SELT101 Case Study: Engaging Students with Branching Scenarios
10:00 AM - 10:45 AM Wednesday, October 24
Expo Hall: eLearning Tools Stage
Is your online training boring? Are you having engagement issues? Are your learners not passing their training? There is a problem these days—learners prefer online training, but budgets are low and training is often dry, making it hard to stay engaged. But even with online training, the learner is often alone, not stimulated by other people around them. Distractions are easy and infinite with social media, smartphones, and the internet at your fingertips.
In this case study, KnowledgeOne and iSpring will guide you through different examples of branching scenarios, as well as different techniques to apply to your online training programs to connect further with your audience. It’s important to engage audiences, but it is not always easy to do, depending on the content of your training. View different examples of how you can apply branching scenarios to your learning, as well as use videos, quizzes, and gamification to further entrance your learners.
In this session, you will learn:
- About best practices for engaging your audiences with eLearning training
- About different types of branching scenarios using iSpring Suite 9
- About analyzing and conceptualizing content for eLearning output
- From examples of real branching scenarios created this year
Audience:
Novice to intermediate designers, content strategists, instructional designers, storyboarders, content creators, integrators, and production.
Technology discussed in this session:
Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Microsoft PowerPoint, iSpring Suite, and Audacity.
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Michael Cerantola
Integration Manager
Knowledge One
Michael Cerantola is an integration manager at Knowledge One. He began working in the eLearning world while Flash still reigned supreme. With the gradual demise of Flash over recent years (and its inevitable phase-out), Mike has spent years converting legacy content to display in HTML5 browsers. Working through custom designs, rapid authoring tools, and audio/visual, Mike has faced challenges including browser display inconsistencies and optimization for mobile data plans, all while keeping the source document editable for clients. It became clear to him that PowerPoint plus a rapid authoring tool was the arsenal of choice to keep production costs low while staying profitable.
SEMT101 Trends in Learning Today: Where Should You Focus?
10:00 AM - 10:45 AM Wednesday, October 24
Expo Hall: Emerging Tech Stage
With the constant changing and evolution of technology, you need to know what is possible and how to determine what is a fit for your audience.
Join this in-depth look at the tools, design, and technologies you should focus on in learning today and what’s just around the corner. You’ll explore the technology that will soon be enhancing learning, and find out what you need to get excited about and start planning to integrate into your solutions. What can you learn from the buzz and new tools appearing in the consumer and corporate environments, and how can you take advantage of them to help your users learn? This fun session will give you dozens of ideas and reboot your brain for fresh perspectives on how to enhance your learning today.
In this session, you will learn:
- How to design amazing experiences for your learners
- How personalization of content can improve learning
- When gamification is a fit
- How to move beyond a screen
- How to get started with a personal learning network, and what the benefits are
Audience:
Novice to intermediate designers, developers, managers, and senior leaders (directors, VPs, CLOs, executives, etc.).
Technology discussed in this session:
Open-source frameworks and tools, content organization and tagging, developing for all devices (mobile, tablet, hybrids, and computers), gaming, and personalizing learning.
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Nick Floro
Learning Architect/Imagineer
Sealworks Interactive Studios
Nick Floro, a co-founder and learning architect at Sealworks Interactive Studios, has over 25 years of experience developing learning solutions, applications, and web platforms. Nick is passionate about how design and technology can enhance learning and loves to share his knowledge and experience to teach, inspire, and motivate. As a learning architect, Nick gets to sketch, imagine, and prototype for each challenge. He has worked with start-ups to Fortune 500 companies to help them understand the technology and develop innovative solutions to support their audiences. Nick has won numerous awards from Apple and organizations for productions and services.
101 Making Virtual Learning Relevant: Using Scenarios in the Virtual Classroom!
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Wednesday, October 24
Montego A
Adult learning principles state that adults learn best when content is relevant. So why do most virtual classroom lessons rely on lectures and slides? One of the most effective ways to ensure learning sticks is by getting learners involved, and scenario-based learning design does just that. Join this session to discover ideas for producing appropriate scenarios that resonate with your learners in the virtual classroom.
You only have so much time to dedicate to formal learning, so every moment needs to be impactful and relevant. Unfortunately, virtual classroom sessions tend to focus on getting as much content out there as possible and then leave it up to the learners to figure out how to make it all work. This session will explore how to design three types of scenario-based activities in the virtual classroom: problem-based learning, predictive learning, and play-based learning. You’ll leave with detailed examples of each, and a template to walk you through seven steps for constructing scenarios in your virtual classroom design.
In this session, you will learn:
- The role of scenario-based learning in modern workplace learning
- How scenario-based learning supports adult learning theory
- Techniques for implementing three types of scenario-based learning in the virtual classroom
- Seven steps for constructing scenarios
Audience:
Designers, developers, and managers.
Technology discussed in this session:
Virtual classrooms.
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Jennifer Hofmann Dye
Founder and President
InSync Training
Jennifer Hofmann Dye is founder and president of InSync Training. She specializes in the design and delivery of engaging, innovative, and effective modern blended learning. Jennifer has written and contributed to a number of well-received and highly-regarded books including The Synchronous Trainer's Survival Guide: Facilitating Successful Live Online Courses, Meetings, and Events and Live and Online!: Tips, Techniques, and Ready to Use Activities for the Virtual Classroom. Her latest book, Blended Learning (ATD, 2018), introduces a new instructional design model that addresses the needs of the modern workplace and modern learners.
103 Transforming Boring Content into Engaging Microlearning
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Wednesday, October 24
Bermuda AB
Imagine your worst eLearning nightmare, a dry compliance course. Boring! Is it a talking PowerPoint with a next button and a quiz at the end? Extra boring! Unfortunately, simply chopping a boring course into bite-sized modules doesn’t make it any better. But most struggle to break the cycle because they don’t know how to. How do you make a boring topic fun? Where do you even start?
In this case study session, you will explore how Welk Resorts revolutionized their cybersecurity training into a series of microlearning modules that sparked interest and engagement company-wide. You will discover how the team was able to cut out unnecessary content by adopting outcome-driven design and present information through games, videos, and short interactions to create “purposeful fun.” You will also learn how to think beyond the module and leverage quizzes, surveys, and reflections in your learning strategy. Lastly, you will be able to apply these strategies and transform any boring content into meaningful microlearning that drives excitement, engagement, and retention.
In this session, you will learn:
- What data to gather to drive your microlearning strategy
- How to effectively dissect boring content into meaningful microlearning modules
- How to incorporate games, videos, and interactions to create “purposeful fun”
- How to reinforce post-module learning through quizzes, surveys, and reflections
Audience:
Designers and developers.
Technology discussed in this session:
Articulate Storyline 3, Snagit, learning management systems.
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Sharon Lo
Senior Training Manager
Fairfield
Sharon Lo is the senior training manager at Fairfield, where she drives the L&D strategy for Fairfield’s corporate and construction business. With a background in instructional design and learning technology, she started her career as an eLearning specialist and pivoted into L&D management within the hospitality, construction, and real estate industries. Sharon’s passion is to create immersive and scalable learning experiences that impact strategic objectives by integrating instructional design, visual design, UI/UX, and technology. Sharon was selected as a member of the 2021 Thirty Under 30 by The Learning Guild.
108 Learner as Creator: A New Path to ROI
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Wednesday, October 24
Antigua A
According to Time magazine, leaders at IBM and other large technology firms project that the future of the digital revolution will be about both social networks and knowledge: “The next phase is not about the network alone, but also about knowledge.” If you believe that this projection is accurate, what role will L&D play? Are there approaches or solutions you can use now to support this ongoing transformation?
There is no doubt that intellectual property—internal knowledge—is an asset that has strategic value. This session will explore how enabling the learner to be a creator of and key contributor to training material allows you to first surface and then scale the best of your organization’s insights. In this way, “collective intelligence” becomes tangible and actionable, helping you to make better decisions and operate more effectively. In this way, the connection between L&D and the success of the business is undeniable.
