Alison McEachern
I’ve spent nearly three decades working with and teaching instructional designers. In that time I’ve watched trends come and go — but two things have never changed: the human brain still drifts during long spells of passivity, and experiential design always works.
Good design serves everyone in the room — so everything I create is built to be as rewarding to deliver as it is to experience.
Three ways to work together
A manual and online workspace for subject matter experts who need to communicate clearly — not just show slides. Includes applied research, templates, calculators, a dedicated workspace, and direct support.
A live 10-hour online workshop for people who lead meetings, discussions, and group decisions. Practice with professional actors. Leave with your own facilitation playbook and the confidence to lead any room.
A practical, research-informed workshop for trainers who want to create programs that help people actually use what they’ve learned — not just sit through slides.
30 years of making learning stick
I started teaching piano in high school — and discovered I loved helping people learn more than I loved playing. That thread led me through advanced studies in education, a teaching role at Dalhousie University’s Henson College, and in 1992, I founded McEachern & Associates.
In 1995, I began 25 years teaching in St. Francis Xavier University’s nationally recognized Diploma in Adult Education, and over the years I’ve designed and delivered experiential learning programs for organisations across Canada and the U.S., with more than 30,000 participants attending my courses.
Outside of work, I spend as much time outdoors as possible — travelling, horseback riding, and tackling long-distance hikes. I’m certified in wilderness first aid and navigation. If you’re in Chester, NS, drop by my office at 20 Pleasant Street to say hello to me and my canine coworker, Bear.
Good design serves everyone in the room. When learning is designed well, it’s energising for the facilitator and memorable for the participants.
Everything I build starts from one question: what does this person need to be able to do when they leave the room? The answer to that question determines everything else — the structure, the activities, the tools, and the measure of success.
After 30 years, that question still shapes every course, every workshop, and every tool I design.
Feedback from the field
“One of the few training courses I’ve taken that is immediately useful.”
— Participant“The design template and mic feature cut the time it took me to develop my presentation in half.”
— Participant“I always used to cram too much info in my presentations. The calculator helped me be realistic about how much content I could include.”
— Participant“It took a scary topic and made delivering presentations very successful.”
— Participant“I loved having access to the personal workspace. I used it to ask for feedback and for help creating activities.”
— Participant“Best way to learn about presenting. You learn it and then do it.”
— ParticipantNot sure where to start?
Let’s figure it out together.
Whether you’re presenting to a room of 10 or designing training for hundreds — there’s a workshop or tool built for exactly where you are.