Writing Educational Content

Thrilled to share a cool breakthrough I had today with AI in learning. It’s a method you can apply to any event you curate. ✨ I was running a full day workshop on innovation for the Entrepreneurs' Organization in Winnipeg (thanks Samantha Duha for hosting me!) and I wanted to give the participants some async “pre-work” to get their creative juices flowing BEFORE they arrived at the workshop. 🧠 As an entrepreneur and educator, I’m constantly exploring new methods to inspire and provoke thoughtful learning in my workshops. ✏️ So I ran an experiment and created an AI prompt that attendees could copy and paste in ChatGPT (or Claude, or Co-Pilot), which directed the AI chatbot to have a focused back-and-forth conversation with the participant about the workshop topic before they arrived. 💬 For any optional activity before a workshop, I’d normally expect only 20% of participants to follow through. 🤷🏻♂️ But 100% of the attendees did the optional homework! I was blown away by the engagement! I’ve never seen that before! 🤯 So going forward for all my workshops and important meetings, I will always assign async prework with an AI prompt to stimulate ideas. 💡 I want attendees to come engaged and excited to discuss solutions to a problem, and AI makes it so much easier! 🙌 Try it out and let me know what you experience! *** Here’s a VERY simplified version of the prompt: 🟢 Dear AI, please ask me these 3-5 questions about my knowledge of this workshop on topic ABC [insert topic]. Wait for my answer to each question, before going to the next one. 🔵 [Then you, the workshop curator, should create 3-5 important questions you want your attendees to consider, and insert them here, Q1… Q2…Q3…] 🟡 Based on my answers, please identify any assumptions I’m making, and offer suggestions for any alternative perspectives. Keep it simple.

The ultimate guide to creating transformational workshop experiences (Even if you're not a natural facilitator) Ever had that gut-punch moment after a workshop where you just know it didn’t land? I’ve been there. Back then, I thought great workshops were all about cramming in as much content as possible. You know what I mean: - Slides with inspirational quotes. - The theory behind the frameworks. - More activities than a summer camp schedule… Subconsciously I believed that: The more I shared, the more people would see me as an expert. The more I shared, the more valuable the workshop. And participants would surely walk away transformed. Spoiler: they didn’t. They were hit-and-miss. But then on a leadership retreat in 2016, I stumbled onto something that changed everything. Something so obvious it's almost easy to miss. But when you intentionally use them, it took my workshops from "meh" to "mind-blowing": Three simple principles: 1️⃣ Context-based Learning People don't show up as blank slates. They bring their own experiences, challenges, and goals. When I started anchoring my content in their reality, things clicked. Suddenly, what I was sharing felt relevant and useful — like I was talking with them instead of at them. 2️⃣ Experiential Learning Turns out, people don’t learn by being told. They learn by doing (duh). When I shifted to creating experiences, the room came alive. And participants actually remembered what they’d learned. Experiences like roleplays, discussions, real-world scenarios, the odd game... 3️⃣ Evocative Facilitation This one was a game-changer. The best workshops aren’t just informative — they’re emotional. The experiences we run spark thoughts and reactions. And it's our job to ask powerful questions to invite reflection. Guiding participants to their own "aha!" moments to use in the real world. (yup, workshops aren't the real world) ... When I started being intentional with these three principles, something clicked. Participants started coming up to me after sessions, saying things like: "That’s exactly what I needed." "I feel like you were speaking directly to me." "I’ve never felt so seen in a workshop before." And best of all? Those workshops led to repeat bookings, referrals, and clients who couldn’t wait to work with me again. Is this the missing piece to your expertise? - If so, design experiences around context. •Facilitate experiences that evoke reactions •Unpack reactions to land the learning ♻️ Share if you found this useful ✍️ Do you use any principles to design your workshops?

Learning flourishes when students are exposed to a rich tapestry of strategies that activate different parts of the brain and heart. Beyond memorization and review, innovative approaches like peer teaching, role-playing, project-based learning, and multisensory exploration allow learners to engage deeply and authentically. For example, when students teach a concept to classmates, they strengthen their communication, metacognition, and confidence. Role-playing historical events or scientific processes builds empathy, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Project-based learning such as designing a community garden or creating a presentation fosters collaboration, creativity, and real-world application. Multisensory strategies like using manipulatives, visuals, movement, and sound especially benefit neurodiverse learners, enhancing retention, focus, and emotional connection to content. These methods don’t just improve academic outcomes they cultivate lifelong skills like adaptability, initiative, and resilience. When teachers intentionally layer strategies that match students’ strengths and needs, they create classrooms that are inclusive, dynamic, and deeply empowering. #LearningInEveryWay