In this session, you will learn:
- How to evaluate the value of user-generated content as learning material
- About the functionality of OOTB solutions that enable learning professionals and front-line team members to collaborate
- About ways that different organizations are incorporating informal learning into their development opportunities
- About opportunities to use existing tool sets and resources to change the nature of your learning material
Audience:
Designers, managers, and senior leaders (directors, VP, CLO, executive, etc.).
Technology discussed in this session:
Microsoft Office 365, Jive, and SmarterPath.
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Stan Jeffress
Sr. Learning Consultant
Pokeshot
Stan Jeffress is a senior learning consultant at Pokeshot. With more than 15 years’ experience in the learning and development field, Stan has worked in various roles such as LMS administrator, project manager, consultant, and instructor. He also used this experience to work as a freelancer before joining Pokeshot. Stan’s role includes assisting clients with social learning strategy development, managing SmarterPath integrations, providing sales support, and contributing to product innovation.
SELT102 Quit Clowning Around: The Content Matters
11:00 AM - 11:45 AM Wednesday, October 24
Expo Hall: eLearning Tools Stage
Yesterday’s employees view development and training as an isolated activity outside their daily routine, but today’s employees are pushing organizations into uncharted territory where informal, engaging, interactive eLearning must be incorporated into their lives when and where they need it. Most employees don’t have the time to click through slides or courses that are not engaging or interactive, but how do you take your legacy content and reimagine it quickly?
In this session, you’ll learn the four basic instructional design theories of sound digital content development. You’ll explore how to apply each theory to engaging interactive material using a humorous real-world case study. You’ll leave this session with a renewed focus on how to take your legacy content and turn it into an engaging digital training program that not only engages the learner but produces successful outcomes for your organization.
In this session, you will learn:
- How to both meet employees’ needs and keep your organization relevant and successful by employing a new set of instructional design tools and learning methodologies
- Proven techniques for taking your 20th-century content into the 21st century
- How to curate new content and tap into the informal learning space
- How to harness new and existing tools to deliver a continuous, personalized learning experience that is relevant and provided at the point of need
Audience:
Novice to advanced designers, managers, and senior leaders (directors, VP, CLO, executive, etc.).![](/assets/images/speakers/4389.jpg)
Shawn Burson
Manager, Instructional Design
knowbly
Shawn Burson is a manager of instructional design at knowbly. He has over 15 years of experience planning and building interactive learning content and interactive templates. After almost a decade of managing a global team of instructional designers in a university setting, he came to the knowbly team in 2013 to lead the transformation of learning material to digital for clients such as Microsoft, National Geographic Learning, Arvato, and Pearson Nursing and Workforce Readiness.
201 Creating an Instructionally Sound Microlearning Experience
1:15 PM - 2:15 PM Wednesday, October 24
Montego DE
Microlearning is really hot right now. You may be getting pressure to “go micro” on your projects. Or maybe you are already using microlearning but question whether it’s really instructionally sound. To resolve these issues, you need to have a clear understanding of microlearning use cases, and how to use microlearning to bring the greatest value to your learning programs.
This session will start with a discussion about what microlearning is (and is not). Then you will identify a training program you are working on and use an assessment to identify what parts of that content are a good fit for microlearning. Next, you will explore recommendations for designing effective microlearning resources, and you will create an outline for a piece of microlearning that will address the learning needs of your specific project. You will leave this session knowing how your content fits a microlearning approach, and with a design for a microlearning resource that is instructionally sound.
In this session, you will learn:
- How to define microlearning for your team or organization
- How to identify whether microlearning can make an impact in one of your training programs
- How to create effective microlearning resources
- How to create an outline for a piece of microlearning (text, infographic, interactive eLearning, or video) that will address the learning needs of your specific project
Audience:
Designers and developers.
Technology discussed in this session:
Microlearning.
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Carla Torgerson
Solution Architect
SweetRush
Carla Torgerson, MEd, MBA has nearly 25 years of experience as an instructional designer and instructional strategist. Always interested in the latest learning trends, she has authored numerous blogs and articles on a variety of topics, including eLearning, mobile learning, and microlearning. She also developed MILE, the MIcroLEarning Design Model© and is the author of The Microlearning Guide to Microlearning and Designing Microlearning (with Sue Iannone). Currently a Solution Architect at SweetRush, Carla helps clients to dream up amazing performance solutions that both consider their learners’ needs and meet business objectives. SweetRush is known for exceptionally creative and effective solutions that combine the best of learning experience design with highly engaging delivery. Connect with Carla on LinkedIn for insights and announcements: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlatorgerson/
202 Using Brain Science to Increase Learning Retention and ROI
1:15 PM - 2:15 PM Wednesday, October 24
Bermuda AB
The two goals of any training program are to teach employees new information and then to enable them to transfer their new knowledge into their workplace. But learning transfer is a complex process, and most trainers do not understand the simple steps that they can take to ensure that knowledge transfers from the computer where it is learned to the workplace where it is needed.
To improve retention and transfer, you need to systematically reinforce training. In this session, you’ll learn of four brain-based techniques that Google is using to overcome the forgetting curve and create sustainable behavior change. These techniques include booster quizzing, social elaboration, strategic coaching, and depth of processing. You’ll see how you can easily incorporate these techniques into training programs and dramatically improve learning and retention.
In this session, you will learn:
- How to deploy a systematic program after training that dramatically increases retention and transfer
- How eLearning training can be customized to increase learning transfer
- How pre-tests, such as measuring an employee’s “readiness for change,” can lead to a much higher rate of learning transfer
- About three myths that interfere with successful transfer of learning
- Strategies to encourage executive buy-in on programs that promote learning transfer
Audience:
Designers, developers, managers, and senior leaders (directors, VP, CLO, executive, etc.).
Technology discussed in this session:
Post-training reinforcement and social media.
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Art Kohn
Professor
ASPIRE Consulting Group
Dr. Art Kohn earned his PhD in cognitive science at Duke University and is a consultant with Google, helping the organization develop new programs which train more than 1.2 billion people. Dr. Kohn's professional research explores how to present information in order to maximize learning and memory. He was awarded the National Professor of the Year award from the American Psychological Association and he won a Fulbright Fellowship in cognitive psychology and a second Fulbright Fellowship in distance education. He consults with organizations around the world, helping them modernize and optimize their training programs.
203 Using an Instructional Design Approach to Transform Canned Content
1:15 PM - 2:15 PM Wednesday, October 24
Montego B
Every training department has to begin somewhere. Canned content can save time and money while providing a ready supply of material, especially for a newly developed program. At CTG, pre-purchased content built the base of a program but left a gap between the company’s needs and what was readily available. They needed to leverage that library of content against the principles and practices of instructional design to create engaging training.
In this case study session, you will learn how CTG’s learning and engagement department added customized pieces to pre-purchased content, creating a more tailored and applicable learning experience. You’ll explore how to layer personalized materials with pre-purchased pieces, creating engaging and relevant content to take your company’s training to the next level. You will distinguish between opportunities to transform canned materials by adding to them and when to build your own from scratch. By the time you leave this session, you will have a new approach to content development that will make building your company’s library quick and painless.
In this session, you will learn:
- How pre-purchased content can be leveraged to build a content library
- How to add customization to pre-purchased/created content to provide a unique experience
- Why the instructional design process is still necessary when not building content from scratch
- How to identify opportunities to add to pre-purchased content, and when not to
Audience:
Designers.
Technology discussed in this session:
Articulate Storyline, Adobe Captivate, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Litmos.
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Cole Tinney
Senior Instructional Designer
Covenant Transport
Cole Tinney is a senior instructional designer with Covenant Transport. She has spent her life focused on her passion: education. She first worked as a teacher before becoming director of education for a physician’s office and then finally joining Covenant Transport. With a proven record in instructional design, Cole has mastered creating workshops, presentations, and curricula that are truly engaging and focused on the learner’s experience. Cole’s energy and passion for learning are evident in her work and allow her to not just capture the goals and needs of her employers but turn them into visions for others to see and experience.
