Designing Learning That Actually Works

 A One-Day, Evidence-Informed Learning Science Intensive

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OVERVIEW

Most learning professionals agree on one thing: learning should work. Where things fall apart is how often design decisions are driven by habit, preference, or tradition rather than by how people actually process information, build knowledge, and transfer skills into performance.

This one-day, highly practical program cuts through the noise.

Co-facilitated by Matt Richter and Clark Quinn, this session translates core findings from learning science into concrete design decisions you can apply immediately, whether you’re designing workshops, eLearning, simulations, or blended programs.

  • This is not an academic seminar.

  • It’s not a tool demo.

  • And it’s definitely not another “engaging activities” workshop.

Instead, the day focuses on how learning really works, why that matters for practice, and how to deliberately design learning experiences that align with human cognition rather than fight it.

“What must happen cognitively for learning to occur, and how do our designs either support or sabotage that process?”

Using the Human Information Processing Loop as a practical backbone, we explore how attention, memory, practice, feedback, context, and assessment interact and how different instructional techniques make sense only when aligned to where learners are in that process.

In general, participants will learn how to:

  • Diagnose where learning breakdowns actually occur

  • Select instructional techniques intentionally (not by trend or taste)

  • Design activities that create durable learning and meaningful transfer

Program Objectives

Participants will be able to:

  • Explain learning science in practical terms without jargon or abstraction to key stakeholders (at the appropriate level of detail, as well)

  • Use the Human Information Processing Loop as a design and diagnostic tool

  • Map instructional activities to specific cognitive purposes (attention, encoding, retrieval, transfer)

  • Design practice, feedback, and reflection that actually support learning rather than just “engagement”

  • Evaluate learning designs based on evidence, not aesthetics or popularity

  • Make better design decisions about examples, models, generative activities, and assessment

This is about design clarity, not design complexity.

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WHO SHOULD ATTEND

This program is designed for practitioners, including:

  • Instructional designers

  • Trainers and facilitators

  • Teachers and educators

  • L&D professionals and managers

  • Learning consultants

  • Anyone responsible for designing, delivering, or evaluating learning experiences

You do not need an academic background in psychology or learning science. You do need a desire to design learning that works under real-world constraints.

What You’ll Receive

Every participant will receive:

These are not promotional handouts—they’re working resources.

Cost & important Details

  • Date: February 26, 2026

  • Time: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm CET - full day program!

  • Location: Sparks, 60 rue Ravenstein - 1000 Brussels, Belgium.

  • Format: In-person, full-day program

  • Breakfast, lunch, morning and afternoon tea/coffee will be included

  • Cost: €399

    This in-person program is priced as accessibly as possible and does not allow additional member discounts.

 

Why This Program Is Different

This day is not about chasing novelty, it’s about aligning learning design with how humans actually think, remember, and perform.

If you’ve ever wondered:

  • Why didn’t that activity work?

  • Why didn’t learners retain anything?

  • Why did engagement feel high but results feel low?

This program is designed for you.

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MEET THE INSTRUCTORs

MATTHEW RICHTER

Along with running LDA, Matthew Richter is also the President of The Thiagi Group. He is a facilitator, game designer, instructional designer, and management consultant. Matthew has consulted and delivered training with many organizations including Grant Thornton, Twilio, VMWare, SanDisk, Redwood Trust, CenturyLink, Imerys, EA, Microsoft, Carolina Power and Light, IGT, Cadence Design Systems, and Sony. Along with his expertise in the delivery of learning and application of learning science, he is also an expert in the areas of management, leadership, motivation, and performance technology.

His book, The Leadership Story: A New Model for Leadership, was published in 2016. In 2020, he co-authored, LOLA: Live Online Learning Activities with his Thiagi Group partner, Sivasailam Thiagarajan (Thiagi). In 2024, the two were at it again, publishing Interactive Techniques for Learning. In 2025, his latest book, The Five Factors of Performance, was published by LDA Press. And The Motivation Blueprint will be published in late Spring 2026.

Finally, Matt is also an <<auteur, intervenant>> and thesis advisor at EMLyon in France, as a part of their executive MBA program.

CLARK N. QUINN

Clark Quinn, Ph.D. provides strategic learning technology solutions to corporations, government, not-for-profits, and education organizations. An internationally known consultant, speaker, and author of seven books including Learning Science for Instructional Designers and Make it Meaningful as well as numerous articles and chapters.

Based on extensive work and a doctorate in cognitive science, Clark integrates a deep understanding of thinking & learning with broad experience in technology to improve organizational execution, innovation, and ultimately performance. As such, he’s been invited to speak at venues around the world including Sydney, Beijing, Shanghai, Taipei, Tokyo, Singapore, Riyadh, Jeddah, Abu Dhabi, Berlin, Maastricht, London, & Medellin, as well as multiple venues in the US.

In 2012, Clark was recognized as the eLearning Guild’s first Guild Master, and he’s regularly on lists of the most influential thinkers in the field. Clark thinks ‘out loud’ at learnlets.com and works on behalf of clients through Quinnovation.

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