Check out our sessions!

When training moves online, the rules change. You only have four minutes to hold learners’ attention—after that minds wander. One hour of classroom training doesn’t translate to one hour online. Designing for training online presents new tools and new limitations to factor into every project. All this change just as people are more maxed out on screen time than ever before. Get the basics of virtual design—everything you need to know to quickly create or convert training for online delivery. Discover shortcuts to design interactive virtual training that will delight trainers, audiences, and business leaders.

This crash course is for designers and trainers who want to convert or create programs that will be 3 hours duration or less.

Position yourself as a performance consultant in your organization and industry.
When performance is the question, more training isn’t always the answer. Learn how to eliminate costly training that doesn’t add value—and start doing the right training, at the right time, for the right people. This crash course gives you the skills you need to earn an influential role shaping training strategy.

Online meeting fatigue turns some people into Zoombies. But not when you leverage Zoom’s built-in tools to make training participant-centered! Build creative, purposeful interactivity into your sessions to sharply increase participants’ motivation and interest in training. This crash course models a repeatable process you can use to immediately deliver engaging training on Zoom. Up your confidence and comfort level using the Zoom platform during this fast, experiential webinar.

New to Canva and feeling overwhelmed by the possibilities? Spent years creating content in PowerPoint and Word and want to bridge to Canva? This 3-hour introductory session is for trainers and educators who have little or no Canva experience. You'll learn how to navigate Canva's workspace, use the three core tools (Design, Elements, and Text), and complete a real design challenge that proves you're ready to create. This isn't about exploring every feature Canva offers—it's about building confidence with the basics. Through hands-on practice and step-by-step guidance, you'll move from "I don't know where to start" to "I can do this!" By the end of this session, you'll have the foundational skills to advance confidently into the Canva Masterclass.

The skills you need to present like a pro to virtual audiences with ease! Like it or not, you are judged not only on what you say, but how you say it. And right now, there’s an extra pressure of presenting your ideas virtually. Online meetings, trainings, and pitches even challenge seasoned presenters because of technology and distance. Where should you look? How do you involve people from start to finish? Should the camera be on you very long? What do you need to do differently online?

Joy is contagious, and when instructors model it, learners feel it. In this session, we’ll explore why joy boost engagement and how demonstrating genuine joy transforms the learning climate and deepens connection. We’ll discover how joyful learning experiences spark motivation and foster retention. Plus, how small shifts in tone, energy, and authenticity create psychological safety. You’ll leave with practical strategies to infuse joy into your design and delivery—because when instructors teach with joy, learners don’t just listen, they lean in.   

• Explain how an instructor’s emotional tone and joy influence learner engagement and trust.
• Recognize the brain’s emotional mirroring response and its effect on motivation and memory.
• Demonstrate facilitation techniques that create uplifting, psychologically safe learning experiences.
• Identify three strategies for infusing joy into training sessions that will elevate learning experiences.  

This session introduces a structured approach for trainers to hold brief, high-value conversations with stakeholders. It demonstrates how a 15-minute framework can transform routine check-ins into moments of alignment, credibility, and influence. Participants gain tools to communicate impact efficiently, strengthen relationships with business leaders, and improve the optics of L & D as a trusted strategic partner.

• Use a structured 3-step framework to conduct high-impact stakeholder meetings in 15 minutes or less.
• Demonstrate how focused, time-bound communication increases leadership trust in L & D.
• Develop a repeatable meeting template that builds influence and visibility across the organization.
• Position L & D discussions as strategic partnerships rather than status updates.

There is no such thing as an "average" participant. As such, when creating trainings, we need to consider the variability of our participants and how to design the learning experience accordingly. In this interactive session, we will explore how to leverage Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to design and facilitate trainings in ways that honor the variability of our learners and reduce barriers to learning. You will leave the session with practical strategies you can use to create more inclusive and accessible trainings.

• Describe the three main principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). 
• Describe practical strategies for implementing UDL guidelines in trainings.
• Develop an action plan for implementing UDL guidelines in future trainings.

Video is the new classroom superpower, and with AI, it’s never been easier. In this one-hour session, you’ll learn how to record, animate, and personalize videos using simple, affordable AI tools. See demos of platforms like Loom, Simpleshow, and JibJab, then plan or create your own short video for your next training. Leave with a clear workflow, a quick-reference job aid, and ready-to-use ideas for boosting engagement and retention.  

• Compare quick, easy AI tools for creating videos that support learning, engagement, and storytelling.
• Plan a short participant-centered video using at least one AI platform.
• Select the right AI tool based on cost, complexity, and training purpose.

