601 Design Critique Party: Getting Feedback, Having Fun
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Wednesday, March 28
Salon 5
Something big is missing from the L&D field: design critiques. Critiques are collaborative sessions that help designers find solutions to design problems. Many creative fields use design critiques to improve the implementation of their products. Input from others brings new perspectives and insights to one’s work. Feedback makes designers more effective and creates a positive work culture. Yet, in learning experience design, critiques are vastly under-used.
You can change the culture by participating in this critique party and bringing your new skills back to the job. This session will quickly run through the rules of running an effective design critique. It’s all about posing questions that help others solve their design problems. Then volunteers will have the opportunity to present their (draft or finished) work, state what they want to achieve, and get ideas, inspiration, and feedback from their peers in 10- to 15-minute rounds. This is an excellent way to break through obstacles if you are stuck and to improve your instructional and visual design skills.
In this session, you will learn:
- The etiquette and rules for running an effective design critique
- How to maintain an open discussion
- How to focus on achieving the designer’s objectives
- The difference between critique and criticism
- How to verbalize potential solutions so they are helpful
Audience:
Novice to advanced designers, developers, project managers, and managers. Attendees should have a basic understanding of learning experience design and be willing to have an open discussion to help others find solutions to design challenges.
Technology discussed in this session:
eLearning, websites, mobile designs, learning portals, informal approaches, slides, etc.
Connie Malamed
Founder and Mentor
Mastering Instructional Design
Connie Malamed helps people learn and build instructional design skills at Mastering Instructional Design. She is a consultant, author and speaker in the fields of online learning and visual communication. Connie is the author of Visual Design Solutions and Visual Language for Designers. She also publishes The eLearning Coach website and podcast. She was honored with the Guild Master award in 2018 for contributions to the learning technologies industry.
602 Build Once, Deploy Anywhere: How RBC Is Leveraging Adapt Learning
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Wednesday, March 28
Salon 16
All businesses need to provide learning that is relevant and timely to their employees, while attempting to maximize learner receptivity by providing it through one of learners’ many available devices. This can make it difficult to create eLearning that is engaging, flexible, and responsive as well as being accessible across multiple devices seamlessly.
Adapt Learning is a rapid development tool that meets these needs. In this session, you will learn about Adapt Learning and get a look at how the tool is changing the way the Royal Bank of Canada designs, develops, and delivers modern deep scrolling content faster than ever. Adapt Learning keeps your eLearning flexible and practical by allowing you to start learning on your work computer, finish on your tablet, and refresh on your smartphone. You’ll never notice a reduction in quality, but you’ll definitely appreciate the flexibility it provides.
In this session, you will learn:
- About the Adapt framework, including interactive components, sophisticated theming, branding options, and deep scrolling content
- How Adapt content is changing the way learners at RBC consume content on a device of their choice
- How Adapt has allowed RBC to be agile, co-develop, and expedite development
- How RBC employs a “build once, deploy anywhere” process that lets the bank share test cases pertaining to efficiencies gained and development time
Audience:
Novice to intermediate designers, developers, managers, and directors.
Technology discussed in this session:
Adapt Builder (free and proprietary versions).
Jeremy Pearce
Senior Manager - Design, Innovation, and Development
RBC—Royal Bank of Canada
Jeremy Pearce is a senior manager of design and innovation at the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). He has a varied skillset with experience in the creation of eLearning training programs, gamification, video development, web design, graphic design, and animation. With over 10 years of experience, Jeremy and his team work to balance an exceptional learner experience with the art of the possible.
603 Adding xAPI to Your RFPs: Rethinking Your Process
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Wednesday, March 28
Salon 18
The Experience API is a marvelous enabling technology that can give you a rich picture of an individual’s learning path. Since it captures experiences in a consistent format, it opens the door for mobile, social, or offline learning. But xAPI is a terrible place to start when writing an RFP. It should not be the reason you’re buying software. xAPI is a feature—you should be buying a solution.
Ideally, the process of selecting a new technology should look like this: Identify your learning goals, uncover what your staff needs to achieve those goals, and select a technology that meets your business and technical requirements. While it’s not recommended to include xAPI in your RFP for the sake of it, this session will provide clear recommendations for how to write an RFP if you decide you need xAPI. That way, you’re well set up to select a technology provider that suits your goals and allows you to get started with xAPI.
