Instructional Design
Applying learning theory and design strategies to meet specific performance goals through the creation of instructional materials and formal learning experiences.
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5 Immersive Learning Tools & Tactics That Don’t Require a Tech Budget
With or without sophisticated tools, immersive training is accessible to every organization that prioritizes meaningful learning experiences.
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AI-Native Course Authoring, Not Bolted On
You’ve tried AI for course development. The drafts came back generic, the interactions felt scripted, and somewhere along the way you wondered whether you were saving time or making new work for yourself. That’s the gap Mindsmith was built to close. As the first AI-Native eLearning authoring platform, our agent isn’t a wrapper around a general-purpose model. It’s built on instructional design principles, with structure, interaction, and visual craft as first-class concerns. In this live session, Ethan will start with raw source material like SME notes, a slide deck, or a PDF, and build a finished, interactive, instructionally sound course…
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Why AI Needs Vygotsky: The Case for AI-Based Intentional Friction
The absence of desirable difficulty in AI interactions effectively ignores the biology of human learning.
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DevLearn 2026 Program Is Live: Explore What’s New
The DevLearn 2026 program is officially live—bringing with it an expanded, forward-thinking lineup designed to help learning professionals reimagine their learning strategies and drive real impact across their organizations. As North America’s largest learning technologies event, DevLearn continues to bring 200+ sessions, three powerful keynotes, and unmatched opportunities for hands-on learning and connection. But this year, the program features several exciting updates that reflect where the industry is heading and what professionals need right now. New track topics: expanding the learning landscape DevLearn 2026 introduces new track topics that reflect the growing scope of learning and development: These new additions join DevLearn’s comprehensive lineup of topic areas, all designed to help you stay ahead of change,…
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Be Concrete! Why Simple Language Matters in the AI Age
The common goal though—and especially the goal of leaders—stays the same: The messages should persuade and lead to action. To achieve that, recipients must understand them.
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Bringing Game-Based Learning into Everyday Practice
Game-based learning is about applying well-known mechanics to make training more motivating and practical. Anyone can use these methods without special tech. Focus on the mechanics themselves to create a meaningful learning experience.
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Why Attendees Love DevLearn
What makes DevLearn such a standout experience? Attendees from last year’s event told us what they loved, and to no surprise it’s not just one thing. It’s the energy, the ideas, and the people. It starts with inspiration DevLearn sets the tone right away. Attendees highlighted the opening keynote and general sessions as energizing and idea-filled, offering fresh perspectives they could immediately apply and new ways of thinking about learning and development. There’s always something new to discover From engaging sessions to the buzz of the Expo Hall, there’s no shortage of things to explore. Attendees loved discovering new tools, diving into topics like AI, and seeing how others are approaching similar challenges. The DevLearn environment introduces new ideas at every…
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Play Is the Method, Not the Motivation
Graded environments incentivize defensiveness and performance; games incentivize experimentation.
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The Thirty Under Program Returns in 2026…to DevLearn!
The Learning Guild’s Thirty Under 30 program is back for 2026, and this year it’ll be at DevLearn Conference & Expo (Nov 4-6). Designed to spotlight the next generation of emerging leaders, the program recognizes young professionals who are already making an impact in L&D, customer education, higher education, and other roles focused on adult learning, training, and performance enablement and development. Applications are now open through April 30. What is Thirty Under 30? Thirty Under 30 is more than an award, it’s a career-accelerating experience. The program identifies and supports rising learning professionals under the age of 30, offering them visibility, mentorship, and opportunities to grow within the global learning community. Participants are…
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Urgent Patience in the Age of AI
The future of learning and development will not be defined by how quickly organizations deploy AI tools. It will be defined by how well their learning systems continue to evolve once their expertise becomes observable.