Many people believe live trainings work better simply because people can talk to each other face‑to‑face, but that’s not the real reason. In reality, their effectiveness comes from something else entirely, they naturally follow a powerful learning rhythm. Great offline trainings follow one simple logic: action → reflection → understanding → application. This is Kolb’s Cycle. And it’s incredibly powerful. The problem? It was almost impossible to implement it in online learning. That’s why 90% of online courses look like “interactive lectures”: nice slides, videos, quizzes. But that’s content consumption, not transformation. And now - the unexpected twist. For the first time, online learning has caught up with offline experiences. Because AI removed the main barrier: it finally allows learners to get experience, reflection, and practice in a personalized way. Here’s how Kolb’s Cycle looks in modern learning design: 1️⃣ Concrete Experience — action Essence: the learner must do something, live through a situation, face a task — ideally experiencing difficulty or making a mistake that shows their current model doesn’t work. How online: role-based dialogue, scenario simulation. 2️⃣ Reflective Observation — reflection Essence: pause and think — what happened, what actions were taken, and why the result turned out this way. How online: interactive reflection prompts; AI coach provides feedback based on performance and the learner’s own reflections. 3️⃣ Abstract Conceptualisation — understanding Essence: form a new behavioural model — concepts, principles, algorithms that explain how to act more effectively. How online: short video lecture, model breakdown, interactive frameworks, checklists, interactive infographics. 4️⃣ Active Experimentation — application Essence: try the new model in a safe environment and observe the result. How online: AI-based simulation, situational exercise, case-solving with the new approach; AI coach supports and adjusts. The outcome? Online learning stops being “content” and becomes a behaviour tracker. A course becomes a training simulator, not a film. Kolb’s Cycle finally becomes real in digital learning. Do you use this framework? What results have you seen?

Not long ago, SEO was straightforward: Informational = blog posts Navigational = branded pages Transactional = product pages But that world is gone. LLMs (ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity) now dominate informational queries. Think about it: Instead of Googling “What is SEO?” People now ask ChatGPT. The result? - Fewer clicks to blogs - Lower traffic for top-of-funnel content - Faster content decay than ever before So what does that mean for your SEO strategy? 1️⃣ Informational SEO ≠ Traffic Strategy anymore. LLMs are the new home for general questions. 2️⃣ Transactional + Commercial searches still belong to Google. When people are ready to buy, they’re still searching Google. 3️⃣ Authority is everything. LLMs pull answers from trusted sources. If you’re invisible online, AI won’t mention you. 😉 The New SEO Playbook in 2025: - Publish fewer, better informational posts (authority > volume) - Double down on commercial and transactional keywords - Add structured data + FAQs to feed AI assistants - Build brand visibility across platforms (Google, LinkedIn, YouTube, podcasts) Informational search now belongs to AI. Transactional search still belongs to Google. The winners? The brands who balance both. When you want to learn something new, do you Google it… or ask ChatGPT? __________ 👩💻 I'm Fonthip Ward Please feel free to reach out for a friendly SEO chat.

Workshop design isn’t picking exercises. It’s storytelling. So this is how I recently created a 3-part workshop series for 200 participants: I HATE clunky workshops. They're annoying and they make it harder to learn. Here's why: • No direction means information is less intuitive. • No clear purpose means you've got no....purpose... • Poor pacing rushes crucial insights or drags simple stuff The solution? Design your workshop like a story arc. Pt. 1 Start with the narrative setup On my whiteboard I map out: 1. Left side: Current challenges 2. Right side: Desired outcomes 3. Middle: The journey between them Pt. 2 Visualise the flow Ask yourself: • What questions naturally arise? • Where should key insights click? • How does each realisation lead to the next? • When might resistance appear? Pt. 3 Layer in support elements • Examples that resonate • Practical applications • Discussion points • Reality checks Result? A workshop that feels whole and creates genuine "aha" moments. And the response from the audience was great: • “Thank you! Rob is an engaging presenter - just learn a lot from being in sessions with him no matter the topic.” • “Your sessions are always great - productive, insightful, engaging and entertaining. Thanks a lot!” • “Rob has been such a great and engaging presenter! Really enjoyed the session” • “Great session, great vibes from the trainer.” • “Rob is awesome and should get a raise:)” (the last comment was my favourite) What always surprises me about this approach is when you nail the story flow, timing sorts itself out naturally. It's like the workshop finds its own rhythm. What storytelling elements do/ would you incorporate in your workshop design? ____ ♻️ Share this with your network to help more people design workshops that flow as smoothly as stories 🚀 Follow Rob D. Willis for more daily tips to unlock your team's potential with clear storytelling techniques.

A couple years ago, I took a course that nearly broke me. Not because it was difficult, but because it was so boring that my attention span just gave up. That frustration sparked a question: What if learning felt like watching a blockbuster movie? I wanted to share an experiment with AI to create something education, entertaining and different. Version one im calling “BOOKS WITH CROOKS!” – an educational action movie that turns dry content into an adventure. Think tutorials meets Hollywood, complete with a rapping section (because why not make learning memorable AND exciting?). The real problem we’re Ignoring is regular educational content fails not because people aren’t smart enough, but because it’s designed to drain attention rather than capture it. We’re forcing engagement through willpower alone, when we should be designing for genuine interest. Actionable Takeaways for Educators & Content Creators: 1. Borrow from Entertainment - use storytelling principles to your educational content - think: What would the “movie trailer” version of this lesson look like? 2. Match Format to Attention Span - If people binge Netflix for hours, the problem isn’t attention, it’s engagement - play with narrative structures, conflict, and resolution in your teaching 3. AI as Your Creative Partner - Use AI tools to transform static content into dynamic experiences, go beyond the image. - Test different formats: video, interactive elements, text, even musical creatives 4. Make It Memorable Through The Unexpected - Want people to remember your brand? Add something surprising (obv a rap section) - Our brains are wired to remember the unusual, fully use that 5. Iterate Based on Engagement, Not Completion - Move beyond “did they finish?” to “did they retain and apply?” - If fans are struggling to remember your ideas, the content needs redesigning, not the watchers We’re entering an era where the gap between “educational” and “entertaining” can finally close. AI isn’t just a tool for efficiency – it’s unlocking entirely new genres of learning experiences. The question isn’t whether your content is comprehensive. It’s whether anyone will remember it tomorrow. The mad discovery for so far is the issue of voice consistency, not just visual...

𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐊𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐧𝐚: 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐮𝐦 In the battle of Kurukshetra, Krishna didn’t give the Gita to everyone — he gave it only to Arjuna, and only when Arjuna was ready. He tailored his message, used relatable metaphors, and taught with empathy. “𝐼𝑓 𝑎 𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑑 𝑐𝑎𝑛’𝑡 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑦 𝑤𝑒 𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ, 𝑚𝑎𝑦𝑏𝑒 𝑤𝑒 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑛.” — 𝐼𝑔𝑛𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑜 𝐸𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑎 Krishna embodied this quote long before it was said. He adjusted his delivery, tone, and examples — not to show knowledge, but to spark realization. Teachers today face diverse classrooms — some students are fast, some need nurturing, some respond to visuals, while others to emotions.  A great teacher observes the emotional, intellectual, and psychological readiness of the learner and adapts teaching methods accordingly. Each student has a different pace, background, and way of understanding. Teaching becomes meaningful only when delivered at the student’s level of comprehension. Krishna teaches us that real education begins with understanding the learner first. That’s the essence of contextual teaching — adapting your lesson to the learner's mental state, emotional need, and capacity. Example:  For visual learners: use charts, diagrams, mind maps. For emotional learners: connect lessons to real-life stories or feelings. For struggling learners: break down content into bite-sized, relatable parts. For advanced learners: give higher-order thinking challenges or open-ended questions. Practical Tips for Teachers: Do a quick readiness check before starting a topic: Ask 2-3 open-ended questions. Use multiple modes of teaching: audio, visual, kinesthetic, storytelling. Pair students for peer learning, where strong learners help weaker ones. Celebrate small successes to boost confidence in underperformers. Never shame a student for not knowing — follow Krishna's way: uplift, don't humiliate. #TeachLikeKrishna #ContextualTeaching #BhagavadGitaWisdom #KrishnaForEducators #ValueBasedEducation #IndianPhilosophy #InspiredTeaching #StudentCentricLearning #EducationWithEmpathy #LifeLessonsFromKrishna #LearnerFirst #ModernGurukul #KrishnaNeSikhaya #TeacherWisdom 

💡 Crafting Meaningful Workshops on Critical Thinking 💡 Over the years, conducting workshops on Critical Thinking has been an incredibly enriching experience. Today, I want to share some key pointers that have helped me design impactful sessions: ✅Know Your Audience Understand who they are and what they seek. A preliminary questionnaire can work wonders in setting the tone and understanding their expectations. ✅ Set Clear Takeaways Define actionable outcomes and use real-life examples to help participants connect with the concepts. ✅ Use Visual Aids Movie clips and relatable scenarios can simplify complex ideas and make them more memorable. ✅ Keep It Simple Avoid overwhelming participants with excessive content. Clarity and focus are key to driving engagement. ✅ Encourage Interaction Interactive sessions foster meaningful engagement. Incorporating team activities and simple challenges can spark critical thinking, push participants beyond their usual perspectives, and build acceptance of diverse views without bias. Here’s why this approach works: 1️⃣ It helps participants open their minds and stretch their thinking. 2️⃣ It encourages collaboration, fostering an environment of mutual respect and understanding. 💡 Bonus Tip: Pairing Up with a Buddy A workplace buddy can be a game-changer! They provide ongoing support, enabling participants to share ideas, navigate challenges, and find better solutions together—even after the workshop ends. Ultimately, the goal is to inspire open-mindedness and cultivate quality thinking that participants can carry into their professional and personal lives. What strategies have you found effective in driving critical thinking or engaging audiences? Let’s exchange ideas! Dr. Neepa Choksi, Energy Healer, Personal Development Coach #personaldevelopment #criticalthinking #leadership #challenge #openmind

We’re moving from D2C to D2LLM2C. Your content no longer goes straight to the consumer. It goes through a language model first. LLMs are now gatekeepers, shaping, summarizing, and delivering your message before a human ever sees it. For a while, content teams will write for both humans and LLMs. But soon, the balance will shift. Most content will be digested by the model—not the person. And when that happens, marketers will demand 1. Control over how messages are interpreted 2. Insight into what LLMs are saying about their brand 3. New metrics (beyond clicks and shares) → Think: AI fidelity and prompt-time positioning The AI layer is already here and it’s not just a channel. it’s the front door to your brand. Are you ready to market to the machine?