In this session, you will learn:
- Why you shouldn’t include xAPI in your RFP just for the sake of it
- How to go about writing an RFP so that you are well set up to find a provider that offers a solution that supports your goals
- How to include xAPI in your RFP if you decide to do it anyway
- What capabilities to require of a provider
Audience:
Novice to advanced project managers, managers, directors, and senior leaders (VP, CLO, executive, etc.).
Technology discussed in this session:
LMSs, authoring tools, LRSs, and content management systems.
Chris Tompkins
Vice President of Business Development
Rustici Software
Chris Tompkins is the VP of business development for Rustici Software, a company that provides software to improve compatibility across the L&D ecosystem. He is an expert in the standards (like SCORM and xAPI) and uses his technical expertise to support eLearning RFP and procurement. Chris has an MBA from Belmont University, focused on entrepreneurship and negotiations. Building on previous work at HP/Compaq and XM Satellite Radio, he has over 15 years of experience matching the right technical solution to a client's needs.
604 2018 Trends: What the Research Says About Microlearning, Social Tools, and Video
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Wednesday, March 28
Junior Ballroom G
In this session, The eLearning Guild’s director
of research, Jane Bozarth, reviews the Guild’s most recent reports on video,
microlearning, and social tools for learning. We’ll look at what’s happening—or
not happening—industry-wide, with an emphasis on what works, such as what
factors support success and what content lends itself best to particular
approaches.
This review of research is designed to
familiarize you with what’s happening in the field and to help you find ways to
be successful with approaches you’re considering or are already using and would
like to enhance. You’ll leave with practical, evidence-based advice to
help you engage in conversations and apply new ideas back at work.
In this session, you will learn:
- What practical insights we can gain from current research into microlearning, social tools, and video
- State-of-the-industry practices in these areas
- Benefits and barriers facing practitioners
- Solutions to common challenges
Audience:
Novice to advanced designers, developers, managers, directors, and senior leaders (VPs, CLOs, executives, etc.).
Technology discussed in this session:
Video, social tools, assorted technologies used in microlearning solutions.
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.
605 Mind-Blowing PowerPoint. No, Really!
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Wednesday, March 28
Junior Ballroom F
Why are most presentations so bad? Truly terrible? They’re too wordy, text-based, and generally dull. They don’t tell stories that engage, excite, or inspire. And they generally do little to actually help people learn. They are linear and non-responsive, with no interaction—pretty much everything you know doesn’t work to convey information effectively. Few people enjoy creating, delivering, or watching PowerPoint presentations, so let’s change that.
This session is packed full of techniques to create mind-blowing presentations. Want to know how to create visual slides? Manipulate images? Master animations? Make it interactive? And produce presentations that’ll astound your audience? Come along for a master class on capturing your audience’s attention and helping them learn. You’ll create half a dozen amazing slides that work effectively, and apply the skills to other slides. As it’s all live in a single session, you’ll see how to rapidly create compelling visual content, making your training course the best ever. Plus, you’ll get a free PowerPoint toolkit to kick-start things, and video tutorials for support.
In this session, you will learn:
- To create visual slides using the full range of PowerPoint’s tools to generate your own graphics
- How to use custom highlighting to focus attention and make your point clearly
- How to tell compelling stories using animations, from simple to sophisticated
- How to create interactive visual content to engage your audience, whether in person or online
- How to develop navigable presentations so that you can respond to your audience
Audience:
Novice to advanced designers, developers, project managers, managers, and directors. Basic knowledge of PowerPoint is useful but not essential.
Technology discussed in this session:
Microsoft PowerPoint (all versions, but ideally 2007 onward).
Richard Goring
Director
BrightCarbon
Richard Goring is a director at BrightCarbon, a presentation and eLearning agency. He enjoys helping people create engaging content and communicate effectively using visuals, diagrams, and animated sequences that explain and reinforce the key points.
606 Panel Discussion: The Expanding Landscape of Performance Support
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Wednesday, March 28
Salon 2
The demands of the modern organization require you to look for more efficient ways to help people build their skills. Because of this, organizations are looking beyond traditional classes and courses that take time away from the job, and they’re also focusing on performance support: providing help directly in the flow of people’s work. These just-in-time options include more than just the job aids you’ve used in the past. Resources such as social technology, EPSS, video, and augmented reality offer new ways to provide employees with instant access to the answers they need.
In this panel discussion, experts will share their insights on the changing nature of work and learning, and on how performance support technologies are striving to meet the challenges of the modern, agile workforce. Join this session to learn more about the tools and strategies being employed, how to shift to a support-centric ecosystem, and the now and next of performance support technologies.
