Dave Price has been a member of the eLN for nearly 2 years and a director for almost 1 year.
What do you like most about the L&D field?
I have been in L&D in some shape or form for nearly 20 years and I love how it is an ever-evolving field. I am a bit of a tech nerd, so I am always intrigued by new technologies and finding new and innovative ways to deliver knowledge to learners.
What made you decide to stand for the eLN board?
There are a couple of reasons really. One of the big drivers for me was networking with my peers. I found that my network was a rather closed one until I joined the eLN and I wanted to reach out further. I am also a huge fan of sharing knowledge (aren’t we all in L&D?) and I thought what better way could I help to drive development and change within the digital learning community.
What would your dream job be?
My dream job was to be a freelance photographer, but I’ve been there and done that and I was eventually drawn back into the world of L&D. I would love to do what I enjoy and that would be run my own digital learning consultancy.
If you could change one thing about the world of L&D, what would it be?
I’m not sure if there is one particular thing I would change, but I would love to see more use of innovative technologies. There is so much potential out there these days with new tech and I feel a lot of it is massively under used.
What does a typical work day look like to you?
Even with the current ongoing pandemic my working day has not really changed. I was working from home 3 days a week anyway (now 5 days) due to a long commute into the office (over 2 hours each way sometimes). I always try and keep to my 9-5 hours, as a manager once told me that if you can’t fit all your work into your 9-5 then you have too much work on. That being said I do sometimes work a couple of hours over, but always make time to go on a dog walk in the evening. My first hour normally consists of replying to emails and getting updates from team members. After that my day can vary immensely depending on what I am working on. I could spend hours designing storyboards, building content, or building projects plans.
If you could give yourself advice when you were first starting out, what would it be?
Don’t be afraid of feedback. One thing I always used to hate is getting feedback on my content, as I used to take it quite personally. Over the years I have learnt to be more objective when receiving feedback on courses I have designed and built.
What has been your proudest moment?
It’s quite funny as my proudest career moment happened only a few days ago when I received some feedback from a client who was signing off their course. Their feedback was saying they absolutely loved working with me, and the team and the course was brilliant. I spent the whole morning “buzzing” off that feedback, and it made me feel so good (especially on a Friday).
If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to and why?
Now that’s a tough one. I would love to see England during the industrial revolution. All the new (at the time) technologies people like Isambard Kingdom Brunel were coming up with fascinates me. We rely on modern technology like computers these days and I would love to see a world without all that.
If you were a super-hero, what powers would you have?
Mind reading – it would be useful in so many different ways, not just in my personal life.
If you could share a meal with any 4 individuals, living or dead, who would they be?
Sir Patrick Stuart (I am a huge trekkie), Sir David Attenborough (I mean who wouldn’t, he’s a national treasure), James Martin (he can do the cooking), and Frank Sinatra.
What’s the most daring thing you’ve ever done?
I went parasailing in Mexico a few years ago. Next on the list is a sky dive.
What is your favourite type of training to either build or deliver?
I love designing and building eLearning, especially with gamification elements if the project allows it. It’s a subject I am passionate about, so I love to build it. I started off in L&D as a trainer and I love delivering training in a classroom if I have built the course myself.
What three items would you take with you on a desert island?
My laptop – so I can play games and not get bored
A solar powered generator – so I can keep my laptop charged
A knife or machete so I can cut things down to make a shelter, and tools for hunting and fishing
What’s the most unusual thing you’ve ever eaten?
I wouldn’t class much as unusual. I loved Sisig (a pork dish) from the Philippines and I was going to try Balut (fertilised developing egg embryo) but bottled it in the end.
Would you rather win the lottery or work at the perfect job? And why?
I would rather win the lottery so I can set up my own business and have my perfect job.
Aside from necessities, what one thing could you not go a day without?
My phone. It never leaves my side.
