Cindy Huggett, CPTD

Calling all Instructional Designers and Talent Development leaders, Last Friday’s ATD South Carolina learning event, we explored a familiar challenge in our field: shifting from “order taker” to strategic partner. In 𝙈𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙊𝙪𝙩𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙑𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝘽𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝘿𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙣, we looked at how to move beyond starting with what we are teaching and instead begin with how we define success. We also used the 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘅 to bridge the gap between training requests and meaningful organizational outcomes. It was energizing to see so many professionals ready to shift conversations with stakeholders from activities to results. If you would like a copy of the Instructional Design Matrix, feel free to message me. Building on this topic of visible and aligned outcomes, we are also exploring the formation of an ATD-SC 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗟&𝗗 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 focused on advancing influence and outcomes in our field. 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗟&𝗗 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽. Reach out if you are interested in contributing. 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝘂𝗽𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁? I am booking for Q3 and Q4 2026, and 2027. I enjoy sharing this framework and a wide range of approaches that help L&D professionals use backward design to strengthen influence, sharpen strategic thinking, and improve learning outcomes. Feel free to reach out via LinkedIn Messenger. Special thanks to Ty R. Graham, MHA, MS, Chandelle Anderson, MBA, Jada Addison, MA, MCCT, CPTD, and Kasey McClure #InstructionalDesign #BackwardDesign #TalentDevelopment #LearningAndDevelopment #StrategicPartner #TrustedAdvisor #ATD

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There have been a lot of posts lately about portfolios. What to include. How to design them. Whether they even matter. It made me rethink mine… not the content, but how I present it. As instructional designers, we are trained to be structured. Clear objectives. Organized content. Measurable outcomes. But what happens when your strength leans more toward creative storytelling? That is where ID Woman and my Case Files come in. Instead of presenting projects as static deliverables, I frame them as problems to solve, stories to uncover, and decisions that impact performance. It is still grounded in instructional design principles… just delivered in a more visual, narrative-driven way. And honestly, I am not sure how the field feels about that yet. So, I am curious. 𝗙𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀, do you think creativity strengthens instructional design or distracts from the actual learning solution? 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀, if you were hiring, would a portfolio like this stand out… or feel like too much? I would really value your perspective. I’ve shared a few pages from my portfolio below.

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𝗔𝗜 𝗖𝗼𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘀: Teresa is an instructional designer and facilitator with nearly 30 years of experience. She knows her craft. Deeply. But building custom scenario-based learning for clients? That was costing her 10 to 80 hours per project depending on scope. For her pilot, she built a strategic prompt, built on a framework taught early in the cohort. She ran it across three AI tools, and compared the outputs against her own quality standards. Total time from framework to finished output: 3.5 hours. Generation time: Maximum was 7 minutes. The HARD part — and she'll be the first to tell you — was getting the data right upfront. Gathering the content. The prompt prep. The front-loading. Once that was done, Teresa was off to the races. Her AI assistant audited her results and told her she had “shattered her success metric.” Teresa now has a replicable workflow, a tool selection matrix, and a universal stress test prompt she can use across every future client. DOMAIN EXPERTISE + AI framework = a force multiplier. This is the work happening inside The AI Fluency Cohort. The next cohort series begins on April 13th. What would it mean to get 70 hours back on a single project? Get the details: https://lnkd.in/eEdiFedT #AIWorkforce #FutureofWork #AILiteracy #AIinLND #AIinInstructionalDesign

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Did you know you can Vibe Code for Articulate Storyline as well? Create custom games and interactions with AI that work perfectly inside of your eLearning course? I have talked a lot about getting something you #VibeCoded into the #Rise code block but had someone ask about how to use the code inside of #Storyline so wanted to create a video walking you through how to take something from Claude #AI and use it as a fully functional page inside of Storyline. There are a couple of extra steps to do but I do hope that Storyline implements something like the Rise code block in the future where you can just copy and paste in the code or just import a zip. This however opens up a lot of possibilities still within Storyline, being able to create customizable interactions without complex triggers or logic. I took the game I vibe coded last week and got it fully functioning inside of Storyline. Full video here: https://lnkd.in/gQJt-hEX

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I teach people to use Blooms Taxonomy in resume development when helping someone to refresh or refine their qualifications. Using key verbs helps to articulate where you are in your spectrum of knowledge and clearly articulate it to your potential next employer. #blooms taxonomy #resumebuilding

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If you are new to Articulate Storyline, you can benefit from learning to build a course from a template. While that sounds like a great idea, you may not have enough experience to do just that. In this case, Allison LaMotte has provided a great tutorial as well. This template will help you build a gamified quiz. It will help you learn how to customize other templates to increase your collection and be able to use these templates to speed up course building.

