I read several articles and blog posts daily as part of my ongoing professional development. Each week, I curate a few of my favorites, including a brief introduction explaining why I find the article valuable and recommend you read it.
Here's a summary of this week's content:
- Why prioritizing professional development benefits your career growth
- How inclusive teaching strategies enhance online learner success
- What to include in a tailored e-learning QA checklist
- How to measure L&D’s long-term business impact
- What L&D challenges in 2025 require strategic solutions
5 Reasons to Make Professional Development a Priority
Barbara Lesniak highlights why making time for your own professional development isn’t just beneficial—it’s essential. She explores how ongoing learning enhances your credibility, increases your value within an organization, prepares you for new opportunities, and strengthens emotional intelligence. Investing in yourself isn’t just about career growth; it also positions you as a role model, inspiring others to prioritize their own development.
Inclusive Online Teaching: A toolkit
Online learning can feel isolating, making inclusivity a crucial factor in learner success. In this article, Kelly McKenna, Leann Kaiser, Kayon Murray-Johnson, and Kalpana Gupta introduce an open-access toolkit designed to help online educators create more inclusive learning experiences. Covering course design, interactions, discussions, and assessments, the toolkit offers practical, ready-to-use strategies to foster equity and engagement in digital learning spaces.
What Should I Include in My E-Learning QA Checklist?
Quality assurance (QA) is key to delivering effective e-learning experiences, and a one-size-fits-all checklist won’t cut it. Raye Shilen provides a framework for building a QA checklist tailored to your organization’s needs, covering instructional design, visual appeal, functionality, and other critical factors. The article breaks down best practices to ensure your e-learning content meets high standards—every time.
Measuring the Long-Term Impact of L&D Initiatives on Business Performance
How do you know if your Learning & Development efforts are truly making a lasting impact? Ian Romero dives into strategies for measuring the long-term effectiveness of L&D initiatives on business performance. The article offers a structured approach to tracking outcomes, featuring real-world success stories and practical metrics that help organizations assess the sustained value of their L&D investments.
Top 10 L&D Challenges in 2025 – And How to Overcome Them
The future of L&D comes with big challenges—but also big opportunities. Paul Schneider explores key issues facing the industry in 2025, including the strategic use of AI, boosting learner engagement, and scaling personalized learning experiences. The article provides actionable solutions, from integrating AI into your tech stack to designing bite-sized, adaptable learning content that meets the evolving needs of modern learners.