2025: A Year in Review

Yep, I know it’s February, so I’m a bit late with my year in review post. Looking back, I realised I never actually wrote a 2024 review post, so technically this is very late indeed. But I think I can be forgiven, since I’ve posted more than usual this year. So let’s get to it.

When I started writing this post at the beginning of 2025, I wasn’t really sure I wanted to do a whole year in review “thing” anymore. I’ve found these posts to be more personal and have wanted to shift the focus to something different. At times, it’s been difficult to distinguish myself between the eLearning Academy and Amy Gottler, and I get torn between the brand being me or the business being me. After all, being a consultant means I AM the business, but at the same time, I work at the eLearning Academy, FOR the business.

So….2024?

My goals in 2024 focused on personal achievement, such as finishing my PhD. There were also goals which I didn’t quite achieve, but are still a work in progress. For example, I’m still writing course materials and planning a new series of workshops. These are the two areas I will focus on in 2026, so watch this space.

And…2025?

Looking back at 2025, two big achievements for me were participating in the ICAEW student insights podcast and giving a talk at the digital learning institute on mobile learning.

What about…2026?

There are a couple of things about the industry that are currently driving me mad: AI, overly expensive software and the idea that writing and selling courses is the easiest thing in the world and will make you thousands and thousands of pounds.

I want to quash some of these ideas, highlight alternatives, empower people, and, as AI slowly eats away at everything, I want to showcase authenticity. I’d like to write (or show with some videos) a bit more about the tools I use day to day and highlight the ones that genuinely make a difference. Finally, I want to teach and discuss instructional design and course creation, which are my passions.

I have come to realise that I am a ‘full stack digital learning developer’. By this, I mean that I can run the entire digital learning process from start to finish. I am not limited to one part of the workflow. I manage projects, design learning, build course materials, and understand both the front end and back end technology that sits behind online learning.

I can work across the full lifecycle of a course, from the learning approach and working with subject matter experts, through to designing and developing assets, building the course, and supporting technical delivery. This includes understanding how learning platforms work, how courses are packaged and deployed, and how design decisions affect performance, accessibility, and maintenance.

This combination is unusual in eLearning. Many roles focus on a single area. Instructional designers may not build. Developers may not design for learning. Technical teams may not understand pedagogy. I bring all of these together in one role, and as a result, I would like to help others by focusing more strongly on this area of consultancy.

This feels like the right direction for 2026. Less noise, more substance, and a clearer focus on the work I genuinely enjoy.