SELR104 Training That’s “Lit”: Engaging with Generation Z Learners
1:15 PM - 2:00 PM Wednesday, October 24
Expo Hall: eLearning Rockstars Stage
Sigma Chi Fraternity’s existing, traditional learning methods for incoming pledges weren’t received as well as hoped. Young learners reported the training was too long, too “boring” and not “lit.” What changes could Sigma Chi make that would truly connect with Gen Z pledges while still effectively preparing them for their membership in the fraternity?
In this session, you will see examples of how traditional training methods (eLearning, classroom, video, etc.) were redesigned to be shorter, more engaging, and more effective while appealing directly to Generation Z through the use of things like graphic novels, social media–themed interactions (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tinder), digital magazines, gamified interactions, and more. You’ll also hear about the reaction new pledges are having to this redesigned material and the difference it’s making for Sigma Chi Fraternity.
In this session, you will learn:
- How to think about design in a way that may be more appealing to the incoming generation of learners
- How to upgrade courses in simple ways with unique media treatments or interactions to help them feel more modern and fresh
- How trimming content down to what’s most meaningful can create a more impactful experience
- How to use storytelling to give life to what may otherwise be dry content
Audience:
Novice to advanced designers, developers, managers, and senior leaders (directors, VP, CLO, executive, etc.).
Technology discussed in this session:
Unity, Articulate Storyline 360, Google Apps Script, and ClickSend.
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Misty Harding
Program & Instructional Design Manager
eLearning Brothers
Misty Harding, a program and instructional design manager for eLearning Brothers, has been a workplace learning and performance professional for nearly 20 years, specializing in instructional design, eLearning, facilitation, and training management. She has built and led instructional design, eLearning, and corporate training teams for companies like eBay and Qualfon and has designed award-winning products and managed learning product relationships for many Fortune 500 companies.
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Jim Cogdal
Senior Director of Membership Development
Sigma Chi Fraternity
Jim Cogdal is a senior director of membership development at Sigma Chi Fraternity. Jim serves as the lead staff support for the Education and Leadership Board and the Jordan Initiative Committee, which works with both the Preparation for Brotherhood and Ritual for Life programs. He attended Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, where he became a member of Sigma Chi. Jim oversees the fraternity’s educational programs and alumni services departments. He also serves as the project lead for the fraternity’s Education and Leadership Board, as well as support staff for Sigma Chi’s leadership programs and alumni engagement.
301 Business Simulations for Learning: Strategy, Design, and Serious Play!
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Wednesday, October 24
Jamaica AB
Today’s networked businesses must contend with unprecedented levels of complexity and variety. Business simulations provide active, dynamic learning solutions where learners can replicate realistic business environments as safe-to-fail spaces, so learners can authentically model complex, long-term challenges and improve their performance without any real risk. Managing the conceptual and technical load of creating gamified simulations can be its own challenge—but this session will show you how it’s done.
In this case study session, find out how Diageo used a data-driven bar simulation to redefine best practice and make their highly complex net revenue management content easy to understand and enjoyable to learn. You’ll discover how digital simulations derived from real business data close the organizational feedback loop and drive positive behavior change to make a real difference to bottom-line priorities. Explore the theory and practice of how immersive, credible learning experiences provided by this gamified simulation improved decision-making and strategy execution across all levels of a leading global organization—and how it can work for you.
In this session, you will learn:
- The difference between data-driven and scenario-driven simulations
- All about examples of learning simulations making a real impact on business revenue and outcomes
- The nuts and bolts of designing and planning a business simulation—and how to make the lessons stick
- The key takeaways from the development and rollout of complex simulation projects
Audience:
Designers, developers, managers, and senior leaders (directors, VP, CLO, executive, etc.).
Technology discussed in this session:
Diageo NRM—a gamified bar simulation solution displayed via PC.
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Colin Welch
Director of Product Development
Brightwave Group
Colin Welch is a director of product development at Brightwave. Colin has over 15 years’ experience managing the design and development of bespoke training solutions that have a measurable impact on key business objectives. He has been responsible for managing both classroom-based training and eLearning projects and has a track record of delivering projects that meet learners’ needs with a high level of customer satisfaction.
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Temitope Ibiyemi
Global Learning Specialist
Diageo
Temitope Ibiyemi, the global learning specialist at Diageo, has over nine years of experience in the delivery of profitable business growth through the creation and execution of sales and customer marketing strategies across diverse markets. She’s currently responsible for managing the development of global learning solutions targeted at customer marketing teams across Diageo to drive a step-change in business performance.
302 Build, Measure, Learn: Lean UX for Instructional Design
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Wednesday, October 24
Montego A
As expectations rise for the impact you create, but the timeline for creating impact becomes shorter, it can feel like you’re scrambling to find newer and better approaches to design. From waterfall to agile to design thinking, there’s no shortage of methodologies to choose from, but how do you know which is right? Is waterfall bad? Does agile equate to speed and design thinking to engagement? Does it matter?
In this session, you’ll learn a simple framework for selecting the best approach for the problem you want to solve, and you’ll practice applying it to a scenario. Walk away with a set of user experience design tools that help you identify and prioritize assumptions, conduct user-centric research, set goals that hold your team accountable, and engage stakeholders in generating ideas.
In this session, you will learn:
- A simple framework for selecting the right design methodology for the problem you want to solve
- How to use proto-personas to synthesize user research and articulate learner needs and goals
- How to write hypothesis statements that define and measure the outcomes your learning initiatives should achieve
- A collaborative design method that engages your stakeholders to create the best possible solution for meeting the outcomes you’ve defined
Audience:
Designers, developers, and managers.
Technology discussed in this session:
POP app and Google Slides.
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Becca Wilson
Senior Product Manager, Training & Certification
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Becca Wilson is a New York City-based product manager, designer, and facilitator with experience creating innovative and engaging education products for companies and individuals. She has more than 10 years of experience in instructional design, training delivery, and developing blended learning strategies for Fortune 500 organizations. Becca currently works at Amazon Web Services (AWS) on initiatives designed to close the global cloud skills gap at scale. Previously, she worked at IBM where she focused on addressing the scarcity of artificial intelligence skills in the marketplace. Becca was also an education product manager and learning experience architect at General Assembly, supporting the ongoing discovery and development of scalable learning products in UX and product management.
303 Microlearning, Workplace Performance, and Compliance: Having It All
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Wednesday, October 24
St. Croix B
In order to meet compliance training requirements, many organizations subject their workforce to isolated training events. Organizations choose this approach based on regulations that mandate training in specific topics, but this does not translate into the workforce understanding the mandated behavior associated with these topics. This approach persists because training engagements are easy to track and serve as evidence for compliance even though they are not viewed as particularly effective.
In this session, you will learn how setting the vision for a different organizational compliance training program can ensure you get the buy-in you need from your many stakeholders. You will learn how to translate learning objectives within your dreaded “nexter” courses into effective animated videos. You’ll see how a simple Storyline asset can become a performance-based assessment to provide customized learning. Finally, you will be given suggestions for strategic communications planning that can prevent your program from stalling out of the gate. Results of a recent enterprise-wide implementation, which substantially reduced overhead training costs, will also be presented.
In this session, you will learn:
- Where and when to incorporate microlearning videos to address compliance training (and where to NOT use them)
- How to integrate a performance-based assessment and microlearning videos into your agency learning management system (LMS)
- About the role strategic communication plays in the success of your microlearning program
- How to design a series of microlearning engagements to address a particular content theme
- How to engage with key stakeholders to make them program champions
- How to measure the program’s return on investment
Audience:
Designers, managers, and senior leaders (directors, VP, CLO, executive, etc.).
Technology discussed in this session:
GoAnimate and Articulate Storyline.
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Anne Little
Sr. Solutions Architect
SAIC
Anne Little is SAIC’s Integrated Training Edge (SITE) product manager at SAIC. She has more than 20 years of training development and delivery experience, and her research interests include motivational strategies within online learning environments. Anne has designed training programs for numerous federal clients, including the Defense Acquisition University, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Energy, and the Federal Aviation Administration. Most recently, her research and development portfolio has focused on re-engineering compliance training programs. She holds a PhD in instructional technology from George Mason University.