In this session, you will learn:
- About the technologies that exist in the expanding performance support landscape
- About the organizational strategies being employed to launch, sustain, and succeed with performance support
- About the implications of a BYOD approach to performance support
- About the future of performance support in the work-learning ecosystem
Audience:
Novice to advanced designers, developers, project managers, managers, directors, and senior leaders (VP, CLO, executive, etc.).
Technology discussed in this session:
Electronic performance support systems (EPSS), augmented reality, and video.
Mark Britz (Host)
Director of Event Programming
Learning Guild
Mark Britz is the director of event programming at The Learning Guild. Previously he worked for more than 15 years designing and managing learning solutions with organizations such as Smartforce, Pearson Digital Learning, the SUNY Research Foundation, Aspen Dental Management, and Systems Made Simple. Mark is also an organizational social designer, helping businesses achieve the benefits of becoming more connected and collaborative to improve learning and engagement. Mark is the author of Social By Design: How to create and scale a collaborative company, and regularly presents and writes about the use of social media for learning, collaborative networks, and organizational design.
Molly Petroff
Education Specialist
Saint Vincent Hospital
Molly Petroff, an education specialist at Saint Vincent Hospital, is the architect of performance support (PS) at the hospital and has implemented several PS solutions focusing on the moment of apply for health system associates. She has worked in staff development for over 25 years, focusing the last 15 years on online learning technologies and the last five years primarily on PS design and development. She has authored numerous eLearning programs and PS solutions for in-house delivery and for other institutions. Molly, an RN, holds a BSN in nursing, an MEd in adult education, and certificates in eLearning instructional design and 5MoN design.
Saif Altalib
Sr. Instructional Designer
Amazon Web Services
Saif Altalib, MEd and MBA, has 17+ years of experience in designing innovative performance improvement and instructional solutions. Saif won an Atlanta ATD Award for best software learning program in 2010 and has presented multiple times at Learning Guild conferences.
Hal Christensen
President
QuickCompetence
Hal Christensen, President at QuickCompetence, has been providing organizations with strategic guidance and solutions to improve employee performance for three decades. An early pioneer of the performance support movement, he has successfully introduced performance support solutions into many organizations in the financial, healthcare, telecommunications, and energy industries. Hal chairs the ATD NY Performance Support SIG and also teaches an online course, Creating Effective Performance Support Solutions.
607 Designing a Flexible, Future-Focused Learning Infrastructure
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Wednesday, March 28
Salon 9
L&D professionals are rarely able to build their ideal learning ecosystem; they often inherit legacy systems and approaches. With so many technologies designed to support specific parts of your ecosystem, it can be difficult to organize them into a comprehensive learning strategy with the flexibility to meet the future needs of your rapidly evolving business and the mobile, social, and global engagement necessary for a generationally diverse workforce.
While working together through a sample scenario, you will learn a practical approach to designing a learning and performance ecosystem that both leverages the existing tools you have and anticipates the future needs of your rapidly changing business, so you can identify and demonstrate meaningful business results that will support your ability to grow and evolve your ecosystem when the organization is ready for it.
In this session, you will learn:
- About the components that comprise a learning and performance ecosystem
- How to identify ecosystem components available to you
- How to identify future ecosystem components that will support rapidly changing businesses
- How to organize components to create a flexible ecosystem solution
- How to identify meaningful business measures to track success
- Where to seek support to grow and evolve your ecosystem
Audience:
Novice to advanced designers, developers, project managers, managers, and directors.
Tammy Olson
Global Learning Program Manager
Donaldson Company
Tammy Olson, a global learning program manager at Donaldson Company, is an experienced global learning leader and strategist with a passion for developing learning strategies, infrastructures, and solutions that leverage social, collaborative, virtual, and mobile learning technologies for Fortune 500 companies. Tammy continually looks for opportunities to innovate the way people work by integrating learning and collaboration exactly where and when it is needed. She has over 20 years’ experience creating technology-enabled learning experiences to engage and develop high-performing, diverse employee populations.
608 How Leadership Development Turned a Dying Company Around
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Wednesday, March 28
Salon 14
In 2011, one company had the lowest productivity in its industry in the Asia Pacific, was not making cost of capital, and had a toxic culture. By 2016, the company had the highest productivity in the Asia Pacific, it made record profits, and unions were working happily with management. The organization achieved this by addressing its leadership vacuum and investing in management development that spanned the 70:20:10 in often creative ways.
