6th Annual Design Better Learning Series

2025 Design Better Learning Series 

A 3-part series for nonprofit & social sector educators who want to create more inclusive, engaging, and effective learning experiences.

Design Better Learning is the 6th annual fall series for nonprofit and social sector educators who want to create more inclusive, engaging, and effective learning experiences. Now more than ever, we need learning that meets the moment—learning that helps people not just understand, but take action. The people in our workshop and webinars have carved out time to learn because they care about doing their work well. We owe them well-designed experiences that lead to lasting change. This series offers practical, adult learning research-informed strategies to help you deliver learning that truly makes a difference.

"Those of us teaching others also need time to deepen our own practice. Consider this series ‘capacity building for capacity builders.’ It’s an opportunity to strengthen our skills as educators—so we can better support the people and causes at the heart of our communities."—Nancy Bacon, Series Producer

All sessions take place from 10:00am - 11:30am Pacific | 1:00pm - 2:30pm Eastern

____________________________________________________________________________________

September 30, 2025

Trauma Informed Instruction
With Rick Griffin

In today’s nonprofit and public sectors, professionals are being asked to do more with less. This occurs often under immense pressure and amidst ongoing uncertainty. This session on Trauma Informed Instruction draws on the latest neuroscience to explore how threat responses in the brain can interfere with learning, and what instructors can do to change that.

This session introduces the ECTcellent Approach, a framework designed to elevate instruction by fostering emotional safety, reducing cognitive overload, and building learner resilience. Participants will explore the brain’s natural defense systems, learn how perceived threats disrupt attention and memory, and discover how to structure inclusive learning experiences that increase connection, reduce anxiety, and improve retention.

Rooted in experience with trauma and resilience, this session offers practical, compassionate strategies for instructional design that supports thriving, not just surviving. Whether you lead workshops, manage teams, or deliver training, you’ll leave better equipped to create learning spaces where adults feel safe enough to engage, supported enough to stretch, and connected enough to grow.

PRESENTER

Rick Griffin is the Master Trainer for Community Resilience Initiative (CRI), the nation’s first community resilience network. Rick holds a master’s degree in education and uses his education to develop innovative content and deliver engaging presentations. He speaks to thousands of groups from all over the country and is widely recognized for his work with trauma-informed practices.

As the former Executive Director of a trauma-informed therapeutic residential program for struggling teens, Rick has first-hand experience with developing and implementing strategies and structures that foster resilience. His experience allows him to consult seamlessly with schools, businesses, and community organizations.

Mr. Griffin continues to be on the leading edge of training design. He has developed several outstanding trauma- and resilience-based programs and has also authored several engaging eBooks. Rick recently launched his newest endeavor, Neuro Leadership Academy, an innovative enterprise committed to using neuroscience to facilitate personal and professional development.

THIS SESSION IS AVAILABLE AS A RECORDING. ANY ONE WHO REGISTERS AFTER 9/30 WILL RECEIVE THE RECORDING AND ALL OF THE MATERIALS FROM THE SESSION.

____________________________________________________________________________________

October 28, 2025

From Boring to Bold: Visual Design Skills for Trainers
With Connie Malamed

Did you know you can improve your visual design skills even if you can't draw? If visual design feels like a challenge or you’re ready to take your skills to the next level, come immerse yourself in this interactive and energizing workshop.

Training and presentation slides are visual mediums, and their design has a direct impact on learning and motivation. In this session, we’ll explore the essential components of visual design, and you’ll learn practical ways to optimize graphics to support learning. You’ll leave with the ability to design with intention instead of relying on guesswork or haphazard choices.

You’ll gain confidence in your visual design skills by learning how to:

• Think like a visual designer so your choices feel intentional, not random.
• Quickly create layouts that are clean, balanced, and easy to take in at a glance.
• Choose and customize images that enhance your message (no more generic stock photos).
• Pick the right fonts to improve readability and reflect your tone.
• Transform bullet points into visuals that clarify ideas and support understanding.

