David Kelly’s Curated Content for the Week of 05/16/17

This week’s curated content includes links exploring the following:

• the need to fuel our personal creativity
• why the lecture format may be dead
• a history of sandbox gaming
• the value of systems thinking
• what “value” really means in L&D
• A great resource for free images

Here’s the content for this week:

How Society Kills Our Creativity – In A Breathtaking Award-Winning Short Film via uplifted Life
This post highlights a short film called Alike. I share this film for two reasons. First, it’s a great reminder of our need to fuel our creativity and not allow external forces to constrain us too much. Second, it’s a great example of a narrative that doesn’t follow all the typical rules; consider how much is being said even though there are no words spoken in the film.

The Traditional Lecture Is Dead. I Would Know—I’m a Professor by Rhett Allain
Don’t read the title of this and immediately assume that the article doesn’t apply to you. Yes, the article targets the classroom-based lecture, and yes, the author specifically refers to an academic setting. But still read the article. When you do, remember that the problem with classroom lectures can often be extended to lecture-like elearning courses. Consider how the alternatives that are being shared in the article can be applied to your learning programs.

Roam free: A history of open-world gaming by Richard Moss
One of my favorite ways to learn is in “the sandbox”, a term used for an environment with few constraints tat someone can explore and experiment in safety.  This is one of the many areas where learning and games overlap. While games like Grand Theft Auto get most of the attention in the sandbox gaming space, these open-world gaming environments have existed for decades. There’s much to learn from their history, including less technical options that can easily be adapted to tools you’re likely using today.

Design Thinking Needs To Think Bigger by Steve Vassallo
While the title of this post talks about Design Thinking, I share it here more for the alternative it suggests designers focus on – Systems Thinking. The world is increasingly interconnected, and good design – and good learning program design for that matter – needs to factor in the interconnectedness of the environment and how what we’re creating lives and breathes within that ecosystem. If you’re not familiar with systems thinking, or want a refresher on the topic, this is a great read.

In Real Life: Modern Learning Is Spelled V-A-L-U-E by JD Dillon
An oversimplified goal for learning and performance professionals is to provide value. But in order to define value, we need to explore it in context. This article does a great job of doing just that, examining what value means in the context of organizational learning from the perspective of multiple types of stakeholders.

Visuals Matter: check these three sites for free stock photos by via Briavel Schultz
Finding the right images at the right price can always be a challenge. With many of us needing to do more with less resources, sites with free images can be extremely valuable. This post highlights three more resources you should consider bookmarking.

Interested in taking a deep dive into the opportunities mobile, games, and video present for Learning and Development? Join us for FocusOn 2017 this June in San Diego!