This session will explore how to develop and select leadership training that influences a culture. You’ll find out how to put in place support for learning transition to the workplace context, how to take a holistic approach to learning on the job though experience, and how to use unorthodox TNA methods to target training effectively. Join this session to learn how a seemingly intransigent culture can change through effective leadership development. You’ll leave knowing how to “wow” customers with training that actually makes a difference.
In this session, you will learn:
- About the place of leadership development in an organization’s culture
- How to underpin TNA with business data
- How training and development can be partnered for holistic learning
- How to turn leadership training into a cultural driver
Audience:
Advanced managers, directors, and senior leaders (VP, CLO, executive, etc.). A general understanding of business strategy and some knowledge of the leadership development field would be useful.
Technology discussed in this session:
Virtual reality.
Diane Edwards
General Manager People Systems and Technology
Ports of Auckland
Diane Edwards is a general manager of people, systems, and technology at Ports of Auckland. Diane holds postgraduate qualifications in education, accounting, and banking, and is the current national president of the New Zealand Association for Training and Development (NZATD). Diane was the HRINZ (Human Resources Institute of NZ) 2010 HR Specialist of the Year (training and OD); the 2015 HR Generalist of the Year; and the 2016 Governance NZ Gender Diversity Leader of the Year. She also won the 2016 SSON Australasian Culture Creation Award. Diane holds fellowships of NZATD, HRINZ Institute of Management, and the Financial Services Institute of Australasia.
609 User Testing: A Deep Dive
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Wednesday, March 28
Salon 13
User testing is one of the most powerful tools in creating solutions that work the way you want—and the way your learners expect. Unfortunately, it’s often overlooked and can even be scary if you’ve never done it before. But solid user testing techniques can actually be easier to start using than you might expect.
In this session, we will cover a simple and reliable process—including customizable templates for each step—and recommended tools that are easy to learn and cheap (or even free) to use. Whether you’re new to eLearning or just new to discovering usability principles, you will leave this session with the knowledge, tools, and confidence you need to get started making user testing a part of your process, and you’ll even have your first user test under your belt!
In this session, you will learn:
- How user testing can be used specifically in the world of L&D to make what we create better
- What user testing can help you with and what it can’t
- Everything you need to start performing user tests, from planning to reporting
- Which amazing, easy, and free tools will be the most help with your user testing process
Audience
Novice and intermediate designers and developers.
Technology discussed in this session:
Productivity and collaboration software such as Google Sheets, Docs, and Forms; web conferencing software such as Zoom and GoToMeeting; advanced user testing software such as TechSmith Morae.
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.
610 Dammit Jim, I’m a Doctor, Not a Graphic Designer!
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Wednesday, March 28
Salon 3
Designers often find themselves playing many roles in training development. Due to time or budget constraints, the role that usually ends up taking a backseat is the role of graphic designer. And this is a challenge because solid graphic design makes a big difference in how people receive and process information, which is L&D’s ultimate goal. While graphic design can seem difficult and time-consuming, it doesn’t have to be.
This session will explore five effective and user-friendly practices that will increase the quality of what you design. You will be able to translate the practices to any tool you use for development, from simple tools like PowerPoint to more complex graphic tools like Illustrator or rapid development tools like Storyline and Captivate. The session will focus on simple approaches that can make a big difference, such as how to organize content and how to effectively use color and backgrounds for the optimal learning experience. You’ll leave with practical tips that will make your content both more appealing to the eye and more effective for learning with minimal effort and time.
In this session, you will learn:
- How to pick the right font palette for your project and why you should to stick to it
- Why it’s important to select an appropriate color scheme and use it consistently
- How to create proper contrast and why it matters
- Why leaving some empty space in your design can make it easier for people to learn from
- How to place your text in contrast to your background and increase legibility
Audience:
Novice to intermediate designers and developers.
Jeremy Medrano
Chief Creative Officer
Infinitude Creative Group
Jeremy Medrano, a creative director at Infinitude Creative Group, found his passion for visual design and storytelling early on. After graduating with a degree in digital filmmaking from the Art Institute of Dallas, Jeremy began his career as a video editor, motion graphic artist, and graphic designer. Due to his dedication and drive for innovative results, he quickly moved into a management role, then into creative direction. At Infinitude, he oversees the artistic development of all work; supervises the team of designers, editors, and production artists; and is always pushing the envelope to produce better work and expand the organization's capabilities.
