Reflections on Guy Wallace’s “A Considered Response – Q&A with Leonard Houx”

This post is going to pick up some of the interesting bits from this recent conversation (recorded via Zoom and available on YouTube):

Leonard and I were in similar Higher Education circles a decade or so back and he has always been a good person to follow on social media, he was also excellent on the Learning Hack a while back. Guy is, of course, a “must sub” YouTube channel for L&D folks.

Just some of the bits I liked from this conversation (apologies if I’ve captured anything wrong):

1. The odd UK ignoring of “instructional design” in preference for “learning design”, albeit with little clarity why.
   • I picked my MSc at the time as it was the only postgrad in the UK that specifically said it was doing ID and not LD or something else.
2. Around 9:45 – “the mark of a true profession is consistency of terms and definitions” (Guy quoting from a past speech he heard).
   • This is very good point and interesting given my current work role and the fact that definitions are usually the first thing agreed before work can move on elsewhere.
3. “Technology” should be application of science – not talking about the digital, online tools, etc.
4. Sex Ed. vs Sex Training.
   • I’m going to borrow this from Bob/Guy for the difference between education (more general) and training (practical application, practice, etc).
5. Lack of consistency in language difficult – never going to happen?
   • Perhaps standards and agreed profiles could finally improve this?
6. Nothing new at conferences etc – partly as need to support always incoming people
   • I’ve previously suggested L&D conferences/shows could try and have “tracks” for more intro and higher-level things.
7. I’m always amazed how both Leonard and Guy are able to recall authors, presenter names, etc. Whilst I read a lot of ID theory in my masters I am terrible for recalling a lot of this information – even though a lot is embedded in my practice. For example, I always forget it was Richard Clark with the 70% stat for SME knowledge.
8. “Task set”
   • The never ending need to push performance-orientation!