Learning Solutions Concurrent Sessions
The Learning Solutions Conference & Expo offers over 100 concurrent sessions covering eLearning best practices, how-tos, case studies, and emerging trends. These sessions will help you develop new skills and knowledge, which will help you build more engaging and effective learning experiences.
Specialized Focuses
In addition to the great tracks at Learning Solutions Conference & Expo, there are a number of specialized sessions curated to help you put your skills into practice immediately.
The AlignED series of sessions focuses on what higher ed and corporate learning professionals can learn from one another. These sessions help bridge the gaps between academic and corporate education.
B.Y.O.L.® (Bring Your Own Laptop®) workshops ensure that you receive in-depth, hands-on training and enable you to follow along with the instructor step-by-step.
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All Learning Stage Sessions
Ninety-eight percent of respondents to an eLearning Industry survey said that they had a mobile device, and over 70 percent used their personal mobile devices to accomplish work. As your audience of learners has made the move to mobile, responsive course design—authoring courses that render well on any device, whether desktop, tablet, or mobile—has gone from nice-to-have to an absolute must. Join John Blackmon as he reviews different design philosophies used in eLearning, discusses their pros and cons, and reveals the secrets to responsive course design made easy.
Read MoreET102 From Boring to Bodacious: Crafting Awesome Visuals
Stage Program A
A boring visual experience is no way to present your engaging story. Get sassy with your screen! Pick up those tools! Make that story come alive! In this session you will learn to solve the problem of the boring and talkative screen through easy field-tested techniques to take your engaging story and make it an engaging visual. By the end of the session, you will know which image editing tools are the best for the job and how to use them in effective and specific ways to bring your learning element to life.
Read MoreAs the demand for high-quality, multimedia-rich online courses increases, so do the expectations of rapid development. Clients expect custom multimedia in shorter periods of time, putting pressure on designers to produce more with less. In this session you will learn practical strategies that have been put in place at the University of South Florida to enable greater efficiency in multimedia production. These strategies include working with content, finding inspiration, and establishing a baseline. You will come away with flexible and adaptive strategies that can be applied to a variety of settings and authoring tools.
Read MoreOne of Australia’s largest banks was embarking upon a significant technology transformation program. The users were geographically spread across over 500 locations and would be impacted by different projects at different times over a two-year period. The challenge was to provide performance and learning support to users as each project impacted them. In this session you will learn about an overarching learning strategy for a transformation program underpinned by social learning. This case study will provide you with a proven solution to address learning and performance support across a major enterprise transformation program.
Read More“I need…” the learner says. “You need…” the leader says. Our goal is to enable leaders and SMEs to develop content to facilitate on-demand learning when it is needed. But what about when the worker does not know he needs it? Be ready to push business updates and changes as they occur. We need to enable the push as well as validate receipt and comprehension. We can now do it all in the cloud but make it available at fingertips. During this session, we will discuss the how-to as well and case studies of where it has worked.
Read MoreThe development of workplace skills happens primarily beyond the traditional eLearning course, through on-the-job experience and coaching by managers. Mobile technologies, the Experience API (xAPI, Tin Can), and badges have made it practical to implement on-the-job learning. You’ll see how an on-the-job learning path was deployed on employees’ smartphones to increase speed to proficiency, which included accessing video modeling and performance support at the moment of need; using their phones’ sensors (camera, audio, video, and GPS) to capture evidence of work and submit it to coaches for feedback and guidance; and xAPI-enabled tracking, learning analytics, and awarding of badges.
Read MoreeLearning and mLearning designers are experiencing a new challenge that mirrors one that’s age-old. In the 1980s, WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) was a challenge for computer users who saw one thing on their computer monitors but saw very different results when they printed their work. Today, the new challenge for eLearning and mLearning instructional designers is WYBIWYG (what you build is what you get). What are the common elements that lead to WYBIWYG issues? What can you do to avoid it? Can you eliminate it? This presentation will help you understand how it happens, what to do to avoid it, and steps you can take to eliminate WYBIWYG issues entirely.
Read MoreVisual distractions in short-form media can increase cognitive load and lessen the effectiveness of your microlearning content. Eye tracking studies give you specific view data that can be used to improve video, animation, eLearning interfaces, and mobile training, and new cloud-based technology has made eye tracking affordable and easy to use. In this session, you will learn how to perform your own eye tracking study with just a laptop, a webcam, and an Internet connection. When measuring the success of microlearning, every second counts.
Read MoreManaging a team or projects from a distance brings its own sets of challenges and requires a specific skill set for handling them well. In this session, you will learn how to have more effective virtual meetings and easier approaches to checking in with members of your team, as well as how to conduct performance coaching at a distance.
Read MoreStandard resumes and cover letters are no longer sufficient if you want to stand out from the crowd. Having a good portfolio has always been important for freelancers, but it’s quickly becoming a must-have for anyone in eLearning who hopes to snag the best opportunities that come along. In this session you will learn why you should have an eLearning portfolio today. You will explore what type of things to include in your portfolio, and you will learn about the solutions to common portfolio roadblocks and review over 20 free and easy tools you can use to create your portfolio.