401 Change Is a Journey Through Conflict: Be the Hero’s Guide
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Thursday, October 25
St. Thomas A
Have you ever been offered unsolicited advice? If so, you know that advice received before you’re ready falls on deaf ears. The same thing happens at work when training is offered before the need is clear. The need for change is like a journey that your reluctant heroes face. Knowing the phases of this journey helps you plan for guidance at the right time. Everyone knows that the Hero’s Journey is a tool for writing good fiction stories, but what if it could be modified to accommodate common models of conflict resolution?
In this session, you’ll design a model for helping people navigate the difficult path of changing behavior. Heroes need a guide, but not until they’re ready. They need time to process a call to performance. Then they’ll need to know what they have to do and which tools will help them achieve that goal. This session offers you the (literal) map for the journey of conflict.
In this session, you will learn:
- A model for helping people adopt new behaviors
- How timing different phases of your project plays an important role in achieving your objectives
- How to balance two important factors in behavior modification: driving forces and restraining forces
- How to identify the best tools for achieving success, some of which are neither a tangible object nor a digital solution
Audience:
Designers, developers, managers, and senior leaders (directors, VP, CLO, executive, etc.).
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Katie Stroud
Master Story Crafter
Incremental Success
Katie Stroud is a master story crafter at Incremental Success. Her roles in instructional design, technical writing, and consulting led her to develop a story-based approach to address the unspoken culture that lingers in every corporate initiative. The process is based on scientific studies that explain why people do what they do. It helps to find what inspires them to change behaviors in support of corporate goals.
402 Wonder Woman, Wakanda, and Work: Make Your eLearning Representative
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Thursday, October 25
Andros AB
You know that most media—including eLearning—is failing at representation. You see it every day. And not only is it leaving people out of the picture, it’s less effective as a result. Maybe you’ve tried to make your work more inclusive but haven’t been able to find great media, haven’t been able to convince your stakeholders, or simply aren’t confident in navigating how to respectfully represent different genders, ethnicities, orientations, and abilities.
In this session, you’ll explore how to make authentic representation happen in your work and in your organization for more inclusive and effective learning solutions. You’ll find out about methods for crafting authentic representation in your projects and discover sources for media that can enhance that representation even further. You’ll also discuss strategies for getting your team, partners, and/or clients on board with how making authentic representation a priority helps both your audience and the organization as a whole.
In this session, you will learn:
- Simple methods to incorporate better representation in your learning solutions
- Sources for media that reflect your focus on authentic, diverse, and dignified representation
- How to increase your own confidence and proficiency in respectfully presenting characters that speak to all learners
- How to promote the value of authentic representation in your organization
Audience:
Designers, developers, and managers.
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Tricia Ransom
Senior Learning Experience Consultant
TaskUs
Tricia Ransom is a senior learning experience consultant at TaskUs. In the past, she worked as an instructional designer at Uber and as a senior learning specialist at Guardian Analytics, where she designed, developed, and delivered customer training. With over 25 years of experience as an L&D consultant, eLearning developer, instructional designer, and facilitator, Tricia focuses on creating short, relevant, and social learning solutions. She holds a master's degree in training and development from Roosevelt University, Chicago.
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Judy Katz
Project Manager
PeBL Pro by Eduworks
Judy Katz makes stuff that helps people learn. Since 1997, she's worked in education and training strategy, design, development, and delivery. She's thrilled to be on the Eduworks team as an instructional designer and product manager for PeBL Pro. Judy has a passion for great design and technology, usability, and social justice. She has a BA in English, an MBA, and an MEd in instructional design for workplace learning.
403 Wired, Not Tired: Is Curation the Cure for What Ails L&D?
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Thursday, October 25
Antigua A
Content curation is rapidly becoming an essential skill for learning professionals, but many have yet to take the step of putting it into practice. This session will arm you with an understanding of how curation helps both you and your organization, along with the tools and techniques you’ll need to craft your own personalized curation system. It’s time to make curation a central part of your digital learning toolkit.
In this session, you will learn how using curation helps you move beyond the traditional packaging and delivery of content to provide better, more effective and more efficient solutions for learners and stakeholders. You’ll also find out how to create a solid content curation strategy, and explore tools and techniques you can use to build a powerful, efficient curation workflow that is customized to your needs and preferences.
In this session, you will learn:
- How and where to discover the most valuable content efficiently
- About crafting a content strategy plan to guide your curation efforts
- Tools and techniques for building your own personalized content curation system
- Strategies for becoming a trusted guide in your organization and beyond
Audience:
Designers, developers, managers, and senior leaders (directors, VP, CLO, executive, etc.).
Technology discussed in this session:
Content curation tools—Twitter, Degreed, Refind, Nuzzle, Feedly, Buffer, Pocket, Diigo, Zeef, etc.
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Mike Taylor
Learning Consultant
Mike Taylor
With over two decades of real-life, in-the-trenches experience designing and delivering learning experiences, Mike Taylor understands that effective learning isn't about the latest fad or trendy new tools. Known for his practical, street-savvy style, Mike is a regular and highly-rated speaker at industry events, and consults on learning design and technology at Nationwide in Columbus, Ohio. Mike holds an MBA degree from Ohio University and a master's degree in educational technology from San Diego State University.
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Bianca Baumann
VP, Learning Solutions & Innovation
Ardent Learning
Bianca Baumann is VP, learning solutions & innovation at Ardent Learning. Over time, she has developed processes and methodologies to help organizations meet their growth targets with the help of innovative L&D approaches including digital transformations, onboarding, and reskilling programs. She has spearheaded multiple projects in the marketing, automotive, financial, and events industries, creating award-winning programs along the way. She shares her expertise in her blog and at global conferences. She teaches learning experience design at OISE and published the eBook, The Little Black Book of Marketing and L&D, a practical guide that helps integrate proven marketing techniques into L&D.
SELR202 Flip Learning Like a Rockstar!
11:00 AM - 11:45 AM Thursday, October 25
Expo Hall: eLearning Rockstars Stage
eLearning and instructor-led classroom training both have inherent strengths and weaknesses. Why not take advantage of the best of both worlds?
Join this session to explore a creative and flexible flipped classroom approach you can bring back to your organization. Explore ways to add interactivity and engagement to your learning using low-cost enhancements to your existing courses. See how blending in eLearning Brothers Customizable Courseware titles can help you build on the training you already have to create a rockstar learning curriculum.
In this session, you will learn:
- The flipped classroom methodology
- Instructional design strategies for a flipped classroom
- Easy, low-cost tips to increase engagement and impact
- How you can use Customizable Courseware in a flipped classroom approach
Audience:
Novice to advanced designers, developers, managers, and senior leaders (VP, CLO, executive, etc.).
Technology discussed in this session:
eLearning Brothers Customizable Courseware, Adobe Captivate, Lectora Publisher, and Articulate Storyline.
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Chris Willis
Director, Product Content
eLearning Brothers
As a creative instructional designer and business consultant, Chris Willis boasts more than 20 years of experience working remotely, leading geographically diverse teams to solve a wide range of business challenges for large enterprise clients. Chris is currently the director of product content for eLearning Brothers, a global leader in corporate learning technology and custom training development solutions. She holds a BS in arts & media from Grand Valley State University.
501 Micro vs. Macro: Which Learning Experience Works Best?
1:15 PM - 2:15 PM Thursday, October 25
St. Croix B
Most L&D teams are keenly interested in exploring ways to combine their macrolearning needs—traditional ILT classes and VILT sessions, tracked online learning, and structured compliance programs—with microlearning initiatives leveraging mobile, game mechanics, and social interactions. While most legacy LMS platforms have yet to include compelling microlearning features, there are ways to design and integrate legacy macrolearning platforms with modern microlearning solutions to achieve tech-enhanced learning success.