Are you one of the many trainers who are handed a slide deck that cannot be altered? The sign of a skilled facilitator is the ability to transform a lecture-laden slide deck into an interactive learning experience. The result is a more engaged class and better retention. This session will model how easy it is to Flip It on the Fly. With a few basic supplies, we’ll turn content into action, so it sticks. 

• Demonstrate how to switch content from static to dynamic, participant-centered learning
• Create engagement tools by repurposing basic supplies to foster innovation and adaptability.
• Share personal experiences to shed light on effective facilitation strategies.

Good training sessions are no longer enough—learners crave experiences that inspire, engage, and endure. But what sets an ICONIC training experience apart? This session unpacks the principles, strategies, and methodologies that turn standard training into unforgettable journeys that drive performance and leave lasting impact. Drawing on real-world examples, proven frameworks, and practical insights, this interactive session will empower you to design and deliver training that resonates long after the session concludes. Whether you’re working with virtual, face-to-face, or hybrid environments, you'll discover ways to ignite enthusiasm, build connection, and foster deep learning.

• Identify the six steps for creating ICONIC training experiences.
• Discuss how to RAMP up the learners’ interest.
• Examine more than 10 ways to invite participation.
• Explore the BETTER approach to storytelling.
• Discuss simple methods for making learning memorable.

Many trainers know how to design in Canva, but few know how to present effectively within it. This session bridges that gap so you can ditch PowerPoint and present directly from Canva with confidence. In this one-hour session, you’ll learn how to share slides seamlessly across Zoom, Teams, or Meet, use Canva’s built-in tools like timers, music, and blur, and deliver polished presentations that flow naturally. You’ll leave with a comprehensive job aid full of shortcuts, pro tips, and best practices to ensure every Canva presentation runs smoothly — whether you’re live, virtual, or hybrid.        

• Learn how to effectively use Canva’s live tools—timers, music, notes, and blur—for seamless presentations.
• Explore built-in features that create flow, energy, and visual focus throughout your session.
• Apply best practices for sharing Canva slides in Zoom, Teams, or Meet for polished results.

Ready to boost interaction and engagement in every session? In this session, you’ll explore the most popular polling tools, Microsoft Teams Polls, Zoom Polls, Mentimeter, and more, to create meaningful, real-time connections with your learners. Discover how polls, word clouds, and quizzes can capture attention, check understanding, and make participation effortless. You’ll compare features, learn setup shortcuts, and gather creative ideas for using polling to spark energy and deepen learning. Whether you train in-person, online, or hybrid, you’ll leave ready to transform passive audiences into active participants.    

• Identify key features of leading polling tools—Mentimeter, Zoom, and Teams and their role in virtual engagement.
• Learn how polling increase participation and feedback.
• Plan how to integrate polling strategies into your training plan to make learning more fun, focused, and memorable.

Take your learning experiences to new heights by using themes with purpose, not just for decoration. In this session, you’ll explore how intentional theming can boost engagement, reinforce key messages, and create a cohesive learner journey. We’ll analyze when a theme enhances learning and when it distracts, review real examples that work, and design strategies to weave a theme naturally from open to close. You’ll leave with practical tools to ensure every theme amplifies your objectives and every session feels meaningful, not manufactured.

• Identify what makes a theme memorable and meaningful for adult learners.
• Distinguish themes that enhance learning from those that distract.
• Design a cohesive flow that weaves the theme through openers, activities, and closers.
• Use AI tools to align visuals, language, and tone with your theme.
• Evaluate how integrated theming increases engagement and retention.

Unlock the secret ingredients behind learner engagement: the brain’s own chemistry. In this fast-paced, interactive session, you’ll discover how dopamine drives motivation, serotonin fuels confidence, and oxytocin builds trust. Learn easy ways to “dose your design” so every activity you create releases the feel-good chemicals that make learning stick.           

• Identify the four key brain chemicals that influence learning and motivation.
• Link participant-centered engagement strategies to specific brain responses.
• Design one activity that intentionally releases a positive brain chemical.
• Recognize and reduce triggers that elevate cortisol and block learning.

Ready to boost engagement without breaking the budget? In this one-hour session, you’ll explore free and low-cost tech tools that make participant-centered learning easy and fun. From collaboration boards to gamified reviews and AI-powered idea generators, you’ll discover tools that simplify prep, energize learners, and amplify results. You’ll leave with a curated checklist of tools and practical ways to use each in your next session, proving that creativity, not cost, drives engagement.

• Identify free and low-cost tools that enhance engagement and retention.
• Evaluate which tools provide the greatest return for time and learner impact for you and your content.
• Explore at least three new tools to improve interaction and collaboration for upcoming sessions.

