The term ‘cracker barrel’ refers to the type of informal gatherings to share ideas and information that used to happen around the cracker barrel in an old-style country store. Now …
An Analysis That Won’t Slow You Down
Over the past couple of years, we’ve seen some back and forth on the topic of evaluation and the merits of ROI. Jack Phillips and Jim Kirkpatrick have weighed in, …
How Training Consultants Keep Up With Changing Learner Needs
You may have seen the recent announcement that Allen was named to TrainingIndustry.com’s list of Top 20 Content Development Companies for 2012. But what you may not know is that …
“Free Range” Education in Corporate Training
A recent article in the Chronicle of Higher Education cites Glenda Morgan’s findings that university students tend to be “free-range learners.” According to Morgan, this concept defines students’ tendency to …
Taking Yourself Less Seriously in the Corporate Training Industry
I’ve decided that laughter is my secret workplace weapon. I truly believe it cures most ills: One, I’ve found that in uncomfortable situations, beating someone to the punch with a …
Advantages of Long-Term Vendor Relationships
I think you might be surprised at the longevity of several of Allen’s client relationships—they span not just years but decades. Why does longevity matter? It’s something to consider given …
Tips for Effective Communication Between Instructional Designers and Graphic Designers
Graphics are a powerful communication tool and a key element of successful training; so many instructional designers rely on graphic artists to add visual elements that will bring their content …
Creative Partnerships for Performance and Learning Development
On a recent customer visit with one of our directors, I was struck once again by how each project we undertake is a learning and development experience, not just for …
Learning Trends: Highlights from the Masie 2011 Conference – Pt. 3
“Is Instructional Design Dead?” There was a great discussion around this question in one of the sessions. I am glad that the conclusion was, “No, it’s very much alive but …