611 How Content Curation and Knowledge Management Can Help Us Thrive
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Wednesday, March 28
Salon 17
We are facing a knowledge tsunami—the sheer amount of content available is increasing at an exponential rate, while the shelf life of that content is shrinking dramatically. It can be overwhelming, not just to learners, but to us as well. As we look at the content we develop and publish, we have to ask some very important questions. Is it good content? Is it the right content for the right purpose? Is it up-to-date? Is it understandable? And even when we are confident in our content, we have to make sure it gets to the right people, at just the right time.
This presentation focuses on the two major tactics to avoiding a knowledge tsunami: content curation and knowledge management. Both are important; you can’t have one without the other. In this session, you’ll learn about the rationale for and the strategies behind content curation and knowledge management, and why these two approaches are so critical as L&D moves forward. From SMEs and instructional designers, to L&D leaders, the knowledge tsunami is a fact of our professional lives, and it’s time to face it head on.
In this session, you will learn:
- Why the two tactics of knowledge management and content curation are so powerful together
- Why these two tactics are of particular importance to L&D
- Key knowledge management and content curation strategies you’ll want to consider
- Tips for implementing knowledge management and content curation strategies at your own organization
Audience:
Intermediate and advanced designers, developers, managers, directors, and senior leaders (VPs, CLOs, executives, etc.).
Technology discussed in this session:
This presentation will focus on general strategies for knowledge management and content curation rather than specific tools/technologies.
Marc Rosenberg
President
Marc Rosenberg and Associates
Dr. Marc Rosenberg is a global expert and speaker in training, organizational learning, eLearning, knowledge management, and performance improvement. He has written two best-selling books, E-Learning, and Beyond E-Learning. His 100 monthly columns, “Marc My Words,” appeared in The eLearning Guild’s Learning Solutions magazine from 2010 through 2018 and are still available online. Marc is past president and honorary life member of the International Society for Performance Improvement, is an eLearning Guild “Guild Master,” has spoken at the White House, debated eLearning’s future at Oxford University, keynoted conferences around the world, authored over 200 columns, articles, white papers, and book chapters, and is frequently quoted in major trade publications. Learn more at www.marcrosenberg.com.
612 Modern Learning Ecosystem Design with xAPI
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Wednesday, March 28
Salon 15
While the L&D community is increasingly familiar with the Experience API (xAPI) and its value for data collection and interoperability, few examples exist to clarify the value of xAPI as applied within different existing learning infrastructures. This session is focused on sharing the ways xAPI can connect and provide value in any eLearning environment.
This session presents a series of different learning ecosystem configurations and the ways xAPI and a learning record store (LRS) can provide value in each case. The three main learning ecosystem configurations examined range from the simplest (LMS and LRS) to three systems connected (LMS, LRS, and CMS) to the fully modular (LRS, LMS, simulations, microlearning, performance assessment, and other tools). For each of these configurations, the presentation shares specific values and practical applications gained by connecting an xAPI LRS to the existing system.
In this session, you will learn:
- What kind of additional granular insights and eLearning information you can gather by connecting an LMS to an LRS
- How connecting an LRS to your existing LMS and CMS can help you connect data on formal, informal, and summative learning experiences
- How xAPI can connect to all of the components of your learning ecosystem to enable cross-source data collection and analysis across even the most distributed learning systems
- How data collected through xAPI contributes to the future of learning personalization and data-driven L&D
Audience:
Intermediate designers, project managers, managers, directors, and senior leaders (VP, CLO, executive, etc.) with general knowledge of learning tools and applications. There will be a broad (and brief!) introduction to xAPI and the LRS.
Technology discussed in this session:
Experience API (xAPI) and learning record stores (LRSs).
Margaret Roth
Chief Customer Experience Officer
Yet Analytics
Margaret Roth is the chief customer experience officer at Yet Analytics, a Baltimore-based company that provides tools and solutions to improve learning and talent development. Margaret is interested in the development and design of connected learning environments that leverage xAPI and blended learning. Her background is in experiential education, curriculum design, teaching, and team development. She is the VP of community impact for the Junior League of Baltimore, a member of the SXSWedu Advisory Board, and a co-founder of EdTechWomen. Margaret received her BA in English and environmental earth science and her MA in teaching from Johns Hopkins University.