PRESENTER

Connie Malamed helps people learn and grow instructional design skills that make them stand out through her courses and community, Mastering Instructional Design. She’s a consultant, author, and international speaker specializing in learning experience design, visual design, and professional visibility. Connie is the author of Visual Design Solutions and Visual Language for Designers. She shares practical insights through her long-running site and podcast, The eLearning Coach. She was recognized as a Guild Master from the eLearning Guild for her contributions to the learning technologies industry.

____________________________________________________________________________________

November 13, 2025

Stories That Stick: How Real-World Scenarios Spark Change
With Brian Washburn

You want your training to be engaging. You want to give them opportunities to practice key ideas. A case study is a great way to do that, but how do you craft one that will deliver learning in the end?

In this workshop, we’ll explore how short, real-world stories—grounded in your organization’s everyday work—can become powerful tools for training and professional development.

You will learn how to design and deliver simple case studies and scenarios that go beyond sharing information. Rooted in adult learning theory, behavioral psychology, and effective communication strategies, these story-driven approaches can prompt reflection, reshape mindsets, and reinforce mission-aligned behaviors.

Whatever kind of training you are delivering, well-crafted micro-stories can stick with the people you are teaching in ways that traditional lectures or handbooks often can’t. You will leave with adaptable frameworks, examples, and a clearer understanding of why storytelling works—and how to make it work in their own context.

PRESENTER

Brian Washburn is an author, speaker, and the co-founder and CEO of Endurance Learning, an instructional design firm dedicated to creating engaging and impactful learning experiences. With over two decades of experience in learning and development, Brian has established himself as a thought leader and innovator in instructional design. 

Brian's journey began as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Paraguay from 1998 to 2000, where he trained farmers in basic business principles. This experience ignited his passion for education and training, steering him toward nonprofit roles where he led training teams with missions ranging from ensuring safe, permanent homes for children in foster care to eradicating corneal blindness worldwide. 

Under his leadership, Endurance Learning has developed creative and unique instructor-led and elearning programs for a diverse clientele, including international NGOs, nonprofit organizations, and Fortune 500 companies. Brian has facilitated workshops on presentation skills and instructional design across North America, South America, Asia, and Africa. These experiences have helped him identify and refine certain training and facilitation principles that have proven effective across geographic borders, cultures, types of organizations, age groups, and languages. In addition to his practical experience, Brian is the author of two books. “What’s Your Formula? Combine Learning Elements for Impactful Training” (2021) and "Instructional Design on a Shoestring" (2024). He has also contributed chapters to several publications by the Association for Talent Development (ATD), including “ATD’s Handbook for Consultants” and “ATD’s Handbook for Training and Talent Development.” Brian holds an MA in Organizational Psychology, is a past President of ATD Puget Sound, and serves as a Commissioner for the International Accreditors for Continuing Education & Training (IACET). 

____________________________________________________________________________________

The Design Better Learning Series is moderated by Nancy Bacon, a teacher, instructional designer, and learning strategist who has worked for over 25 years in the nonprofit sector. Nancy began her career in international education, leading an ESL school in Boston and teaching social studies in the Philippines. She worked for ten years leading nonprofit fundraising and capacity building efforts alongside a community of Afro-Brazilian women in Salvador, Brazil. Nancy created the award-winning learning program at Seattle's World Affairs Council, as well as the state-wide nonprofit learning program at the Nonprofit Association of Washington. In 2022, Nancy co-founded the Nonprofit Learning Center to expand access to high quality on-demand nonprofit learning. Nancy collaborates with diverse communities and organizations to design and deliver relevant outcome-based learning tools and experiences. Nancy co-hosts the Nonprofit Radio Show with Sarah Brooks, offering free, practical nonprofit learning for rural and small nonprofits.

____________________________________________________________________________________

COST

$150 for the full series. Includes pre- and post-communication designed to extend learning and all tools related to each session.

$70 for individual sessions

You are encouraged to register for the full series to experience the full collection of knowledge and tools; you may register for just one of the sessions if you prefer.

All sessions will be recorded. All registrants will receive the recordings and have access for 3 months. If you are unable to attend the session, we encourage you to register anyway so you receive all of the related materials. Because the sessions will be recorded, we are unable to offer refunds.

Closed captioning will be available in all sessions in the series. We will do our best to accommodate any other accessibility needs expressed through the registration system.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH