
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or


In this episode of Chalk and Code, host Jennilee Bertrand sits down with Leonard Lafrance, President and CEO of NCLab, a Nevada-based company rethinking online vocational education for data analysts, Python programmers, and automation technicians. At a time when most online courses struggle with single-digit completion rates, NCLab stands out with nearly 100% learner completion and graduates who are genuinely job-ready.
Leonard shares how his background in software and entrepreneurship revealed a critical gap between credentials and real skills, and why traditional lecture-based learning often fails learners. At NCLab, he champions a radically different approach grounded in learning by doing real-time feedback, and gamified progression that builds confidence one skill at a time.
If you’re curious about why most online learning doesn’t stick, how vocational education can close the workforce readiness gap, and what it truly means to prepare people for work in a rapidly changing economy, this conversation is a must-listen.
Key Moments
02:51 Principles behind long-term learner motivation
05:33 "Active Learning Over Passive Consumption"
07:36 "Challenges of Online Learning"
12:52 "AI-Assisted Problem-Solving Approach"
14:19 "Scalable Online Training Empowering Women"
19:59 "Gamified Learning and Engagement"
21:10 "Transformative Learning System Petitioned"
24:04 "Employment Readiness Assessment Tool"
Why You’ll Love This Episode
This episode challenges long-held assumptions about online learning and workforce preparation. You’ll hear how Leonard Lafrance has built a model that prioritizes skill mastery over seat time, and why confidence, feedback, and perseverance matter more than lectures or credentials alone.
Leonard also shares:
Connect with Leonard Lafrance
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonard-lafrance-710349b5
Website: https://nclab.com
Connect with Us
Company’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flexion-inc
Company Website: https://flexion.us/
If this conversation sparked a new idea or challenged your assumptions, share this episode with a colleague and subscribe for more thoughtful discussions at the intersection of learning, leadership, and educational technology.
Join us next time on Chalk and Code, where the science of learning meets modern technology.
By Flexion
In this episode of Chalk and Code, host Jennilee Bertrand sits down with Leonard Lafrance, President and CEO of NCLab, a Nevada-based company rethinking online vocational education for data analysts, Python programmers, and automation technicians. At a time when most online courses struggle with single-digit completion rates, NCLab stands out with nearly 100% learner completion and graduates who are genuinely job-ready.
Leonard shares how his background in software and entrepreneurship revealed a critical gap between credentials and real skills, and why traditional lecture-based learning often fails learners. At NCLab, he champions a radically different approach grounded in learning by doing real-time feedback, and gamified progression that builds confidence one skill at a time.
If you’re curious about why most online learning doesn’t stick, how vocational education can close the workforce readiness gap, and what it truly means to prepare people for work in a rapidly changing economy, this conversation is a must-listen.
Key Moments
02:51 Principles behind long-term learner motivation
05:33 "Active Learning Over Passive Consumption"
07:36 "Challenges of Online Learning"
12:52 "AI-Assisted Problem-Solving Approach"
14:19 "Scalable Online Training Empowering Women"
19:59 "Gamified Learning and Engagement"
21:10 "Transformative Learning System Petitioned"
24:04 "Employment Readiness Assessment Tool"
Why You’ll Love This Episode
This episode challenges long-held assumptions about online learning and workforce preparation. You’ll hear how Leonard Lafrance has built a model that prioritizes skill mastery over seat time, and why confidence, feedback, and perseverance matter more than lectures or credentials alone.
Leonard also shares:
Connect with Leonard Lafrance
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonard-lafrance-710349b5
Website: https://nclab.com
Connect with Us
Company’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flexion-inc
Company Website: https://flexion.us/
If this conversation sparked a new idea or challenged your assumptions, share this episode with a colleague and subscribe for more thoughtful discussions at the intersection of learning, leadership, and educational technology.
Join us next time on Chalk and Code, where the science of learning meets modern technology.