613 BYOD: Add Affordable 3-D Content to Your eLearning
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Wednesday, March 28
Salon 1
Three-dimensional content is phenomenally cool—from basic polygonal models to full human-like characters, buildings, vehicles, and even complete environments. Because 3-D content has historically taken vast resources (i.e., time or money) to create, 3-D resources are often relegated to video games, simulations, and VR only. However, creating, editing, and obtaining 3-D models for everyday use in eLearning doesn’t have to be cost-prohibitive or take a lot of time.
This session will cover tools, software, and websites that allow you to create, edit, customize, and display 3-D models—all available to use right now. Use this 3-D content in photos, images, animations, vignettes, or even VR demos and full-blown simulations. You’ll explore what’s out there, what each tool does, and possible ways to use the elements within your existing content. These resources are free or “near-free,” requiring little in up-front costs. You’ll examine real-world solutions and possible uses for 3-D: reusable characters with editable facial expressions and poses, customized 3-D objects and backgrounds, and an embedded real-time 3-D object viewer.
In this session, you will learn:
- About available tools, software, and resources for creating 3-D content
- About the basics of 3-D character creation
- What rigging/posing is
- What blendshapes are
- About some open-source 3-D tools
- How to easily add 3-D to eLearning
Audience:
Novice to intermediate designers, developers, project managers, managers, directors, and senior leaders (VP, CLO, executive, etc.).
Technology discussed in this session:
3-D tools and resources such as Mixamo, TurboSquid, Sketchfab, and many others, including Blender, Adobe Fuse CC, and MakeHuman.
Participant technology requirements:
Laptop with mouse (helpful for Blender UI). Participants may download the following solutions prior to the session, though they are not required: Blender, Adobe Fuse CC, and MakeHuman. Participants will need to ensure their machine’s graphics cards and hardware meet the requirements of these tools. A smartphone, tablet (or similar VR-ready device), and/or VR viewer are helpful but not required.
Michael Sheyahshe
Founder and Technologist
aNm
Michael Sheyahshe, a founder and technologist at aNm, has a vast breadth of experience in information technology, eLearning, and innovation spanning two decades and several industries. His extensive career encompasses design and development of various eLearning and training content, specializing in animation, simulations, and interactive content. Michael is an expert in numerous 3-D software tools, game engines, programming languages, mobile devices, platforms, and coding frameworks. He holds two bachelor of arts degrees from the University of Oklahoma in film and Native American studies, and a master of fine arts degree in 3-D modeling from the Academy of Art University.
614 BYOD: Mics, Webcam, Action! Run Your Next Virtual Event Like a Broadway Director
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Wednesday, March 28
Salon 11
What do compliance training and the play Wicked have in common? What about onboarding and Hamlet? How about project management and stage management? They have more in common than you think. When you are creating a learning experience, you are producing a performance, and you need to think like a Broadway director.
In this BYOD session, you will participate in an Adobe Connect session and learn what happens “backstage” during a virtual event. You will also walk through the creation and configuration of an Adobe Connect seminar room. You’ll learn that the production components of a well-produced Broadway play are also found in a well-produced virtual session. You’ll learn how to “stage manage” the entire event and discover your inner Harold Prince!
In this session, you will learn:
- What is “backstage” in Adobe Connect and GoToWebinar
- About Broadway practices and how to use them to produce your next session
- How to turn your training sessions into repeatable performances
- Technical “hacks” to make your production stand out
Audience
Novice to intermediate designers and online event producers.
Technology discussed in this session:
Adobe Connect and GoToWebinar.
Participant technology requirements:
A laptop or mobile device to access the GoToWebinar room and the Adobe Connect seminar room during the session. For successful participation, please review the Adobe Connect system requirements and run the Adobe Connect diagnostic test on your Mac or Windows computer. If you wish to create and configure your own Adobe Connect room, you will need a laptop with administrator access to Adobe Connect (trial version is fine).
Karyn Gleeson
Program & Production Manager
The Learning Guild
Karyn Gleeson is the program & production manager for The Learning Guild, where she manages both the tactical needs of producing online events, the strategic needs of programming the online conferences and managing the staff and event deliverables. Karyn is a Digital Event Strategist with certification from the Professional Convention Management Association. Previously, Karyn was an LMS administrator and manager of the technical support staff for an online curriculum provider. Karyn also has years of experience as a business analyst, project manager, and trainer for a custom software development firm. She also provides educational support to parents, educators, and students of the K-12 community through workshops, small group instruction, and online classes.
615 BYOD: Post-Production Techniques for eLearning Narration
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Wednesday, March 28
Salon 7
Does the audio in your eLearning presentations sound too hot, too cold, or just right? Does your audio have background hiss or other unwanted sounds no matter how quiet your recording environment? Does your narration have noticeably loud “P” (plosive) or “S” (sibilance) sounds? These factors can distract your learner from the message you wish to present, and a distracted learner learns less.
In this BYOD session, you will learn how you can use audio editing software to automatically set the volume to optimal levels for eLearning narration. You will learn how to alter audio you record (or audio that others record) to remove many sources of background noise. You will also learn editing strategies to minimize strong syllable sounds such as “S” and “P,” especially when re-recording is not a feasible option.
In this session, you will learn:
- Basic multimedia principles that highlight the importance of clean, quality audio narration in eLearning
- Simple steps to minimize noise artifacts during the recording process
- Techniques to minimize or eliminate background noise in your recording
- How to set your audio volume to optimum levels for eLearning using a simple one-step technique
- How to minimize strong consonant sounds such as P, S, F, CH, and SH in recorded narration
Audience:
Intermediate developers and managers.
Technology discussed in this session:
Audacity, with some references to Adobe Audition.
Participant technology requirements:
Preload Audacity onto your MacOS or Windows notebook computer before the session. Headphones compatible with your computer are highly advised. Audio samples will be provided for download via Wi-Fi or USB drive, so a microphone is not required.
Kevin Lange
Principal Consultant
Immersion Learning
Kevin Lange is the principal consultant at Immersion Learning. Previously he was a learning governance and technology manager with The Mosaic Company. Since 2005, Kevin has worked as a facilitator, instructional designer, project and program manager, and learning strategist within academic, consulting, and Fortune 500 and Global 500 companies, including Capital One, Citi, Expedia, American Express, Deloitte, and Sony. Kevin holds bachelor's degrees in radio-television and speech communication from Southern Illinois University, an MBA from Indiana State University, and an MEd in educational technology from the University of Florida.
SDD204 Converting Existing Training Materials into Meaningful Learning Programs
1:00 PM - 1:45 PM Wednesday, March 28
Expo Hall: Design & Development Stage
You have instructor-led courses, recorded webinars, product training, onboarding videos, documentation, and more. You believe you can somehow turn all of this into a great learning program, but how? How do you make sense of all of your materials and determine what’s necessary for a great learning experience? Is eLearning the right solution? And if it is, in what format and with what kinds of features?
In this session, you’ll learn how to approach the conversion of your instructor-led training materials—as well as other forms of existing training and documentation—into great learning programs. You’ll learn various tips for conducting a proper needs analysis, you’ll explore different learning formats and features, and you’ll be forced to think about the goals driving the need for your learning program. At the end, you’ll be armed with the proper questions and tools that you can use to evaluate a conversion project of your own.
In this session, you will learn:
- How to organize and prioritize your existing training materials for use with developing a new learning program
- How to conduct a needs analysis for a learning program
- About different types of eLearning formats, such as microlearning, and their pros and cons
- How to ensure your learning solution is in line with your overall business goals
Audience:
Novice to advanced project managers, managers, directors, and senior leaders (VP, CLO, executive, etc.).
Cherie Simmons
Storyboard Project Manager
Artisan E-Learning
Cherie Simmons is a storyboard project manager at Artisan E-Learning with over 25 years of experience in training, strategic planning, coaching, and curriculum development. Organizations have turned to her to build full curriculums and facilitate tailored workshops. Cherie has designed and led entire school districts and companies through high-level strategic planning. While each strategic process is unique, she crafts them all to deliver creative approaches, strong ownership, realistic plans, and effective outcomes. Her approach to instructional design and writing eLearning content is no different. Cherie recently joined Artisan E-Learning, where she oversees the writing and direction of storyboards developed for clients.
SMM204 A Proven Checklist Tool for Objective Program Evaluation
1:00 PM - 1:45 PM Wednesday, March 28
Expo Hall: Management & Measurement Stage
Consistent program evaluation can be a challenge. Organizations must invest time and manpower wisely in order to generate feedback that will improve training outcomes and produce a positive ROI. Asking a department to judge its own work compromises objectivity, whereas hiring outside consultants generates tension. So what’s a better option? A substantive rubric aligned with a standards-based evaluative tool. This approach can help you achieve results that a mere survey, or departmental self-evaluation, cannot.
In this session, you will learn how to implement a product evaluation checklist to help you more effectively evaluate and critique your own learning programs. You’ll discover how evidence-based best practices are reflected in this evaluation tool’s 12 broad criteria, and how you can best use them to generate an objective score that is readily comparable between departments, units, and businesses as well as across training types. Once you’ve mastered the tool, you’ll then brainstorm ways to leverage evaluation scores within your own businesses to help meet training goals, drive better outcomes, and further department and asset development.
In this session, you will learn:
- About the advantages of employing a proven rubric to evaluate a program’s alignment with learning science
- About the meaning and importance of this rubric’s 12 essential categories
- How to conduct a program review
- How to conduct a post-review session with stakeholders that will minimize friction and facilitate next steps and improvements
- How to leverage the checklist’s findings to drive an organization to positive change
Audience:
Novice to advanced designers, developers, managers, directors, and senior leaders (VP, CLO, executive, etc.).
Technology discussed in this session:
Kaplan’s Educational Product Evaluation Checklist.
Kristin Murner
Learning Design Lead
CreatorUp
Kristin Murner, the learning design lead at CreatorUp, has worked in traditional, online, and for-profit education for over 20 years. Her favorite projects have been teaching undergraduate marketing on an Army base, working with NYC public school teachers on SHSAT prep-course improvement, and quickly creating and co-hosting free educator-facing webinars to help teachers and faculty pivot to online learning during the COVID-19 shutdown. At CreatorUp, Kristin works cross-functionally to ensure all learning content is measurable, sticky, and awesome. She holds a BS in physics, an MBA in marketing, and an MSEd in instructional design and technology.
Bob Verini
Director, Academic Quality
Kaplan Test Prep
Bob Verini is a director of academic quality in Kaplan Test Prep’s learning science department, with 35 years of experience in creating and delivering instruction in on-site and online classroom environments. For the last decade he has been teaching online courses exclusively, and he created the company’s first training program to help veteran teachers understand and absorb the best practices of the new medium. An accomplished journalist for Daily Variety and other publications, Bob is often recognized for his appearances on Jeopardy! as the winner of 1987’s Tournament of Champions and a veteran of numerous invitational tournaments.
STP204 Getting It Done Yesterday: Rapid Development Processes for Tight Timelines
1:00 PM - 1:45 PM Wednesday, March 28
Expo Hall: Tools & Platforms Stage
What does a development team do when they discover that multiple programs require new courses in order to ensure graduates in every state can receive teaching licenses? This is the challenge Western Governors University faced. State endorsement changes meant creating 17 new courses in less than three months. How did this challenge become a growth opportunity for the team to create a rapid development process?
In this case study session, find out how the WGU team implemented a rapid development process to develop quality courses with an impossible deadline. You will learn how teams comprising instructional designers, curriculum program managers, SMEs, and vendors utilized collaborative tools and strategies to implement an agile design process to develop courses that adhered to quality standards. You’ll explore how three instructional designers applied the agile framework in different ways to deliver quality courses in math, literacy, and science. And you’ll walk away with tips and resources to help your own rapid development.
In this session, you will learn:
- How applying the agile method of development makes eLearning design more efficient and effective
- How to maximize the potential of collaborative tools to effectively work with a variety of stakeholders and minimize the need for long meetings
- How iterative editing and quality assurance practices ensure course quality when developing courses in a short time frame
- How rapid development can be successful in a variety of course management systems or within different third-party platforms.
Audience:
Novice to intermediate designers, developers, project managers, managers, directors, and senior leaders (VP, CLO, executive, etc.).
Lesley Reilly
Instructional Designer: Teachers College at WGU
Western Governors University
Lesley Reilly is an instructional designer for Teachers College at Western Governors University. For 12 years prior to joining WGU, she worked for EdTech Leaders Online (ETLO) collaborating with teams of instructional designers, SMEs, and media specialists to help clients understand and meet their educational needs through online learning. Lesley draws from her experience as a classroom teacher to design and develop meaningful learning experiences online. She has a master’s degree in educational technology from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a bachelor’s in elementary education from the University of Michigan.
Samantha Coen
Instructional Designer
Western Governors University
Samantha Coen is an instructional designer at Western Governors University. She has about 10 years’ experience in online course design and development as an instructional designer in both higher education and corporate settings. Samantha has proven experience in designing online programs, creating interactive learning environments, and implementing adaptive learning solutions. She holds an MS in instructional design and is presently a doctoral student specializing in instructional design for online learning.