It is easy to fall in love with “shiny object” solutions that promote an “out with the old, in with the new” strategy to fix your legacy programs. Are these new solutions really replacements for the stable, workhorse systems you rely on to organize and track performance? In this session, you’ll discuss how striking a balance between old and new likely represents the best approach for many companies seeking to modernize key training programs and metrics. You’ll explore just how legacy platforms can meld with specialized technology sets to craft purpose-built solutions to support your current and future learning needs.
In this session, you will learn:
- How to combine your macrolearning needs with your microlearning desires
- Why the rumor of the LMS’s death (or imminent demise) is false
- About successful case studies where teams extended the old with the new to address changing requirements and heightened use expectations
- About a mixture of commercial solutions and open-source utilities that can help you assemble your own modern learning experience platform solution
Audience:
Designers, developers, managers, and senior leaders (directors, VP, CLO, executive, etc.).
Technology discussed in this session:
Mobile apps, social interactions, game-enabled themes, and extensible APIs, including commercial solutions as well as open-source tools that can enhance and extend legacy learning platforms.
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Robert Gadd
President
OnPoint Digital
Robert Gadd is president of OnPoint Digital and responsible for the company’s vision and strategy. OnPoint’s online and mobile-enabled offerings support more than one million workers and include innovative methods for content authoring, conversion, and delivery extended with social interactions, gamification, and enterprise-grade security for workers on their device or platform of choice. Prior to OnPoint, Robert spent 10 years as CTO of Datatec Systems and president/CTO of spin-off eDeploy.com. He is a frequent speaker on learning solutions—including mobile, informal learning, xAPI, and gamification—at national and international T&D conferences.
502 Ukulele Learning: Exploring the Relationships Between Music and Learning
1:15 PM - 2:15 PM Thursday, October 25
Antigua A
A large amount of research in recent years has explored the value that music has for the brain and learning. Everyone has experienced it in some way, be it from listening to music while studying, learning something from a catchy song, or learning to play an instrument.
In this session, you will explore the many relationships between music and learning. You will examine and discuss how people learn to play an instrument—there will even be ukuleles available for some to participate hands-on—and what this might mean for learning in general. Using the introductory ukulele lesson as a framework, this fun session will help you explore the many ways that music impacts and enhances learning.
In this session, you will learn:
- How music enhances learning
- How people learn to play an instrument, and what that means for learning
- How music might enhance your practices
- How to play a ukulele!
Audience:
Novice to advanced designers, developers, project managers, and managers.
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Jane Bozarth
Director of Research
The Learning Guild
Jane Bozarth, the director of research for the Learning Guild, is a veteran classroom trainer who transitioned to eLearning in the late 1990s and has never looked back. In her previous job as leader of the State of North Carolina's award-winning eLearning program, Jane specialized in finding low-cost ways of providing online training solutions. She is the author of several books, including eLearning Solutions on a Shoestring, Social Media for Trainers, and Show Your Work: The Payoffs and How-To's of Working Out Loud. Jane holds a doctorate in training and development and was awarded the Guild Master Award in 2013 for her accomplishments and contributions to the eLearning community.
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Shawn Rosler
Senior Instructional Designer
Office Practicum
Shawn Rosler has been an instructional designer, project manager, and developer of dynamic, interactive, and highly efficient eLearning and other instruction for over 20 years. He's a frequent contributor to industry-based publications, and he has presented to academic, medical, and corporate audiences on an expansive array of topics. From the basics of adult learning theory to the real-world application of converting instructor-led training to a computer or web base, he is an evangelist for trimming down processes while keeping them effective.
503 Top Design Trends Influencing eLearning
1:15 PM - 2:15 PM Thursday, October 25
Bermuda AB
Each day, you are exposed to various forms of media, marketing, and design all geared to grab your attention. Specific techniques are used in almost everything you interact with to draw you to the next item, scroll down, click here or there, and to make that purchase, watch that video, look at that picture. Adopting these techniques and implementing them into your eLearning designs can have a similar engaging impact on learners.
This session will interest anyone who is designing and developing instructional materials. It will help you understand the current trends in mainstream media and how you can utilize this appeal to improve your own design processes. Together, participants will explore and see how these design elements can and have been used in eLearning development.
In this session, you will learn:
- About top design elements that are trending through web, marketing, and graphic design media
- Why these elements are important to users and designers
- How you can incorporate these design trends into your own projects
- Where to find examples, inspiration, and resources to incorporate into your own designs
Audience:
Designers, developers, and senior leaders (directors, VP, CLO, executive, etc.).
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Tracy Parish
Education Technology Specialist
Parish Creative Solutions
Tracy Parish is an accomplished instructional designer, eLearning developer, and consultant based in the Greater Toronto area. With a unique blend of skills in computer programming, adult education, and eLearning design/development, she has built a successful career in instructional design. With over 18 years of experience in instructional design, development, LMS implementation and administration, Tracy is a respected figure in her field. She is a speaker, active Articulate Community Hero, co-host of the Toronto Storyline User Group and webcast Nerdy Shop Talk, the marketing director for the Canadian eLearning Conference, and moderator of the monthly Twitter event #lrnchat.
508 Making the Leap from 9 – 5 to Freelance
1:15 PM - 2:15 PM Thursday, October 25
St. Thomas A
As an instructional designer or developer, do you have skills that you don’t use in your nine-to-five job? Do you want to try something new, but feel stuck in the day-to-day grind? You want to be your own boss, choose your own projects, set your own hours, and remove the daily commute, but you’re not sure how to make the leap, or you worry about how you’ll make ends meet. Sound like you?
In this session, you will hear the story of a successful jump from a secure and stable government role with a three-hour daily commute to the world of freelancing and self-employment. You’ll be introduced to the decision-making and planning process that helped this developer make the leap to freelance. You’ll explore some pre-exit best practices, and dive into some of the pitfalls of freelancing and how you can plan for success. You will also discuss some of the lessons learned when making the shift and explore how you can get started freelancing today.
In this session, you will learn:
- How to critically evaluate whether freelancing is right for you
- How to plan an exit strategy
- About some of the pitfalls of freelancing, and how you can avoid them
- Five ways to get started freelancing
- Key lessons from one developer’s leap to freelancing
Audience:
Designers and developers.
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Jacqueline Hutchinson
Learning Solution Designer
e-Learning Pros Instructional Design
Jacqueline Hutchinson is a learning solution designer at e-Learning Pros Instructional Design. Jacqueline has been involved in L&D for more than 25 years; she began as a software trainer, taught at a college, and in the 1990s found her passion for online learning. In 2000, she discovered eLearning and LMS implementations. She spent six years as the LMS lead for the city of Toronto, where she implemented and supported an enterprise LMS for 44 business units and more than 38,000 municipal staff. Jacqueline holds a BEd (AE) from Brock University. She’s also a Lectora-certified Advanced Author and instructor.
516 BYOD: Collaborative Design Through Sketching and Prototyping
1:15 PM - 2:15 PM Thursday, October 25
Martinique AB
When you’re getting started designing an eLearning experience, it’s easy to get stalled at this stage by the sheer volume of possibilities for what you can create, especially if you don’t feel visual design is a strength. But a humble sketch on a whiteboard with a red marker can still become a brilliant eLearning interaction. At its heart, eLearning is a visual medium, so starting with drawing will result in an entirely different outcome.
In this session, you’ll discover the power of starting small and iterating to achieve powerful eLearning experiences while saving time and money. Iterating through the design process is powerful because it gives you early work products to show others to get their approval and buy-in, all with barely a dent in your budget and timeline. You will learn about new ways to come up with interactions that your stakeholders will approve of and that learners will enjoy as they learn how to implement new behaviors.
In this session, you will learn:
- How to unleash nonverbal creative talents
- How to find new ways to teach to target behaviors and performance outcomes
- How to collaborate more effectively with stakeholders and SMEs
- How to iterate design starting from the concept
Audience:
Designers, developers, managers, and senior leaders (directors, VP, CLO, executive, etc.).
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Michael Allen
Founder and CEO
Allen Interactions
Dr. Michael Allen, founder and CEO of Allen Interactions, has been a pioneer in the eLearning industry since 1975. Dr. Allen has more than 50 years of professional, academic, and corporate experience in teaching, developing, and marketing interactive learning and performance support systems. Dr. Allen has led teams of doctorate-level specialists in learning research, instructional design, computer-assisted learning, and human engineering. He defined unique principles and methods, Successive Approximation process or SAM, and the CCAF design model for designing and developing high impact interactive eLearning experiences that invoke critical cognitive activity and practice.
SMNX204 Working with SMEs: Hard-Knock Lessons Learned
1:15 PM - 2:00 PM Thursday, October 25
Expo Hall: Management Xchange Stage
Subject matter experts (SMEs) are the keepers of knowledge and know-how, but working with them can be a challenging experience. How do you get the SME to share their knowledge and know-how with you? What should you do if the SME provides too much information—or not enough?
In this session, you will explore real-life scenarios to learn how to interact with SMEs to obtain content, and come away with a game plan on how to approach your next project. To accomplish this, you will explore tips on how to build relationships with the SME, identify various approaches to obtain content, and formulate a plan to recognize what worked or did not work with a particular SME to make future adjustments.
In this session, you will learn:
- To utilize a three-step approach to working with SMEs
- Ways to build a relationship with SMEs
- Various approaches to obtain content from SMEs
- To recognize what worked or did not work with a particular SME to make future adjustments
Audience:
Novice and intermediate designers.
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Marlena Sanchez
Instructional Developer
Curbell Plastics
Marlena Sanchez is an instructional developer for Curbell Plastics. She works with subject matter experts to create and transition instructor- led training (ILT) into online learning, infuses ILT with technology, and authors content to meet learning and performance needs. She has created courses for digitallearn.org, been published in Learning Solutions, and was awarded Best of Show Non-Vendor at The eLearning Guild’s FocusOn Learning DemoFest in 2016. Marlena holds an undergraduate degree is in history from Cleveland State University and a Master’s degree in learning design and technology from Purdue.
SELT205 Beyond Buzzwords: Boosting Performance Using Microlearning and Gamification
2:15 PM - 3:00 PM Thursday, October 25
Expo Hall: eLearning Tools Stage
Traditional eLearning receives very little employee attention. In fact, extremely low (2 – 20 percent) completion rates for ongoing training are common in the industry. Learners often dislike eLearning and avoid it as much as they can. It is clear that a fundamental shift in eLearning is needed to increase employee engagement, enhance learning, and improve performance.
In this session, you will experience two of the fastest-growing trends increasing the effectiveness of eLearning: microlearning and gamification. Both concepts are often misused and do not produce the desired outcomes. However, you will learn a six-factor model of eLearning engagement and how to implement it in your organization to produce real performance improvement. You will see the results that other companies have achieved using this approach.
In this session, you will learn:
- What microlearning and gamification really are (hint: probably not what you think)
- What makes the difference between “cute” and “effective” when it comes to eLearning
- How to link learning and performance in a way that produces measurable business results
- Six specific steps you can take in your organization right now to start implementing microlearning and gamification
Audience:
Novice to advanced designers, developers, managers, and senior leaders (VP, CLO, executive, etc.).
Technology discussed in this session:
Gameffective screenshots will be shared to demonstrate the concepts presented.
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Eyal Ronen
Chief Learning Evangelist
Gameffective
Eyal Ronen is the chief learning evangelist at Gameffective. With a PhD in industrial and organizational psychology, Eyal has been focusing on the training and development world for more than two decades. In recent years, he has taken a path that investigates and reinforces the human-machine interface to ensure superior eLearning efficacy. An award-winning professor, international speaker, and true learning evangelist, Eyal brings a practical approach even to the most academic topics.
SEMT205 Creating Amazing Learning Experiences: Let’s Get Inspired!
2:15 PM - 3:00 PM Thursday, October 25
Expo Hall: Emerging Tech Stage
Do you find yourself getting stuck using the same patterns of delivery without thinking about whether it is helping your audience or whether it’s the best fit for a challenge?
Designing great user experiences for your learners is critical to the success of how they engage; how they utilize content, tools, and apps; and how they focus on the task at hand. This session will break down what’s essential in designing great experiences, and provide resources to get you started and inspired from mobile to desktop and beyond. You’ll examine design strategies, what works and what doesn’t, and how to plan and prototype, with several examples for inspiration. You’ll get 10-plus resources for taking you, your organization, and your experiences to the next level.
In this session, you will learn:
- How to evaluate what you see, hear, and feel, and how to apply what resonates with your audience
- How to conduct interviews and create feedback loops to improve your concepts
- About resources and tools to implement on your next project
- How to share, get inspired, and motivate your organization to grow
Audience:
Novice to intermediate designers, developers, managers, and senior leaders (directors, VPs, CLOs, executives, etc.).
Technology discussed in this session:
Apps and tools including Paper, PowerPoint, PDF, Marvel App, and DropBox Paper.
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Nick Floro
Learning Architect/Imagineer
Sealworks Interactive Studios
Nick Floro, a co-founder and learning architect at Sealworks Interactive Studios, has over 25 years of experience developing learning solutions, applications, and web platforms. Nick is passionate about how design and technology can enhance learning and loves to share his knowledge and experience to teach, inspire, and motivate. As a learning architect, Nick gets to sketch, imagine, and prototype for each challenge. He has worked with start-ups to Fortune 500 companies to help them understand the technology and develop innovative solutions to support their audiences. Nick has won numerous awards from Apple and organizations for productions and services.
601 Copyright? Relax! Devour Free and Creative Commons Media
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Thursday, October 25
Andros AB
The cost of copyright confusion can affect every stage of the development and delivery process. Copyright law can be intimidating, even though its intent is to encourage creativity. Break down the walls that prevent you or your organization from using fabulous free resources because you aren’t sure whether your use will infringe someone else’s rights. Make fair use your friend. Access thousands of free photos, videos, music, and motion graphics.
In this session, you’ll learn about copyright essentials through an entertaining and easy-to-understand snapshot of the law. You’ll discover how to find and use free media properly; how to protect your own work; and how to apply best practices in fair use. You’ll also learn more about where to find free multimedia you can safely use in your projects thanks to public domain, Creative Commons, and open access–licensed works.
In this session, you will learn:
- About copyright law and fair-use basics
- How to find and use free online media
- About Creative Commons licenses and which are most accommodating
- How to protect your work and avoid being sued
Audience:
Designers, developers, managers, and senior leaders (directors, VP, CLO, executive, etc.).
Technology discussed in this session:
API for Creative Commons licenses and plugins for proper attribution of work.
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Barbara Waxer
Copyright & Media Educator
Seattle Film Institute
Barbara Waxer is a copyright and media educator, author, and trainer who teaches at the Seattle Film Institute and Santa Fe Community College. She has authored over two dozen textbooks and online products on copyright, finding and using media, writing for the web, and Adobe and Microsoft software. Her book, Internet Surf and Turf Revealed: The Essential Guide to Copyright, Fair Use, and Finding Media, won the TEXTY Textbook Excellence Award and the New England Book Show Award. Barbara thrives when developing best practices for users and creators of digital content.
602 Practical Guidelines from Cognitive Science for Creating Awesome Learning
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Thursday, October 25
Bermuda AB
A lot is known about how people learn and develop skills. Cognitive science research on learning, behavior change, and development of expertise has provided a wealth of information. Unfortunately, much of that wisdom is locked in journal articles and dense books, so designers of learning experiences often rely on traditional methods that may or may not be supported by science.
This session will provide you with seven practical guidelines that have been distilled from the research for designing excellent learning experiences. For each guideline, you will find out how it was derived from the research and theory, see examples of how it has been implemented in the workplace, and discuss how it can be applied to improve your own designs. You’ll leave with solid takeaways that you can use to create truly awesome learning experiences that really get results.
