Unlock Success with IDOL Presents: Your Gateway to L&D Industry Insights

Sharon Tjaden-Burkes is a Senior Instructional Designer at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio. Since August 2020, she has hosted the IDEA (Instructional Designers and Educators Alliance) monthly virtual networking sessions, where transitioning teachers can hear from former educators who pivoted to Learning & Development/Instructional Design.

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Mike Taylor is a learning consultant, faculty member, and thought leader who bridges the worlds of instructional design, marketing, and modern workplace learning. With over 20 years of experience, Mike blends academic insight with real-world application through his role at Franklin University’s Graduate Instructional Design and Technology program. Known for his engaging style and widely followed newsletter, he’s a go-to resource for fresh ideas and practical tools that elevate learning experiences.

In this webinar, Train Like a Marketer: Applying Proven Marketing Tactics to Learning Design, Mike explores how the strategies used by marketing pros to capture attention and drive action can—and should—be used in L&D. Both fields share a common goal: influencing behavior. You’ll discover how to borrow proven techniques to boost learner engagement, create emotional connections, and transform training from “mandatory” to “magnetic.” You’ll leave with actionable tactics to design memorable experiences your audience will not only complete—but actually care about. No marketing degree required.

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An L&D consultant turned tech founder, Kate combines learning science with practical workplace realities to transform how organizations build skills. Her microlearning platform, trusted by 4 out of Top 5 Fortune 500 companies and validated by multiple research studies, helps teams create learning experiences that drive real behavior change. As the creator of MicrolearningCONF, she brings together L&D professionals worldwide to share proven strategies that move beyond "click-through" training to measurable business impact.

Microlearning isn't just about making content shorter — it's a powerful approach to create lasting behavior change and measurable impact. In this practical session, you'll discover how to design connected learning moments that build confidence through practice, while transforming typical training requests into strategic solutions.

Karl M. Kapp, Ed.D., is a professor, scholar, writer, and expert on the convergence of learning, technology and business with a focus on game-thinking, games and gamification for learning. Karl is an award-winning professor and author or co-author of ten books including “The Gamification of Learning and Instruction,” “Play to Learn: Everything You Need to Know About Designing Effective Learning Games,” and his latest book “Action-First Learning: Instructional Design Techniques to Engage and Inspire”. He is author of ten LinkedIn Learning courses with his first one published in 2014. He is a senior researcher on a grant sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and has served as Co-Principle Investigator on two National Science Foundation (NSF) grants related to games and simulations.

How do we design learning experiences that truly captivate and motivate learners? Drawing from Karl Kapp’s newly released best selling Action-First Learning book , this webinar explores how games, simulations, and interactive activities can transform learning into an immersive, hands-on experience. Join us as we dive into the power games and activities for fostering learner engagement, reinforcing concepts, and driving meaningful decision-making. We’ll discuss how these methods can be used to teach complex topics, improve retention, and create dynamic learning experiences that stick.

Blaine McLaren is an experienced professional in talent development and instructional design. With expertise in creating impactful learning experiences, he helps organizations enhance employee growth and performance. Blaine specializes in aligning educational strategies with business goals to drive meaningful outcomes.

Whether you're looking to launch your freelance career, find better-paying opportunities, or scale your business, this webinar will provide valuable insights and actionable strategies to help you succeed.