Read MoreAre you struggling with your LMS? Is it providing the value you expected when you made the initial purchase? Did you know that there are solutions to your LMS problems without purchasing a new system? Join the Bluewater team as they help you take your current LMS and transform it to work for you. The session will include the seven core secrets to making any LMS work for you; providing personalized learning; and reporting.
Read MoreJoin us for this in-depth look at five trends you should focus on in learning today, and what’s just around the corner. This session will provide you with plenty of resources to share with your team and get you started with free tools to get to the next level in your learning development. Get ready to reboot your brain and enhance your learning today.
Read MoreVideo can be a highly engaging form of media for learning, and scenarios are a great way to encourage critical thinking. So why not put them together? In this session, you’ll see just how easy (and fun) it is to create video-based eLearning scenarios. You don’t need a big budget, just a little creativity!
Read MoreCourses that meet the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 accessibility requirements are in high demand. However, many instructional designers lack both the understanding of what 508 compliance really means and the competency to effectively develop compliant courses. In this session, participants will see how Articulate Storyline can help you create eLearning modules that are more accessible for users. You will learn how to use alternate text to describe screen elements and you will learn to build courses with closed captioning effects. Finally, you will leave this session understanding the Storyline features that support accessible content.
Read MoreADDIE and traditional project management methodologies can take a long time and lack flexibility when it comes to requirements and/or timelines. Agile, however, addresses the key issues that we face as training professionals: How to deliver the highest value first, get materials to the public on a regular schedule, and empower teams to manage their own success. In this session you will learn the fundamentals of agile development and separate agile from rapid development. This session will also provide some tips and tricks for the transition from traditional project management and content development strategies to agile development.
Read MoreNot only do we wear several hats in the field of instructional design, we are also working on multiple projects, each of them usually customized. Prototyping allows you to ask “what if” and put your ideas to the test by trying different things early in the process without putting the timeline in danger. In this session you will learn how prototyping in small pieces allows you to work through design issues without spending additional time adjusting the entire project. You will learn to gain more flexibility in your design by making revisions early in the process.
Read MoreA prevalent training concern is the inability to create lasting behavioral change after training. A key to the success of reinforcement training is the ability to continue the learning on the job. In this session you will be introduced to the seven secrets of reinforcement learning and be shown how trainers and leaders can better help employees apply their knowledge on the job. This session uses case studies to offer a fresh perspective on incorporating micro-reinforcement learning post-training to increase knowledge transfer and retention. Following this session, you will be able to explain micro-reinforcement training and connect micro-reinforcement training with ROI.
Read MoreOne of the most frequent concerns about teaching online is how to connect with students in the virtual environment. While there may be a difference in the tools that you need online, the ways to engage students are the same as the traditional physical classroom. In this session you will learn how to use basic technologies to connect with and engage students in the virtual classroom. We will explore several tools, such as survey technologies for pre-, mid-, and post-course feedback and inquiry; basic video and screencasting for creating informal, personalized videos; and sound recording tools that allow audio feedback for assessment.
Read MoreET108 The Great Debate: PowerPoint vs. Free-form eLearning Tools
Stage Program A
There’s nothing like an election year to dive headfirst into a spirited debate, so iSpring friends Joe Ganci and Mark Simon will be doing exactly that. Joe will abandon political correctness to tell Mark exactly why free-form tools are infinitely better than PowerPoint tools, while Mark will campaign for PowerPoint users all over the world. Chances are that you’ve used one tool type or another—or perhaps you’ve used both—but do you really know the pros and cons of each? No matter what your affiliation is, you don’t want to miss this one!
Read MoreMany course designers mistakenly believe that interactivity requires bigger budgets and longer timelines. The reality is that today’s authoring tools offer course designers dozens of ways to leverage multimedia to add meaningful interactions. In this session, you’ll learn how to transform existing slide content into interactive knowledge checks and practice activities. You’ll also discover the five most common eLearning interactions and how they can be used to design more engaging courses.
Read MoreEffectively managing your learning programs in the modern workplace means taking a leaner, more streamlined bottom-line approach. It starts with clearly identifying the end goal of training, and it involves stripping out the “just-in-case” learning and focusing only on the learning that employees need to achieve business results. In this practical session, Carol Leaman will discuss four steps to driving business impact; how to effectively identify, track, and measure behavior and business results; and a real-world example of measurement-in-action.
Read MoreJoin us for a look at what HTML5 is and learn how you can use it today to deliver the next generation of learning and applications. What can we learn from the buzz and new tools appearing in the consumer and corporate environments, and how can we take advantage of them to help our users learn? You’ll learn what you need to consider in designing content as well as get technical guidelines. Get an introduction to five hot features in HTML5 that you can start using today, and prepare for developing with the new standards. You’ll also receive several great resources to get started with your team from design techniques to mastering development.
