#16 - Mark Sheppard on Innovation in L&D Products, Processes, and Practices

Overview: In this episode of the L&P podcast, I speak with Mark Sheppard, a learning architect, designer, and self-proclaimed L&D “geek" about ways that that L&D professionals and teams can innovate their products, processes, and practices. Mark is the owner and founder of 2Sphynx Innovations, an L&D consultancy serving the public and private sectors in Canada and the US. With an impressive academic background and 30 years+ in the L&D field, Mark and I discuss a wealth of principles and practices you can use to change the way you consult, design, create, and lead.

Key Topics: In the conversation, we hit on a number of interesting topics relevant to learning and performance, including:

• Striking the right balance between efficiency and innovation in L&D performance
• The yin-yang relationship between learning and performance
• The role of emotions—both positive and negative—in impactful learning
• Learning in the flow of work
• Dos and don’ts of online instruction
• The value of full-stack L&D consulting
• Mark’s advice on being a freelancer/contractor
• The value of open-ended questions and challenging assumptions when working with stakeholders
• The many uses of LLMs for L&D
• Why context often trumps content when it comes to learning
• The crucial difference between gamification of learning and game-based learning
• The shortcomings of traditional L&D frameworks and some better alternatives
• Barriers to innovation in L&D and how to overcome them
• And much more!

Connect with Mark:

• LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/marksheppard
• Blue Sky: https://publictest.bsky.cz/profile/did:plc:jk4hydiju4stbfzvtamktpjq
• 2Sphynx: https://2sphynx.com/

Mentions and Resources:

• Performance as a function of efficiency AND innovation
• Role of emotion in learning
• Education vs. learning
• Learning and performance as yin and yang
• Bob Mosher - Learning in the workflow
• The roots of instructional design in the military
• Online instruction: dos and dont's - (1) The importance of having a co-facilitator for live online learning, (2) the importance of videos and office hours for asynchronous online courses

• Being a "full-stack" L&D professional
• Tips on being a freelance L&Der- (1) Being a trusted advisor, (2) having empathy for SMEs and learners, (3) thinking like an entrepreneur/owner, (4) focusing on solving problems>providing training solutions, (5) watching out for bad contracts, (6) engaging in regular marketing and sales and articulating your value prop

• The role of powerful questions (e.g., "how might we") in building trust, challenging assumptions, and creating better solutions
• Importance of pre-boarding to successful onboarding
• The value of LLMs for L&D - (1) knowledge management, (2) time saving, (3) content design and development, (4) sounding board, (5) thought partner, (6) devil's advocate, (7) needs analysis and evaluation, (8) data analysis and insights
• LLM watch outs - too much focus on content production>process
• The role of play and fun in learning
• Performance analysis and improvement - Guy Wallace, Geary Rummler, Joe Harless, W. Edwards Deming

• Microlearning
• Performance support
• Importance of context and activities>content and events
• Iterative L&D - agile, rapid prototyping, SAM
• The Kirkpatrick Framework and its shortcomings
• The CIPP Evaluation Framework (Context-Input-Process-Problem)
• Will Thalheimer's Learning Transfer Evaluation Model
• The ADDIE Framework - a macro doctrine, NOT a process or project plan
• 3 targets of innovation for L&D - (1) Product, (2) Process, and (3) Practice
• Barriers to innovation in L&D - (1) fear, (2) inertia
• Game-based learning/design vs. gamifying learning
• Promises and pitfalls of gamificiation
• The psychology of game-based learning - social learning, novelty, choice, experimentation/safety
• Conditions vs. constraints in design of games
• Dunning-Kruger Effect - mismatch between competence and confidence
• Yerkes Dodson Curve - Moderate anxiety as a beneficial for learning
• Importance of breaks and working with your brain in mind