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What do you like the most about authoring tool?🚀 👉 A standout authoring tool excels when it blends powerful multimedia support with flexible, brand-aligned design—allowing instructional designers to embed engaging videos, craft visually rich long pages, and maintain consistent branding through customizable layouts and styles. 👌 The best platforms also offer rapid update capabilities, enabling course content to evolve in tune with new product launches or regulatory changes. 👍 When paired with automatic translation or localization workflows, such tools empower brands to deliver dynamic, high-quality training globally and with zero compromise on aesthetics or intuitiveness.

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I came across this post from Tim Slade and Melissa Milloway, which sparked some reflection on my end. These two always get my brain buzzing🧠 🤓 This is a really interesting question, and having been in the industry for long enough to see many things come and go, I think it’s one we should be asking. At the same time, I can’t help but feel like we’re focusing heavily on the tools, while skipping over something far more foundational: the system those tools are meant to serve (that would be us, our brains, minds). Learning isn’t a content challenge or a tooling challenge; it’s a human process, and I see us getting further and further away from that, which is something to be seriously concerned about. I know I probably sound like a broken record, but I’m pushing this because it’s what will actually elevate the skills and tools we have as L&D professionals. But if we don’t understand the system first, then whether we’re using an authoring tool, AI, or “vibe coding,” we’re just getting faster at producing experiences that may not actually lead to learning and durable memory. So maybe the question isn’t whether authoring tools are dead. But are we advancing with it in a way that improves learning or just increasing output? These are my thoughts and feelings. Anyone else feeling the need for a balance in the force?

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Does this admin overhead resonate with your experience? Conversation with an independent learning designer this week: Her words: "I'm technically proficient with authoring tools. I understand instructional design. But I spend a substantial portion of my time on activities that feel like administrative overhead—reformatting, version control, technical troubleshooting." This isn't a skills gap. It's a structural problem. Traditional authoring tools optimise for production flexibility. But flexibility comes with complexity overhead. The question: What if tools optimised for expertise capture instead of production flexibility? Capture the knowledge. Let AI handle the production complexity. Expert reviews and refines.

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A brief overview of accessibility tools available in Canvas that support inclusive course design and alignment with WCAG 2.1 standards. These tools help instructors identify barriers, improve content usability, and design courses that better support all learners. This short clip highlights how accessibility is not an add-on, but a core part of effective instructional design. Video: https://lnkd.in/gbUrpqxy #Canvas #InstructionalDesign #Accessibility

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Why eLearning Courses Fail After 16+ years in instructional design, I’ve noticed something consistent. Most failing eLearning courses don’t fail because of the content. They fail because of the learning design. Common problems I see when auditing LMS training programs: - Unclear learning objectives - Long content modules with no interaction - Assessments that test recall instead of understanding - Confusing/limited LMS navigation Tools like Articulate Rise or Storyline don’t fix these problems. Strong instructional design does. Good training isn’t just content, it’s a learning experience. https://lnkd.in/eUDga4gt #InstructionalDesign #Elearning #LMS #LearningAndDevelopment #needsanalysis #learningstrategy

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🎯 Instructional Design is more than slides and standards—it's about sparking transformation. Whether I'm building onboarding for new hires or designing training that drives behavior change, my approach is always learner-centered and outcome-driven. ✨ What I’ve learned: It’s not just about what we teach—it’s about what they retain. Interactivity matters. Engaged learners are effective learners. Design is empathy in action. When we understand our learners’ needs, challenges, and goals, we build resources that actually make a difference. I’ve worked across education, corporate training, and leadership development—and every project reinforces one truth: great design meets learners where they are and moves them forward with purpose. 📚 Tools I love using: Articulate 360 | Canva | Google Suite | LMS platforms 💡 Focus areas: Curriculum Design | Adult Learning | Onboarding | eLearning | In-Person & Hybrid Training I’d love to connect with others in L&D, OD, and training! Let’s learn from each other—what’s a recent win or lesson you’ve had in instructional design?

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I'm still amazed how often “interactive and engaging” just means “build it in Articulate Storyline.” It’s a slide tool with triggers. Accessibility takes workarounds, updates are clunky, and suddenly we’ve spent weeks producing something that’s hard to revise and easy to outgrow.