In this session, you will learn:
- Seven research-based guidelines for learning experience design
- How these guidelines can be used to create learning activities that get results
- How these guidelines apply to formal, on-the-job, and social learning experiences
- Things to stop doing because they are NOT supported by the research
Audience:
Designers, developers, and managers.
Technology discussed in this session:
eLearning, mobile, simulations, and performance support systems.
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Marty Rosenheck
Chief Learning Strategist
Cognitive Advisors
Marty Rosenheck, PhD, CEO and chief learning strategist at Cognitive Advisors, provides talent development, learning experience design, and learning technology ecosystem consulting. He is a thought leader and sought-after consultant, speaker, and writer on the application of cognitive science research to learning and performance. Marty has over 30 years of experience. He has created award-winning learning experiences, designed learning ecosystems, developed cognitive apprenticeship programs, built performance support systems, conducted needs assessments, specified learning paths, constructed virtual learning environments, and developed formal, informal, and social learning strategies for dozens of nonprofit and for-profit organizations.
603 Email Course Design: Using Digital Marketing as a Learning Strategy
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Thursday, October 25
St. Croix B
Throughout the history of training, learning something new has often been treated as an event rather than a process. However, practitioners now know that eLearning, videos, and instructor-led training are only the beginning. To be effective, you need ways to support your workforce over time, building their competence through multiple approaches.
In this session, you’ll discover a trend that has been effectively used in the marketing space and that you can easily apply to workplace learning: the email course. You’ll look at excellent examples of effective email courses, discussing pro tips for designing in this format and what to absolutely avoid. You’ll also preview real examples of email courses done well in a variety of industries, from life-hacking to supporting nonprofit workforce development. As you explore the possibilities of email courses, you will gain practical steps to implement this approach in your own organization.
In this session, you will learn:
- About the practical application of email courses in workplace learning
- What examples of effective email courses look like
- How to apply best practices in designing email courses
- Tips for avoiding common pitfalls when designing an email course for your organization
Audience:
Designers, developers, managers, and senior leaders (directors, VP, CLO, executive, etc.).
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Sarah Mercier
CEO & Strategic Consultant
Build Capable
Sarah Mercier, CEO and strategic consultant at Build Capable, specializes in instructional strategy and learning technology. Sarah is known for translating highly technical concepts and research to real-world practice. She is an international facilitator for the Association for Talent Development and Greater Atlanta ATD Past President. Her innovative learning solutions have been recognized by winning industry awards, such as Best of Show at FocusOn Learning DemoFest for xAPI for Interactive eBooks, and Best Performance Support Solution at DevLearn DemoFest for Critical Success Factors training and assessment tool. Sarah is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and business events on topics such as instructional design and development, accessibility, data strategy, and learning ecosystems. Her work has been published in ATD’s 2020 Trends in Learning Technology, The Book of Road-Tested Activities, TD Magazine, Learning Solutions Magazine, CLO Magazine, and a variety of other training and workforce publications.
701 Transforming Skills Development Through Communities of Practice
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM Friday, October 26
Montego C
Communities of practice have been around since humans started using stories to share knowledge and information. People instinctively rely on the expertise of their social and professional networks to solve problems and learn new things—it’s practically in our collective DNA. Why, then, do countless attempts to create and cultivate communities of practice in the workplace either lose momentum or fail to get off the ground altogether?
In this session, you’ll learn how communities of practice can amplify skills development within an organization. Find out how to define a clear value proposition for a community that gets buy-in from key stakeholders and community members, as well as the success factors needed to generate and sustain member enthusiasm. In addition, you’ll learn how stories can help capture and demonstrate the short- and long-term value of a community.
In this session, you will learn:
- Practical techniques for establishing and fostering communities of practice
- How to articulate a clear purpose and a value proposition that builds credibility for a community
- How to use stories and value creation data to demonstrate the success of learning communities
- The key differentiators between communities of practice and social and network groups
- Techniques for energizing community members and sustaining engagement
Audience:
Designers, managers, and senior leaders (directors, VP, CLO, executive, etc.).
Technology discussed in this session:
Online social learning and user-generated content platforms.
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Allan McKinley
Principal Learning Consultant
Capital One
Allan McKinley is a principal learning consultant at Capital One. He has designed learning experiences in partnership with organizations including Drexel University, University of Michigan, Corporate Executive Board, MIT, and Penn State University. He has also advised and consulted numerous Fortune 500 companies on creating digital, social-collaborative learning journeys. Allan’s areas of focus include video-based learning, social learning, and virtual communities that showcase and leverage peer expertise. Allan has degrees from the University of Delaware and Saint Joseph’s University, and spent the early portion of his career as a journalist and writer.
702 eLearning Science 101
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM Friday, October 26
Jamaica AB
Too much of instructional design is about what to do, rather than why. And there’s the small problem that when push comes to shove—when the answers aren’t obvious, or when recommendations collide—you need a basis for deciding. That basis is a deeper understanding of the cognitive science behind learning. It’s not rocket science, but it is more complex than “post content and ask quiz questions.”
In this interactive session, you’ll find out about the basis of learning science from the neural level on up. You’ll explore the mechanisms that underpin effective learning, as well as the implications. You’ll also look at the myths and superstitions that pervade L&D yet lead to wrong predictions, empty promises, and ultimately wasted money. You’ll explore when and why scenarios and simulations make sense, learn how to write better quiz questions, and unpack terms like microlearning and retrieval practice. You’ll leave with a basis to refine your own practices and evaluate new proposals. Come get the underpinnings of being a professional.
In this session, you will learn:
- The simple neural picture
- How learning works
- What hinders learning
- About science-based learning strategies
Audience:
Designers, managers, and senior leaders (directors, VP, CLO, executive, etc.).
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Clark Quinn
Chief Learning Strategist
Upside Learning
Clark Quinn, PhD is the executive director of Quinnovation, co-director of the Learning Development Accelerator, and chief learning strategist for Upside Learning. With more than four decades of experience at the cutting edge of learning, Dr. Quinn is an internationally known speaker, consultant, and author of seven books. He combines a deep knowledge of cognitive science and broad experience with technology into strategic design solutions that achieve innovative yet practical outcomes for corporations, higher-education, not-for-profit, and government organizations.
703 Interact and Engage! Activities for Spectacular Live Online Events
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM Friday, October 26
Montego DE
Whether it’s an online meeting, a presentation via webinar, or live online training, engagement is the main question on everyone’s mind. Interaction is the answer to engagement, and leveraging the features of the platform you use is the answer to interaction. However, the features alone do not engage participants. It is what you choose to do with those features that will make the difference in your next virtual training, webinar, or meeting.
In this session, you’ll learn how to create interaction, accountability, and engagement in your live online events. You’ll review specific activity examples along with a platform checklist to help you learn online meeting technology. You’ll discuss the challenges attendees face each day, and brainstorm and share ideas on how to overcome them. You’ll also receive an activity design job aid, so you have a guideline to create your own engaging activities for your events. Interaction, laughter, and discussion are expected, so come prepared to contribute and learn how to make engaging virtual events a reality!
In this session, you will learn:
- How engaging live online meetings, webinars, and training events are delivered
- Tips for determining the appropriate level of interaction to create effective live online events
- Strategies for analyzing activities for specific engagement techniques to apply to your own activity design
- How to use a checklist of platform features to optimize the investment in your virtual meeting technology
Audience:
Designers, developers, managers, presenters, and trainers.
Technology discussed in this session:
Live online virtual sessions using: WebEx, Adobe Connect, Zoom, MS Skype for Business, AirClass, GoToMeeting, GoToTraining, GoToWebinar, and anything else the participants mention they are using.
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Kassy LaBorie
Founder & Principal Consultant
Kassy LaBorie Consulting
Kassy LaBorie is the founder and principal consultant at Kassy LaBorie Consulting. She is a professional speaker, author, facilitator, and instructional designer who specializes in virtual engagement for learning and development professionals and business owners who get to use web conferencing technology to connect with people around the globe. In her previous role at Dale Carnegie & Associates, she was the director of virtual training services, a corporate consultancy that partnered with organizations to help them develop, design, and develop successful online training strategies. Kassy is a frequent speaker at industry conferences. She's known for believing that "being online is certainly equal to, and in some cases, better than, being in-person!"
