VEPodcast

SpecTraining

We chat with vocational educators, designers, influencers and students to hear what's happening at the sharp end of the sector. If you enjoy a good talk, or some interesting insights into training and education, then subscribe to the VEPodast!

  1. VEP - Figuring out your peak energy time

    31 JAN

    VEP - Figuring out your peak energy time

    In this episode of the Vocational Education Podcast, I reflect on something that’s become increasingly important to me as I’ve spent more time designing, facilitating, and leading learning in the VET sector: understanding and managing my own energy. Over the years, I’ve become far more aware of when I do my best work, what drains me, and what helps me stay switched on—especially during long training days, multi-day workshops, or extended periods of cognitive effort. In this episode, I share what I’ve learned about recognising energy patterns across the day and how that awareness directly impacts the quality of facilitation, engagement, and decision-making. I explore: How I use a simple time audit to identify my peak energy and focus periods Why energy management matters more than time management for educators and facilitators The cognitive demands of facilitation and the need to stay mentally present in the room How food choices, sleep, movement, caffeine, and sugar affect performance across long days Practical strategies I now use to maintain focus and avoid the afternoon crash Lessons learned from running a multi-day workshop when I didn’t manage my energy well I also walk through my current daily structure—from morning routines to focused work blocks and recovery strategies—and explain how putting these systems in place has helped me protect the quality of my work and my wellbeing. This episode is for trainers, assessors, instructional designers, and anyone working in vocational education who wants to deliver consistently high-quality learning experiences without burning out.

    37 min
  2. VEP - Starting the new year

    31/12/2025

    VEP - Starting the new year

    This is not only a new year - but a new commitment to you, the listener, to create and collaborate in ways that are more consistent and useful to you. I look forward to working with new and interesting people over the next twelve months and see where the VEP ends 2026!

    20 min
  3. VEP - Contextual learning

    15/10/2025

    VEP - Contextual learning

    Aren’t you fascinated by the human mind? With its 100 billion neurons and trillions of connections, our brain is constantly trying to make sense of the world around us. But when it comes to learning, it’s not just about content or colourful delivery — it’s also about context. In this episode, we explore Pen Principle 5: Leveraging Context, and uncover how the environment — both physical and psychological — impacts learning and memory. From temperature, lighting and noise to relationships, stress, and even the instructor’s tone, every detail can influence how well knowledge sticks. Discover how context-dependent and context-independent learning affect performance, why learners often recall better in familiar environments, and what trainers can do to help students thrive in any setting. Join us for a deep dive into neuroscience, motivation, and practical design tips for creating powerful, context-rich learning experiences.

    9 min
  4. VEPodcast - Marc Vollmer

    05/10/2025

    VEPodcast - Marc Vollmer

    Marc and I share Ian interesting discussion on designing learning for impact and engagement. The type of learning that leads to real outcomes in real workplaces. Enjoy this session!

    31 min
  5. VEP - Julian Davis

    27/09/2025

    VEP - Julian Davis

    I chat with Julian Davis, the digital learning guy, about the fascinating technology of xAPI. How we can use I to track learner's interactions and progress outside of the typical LMS functionality. Enjoy the chat! I certainly did.

    19 min
  6. VEP - Conceptual and perceptual priming

    21/09/2025

    VEP - Conceptual and perceptual priming

    In today’s episode, we explore the fascinating science of conceptual and perceptual priming—two powerful ways our brains prepare us to learn, decide, and act. Conceptual priming happens when exposure to a particular idea makes related concepts easier to recall. For example, thinking about “safety” can prime thoughts of “security” or “trust.” Perceptual priming, on the other hand, works through our senses—subtle visual or auditory cues that shape how we interpret what comes next. Together, these forms of priming influence memory, retention, and behaviour, offering trainers and educators valuable tools to create more effective learning environments. Video link is here: https://youtu.be/VjfHw-jzBLs

    6 min
  7. VEP - Interleaving practice

    14/09/2025

    VEP - Interleaving practice

    In this episode of the Vocational Education Podcast, we dive into the power of interleaving as a learning strategy. Unlike traditional blocked practice—where learners focus on one topic or skill at a time—interleaving mixes different but related topics or skills within the same study session. Research shows this approach significantly boosts retention and recall, as the brain is forced to constantly retrieve and distinguish between concepts. For vocational learners, this means stronger problem-solving skills and a deeper ability to transfer knowledge to real-world tasks. We’ll explore how interleaving challenges the brain in positive ways, strengthens long-term memory, and prevents the “illusion of mastery” that often comes with rote repetition. You’ll hear practical ways trainers and assessors can embed interleaving into their delivery and assessment design, ensuring learners are better prepared for the workplace and more confident in applying their skills. Here's a link to the original video: https://youtu.be/oNtT00YCu2U

    6 min
  8. VEP - Making mistakes to learn better

    06/09/2025

    VEP - Making mistakes to learn better

    Making mistakes isn't the end of the world - in fact, it can improve how well you learn something. Other than the research from the original video linked here: https://youtu.be/RDa777HDWTo Here are the other tow pieces mentioned at the end: https://shorturl.at/TDmK6 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0361476X2500044X?

    11 min
See All (95)

Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

We chat with vocational educators, designers, influencers and students to hear what's happening at the sharp end of the sector. If you enjoy a good talk, or some interesting insights into training and education, then subscribe to the VEPodast!

Information

  • Creator
    SpecTraining
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    95
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    VEPodcast