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#Accessibility works best when it is built in early. Retrofitting accessibility at the end of a project is possible, but it is rarely efficient and often compromises the experience. Designing with accessibility in mind from the start leads to better outcomes for everyone. This includes #clearstructure, considered #colourcontrast, #keyboardnavigation, meaningful interactions, and screen reader compatibility. #Accessiblelearning is about creating experiences that more people can use confidently and independently. Read our blog about accessibility in #elearning here: https://lnkd.in/erNtXnrd

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Tired of hearing "it's impossible" when it comes to making drag-and-drop interactions in Articulate Storyline fully accessible? At ID Atlas, we believe in solutions! Our new project tutorial explains a method for building WCAG 2.0 and Section 508 compliant drag-and-drop interactions using a freeform slide with buttons (and LOTS of variables) in Storyline. It includes essential techniques such as enabling keyboard navigation with motion paths, implementing variable-based answer checking, and using effective alt text. We've got a working demo for you to play around with and a FREE .story template (just rename .zip to .story) to download and let you get a look under the hood! A big thank you to Art Del Rosario for his work in helping to develop this accessible interaction project. Full tutorial & download: https://lnkd.in/dVFdGCUJ #InstructionalDesign #eLearning #Accessibility #WCAG #Section508 #Articulate360 #Storlyine #IDAtlas #Freebie

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We've all been there. New eLearning project lands on your desk. Within minutes, you're thinking about authoring tools, templates, and animations. You're already knee-deep in Development before you've done any Analysis or Design. And that's exactly where eLearning goes to DIE. Development is seductive; it's fun, it's tangible, you can show stakeholders something concrete. But if you've skipped Analysis and Design, you're building on sand. You'll end up in endless revision cycles, trying to retrofit strategic decisions into a course that's already half-built. Read why jumping to Development kills your eLearning: https://lnkd.in/eUtTQ3VK

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Designing eLearning content doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated! Here are 5 FREE tools that can instantly elevate your course design; from visuals to fonts and icons. Whether you're an instructional designer, educator, or content creator, these resources will help you make your learning modules look as good as they teach! Check them out 👇 #Canva | #Unsplash | #Freepik | #Flaticon | #GoogleFonts #eLearning #InstructionalDesign #DigitalLearning #DesignTools #EdTech #ContentCreation #LearningDesign #OnlineEducation #VisualDesign #Vaidikeduservices

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I couldn’t agree more with this post from fellow Instructional Designer, Katy Lopardo. 👏🏾 In the Life Sciences—especially in Biotech and Pharma—I see this all the time: job postings that expect Instructional Designers to already be subject matter experts in a specialized area. Now, is familiarity with the subject matter helpful? Absolutely. My 20+ years in Biotech have given me an advantage in understanding how our industry operates—GxP expectations, FDA regulations, audits, you name it. That insight helps me connect the dots more efficiently. But here’s the thing—that’s not the core of our value as Instructional Designers. What organizations truly need isn’t a scientist who can make slides. They need a Learning Architect—someone who knows how to transform complexity into clarity, and regulation into relevance. That’s where we shine. We translate technical expertise into learning that people actually understand, apply, and remember. I call that the space where Compliance meets Creativity—and where we’re focused on making the mandatory memorable. Most SMEs are experts in what people need to know. Instructional Designers are experts in how people learn it. When those two come together, the results are powerful—learning that drives behavior change, supports compliance, and builds true competence. This idea is part of a larger conversation I’ve been having in my 3Cs of Learning in Life Sciences series: Compliance. Competence. Creativity. If you haven’t checked it out yet, stay tuned for more insights from that series soon. How about you—do you see this trend in your industry too? #InstructionalDesign #LearningInLifeSciences #BiotechTraining #PharmaLearning #SuttonCreative #ComplianceMeetsCreativity #MakingMandatoryMemorable #LearningAndDevelopment

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Storyboard_V1.0: “Looks great!” Storyboard_V17.0: “Let’s just add one small thing…” Every instructional designer knows this story. You submit your first storyboard. Clean. Structured. Beautiful. ✨ Then the feedback starts rolling in: 👉 “Can we add this? It’s important.” 👉 “Let’s include one more example.” 👉 “Maybe a quick scenario?” 👉 “Oh… and a short video.” 👉 “And this compliance point.” Seventeen versions later… Your storyboard has officially entered its ✨ expansion era ✨ Welcome to the world of stakeholder feedback, scope stretch, and evolving learning requirements. But here’s the twist — this is where real learning design magic happens. 🧠 Because behind every “small addition” is: ✔ clearer learning objectives ✔ stronger business alignment ✔ better learner relevance ✔ richer instructional strategy Iteration isn’t the enemy. Unstructured additions are. 😅 The real skill? Turning feedback overload into structured, high-impact eLearning design. 🎯 Be honest… What’s the highest version number your storyboard has reached? 👇😂 #instructionaldesign #elearning #learninganddevelopment #storyboarding #corporatetraining #instructionaldesigner

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