We Love Learning

Janet Stewart

Founder and CEO

Several years ago, I was supposed to fly to Toronto, but there was a snow storm, and nobody could get there so I contacted the client and said, “I tried this new thing called WebEx. I don’t have a lot of experience with it, but I can send everybody a link and we can learn it together and probably still have the meeting if you want to give it a shot.” My client said, “That’s a great idea! Let’s give it a go!”

They were my first early-adopters and I’ve been working with them now for about 11 years, which is really rewarding. I’ll try something out and if it’s useful I’ll find a way to work it into a project. Some people are afraid of change and see the fearful side of it, but I see only the opportunity. I’m activated by where we can go and what we can do. And I like cool new tools!

I got into eLearning about ten years ago before it was mainstream because I could see that’s where the future is. Back then, few people even knew about my Instructional Designer credentials—it didn’t really matter to anyone, they just knew that I delivered great training. Now those credentials really matter because as an eLearning creator you don’t get very far if you don’t know how to structure a course – you can’t “wing it” like some do in the live classroom setting!

And there is nothing worse that the death by PowerPoint version of eLearning where it’s words on a screen, maybe a picture, and a “next” button. People just read and click, read and click, read and click. They don’t even have to move their hand, because the “next” button is always in the same location on the screen—bottom right. Rigor mortis could set in if it’s a long course.

You have to find interesting ways to engage the learners, so that they really learn. In our courses we always design the avatar of the target learner, so that members of that organization can see themselves in the course characters and say, “That’s me!” Everything is created with that main character in mind. In fact, when Alvin recently made some animated videos for one of our Certificate programs, he brought an avatar named “Mike”, to life and then we had to figure out: “Oh, what is Mike’s wife’s name? They have a dog – what kind of dog is it? What color is the dog?” It was really fun to see Mike and his family come to life.”

We have very high standards of innovation and interactivity, which is why we work with clients who are looking for a long-term partner to take their internal education programs and move with them into the future.

Carrie Walker Boyd

Instructional Designer

I love solving problems. I’ve always found it easy to see the clearest way through to solutions, but I never expected to become an instructional designer. I thought about being a teacher, but wanted to test the waters before committing.  I worked in a series of sales and marketing jobs the first few years after university. Then, in a corporate training course the light went on that said, ‘This is what I want to do!’ I wanted to help people learn how to do their jobs effectively and efficiently. So, I went back to school and studied instructional design.

My passion is helping people understand what it is they’re trying to accomplish, putting a name to the issue, and then deciding on the way forward.    I spend most of my time in the design/ development place, where the ‘magic’ happens, marrying the problem and the content with what the solution is going to look like.

It’s like teaching someone how to use a hammer. 

You could give them a manual and say  ‘Learn how to do this’, or you could apply learning principles and design a short yet meaningful interaction, including giving them the tools, a demo, a chance to practice, and an evaluation, so everyone is confident in this person’s ability to correctly use the hammer on the job.

Creating great learning is like solving a puzzle. There are a few right ways to solve it and you just want to see that aha moment in your client’s eyes when they say, ‘I got it! That really works. Thank you!’

Charlotte White

Digital Artist

I’ve always loved learning. I’m always consuming information through reading, videos or podcasts, either out of interest or necessity. Science, history, psychology, animals, arts and crafts, do-it-yourself projects, how to fix the brakes on my bike – you name it, and I’ve probably got a weird fact to tell you or can show you how to do it.

As a multimedia artist, I’m simultaneously learning as I animate, edit videos or design Infographics. Designing anything is a problem-solving exercise: What’s the best way to present this? What looks good AND makes sense? How can I keep it interesting for the learner?

I know that not everyone processes information the same way; sometimes you need to hear it in different words or see it with your own eyes. That’s why I love that I can use my skills to teach others by matching content with visuals.

Margaret Stewart

CFO

My background in both training and financial management is rather unique. For twenty-five years, I developed training materials for a wide variety of skills at Bell. I led one of the very first computer-based training programmes in North America, becoming an expert in that area. Computer-based training has grown into eLearning, and my extensive experience with the design and development of training materials enables me to offer valued input to the current development team.

As my career at Bell continued, I became concerned that large organizations would cut funding to training without realizing the negative impacts of such a move. I then took on the role of Chief Financial Officer of the Training Division, and for ten years managed budgets in the 100’s of millions of dollars, ensuring that training continued as a valued commodity and that it was cost-effective.

As the CFO at We Love Learning, I ensure that the Company is financially secure and that training projects provide a positive return on investment, not just for WLL but for clients as well.

Irene Caldwell

Instructional Designer

I had been teaching for almost twenty years when, a few years ago, I hit the proverbial wall. I was teaching in Amman, Jordan, and I knew I needed something different. It took me a little more than a week to decide what needed to change in my life – …a new country? …a different grade? …more education? The first person I wanted to tell was my mother: “I’m going to retire from teaching, I’m going to get a Masters in this thing called Instructional Design and I’m going to make eLearning for adults.” I knew she had been in training but that was the extent of it. Little did I know that Mum has been an Instructional Designer for decades!

So, after teaching in seven different countries including Canada, the US, the Middle East and Asia, I moved back to Canada to work on my Masters and began building training for the oil and gas business and international education sectors.

I discovered that I have a passion for crafting engaging and innovative instructional design that meets the needs of the client and the learners. As I learn the content fully, I am able to design and create training that not only educates the employees but eliminate problems by filling learning and performance gaps.

Good training is an effective way to build on a workforce’s existing skills and knowledge using multimedia, collaboration and even gamification. The results are measurable and impactful when ‘design’ is done right. That’s where I come in. This is my passion. Educating a workforce requires skill and flare. I have both. I strive every day to empower the people who work and live in my local and global community – through innovative instruction. I have a proven track record of directly impacting skills, knowledge and, ultimately, the performance of employees.

Confucius said “choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life” and I love learning new things for myself every day, and then creating learning for others that is exciting and fresh. I look forward to playing every day as part of my work!

Clarecia Christie

Cultural Advisor

As an international business professional working at the intersection of international market access and women’s economic empowerment, I combine my analytical talents and thirst for innovation with years of experience in international trade and development on everything from policy development to dynamic projects with multiple layers.

I have managed projects commissioned by regional and international development agencies such as Global Affairs Canada, in various sectors in the Caribbean region, Central and South America and I have even provided advice to an Ontario Cabinet Minister on sport and recreation, health promotion, poverty reduction, dental and mental health policy!

At WeLoveLearning, I get to use my skills to assist with export marketing, international trade promotion, international market research, project management, regulatory affairs intelligence and export coaching.

Jacqui Prospero

Jacqui is strategic advanced practice administrative professional with experience in several industries including those focused on environmental services, hospitality, information technology and healthcare systems. Her competencies include high level software/hardware operation, the administrative, and interpersonal skills that are requisite of advanced practice administrative professionals, advanced expertise in effective & efficient office management, written and oral communication, recognition and practice of professional values and behaviours, information management and problem solving. Her keen sense of an executive’s needs and focus on customer service, mixed with an ability to adapt to an ever changing environment, make her an invaluable resource.

Nanci Murdock

Project Manager, Website

In 2009, after a 25-year career in the investment and marketing industries, I realized that my true passion was building websites. I love bringing peoples’ ideas to life through good design, but only when good design leads to a good user experience too. We’ve all seen websites that frustrate the user and end up with dead-ends and broken links.

I love the site we’ve built at WeLoveLearning. The colour scheme puts a smile on my face, and the navigation is easy to follow. And, more importantly, the site is full of useful information and persuasive examples of eLearning (which are also really well designed).