Blogs
& Articles
Gain fresh insights on learning and related topics from Sonata’s team.
Sonata Notes: The Secret World of “Shadow IT”
From Google Docs to Slack, cloud-based productivity apps are allowing employees to work from anywhere, get more done and collaborate more effectively in real time. While the convenience of these tools is a welcome improvement over old desktop software, individuals might start using cloud apps without the knowledge or approval of their IT department.
The Rough Guide to Global Capacity Building: Quick Tips to Improve NGO Training
As a learning and knowledge management consultant, I particularly [...]
Sonata Notes: Are Potential Woman Leaders Discouraged By Your Leadership Training?
The way leadership training is typically designed and delivered in most organizations does not favor women’s success. Fortunately, there are steps organizations can take to make leadership training more gender-inclusive:
Sonata Notes: What Can NGOs Do to Help Refugees Acquire Critical Job Skills?
Despite the hysterics of far-right nationalists, influxes of refugees have the potential to positively impact economies all over the world. Yet many refugees find themselves at a disadvantage when compared to native workers, because they did not have the opportunity to develop crucial job skills in their birth countries.
Sonata Notes: Should We Stop Using Facebook for Learning?
Since 2004, Facebook has grown from a networking site for Harvard students to a multibillion-dollar empire encompassing both its flagship platform and newer acquisitions like Instagram and WhatsApp, with billions of users of all ages in every part of the world. But, with the revelation that the personal data of at least 50 million users was secretly harvested by a consulting firm working for the Trump campaign, users are having major doubts about whether Facebook can protect their privacy – or if they’re even trying.
Sonata Notes: How Better Anti-Harassment Training Helps NGOs Avoid Scandal and Promote Gender Equality
The NGOs sector has been embarrassed by multiple news stories regarding sexual misconduct and harassment. What can NGOs do to foster a culture where these things are less likely to happen?
Sonata Notes: Who Needs Formal Training When Google has All the Answers?
The Internet can get anyone up to speed on most any subject instantly. Does that mean we can cancel all our training programs?
Sonata Notes: Trouble Training Millennials? Wait Until You Meet “Gen Z”
“Gen Z” - those born after 1998 - will soon surpass Millennials as the largest segment of the world population. How can we prepare our learning programs for their arrival?
Sonata Notes: As NGOs Promote Life-Improving Technologies, Better Training and Support can Help them Spread Faster
From HIV self-testing to solar electrification and water filtration, NGOs are driving the introduction of life-saving technologies. However, many of these technologies are only useful in the hands of an adequately trained individual. How can NGOs ensure an adequate degree of readily accessible training and user support?
Sonata Notes: Transferring Knowledge – and Power – to the Global South
How learning can address power imbalances between headquarters and the "global south".
5 Tips To Create eLearning Accessible To Learners With Limited Connectivity
Delivering digital learning content to audiences with limited internet bandwidth can be challenging. Here are some simple ways to make your eLearning accessible to learners with limited internet access.
Creating Learner-Centered Training Evaluation Surveys
Why you are probably asking learners the wrong questions... People in the learning industry love training evaluation surveys. Just as you can’t have a birthday party without cake, it seems you can’t end a training session or e-learning module without a lengthy training evaluation form...
Subject Matter Experts vs. Learning Experts
When organizations post RFPs for instructional design or e-learning consultants, they will often list "PhD or Master's Degree" among the requirements. The reasoning behind such requirements seems common sense, however it misses some basic points about the relationship between subject matter experts, instructional designers and learners...
Good News for “Boring” Trainers: You Don’t Have to be Entertaining to be Effective
Most people working for large organizations have suffered through some brutally boring classroom experiences facilitated by less-than-engaging instructors. Combined with a general aversion to public speaking, this leaves most people reluctant to assume the mantle of training facilitator, themselves, even within their area of expertise...
