logo
episode-header-image
Jun 2024
27m 21s

David Guralnick on creating meaningful l...

Sprout Labs, Robin Petterd
About this episode

In this episode of the Learning While Working Podcast, David Guralnick, the CEO of Kaleidoscope Learning and President of the International eLearning Association, shares the potential of AI-driven, learner-centric environments. He also unpacks the possibilities of AI as a personalised coach, and the challenges organisations face in adopting new technologies. Plus, hear David's valuable insights on moving beyond traditional constraints to dream big and scale back, ensuring that the ideal learning experience is always within reach.


About David Guralnick

David Guralnick is the current President and CEO of Kaleidoscope Learning. He is also the current president of the International E-Learning Association; founder and chair of The Learning Ideas Conference; Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal on Advanced Corporate Learning; Chair of the International E-Learning Awards; and an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University. He is the author of the book "How Organizations Can Make the Most of Online Learning”.

Key takeaways:

  • Meaningful Learning Defined: it's not just about content or information. Meaningful learning resonates emotionally and aligns with personal goals, whether in the workplace, school, or life in general.
  • AI as a Coach: Imagine having an AI coach guiding you through complex scenarios, learning about your interests, and tailoring experiences specifically for you. David discusses the potential of AI to act as a mentor and facilitator, making learning not just efficient, but deeply engaging.
  • The Future of Learning: David shares some strong visions for the future, advocating for a shift from traditional, constraint-bound methods to innovative, tech-enabled approaches that truly reimagine education.

Chapters:

  • (00:00:00) Introduction.
  • (00:05:38) Progressive learning techniques and leveraging technology for education.
  • (00:06:41) Reconsidering education in the age of AI.
  • (00:09:50) AI's potential and challenges in near future.
  • (00:14:28) Early AI work in education at Northwestern.
  • (00:19:03) Created specialised authoring tool for non-technical users.
  • (00:20:02) Online learning constrained by tool limitations and coding.
  • (00:25:10) Start big, think AI, and what the ideal experience looks like.
  • (00:26:34) Accepting tradeoffs can lead to greater satisfaction.

 

Links from the podcast

Up next
May 2025
Think Like a Marketer with Bianca Baumann and Mike Taylor
In this episode of the Learning While Working Podcast, Bianca Baumann and Mike Taylor share insights from their latest book, ‘Think Like a Marketer, Train Like an L&D Pro: Strategies to Ignite Learning’, and dive into actionable strategies that L&D professionals can borrow from t ... Show More
32m 28s
Jan 2025
Measuring success in L&D with Alaina Szlachta
In this episode of the Learning While Working Podcast, Dr. Alaina Szlachta, founder of Design by Development Solution, explores measuring success in learning and development. She guides us in thinking like researchers to effectively gather data from stakeholders and align trainin ... Show More
31 m
Jan 2025
Transforming education through AI experiments with Dwayne Wood
In this episode of the Learning While Working Podcast, we are joined by Dwayne Wood, an associate professor at National University and an expert in instructional design for workplaces. As the landscape of AI, especially generative AI like ChatGPT, rapidly evolves in higher educat ... Show More
26m 38s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2024
The Most Effective Communication Skills For Managers with Glenn Pasch
In the dynamic world of management, effective communication is not just a skill, but a cornerstone of successful leadership. Whether you're leading a small team or an entire organization, your ability to communicate clearly, confidently, and empathetically can make all the d ... Show More
20m 30s
Oct 2024
#254 Career Skills for Data Professionals with Wes Kao, Co-Founder of Maven
Mastering the technical side of data and AI is one thing, but communicating those insights effectively is a whole different challenge. How do you make sure your data is understood, acted upon, and influences decisions? It’s not just about presenting the right numbers—it’s about f ... Show More
46m 22s
Aug 4
Making Sense of the Learning Technology Market with Becky Willis
In this episode, Becky Willis joins David to explore the increasingly crowded world of learning platforms—from the evolution of LXPs to the challenge of aligning stakeholders with vastly different needs. Together, they tackle what’s hot (and what’s not) in the market right now, w ... Show More
49m 47s
Sep 21
From managing people to managing AI: The leadership skills everyone needs now | Julie Zhuo (Facebook VP, Sundial CEO, The Making of a Manager author)
Julie Zhuo is the former VP and Head of Design at Facebook (now Meta), author of the bestselling book The Making of a Manager, and co-founder of Sundial, an AI-powered data analysis company. Also, my first-ever podcast guest over 3 years ago!In our conversation, we discuss:1. The ... Show More
1h 36m
Nov 13
A Practical Path from Roles to Skills for AI-Ready Teams - with Trish Vassar of Coca-Cola
Today's guest is Trish Vassar, Vice President of Global Learning & Development, who brings over 20 years of experience in talent management, learning, and leadership development. She joins Emerj Editorial Director Matthew DeMello to explore how enterprise leaders can shift from t ... Show More
22m 7s
Mar 2025
Designing Learning for Impact with Julie Dirksen
Too often, L&D delivers learning solutions that fail to drive real behaviour change. But why does this happen, and how can we design interventions that truly make an impact? In this episode, learning design expert Julie Dirksen unpacks the science behind effective learning and wh ... Show More
58m 31s
Apr 2025
Become a better communicator: Specific frameworks to improve your clarity, influence, and impact | Wes Kao (coach, entrepreneur, advisor)
Wes Kao is an entrepreneur, coach, and advisor. She co-founded the live learning platform Maven, backed by First Round and a16z. Before Maven, Wes co-created the altMBA with best-selling author Seth Godin. Today, Wes teaches a popular course on executive communication and influen ... Show More
1h 33m
Sep 2024
Mastering Emotional Intelligence
Welcome to another enlightening episode of "Accelerate Your Business Growth"! I'm your host, Diane Helbig, and today, we have a special guest, Laura Watson, founder and lead business coach at Venture Coaching International in Calgary, Alberta. With over 25 years of counseling and ... Show More
28m 32s
Aug 2024
Improve strategy, influence, and decision-making by understanding your brain | Evan LaPointe (founder of CORE Sciences)
<p><strong>Evan LaPointe</strong> is the founder of CORE Sciences, which teaches companies and individuals how our brains work and how that translates to improved collaboration, better products, faster decision-making, and more growth. Previously, Evan was the co-founder of Satel ... Show More
2h 14m
Sep 29
#324 Using Behavioral Science to Hack Your Customers Minds with Richard Shotton, Founder at Astroten
Behavioral science is revolutionizing how businesses connect with customers and influence decisions. By understanding the psychological principles that drive human behavior, companies can create more effective marketing strategies and product experiences. But how can you apply th ... Show More
58m 36s