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What happens when a park ranger, a psychology major, and a public servant walk into a learning studio? You get Sam VanTassel—an emerging instructional design force bringing heart, creativity, and fresh eyes to the world of learning and development.
This week on The Fabulous Learning Nerds, host Scott Schuette sits down with producer and learning engagement specialist Sam VanTassel to uncover his unexpected journey into L&D. From flipping metaphorical pages in eLearning to engineering dopamine-driven design, Sam shares what it means to be new to the field—and why that’s exactly where innovation begins.
🎧 Whether you're just starting out or mentoring the next generation of IDs, this episode is packed with relatable lessons, surprising insights, and just the right dose of nerdy joy.
🔑 3 Key Takeaways:
Know When NOT to Train – Sam emphasizes one of the most underrated ID skills: recognizing when L&D isn't the solution.
Design for Delight – Discover how sound, interactivity, and tactile recall can create unexpectedly powerful microlearning moments.
AI is Your Co-Pilot – Learn how AI doubled Sam’s productivity and transformed his research and content creation workflows.
👤 About Sam VanTassel:
Sam joined the Fabulous Learning Nerds in 2023 and brings a unique blend of communications, customer service, and psychology to his work in instructional design. His mission? To craft learning that’s not only effective, but meaningful—for individuals and organizations alike. Whether he’s engaging with subject matter experts or building tactile eLearning in Articulate, Sam is driven by one goal: helping people learn better.
📬 Connect with Sam:
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