I hope everyone in the Northern Hemisphere is managing not to melt in this weather. These temperatures tend to make us want to move at a snail’s pace to avoid overheating. And although things do typically slow down during the Summer months, we are just as busy as ever, and I have a few pretty big updates to share. First, if you click the image to the left, you can watch one of the first of several videos ASTD is producing for the Communities of Practice. In this one, I chat with my colleague Kristen Fyfe and share some news about upcoming publications, and also give an overview of the L&D Community. The video was fun to shoot, and the publications projects, which I preview below, are truly exciting. But first, our top stories:

• Virtual Learning and Leadership Development

• 5 Core Values of Mutual Learning Teams

• Why Survey Basics?

• Instructional Designers Sought to Help Children Learn

• Putting the "Design" into Instructional Design

• Training the Next Generation

• Active Listening Leads to Business Success (Member-Only Content)

• Develop RFPs That Produce the Best Outcomes (Member-Only Content)

ASTD is partnering with publishing house John Wiley & Sons, and renowned speaker and author Clark Quinn on a new book (arriving Spring 2014) that will examine the current state of workplace learning, what’s not working, and how to fix it. To help shape and inform the book ASTD is conducting a research survey, and we need your help! The survey only takes 5-10 minutes to complete. Please take a few moments and contribute to this unique and important project. As a thank you for your time, we will send you a copy of the final survey results.

Next up, the new ASTD Press book Teach With Style offers a unique take on classroom facilitation. The authors, Jim Teeters and Lynn Hodges, have years of experience in front of classrooms, from K-12 to the workplace. In the book, they shape that experience into a model for facilitators to identify and harness their own natural style of instruction. The best thing about this book is that it contains dozens of facilitation tips and tactics, including ideas for games, role-play exercises, and other techniques for adult learners. Get a sample of the book with this free chapter, plus a self-assessment for facilitators. Stay tuned for a webcast with the authors in November 2013.

And lastly, for those of you who are fans of Leaving ADDIE for SAM, more exciting news is on the horizon. A new SAM field guide for instructional designers is coming Winter 2014. This book will be a how-to as well as a hands-on workbook for designers, complete with checklists, templates, and job aids for putting SAM and Savvy Start principles into practice. We are thrilled to team up once again with the authors on this new guide, and I will of course keep you posted here in the newsletter.

Stay cool!

Juana Llorens

Community of Practice Manager

Learning & Development

[email protected]

@ASTDLearningDev

P.S. Do you have an idea for a session at next year’s ASTD Conference & EXPO? Are you ready to share your expertise with your industry peers? The ASTD 2014 Request for Proposals opened on July 8, and we are looking for innovative, creative presenters and topics. Make the 2014 event your time to shine. Learn More

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