Many training initiatives fail not from poor design, but from weak relational trust. This session addresses that hidden barrier by helping trainers intentionally build the credibility and connection that sustain influence across the business. It provides a simple framework for mapping key relationships, strengthening partnerships, and earning advocacy for learning initiatives. The practical benefit: trainers gain the relational leverage needed to turn good programs into lasting organizational change.   

• Define relational capital and its impact on training effectiveness and organizational trust.
• Identify key stakeholders and map influence networks within the business.
• Apply strategies to build credibility and maintain strong partnerships over time.
• Recognize behaviors that erode relational trust and replace them with trust-building actions.
• Develop a personal plan for expanding relational capital to increase L & D’s strategic influence.

Psychological safety is the fertile ground in which learning grows. In this session, we'll explore how the brain’s chemistry shapes trust, openness, and engagement, and how fear or uncertainty can shut it down. Then, using practical, participant-centered strategies, we’ll learn to calm threat responses, spark curiosity, and create spaces where confidence takes root. Through short discussions and reflection, we’ll discover how to design experiences that let every learner feel safe enough to share, grow, and have their learning "bear fruit" back on the job.      

• Define psychological safety
• Explain its importance in learning environments
• Identify barriers, or “weeds”, that inhibit trust and engagement online
• Apply strategies, or “garden tools”, to cultivate trust and encourage participation

This session reframes traditional needs analysis through a business-performance lens. It equips trainers to move from collecting requests to diagnosing root causes and connecting learning to measurable outcomes. Participants explore a practical questioning framework and real examples that elevate L & D from a service role to a performance consultancy mindset, helping reposition training as a strategic lever for business success.   

• Apply a simple diagnostic framework to uncover root causes of performance gaps.
• Translate business challenges into measurable learning objectives that demonstrate impact.
• Practice reframing stakeholder conversations to focus on business outcomes.
• Strengthen credibility as a strategic partner through improved discovery skills.

Learn how to “level up” your ability to measure training effectiveness using Kirkpatrick’s Four Levels of Training Evaluations. Participants will explore simple, practical and time-efficient tools they can apply to their own training.  From quick feedback and learning checks to behavior follow-ups and results tracking, this session equips trainers with a powerful assessment toolkit. Power up and take your evaluation to the next level!

• Describe the purpose and value of each of the four levels of training evaluations.
• Select practical tools for measuring each of the four levels.
• Apply time efficient assessment strategies during and after training sessions.
• Design an assessment plan to use in upcoming training sessions.

Asynchronous learning is an exciting journey, and with the right tools in your pack, it doesn’t have to feel lonely! In this session, we’ll help you map out creative ways to make self-paced learning interactive, engaging, and meaningful. Whether your goal is to build a strong sense of community with shared projects like collaborative whiteboards, video responses, and discussion posts, or to foster individual engagement with bite-sized videos, AI-powered conversations, and self-paced activities, this session will prepare you for the trek ahead. You’ll discover practical strategies to guide learners along their unique paths while staying connected to others and the content. Perfect for trainers, educators, and anyone designing asynchronous learning, you’ll leave equipped to create vibrant, impactful experiences that make the journey unforgettable.

• Discuss the benefits and challenges of using interactive tools to foster connection and engagement in self-paced learning settings.
• Compare asynchronous tools designed for community-building with those focused on individual interaction to determine the best fit for specific learning objectives.
• Plan a framework for implementing interactive asynchronous tools into your own self-paced course or training to enhance learner engagement.

Laughter builds learning. In this one-hour, hands-on session, you’ll discover how Second City–style improv can build trust, adaptability, creativity and connection in your training. Experience improv games designed specifically for trainers and how the brain responds to play and affirmation.

• Explain the core principles of Chicago-style improv and their relevance to facilitation.
• Practice improv activities that build trust, adaptability, and engagement in learning.
• Access resources to expand your toolkit of improv-based training techniques.

In today’s rapidly evolving world, trainers are expected to design and deliver high-quality, engaging content at an accelerated pace. This session tackles this challenge by showing participants how they can leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) to expedite the design and delivery process. When well prompted, AI can streamline workflows, speed content creation for both virtual and in-person training, boost creativity, and improve learner outcomes. Participants will gain more than a dozen practical AI techniques to develop compelling learning materials, design innovative programs, and personalize learning experiences in a fraction of the time required by traditional methods.

• Explore key AI-driven tools and platforms that can enhance content delivery, engagement, and learner support. (This will include both free and for fee applications.)
• Identify strategies to leverage AI for more efficient content creation and delivery.
• Explain how AI can be used to customize learning experiences to individual needs, improving learner engagement and outcomes.