for classrooms, providing personalized help and feedback to students. The AI assistant can be integrated into the LMS and is FERPA and COPPA-compliant. It can access uploaded documents and use general or limited knowledge from GPT-4 to an...

In this episode, Holly discusses the topic of transitioning into a career in learning and development (L&D), specifically in instructional design. The speaker emphasizes the importance of being intentional and strategic in the career transition process. She suggests five key steps to take before applying for roles in the L&D industry: 1) identify what you want in a role, 2) determine which...

In this episode of Edup Ed Tech, we interviewed Dr. Katie Wolfe-Burelson and Marissa Gilbert from Anderson University. They discuss the Instructional Design and Learning Technology program at the university. The program is a 30-credit hour, 100% online master's degree that offers courses on various topics such as instructional design, online learning, mobile learning, and media development. Th...

In this episode of Edup Ed Tech, we interviewed Spencer Sharp, a Talent Specialist at Field Pros Inc., who specializes in recruiting for the ed tech industry. Sharp shares his journey from being a STEM teacher to entering the ed tech industry and eventually becoming a recruiter. He discusses the qualities he looks for in candidates, including the ability to pivot, confidence, and soft skills. Shar...

In this episode of Edup Ed Tech, hosts Holly Owens and DaNadia Johnson interview Dr. Phil Hickman, the CEO and founder of Plabook, an innovative reading technology that uses artificial intelligence, natural language processing, and speech recognition to help children learn how to read. Dr. Phil shares his extensive background in education, from being a teacher, counselor, school psychologist, assi...

In this episode, Holly Owens and Nadia Johnson delve into the intricacies of LinkedIn optimization, emphasizing the critical nature of establishing a polished professional profile. Key recommendations include utilizing a professional photo and cover image, crafting a compelling headline, and specifying your location. The hosts also advocate for featuring a portfolio or website link in the designat...

In this discussion, Holly provides advice on how to navigate job descriptions when applying for roles in instructional design or the learning and development (L&D) field. She emphasizes the importance of identifying the sector you want to work in, such as corporate, education, government, ed tech, or nonprofit. Holly also suggest that applicants should not be deterred if they don't meet 10...

In this episode, hosts Holly Owens and DaNadia Johnson interview Kevin Farmer, the founder of ReBeL, an EdTech platform that aims to revolutionize the education system. ReBeLuses AI to create a personalized learning experience for each student, tailoring the content to their interests and learning style. The platform also serves as a hub for educators, parents, and students to connect and collabor...

In this episode, we got to interview Josh Kamrath, CEO of Bongo, an EdTech company that uses video assessment to help learners demonstrate skills or competencies. Kamrath shares his journey from being the first employee of Bongo to becoming its CEO. He discusses the role of AI in education, particularly in facilitating personalized learning and validating learners' knowledge. Kamrath also high...

In this episode of Edup Ed Tech, hosts Holly Owens and Nadia Johnson interview Regnault Sanders, the founder and CEO of Schoolconomy. Sanders shares his journey from being a student to becoming the founder of an EdTech company. He explains that School Economy is a student success software that rewards students for positive behavior, which has led to increased engagement and a decrease in behaviora...

In a fabulous demo, Anna Poli, a senior instructional designer with iSpring, demonstrated the capabilities of iSpring's suite of tools. The tools include a demo of IPR, a tool that allows users to create interactive content, and iSpring Space, an online course builder and sharing service. Poli also highlighted the tool's AI capabilities, which can suggest course titles, create course outli...