By Barry Vorster, Digital Workplace Strategist
When I first met David Barras-Baker back in 1997, while completing my Master of Education in eLearning at the University of Pretoria, I was a young instructional designer and a keen learning technology enthusiast.
From my earliest interactions with David and Barras-Baker & Associates, I was struck by their professionalism, their forward thinking, and their ability to translate emerging technology into meaningful learning.
Every time I worked with them, I came away impressed.
Nearly three decades later, nothing has changed, except that David is still at the forefront, pushing boundaries. ADDIE on Steroids reflects the same clarity of thought and practical wisdom he showed back then but now sharpened by decades of experience. This isn’t a gentle update to a classic framework.
It’s a re imagining of how instructional design, human-centred learning, and digital transformation can and should intersect in 2025.
In my own career in digital workplace transformation, I’ve seen how quickly the ground shifts, hybrid work, AI, cloud platforms, and the relentless demand for agility.
ADDIE on Steroids doesn’t simply keep up; it leads. It fuses tried-and-true instructional design with AI-driven speed, lean delivery methods, and a relentless focus on the learner experience.
Equally important is the shift from learning as an isolated activity to learning that is embedded in the flow of work and augmented by intelligent systems. This book recognises that impact is created not just by designing courses, but by designing work environments where skills are developed and applied in real time.
Here, David’s thinking dovetails with the emergence of Talent Intelligence, using data, analytics, and AI to understand capability, predict needs, and connect learning directly to organisational outcomes.
What sets David apart is that he doesn’t write from the ivory tower of theory. He offers tools, practical guidance, and cautionary lessons that help you avoid costly mistakes while creating learning experiences that truly engage.
If you’re serious about building learning that is smarter, faster, and has measurable impact in the modern workplace, you’re holding the right book.