Read MoreLearning has to happen as fast as the needs arise, otherwise learning professionals risk being relegated to compliance training. We need to be a strategic partner, but with so many needs, the traditional way simply isn’t working. One solution is to properly equip internal experts to successfully train others. In this session you’ll learn how to work with highly specialized SMEs in technical domain areas. Learn how to equip SMEs in a structured, repeatable way to develop and deploy learning quickly. Learn to create a force-multiplier that creates vast quantities of learning more quickly than the “traditional” instructional design way.
Read MoreLearning moves at the speed of business, and being able to deliver effective solutions is not the main challenge—it’s the ability to do so on a very short notice. This session will showcase the art of the possible on content and curriculum development, as well as the perils associated with too-rapid roll-out. You will explore what we learned and what we did to mitigate the issues uncovered at the pilot, and how we engaged the higher headquarters on rethinking their approach.
Read MoreHave you ever started development on a project and realized that you have no clue where to start? Or maybe you have an idea of what you need, but don’t have the tools necessary to achieve what you want? In this session you will learn about tools that you can add to your instructional design toolkit. We will explore the topics of blueprinting, project and time management tools, templates for rubrics, and accessibility considerations, and you will walk out of the session with physical and digital copies of a number of tools.
Read MoreGamification is changing the learning landscape. Gamification options are becoming more and more robust, with many new features, analytics, and capabilities benefiting divisions across the organization. This session will separate fact from fiction, speak to its psychology, incorporate real-world uses, and review what is on the horizon for this dynamic technology. Bring your questions, your workplace challenges, and your game, as we’ll experience gamification and have fun!
Read MoreAs an organization, AdaptiveU has embraced the concept of “anywhere works,” encouraging employees to work from anywhere. This radical change gave rise to an inevitable consequence: training a scattered workforce. Thus, the need for creative solutions that don’t compromise on functionality and performance. After an in-house experiment and with continual improvement, AdaptiveU has been able to change the way its teams learn and grow. Join AdaptiveU on its journey to make learning and development fun and engaging. You will gain insights applicable to your learning environments, especially if you are open to training and learning from “anywhere.”
Read MoreAdmit it. When you watched classic Star Trek, you envied Spock’s Vulcan power to mind meld with others. The need for speed in acquiring knowledge and skills is more important than ever. Business technology, processes, and culture are rapidly changing. Facebook releases new code twice daily, blowing away traditional companies’ 18-month cycles. Amazon ships packages in two days and is experimenting with one-hour delivery. Customer feedback is instantaneous with Twitter. Come learn how you can help experts transfer learning at something closer to the speed of thought. (Disclosure: We still have a little room for improvement.)
Read MoreFinding ways to make learning “stick” with technology is always a challenge. Augmented reality (AR) is one of those “make it stick” technology options available for education and training; with AR you can get students interacting with the world in a whole new way. In this session we will explore some AR options that are freely available, look at the features they possess, demonstrate hands-on AR examples that can be used in both training and educational settings, and show you how to get started creating your own AR interactions.
Read MoreThe demand to create high-quality courses in shorter periods of time puts pressure on design teams to produce more with less. In addition, IDs must keep their skills honed and motivation high. In this session you will learn practical strategies that have been put in place at USF to enable the creation of 60 new multimedia-rich courses each semester—strategies that will help you with collaboration, peer review, and skill enhancement. In addition, you will get ideas for structuring a redundant framework and learn ways to leverage vendors to support peak periods.
Read MoreBring your HTML5 learning to life through GreenSock’s animation platform API. GreenSock allows you to build animations that are fast, robust, and compatible with a lot of different browsers and mobile devices. In this session you will learn the basics of the GSAP platform and how to start animating like a pro on mobile and desktop devices.
Read MoreET205 From Faceless to Deeply Personal: Five Tips on How to Individualize eLearning at Scale
Stage Program A
Different people learn differently, and our training needs are unique. The good news is that modern digital technologies enable cost-effective large-scale personalization. In this session, forget about linear, boring one-size-fits-none trainings. Instead, let’s explore how to build personalized digital experiences sensitive to each learner’s goals and designed to drive action on the job. Training is on the brink of a revolution, so let’s witness it in the making. Join us as we discuss five real-life cases that gave rise to new approaches to learning, and ignite engagement in your organization.
Read MoreMX205 Translation for eLearning: Challenges and Best Practices for Training a Multilingual Workforce
Stage Program B
Translation and localization of eLearning content presents unique challenges for content creators and multilingual content consumers. Customers and internal users of translated content expect culturally accurate translations completed within budget and on time. Proper planning for translation content can prevent some common pitfalls, save money, and reduce timelines. We will discuss some best practices and considerations for translation planning, content creation, in-country review by end users, and ongoing maintenance of translated material.
Read MoreStage Program C
Over the past decade, technology has drastically altered the way we do business. However, the tools and strategies that most organizations use to train employees on these technologies have remained the same. These outdated toolsets can cause frustration for learners, and many are time intensive, require significant maintenance, and have little impact on workplace performance. Join us as we examine the gap between training and performance and the cloud-based application cloning and authoring platforms that The Home Depot, Coca-Cola, and the Department of Defense are utilizing to drive measurable cost savings and performance improvements from their system training initiatives.
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