801 The End of Microlearning
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Friday, October 26
Jamaica AB
Microlearning! It’s the most popular word in corporate learning today. It is also the most controversial. While some claim microlearning to be a transformational concept, others see it as nothing but smoke and mirrors. To really find the value, you have to get past the noise and focus on the fundamentals that created the microlearning hype. To really see the benefit of microlearning, you have to end it.
This session will destroy microlearning. All that will be left are the fundamental principles you can apply to enable employees and enhance your impact on the organization. You’ll learn why microlearning is actually an “informed reimagination” of familiar L&D tactics. You’ll find out how to design a workplace learning experience that fits within the daily workflow. You’ll hear stories from organizations that have applied these principles to solve common business problems with measurable results. You’ll leave ready to apply right-fit learning tactics on the job—without using the word “microlearning.”
In this session, you will learn:
- How to articulate the value of microlearning within the modern workplace
- How to build learning solutions that address specific business problems
- How to design a continuous learning experience that fits within the workflow
- How to introduce microlearning tactics into your existing L&D strategy
Audience:
Designers, developers, and managers.
Technology discussed in this session:
Microlearning platforms, learning management systems, mobile devices, and point of sale systems.
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JD Dillon
Chief Learning Architect
Axonify
JD Dillon became a learning and enablement expert over two decades working in operations and talent development with dynamic organizations including Disney, Kaplan, and AMC. A respected author and speaker in the workplace learning community, JD continues to apply his passion for helping people around the world do their best work every day in his role as Axonify's chief learning architect. JD is also the founder of LearnGeek, a workplace learning insights and advisory group.
802 A Crash Course on Designing for Any Virtual Classroom
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Friday, October 26
Andros AB
If they’re going to work in a virtual classroom, your traditional learning methodologies need a makeover. A virtual session is more than lecture and uploaded PowerPoints. Unique techniques must be used to engage learners throughout the session. A common pitfall is to focus on the technology and forget about the design—often resulting in unengaging sessions focused on using the tools and not meeting the needs of the learners.
This session will explore the six key principles of successfully designing for any virtual classroom platform. These principles provide a blueprint for adapting traditional classroom methodologies for live, online instruction. They are made up of key best practices gained from over 20 years’ experience designing, developing, facilitating, and producing online events. Whether you want to simply improve facilitated online meetings, enhance a few classes by adding online follow-up webinars, or completely transform a full curriculum, these principles will provide the guidance you need to create successful live, online learning experiences.
In this session, you will learn:
- The six guiding principles of virtual classroom design
- About the benefits and limitations of common virtual classroom tools
- How technology, timing, and talent (the “three Ts”) effect design outcomes
- How to design interactions for your chosen virtual classroom platform
- A strategy for implementing design and delivery best practices within your organization
Audience:
Designers and developers.
Technology discussed in this session:
Adobe Connect, WebEx Meeting and Training Center, GoTo, Zoom, and MS Skype for Business.
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Melissa Chambers
Online Instructional Specialist
MSC Consulting
Melissa Chambers is an online instructional specialist at MSC Consulting and a contract speaker coach/host for The Learning Guild's Online Forums and Guild Academy. Melissa has over 20 years' experience in creative media production, project and change management, online instructional design, and eLearning strategy development, and has been designing, producing, and coaching for synchronous online programs since 2002. She holds a master's degree in instructional design for online learning, and has spearheaded award-winning programs in eLearning, process improvement, and strategic development. Melissa has a passion for lifelong learning, technology, cultivating creativity, and having fun while working.
803 Level Up: Moving from Instructional Design to Learning Experience Design
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Friday, October 26
Montego A
Rapid UX models like agile, lean, and design sprint are the centerpiece of software, web application, and product design. Yet today’s L&D teams still use unresponsive and archaic instructional design models that follow an outdated waterfall paradigm. The rapid pace and demands of today’s business environment require that IDs utilize emerging UX design techniques to produce immediate results and learner performance.
This session will explore why traditional ISD models fail to meet the demands of 21st-century organizations, and how to use proven UX design methods to move your team from ISD to learning experience design. Find out what user story mapping and proto-personas have to do with eLearning development, and why card sorting is a fantastic way to get buy-in from stakeholders and identify course content. You’ll use a hands-on approach to explore how one team used learning experience design to achieve results, and how you can use these same techniques and strategies to rapidly produce eLearning and other performance solutions.
In this session, you will learn:
- How to integrate proven UX design techniques into the design and development of eLearning and other performance solutions
- How to use card sorting for problem analysis and course design
- How to use user story mapping for contextual design and to identify your target audience
- How to develop a strategy to transition your organization and design team from instructional design to learning experience design
Audience:
Designers, developers, managers, and senior leaders (directors, VP, CLO, executive, etc.).
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Curtis Pembrook
Chief Learning Strategist/Professor Graphic Design & Multimedia
Performance Instruction/Mission College
Curtis Pembrook is a graphic design and multimedia instructor at Mission College and a chief learning strategist at Performance Instruction. Curtis is an active member of the ISPI Bay Area chapter. He has also designed and developed eLearning for California Virtual Campus (CVC4), Mission College Workplace Learning, Cabrillo College Nursing, California Economic and Workforce Development, Valin, Hospira, ATAC, and the Federal Aviation Administration. Curtis loves reading about and applying evidence-based research to the design and development of engaging learning experiences. He holds an MEd and is currently pursuing a doctorate in education with emphasis on media studies at Fielding Graduate University.
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Sue Czeropski
Chief Learning Strategist
Performance Instruction
Sue Czeropski, a chief learning strategist at Performance Instruction, has over 30 years of experience in the training, development, and HPT arena. She is a PhD, a CPT, the 2016 president of the ISPI Bay Area Boise State University chapter, and former president of the Capella University chapter. Sue has presented at the ISPI annual conference and the CCCAOE (California Community College Association for Occupational Education) Conference and has published articles in the HPT field—in ISPI PIJ, Quality Progress, Training & Develop, and Training. Sue possesses expertise in the entire learning cycle, from conducting needs assessment to measuring ROI.
811 When Your Client Won’t Budge: Tips for Avoiding the Information Dump
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Friday, October 26
Montego DE
Your client provides a lengthy slide deck and asks you to create an engaging and fun course. You roll up your instructional design sleeves and start slashing unnecessary content and preparing a learner-focused design where learners practice scenario-based decision-making. But what do you do when your client rejects your design and demands a locked-navigation course that uses every word from their lengthy slide deck?
In this case study session, find out how to move beyond the information dump even when your client isn’t budging. You’ll discover ways to incorporate the information your client deems necessary while simultaneously avoiding information overload. You will also explore options that provide learners more freedom and control over their learning path while meeting your client’s request to lock down the navigation. This session will also provide you with ideas on how to tie together every element of the course to both enhance learning retention and strengthen your pitch of an unlocked course structure to your client.
In this session, you will learn:
- Creative ways to organize content so that it is meaningful to learners
- How to redesign the content to enable learners to learn from their mistakes
- About options that provide learners navigational control over their learning experience without fully unlocking the course navigation
- Strategies to tie every course element—including performance objectives, content, and assessment questions—together to help learners grasp the material
Audience:
Designers and developers.
Technology discussed in this session:
Articulate Storyline 2.
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Christina Grimsley
Senior Learning Specialist
EnCompass, LLC
Christy Grimsley is a senior learning specialist at EnCompass LLC, who brings 24 years of experience in facilitation, training, curricula development, and project management. Throughout her career, Ms. Grimsley has led long-term efforts to develop and implement face-to- face and virtual training designs, curricula, and manuals for audiences domestically and overseas on topics related to international development including policy and practice, health, democracy, rights and governance, and management and leadership development. Ms. Grimsley specializes in team building and mentoring, and has overseen the development and implementation of learning strategies, training of trainers, trainer observation, and learning evaluation.