The Ding-O-Meter

Tom Whitford is Head of Learning Design at Curio, a global learning consultancy, and he has a research background in designing social online learning experiences and communities. He also has a lot of experience of working with clients to solve problems arising from poor learning design. In this episode, Tom shares his advice and tips for ensuring that online learning design is not only student-centred, but also meets the needs of tutors too.

For nearly 20 years, Professor Constance Steinkuehler has undertaken research into video and online games. She's worked as a policy advisor to the Obama presidency, and she's a leading light in the quest for greater diversity and inclusion in the world of e-sports. In this episode, Professor Steinkuehler shares some key insights into the transformative potential of online gaming, and shows how learning design could benefit from the inclusion of more game mechanics.

Paul Hoskins is Principal at Curio, a global higher education consultancy. Paul has been at the forefront of digital transformation in Higher Education for over 30 years, during which he grew Precedent, his digital agency, into a global education consulting business. The reason were so chuffed to plug Paul into the Ding-O-Meter is that, as Principal of Curio, he has a privileged insight into the challenges and opportunities currently facing Higher Education at a global level. In this episode, Paul highlights key opportunities for universities to help them weather the challenging conditions currently facing the sector.

Jo Nolan is the managing director of cultural development agency Screen South, who connect artists, film-makers and digital creatives with funding opportunities to bring awesome projects and ideas to life. Jo brings people together from across the arts, heritage, leisure, tourism and education to form partnerships that create opportunities for the next generation of digital creatives. In this episode, Jo explains some of the challenges of managing creative teams and projects remotely, and highlights just how important a good conversation is in order for projects and people to evolve and grow. 

Jordan Buckner is a film-maker, artist and lecturer in animation. In response to lockdown, he moved his teaching into online spaces that his students were already using - particularly Twitch and Discord. The result was not only minimal disruption to students' learning experience, but also the opportunity to give them a window into Jordan's professional life as a creative professional. In this episode, Jordan discusses the benefits and challenges of moving his teaching into his students' online world, and considers how less formal online activities can help to build meaningful learning relationships between tutors and students.

Allan Atlee is Deputy Director at the Glasgow School of Art, and the former Dean of Academic Strategy at Central Saint Martins in London. Through his teaching work, management roles and creative practice, Allan has developed a valuable perspective on the challenges and opportunities currently facing creative education.  In this episode, Allan shares his experiences of how creative disciplines in higher education are responding and adapting to the COVID situation. 

Emma Henry is a learning designer who helps businesses develop products and apps that have a positive impact on learning. She's also a gamification ninja, and regularly helps companies align their products more clearly with learners' needs. In this episode, Emma reveals why gamification in online learning often fails, and explains what you can do about it.

Dr Emi Garzitto is a conflict coach and workplace climate specialist. For years, Emi has been doing awesome work in schools to help kids deal with conflict, and she’s now helping people and businesses adopt conflict resolution strategies to improve outcomes. In this episode, Emi explains how we need to be more aware of how to read our own and others’ body language as we all work increasingly online in order to mitigate conflict.

Meghana Bisineer is an animator, visual artist and associate professor at the California College of the Arts. Meg was supposed to be having a year's sabattical to focus on her research, but instead found herself stranded in London unable to return to the United States. In this episode, Meg tells the story of her journey and of how she's planning to teach online from the other side of the world.

David James is Chief Learning Officer at Looop, where he helps businesses use a data-driven approach to solving business problems with Learning and Development. In this episode, David argues how using data and a resource-based approach to supporting employees can help the traditional L&D function evolve in response to the demands of the digital age.

Helen Curston is a former broadcast journalist and BBC TV producer who now runs the TV Production courses at the University for the Creative Arts. In this episode, Helen shares her experiences of teaching online during lockdown, and offers practical suggestions for getting the best out of people while working remotely.

Francesca Maxwell is an award-winning artist who has worked with Wes Anderson, Tim Burton and Aardman Animations. She also happens to be an awesome educator who regards online learning as an essential skill for anyone wanting to work in the film industry. In this episode, Francesca reveals some of her secrets for providing awesome online learning.