Gardian of the Month: Karel Wagner

Q & A with Karel Wagner, Instructional Design Learning Consultant at Prime Therapeutics

Q: Learn: What’s your favorite part about learning something new?
A: My favorite part of learning something new is having an opportunity to use the knowledge, reinforcing it and then sharing it with others.

Q: Network: Tell us about one of your favorite personal or professional networks. What makes it special?
A: My favorite network happens to be personal. I contract as a facilitator with Anthem Strong Families, which is a non-profit organization that focuses on strengthening the family. I facilitate engaged couples’ pre-marital sessions as well as CPS parenting sessions.

Q: Transfer: Think about a topic in which you feel you’re quite knowledgeable. How would you use this knowledge to better your industry?
A: Transfer knowledge to better my industry? That one is a difficult one to answer because I always feel like others have more to teach me than I have to share. I can’t think of a time in which I’ve put myself out there with an attitude of “You should hear what I have to say.” It happens that people tend to pay attention when I transfer whatever bits of information I have, but not because I make it known that I have something they really need to know. I think most of my transfer is by doing the best job I can on a project and others thinking enough of it to pass it on, in turn prompting people to inquire about my skill. In my arena, I try to make my work standout with the expectation that it will be seen by those with a much higher pay grade and because of that, I’m typically the point person to mentor others.

Q: Please share with us a resource you can’t live without.
A: I really find myself using the Storyline community page often. The community is very helpful and will do as much as possible to help others use the tool. They respond quickly; even the Storyline staff will respond if no one has answered your inquiry.

Q: Would you rather sky dive, bungee jump or climb to the top of the Golden Gate Bridge, and why?
A: Sky dive. I love the exhilaration. I’ve done it once and intend to do it again. I’ve also bungee jumped.