4th Edition: Creativity Faucets & Contemplation Around The Future Of Learning
Thanks for being here
Hey L&D fam, hope you’re having a wonder-full week!
Happy (belated) Halloween to those of you who celebrate.
Montreal’s getting chilly as we rev up for our famously cold Canadian winter (*dread*) but until then the change of colours around the city is pretty magical.
When I moved back, I contemplated living by the water in the Old Port - a charming area with a European vibe - but since 80% of my family and friends live within a 20-minute radius, I settled in a new part of my old neighbourhood, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (or as us anglos call it, NDG). Here’s a glimpse of Fall in all its glory:
As 2021 draws its final curtain, I’ve been reflecting on how every new experience adds a layer of depth to those passed, no matter how unrelated they seem - and how it rounds our perspective as a result.
Having immersed myself more in online learning through Twitter, CBCs like Ship 30 for 30 and Write of Passage, and now coaching instructors at Maven, I’m reminded of my time at Ubisoft HQ in Paris.
Our C-Suite regularly told us we are all creators and gamification makes everything more fun - including learning. I now have a deeper appreciation for the empowerment they gave me to take risks and generate new ways of doing things. It’s given me a greater sense of agency as professional development is being disrupted by new tech, creating endless possibilities to revamp the industry.
It’s an exciting time for L&D.
On that note, here are three gems I want to share with you:
An Experience To Inspire: Crypto College
Crypto College course creator Greg Isenberg recently hosted a Twitter space for 250+ people on how “the future of education is web3.”
The conversation amongst several speakers was largely abstract given the novelty of the topic but my key takeaway was they see web3 amplifying learning communities.
And while no one mentioned this explicitly, a fellow attendee later pointed out that Crypto College is essentially employing a traditional college application process within a web3 context. Meaning prospective students must follow three steps:
mint NFTs (prepare an application)
use their NFTs to unlock spaces in the course (submit an application)
access an exclusive community (be admitted to college)
Interesting, right?
I haven’t paid much attention to web3 or NFTs until now. But as education comes into play (specifically around adult learning and professional development) - I’m all ears.
How are you educating yourself on these changes?
P.s. Sharing is caring, so please send any resources you recommend my way.
A Resource To Consider: Julian Shapiro’s Creativity Faucet
Julian Shapiro’s summary of his Creativity Faucet analogy is one of the most valuable resources I’ve come across. It adds depth and rationale as to why it’s important to start with “shitty first drafts” and iterate toward your desired quality.
I’ve found it useful for:
designing programs and courses
writing educational content
helping students get started on projects
Next time you’re creatively blocked, give it a try (and let me know how it goes).
P.s. You can click the link below and save the actual image for reference.
A Question To Ponder: Community v. Topics
Circling back to the Twitter space on how “the future of education is web3”, one of the interesting claims made was “community is more important than the topic” when it comes to learning.
But I’m unclear as to whether they mean this in terms of attracting students to a course (ex. FOMO) or achieving desired learning outcomes (ex. peer-to-peer learning).
If I had to guess, I’d say this statement coincides with Sahil Juneja’s Tweet below. In essence, the desire to be part of a specific community (whether socially or professionally) is the ultimate driver of our desire to learn something (i.e., take a course).
What do you think of the claim “community is more important than the topic”?
P.s. If you’re open to sharing, I would love to hear your thoughts.
Thanks for reading my *fourth* newsletter
My goal is to prompt reflection within this vibrant community of ours, so I’d love your feedback on how I can make future editions beneficial.
Got an idea or burning question I could address? Hit reply and we’re off to the races!
Have a wonder-full week,