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Extended book review: “How to Change” by Dr. Katy Milkman

Neon art sign, saying "This is the sign you've been waiting for".

Sometimes, you don’t really come seeking knowledge from a book. Some books are valuable for telling you what you already know, but in a new, more powerful way. And some are to be cherished for the way they bring common knowledge together, and for the light they present it in. Is “How to Change” one of these books?

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#NationalFreelancersDay special – six books that helped me go freelance in 2021

Maybe I’d like to say that deciding to go freelance this year was a spontaneous decision – maybe I’d like to have a “eureka” story to tell at parties. But things are rarely scripted this neatly. Today is National Freelancers Day – my day, as of 3 weeks ago. I want to share six books with you. They helped me make the switch to freelance living this year. Who knows what they will do for you?

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Or else! Getting commitment devices right in learning design

In her recent book, “How to Change“, Katy Milkman talks about commitment devices – powerful tools which helped me stay productive on many occasions. She points out, however, that these methods are not very popular with people in general. This made me think – are there ways in which learning designers and teachers could use commitment devices to make learners’ experiences more rewarding?

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Do you like our owl? Six reasons to love Duolingo in 2021

My recently re-discovered ambition to learn another language led me back to Portuguese. This meant that I was able to download Duolingo again, set up a new account, and reacquaint myself with the mighty Owl. I’ve been away for long enough to be surprised by how Duo’s changed. Learning designers and language publishers, pay attention: is the future of language learning finally here?

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Extended Book Review – “Sid Meier’s Memoir! A Life in Computer Games”, written with Jennifer Lee Noonan

Reading books and playing computer games are two of my favourite sitting-down pastimes. So a book about computer games sounded like an obvious choice – especially since it focuses on particular computer games, designed by a particular person. As it turns out, “Sid Meier’s Memoir!” is a great read for anyone – not just for game fanatics. What’s so good about it?

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