Virtualization has resulted in the ability to learn almost anywhere, anytime, and in many ways. It’s hard for even seasoned learning professionals to articulate the different aspects of modern blended learning. Techniques like gamification and technologies like virtual classrooms are often applied inconsistently. They’re quickly adopted and discarded just as swiftly as the latest “flavor of the week.” Today’s training professional is a designer, developer, facilitator, and more. It is their job to deliver the right content to the right audience at the right time. Realistically, they can’t be experts at everything all at once.

In this workshop, you will learn to balance business requirements with learner needs. You will learn ways to change perceptions around blended learning to maximize its potential. You will also explore ways to determine whether techniques such as collaborative learning or simulations are the best option, and the best way to make them available to your audience. In the end, you will address critical areas of concern and develop confidence and competence as a modern blended learning designer.

In this session, you will learn:

• How to balance business requirements with the needs of modern learners
• How to evolve perceptions of learners, designers, facilitators, clients, and stakeholders in order to maximize the potential of blended learning
• How to identify and prioritize your own development needs
• How to determine whether techniques like social collaborative learning or simulations are good options, and the best way to make them available to your audience
• How to strategically establish collaboration as a valued part of your blended learning designs
• How to keep ahead of trends in educational technology

Audience:
Intermediate and advanced designers, developers, and project managers. Attendees should have experience managing large learning projects, especially those that include multiple learning technologies and a blended learning design.

Technology discussed in this session:
Tools that support mobile, social collaboration, microlearning, and other modern learning approaches.

Participant technology requirements:
Adobe Connect as the collaboration tool. Access to standard Microsoft Office tools will support the hands-on exercises.