Hi Learning Cluster Design Community,

It seems like just yesterday we were recapping what was an unprecedented year in 2020, and looking towards 2021. While this year also presented it’s challenges, our Learning Cluster Design community remained committed to pushing the boundaries of traditional L&D to create better, more efficient, people-focused learning experiences.

This year, we celebrated one full year of delivering the Learning Cluster Design Two Week Practicum in a completely virtual format, and have now had over 600 graduates of the practicum since it launched live in 2015! We’ve had learning professionals (and quite a few non L&D folks) join from all over the world, and in industries such as healthcare, government, finance, legal, marketing, consulting, real estate and so many more. Co-facilitators Danielle Goldsmith and Sarah Cannistra will be back in 2022 to continue to facilitate and coach newcomers to the Learning Cluster Design model.

If one full year of the Two Week Practicum wasn’t enough to celebrate, this year also marked one year since the book Lisa MD Owens and I co-authored, Designing for Modern Learning: Beyond ADDIE and SAM hit the shelves! What started as an idea back in 2017, came to life when ATD picked up our book proposal in 2019, and a year later the book was born. Organizations from all over the globe have used the book as a foundation for creating modern learning, and it has even been translated into Italian (and possibly in more languages in 2022, shh!)

This year was also a year we became even closer as a modern learning community. Each month we hosted our free Modern Learning Monthly Dialogue and learned from L&D leaders such as Loc Nguyen, Pat McLagan, Jess Almlie, Karen Chambers, Lori McDaniel, Greg DeVore, Andrew Tiffany, Jeff Lowndes, Jen Zach and Enid Crystal. Topics ranged from social learning to technology that supports learning clusters to concepts like flow of work design and more.

Speaking of getting closer, we had a blast getting to meet many of you in person in Salt Lake City during the Association for Talent Development International Conference and Expo! In May 2022, we will be heading to Orlando and hoping to meet more of you!

This year was also the year the LCD team grew! What I started in 2020 with 0 team members has now grown with a team of consultants, facilitators and LCD learning asset managers.

Not only did the LCD team grow, but the LCD FAMILY grew as well! Austin Wayne, our LCD Client Success leader and his wife welcomed baby Logan this summer, while my husband Jeremy and I welcomed baby Niam in November.

And as icing on the cake on 2021, we took some time this year to redo our website, www.learningclusterdesign.com, and modeled it after what we do best – learning clusters! Check out the new site to learn even more about our team, our learning assets, events and so much more!

We are currently hosting a scavenger hunt to celebrate the new design launch and you are invited to participate! Scavengers that complete the hunt will be entered in a drawing to win a signed copy of Designing for Modern Learners Beyond ADDIE and SAM book that is co-authored by myself and the fabulous Lisa MD Owens! Explore and utilize our awesome website to help you complete the scavenger hunt.

You can find the 5 question survey here: https://lnkd.in/dxQrcMZi

So, what’s in store for 2022 you ask? We’re working on some really great initiatives to bring Learning Cluster Design to even more people, on an even deeper level! Here’s a sneak peek into what we’re starting to work on for 2022:

  • Learning Cluster Design Certification launch
  • More Masterclasses (including LCD for non-L&D professionals)
  • ATD ICE 2022 and other conferences
  • New changes to tools, especially the Track Transformation Action
  • More opportunities and avenues for folks to join the LCD Group
  • A chapter inside the next edition of the ATD handbook

And we’d love to hear from you! What are you celebrating this year? What do you want to see more of from us in the New Year?

Thank you for being a part of our Learning Cluster Design family, we wish you the very best this holiday season and a Happy New Year!