Hi, I’m Linda. Thanks so much for checking out the first edition of my Linda Be Learning newsletter. If you are just discovering me, I encourage you to check out my website to learn more about the work I do in the field of learning innovation.

In this newsletter, you will get a taste of the broad array of learning innovations I work on and topics I address, from metaverses to psychomotor learning via reciprocal inhibition to AI-powered accessibility to classic learning theory.

So let’s dig in!

Featured Clients, Partners and Projects

Each month, I will be featuring a client, partner or project involved in building inspiring learning technology. This month, I’m featuring Hyperspace.

Hyperspace

Hyperspace is an intuitive “no code” metaverse platform that learning developers and event planners can use to build their own private, virtual worlds. I recently completed a Review and Recommend client report recommending using Hyperspace for proof-of-concept roleplaying a clinical therapy session.

In this video, you see me interacting with an AI-powered avatar to practice active listening skills. But honestly, watching a video doesn’t do it justice. It’s best experienced as an immersive experience. When you request a demo, that’s the option I would recommend, so you can experience it for yourself.

And if you are interested in exploring working with me to help you design your Hyperspace experience, I encourage you to set up some time on my Calendly.

Tech to Get Excited About

I am always discovering and exploring new tech. Sometimes, it’s tech I am actively learning or using with a client. Other times, I like to highlight tech that I’m not working with currently, but love its potential. This month, it’s the latter, and the tech I’m excited about is the Exopulse Mollii Suit.

Exopulse Mollii Suit

The Exopulse Mollii Suit is a near full-body neuromodulation suit that relaxes spastic and tense muscles, activates weak muscles, and may help with relieving related pain. To date, it has been used to treat these symptoms due to cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalsia, stroke or spinal cord injuries.

A personal assistive medical device, the Exopulse Mollii Suit is a game changer in the treatment of these neurological disorders and related symptoms. The suit uses a physiological reflex mechanism called reciprocal inhibition, enabling spastic muscles to relax by sending electrical signals to their antagonistic muscle. The combined effect of relaxing tense muscles and enabling the activation of weak muscles allows its users to enjoy a more active and less painful daily life.

Watch it in action, and I challenge you to think of not just its impresssive rehabilitation impact, but also potential implications for psychomotor learning.

AI/ML for Good

As a proponent of AI and machine learning for good, I’m always on the lookout for companies and products that benefit humanity. Accessibility is an area where I have long held that machine learning could be leveraged for the betterment of humanity. This month, I’m featuring AccessiBe, which offers two products: accessWidget for AI-powered web accessibility and accessFlow for Developers.

accessWidget

accessWidget utilizes two applications that work together to ensure that your website is accessible. The accessibility interface makes design-related adjustments to the UI and the AI-powered process optimizes your site for screen readers and keyboard navigation.

accessFlow

accessFlow integrates directly into your workflow, bringing accessibility monitoring to the core of your dev environment and giving you the power to build inclusive and compliant digital experiences. A plug-and-play solution, accessFlow works with any workOS platform and doesn’t require third-party implementation or extra setup time.

Learning Theory and Learning Technology

Learning design isn’t just about pretty pictures and cool technology. At the heart of the best innovations is a thorough understanding and application of learning theory and proven practices. And when it comes to technical training, one expert I recommend everyone learn from is Ruth Clark.

Last July, I did a session based on Ruth’s classic text, Developing Technical Training, focused on the topic of far-transfer training.

Far-Transfer Training

Far-transfer training is usually contrasted with near-transfer training. As the names imply, near-transfer training refers to those tasks that can be trained the same way they will be performed on the job, as they are step-by-step in nature and rarely require any decision-making or judgment calls. Far-transfer training refers to the approach taken when tasks AREN’T performed the same way each time and DO require decision-making and judgment calls.

In the session, I compared the two different approaches, briefly described how to design far-transfer training, and described some of the implications these approaches have when it comes to AI and machine learning.

If you’re interested in seeing more, it’s one of my featured case studies on my website.

Upcoming Learning Offering

My next live training event is my What Is Learning Fireside Chat, scheduled for 9 AM PST on October 24, 2024.

Space is limited, so sign up today to save your seat. As always, expect a highly interactive session that is best experienced in person — watching other people interact isn’t nearly as impactful as directly interacting yourself.

That’s all for now. See you next month!