#TLB 21🧠 Making Cohort-Based Learning (CBL) effective

A by-weekly inside scoop on all the hottest events, juicy discussions, and oh-so-many other exciting things happening in our dynamic L&D community. 🧡

Hello Shaker,

We hope you’re having a lovely start to the new year! 💛

We are back with the first newsletter of the year 2024. Thank you for staying with us, as promised it will be worth it.

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Here’s all that you’ll experience in today’s issue:

💡Learning Bites: How to make Cohort-Based Learning (CBL) effective if you’re just starting with it.

🗓️ Community Calendar: Be a part of events like Designing Brain-Friendly Learning for Lasting Impact and many more.

🖌️ Community Creations: A chance to drop in your Community Wish for 2024 and learn about the In-Person L&D SHAKERS Conference.

🔖 Resource Reel: A collection of resources on Change.

🎤 Shaker's Stage: This week’s stage is taken by Tim Horgan.

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Learning Bites 💡

For this issue’s Learning Bites, I explored the power of Cohort-Based Learning for adults. Unpacking three key takeaways, and uncovering why this method stands out and how can we connect these insights to real-world impact when crafting a learning journey.

Before sharing the takeaways and insights, let’s understand what does Cohort-Based Learning mean in the words of the podcaster: “Cohort-based learning is an approach where learners journey together through a course or program, forming a “cohort”. This isn't just about learning alongside others; it's about creating a vibrant community of learners who interact and support each other.”

Here are my top three takeaways:

1. Familiarity Matters:

• Think of cohort-based learning like your favourite old hoodie—it's comfy, familiar, and fits just right. Adults, just like everyone else, find comfort in the known. Familiarity eases them into learning without feeling like they're starting from scratch.

2. Connect for Real:

• We all crave connection, especially in a world that sometimes feels too fast. Cohort-based learning isn't just about learning in parallel; it's about forming a tight-knit community. Encourage discussions, peer reviews, and collaboration. This connectedness isn’t just for the course; it's a gateway to like-minded friends. It’s like finding your tribe, making learning not just an individual journey but a shared adventure. Here facilitator or community manager plays a big role.

3. Support makes the Magic happen:

• Ever notice how a team working together achieves more? Cohort-based learning is your teamwork magic. Adult learners, just like everyone else, want to support and be supported. Make space for discussions, shared problem-solving, and tips and tricks. That feeling of 'we're in this together' not only boosts morale but unlocks creativity. A supportive community is the secret sauce to a memorable learning experience.

What This Means for Practice:

1. Craft with Care—Create Familiarity:

• When setting up your cohort learning, think about it like setting up your favourite room. Add touches that make it feel like home—easy navigation, a warm welcome, and a structure that feels more like a friendly guide than a rulebook. Familiarity is your recipe for a comfortable and effective learning environment.

2. Forge Connections—Encourage Collaboration:

• Building connections isn’t just a bonus; it's the heart of cohort-based learning. Design assignments that shout 'Teamwork!'—real-world challenges, group projects, and shared experiences. Let the learners see how the skills they’re picking up fit into their daily lives. Make it practical, make it relevant, and watch those connections bloom.

3. Keep it User-Friendly—Choose Tools Wisely:

• Imagine giving someone a complex map when all they need are clear signposts. That’s what it feels like with tools. Choose platforms that are user-friendly, mobile-ready, and don’t need a manual. Adults are busy; they want tools that just work. Make communication seamless, and your cohort will thank you for not adding unnecessary hurdles to their learning journey.

That’s all Shakers! If you want to share your experience of designing Cohort-Based Learning and how you created the experience using any of the above ingredients, then let us know in the comments or by replying to this email. We would be really happy to hear you! 😍

Coming Up Next

Community Calendar 🗓️

Our next events lineup is here! Join us for super practical, fun and interesting sessions and meet other L&D buddies. Register for events using the link below!

Register for the events below! 👇

Community Creations 🖌️

🔮 If you were to have one wish for the L& Shakers community for the upcoming year—What would that be?

It can be project ideas, topics you wish to see covered in the events, challenges you have at the moment, and learning and connection opportunities with one another.

Share a little note in the #1- general channel on our Slack.

🔥 Guess what? It's finally happening – our very first In-Person L&D SHAKERS Conference is on the horizon! To make this event truly stellar, we're on the lookout for enthusiastic volunteers to join our amazing team.

Volunteer with us! Want to be part of the magic? Join us as a volunteer and help create an unforgettable experience for all attendees.

Cool Stuff You Don’t Wanna Miss Out

Resource Reel 🔖

This week’s hottest resources are:

1. If you are designing learning experiences that involve Change, then you would love this treasure trove of articles that our awesome Shakers shared:

• Who Moved My Cheese? book summary by Wisdom for Life that talks about a simple story of seeing change, anticipating change, and adapting to change

• Managing Change toolbox by HBR

• Ten Conditions for Change by Spark Wave

• The Prosci ADKAR Model by Prosci for facilitating individual change

• The Cynefin Framework by The Cynefin Co helps leaders understand their challenges and make decisions in context.

Community Corner:

Shaker's Stage 🎤

Let’s welcome Tim Horgan, freelance Instructional Designer at Tim Horgan LXD to take the Stage.

Someone who inspired you deeply:

-Is it okay to talk about someone that isn’t my mum or dad? Sure they inspired me in many ways, particularly my work ethic. But if I had to go somewhere a little more abstract, then it would be the jazz musician, John Coltrane. He went to extreme lengths to create something completely outside of what anyone had ever heard. It’s a case of inventing what’s even possible— and so that inspired me heavily when I was growing up.

What’s one lesson your job/profession has taught you that you think everyone should learn at some point in their life?

-After spending enough time in the workforce, I started to realise something very basic but very fundamental to how modern society operates. Every single thing that exists in modern society exists because someone took responsibility and made it happen. In L&D, this realisation is particularly important because it undergirds the purpose of the industry. An L&D program should connect an identified need in society with a worker’s capacity to fill it. Through skills and knowledge development, a worker is empowered to take responsibility for that need.

What underrated tool(s) are indispensable for your job?

-For graphics editing, I lean heavily on Figma. I know a lot of people prefer Adobe Illustrator or even PPT, but for me, Figma strikes a balance between ease of use and versatility. I do a lot of vector image editing so Figma is perfect for this too.

What does being an L&D Shaker look and feel like for you?

-L&D professionals should aim to not only train but inspire the users of their programs. An L&D professional should push the boundaries of their practice and create work that not only lends to the development of competency but also to company culture. This calls for creativity, thoughtfulness, and a never-ending will to improve. An L&D Shaker is capable of surprise in what they propose.

〜See you soon

Till then, keep spicing up your learning! 🧠🧂

Sejaal