Learning beyond the course

Chair: Rob Hubbard, LearningAge Solutions

For ten years Rob has been designing and building innovative elearning content for premier UK and international organisations. In 2005 he founded LearningAge Solutions so he could master his own destiny and develop both his creative and technical talents equally. Now a Board member of the eLearning Network, Rob organises, chairs and speaks at conferences and has articles regularly published on the web and in magazines. His current main areas of interest are serious games, social learning, transmedia, ‘rapid’ author tools, and sharing simple best practices that help people build better content.

Ben Betts, Warwick Digital Lab
And Now For Something Completely Different...

You might be thinking that concepts like social learning and games-based learning are a bit of a fad - something that will go away given a year and the next hot trend. Ben doesn't. He thinks these themes will help change the way that we approach learning online forever.

In this session we will investigate more about the science that sits behind the concepts. We will look into greater detail about why being social is a crucial part of the learning process. We will examine how game dynamics can be used to help motivate learners to engage in online learning. And finally, Ben will demonstrate a new approach that uses both social and game dynamics to move learning beyond the course.

Ben is the lead designer and architect of Curatr, a new platform to power social learning. In his 10 years experience in learning and technology, Ben has worked with a wide range of prominent organisations to deliver innovative learning solutions around the world and was recently named as one of the '30 under 30' thought leaders in learning technology by Elliott Masie.

Graeme Duncan, Caspian Learning
Breaking Down Barriers: The Ubiquitous Delivery of Thin Client Immersive Simulations

This session will show how the rapid development and deployment of a thin-client, immersive simulation delivered ‘beyond the traditional classroom course’ was able to increase trainee performance and reduce the need for additional training requirements by 54%. The session will also briefly forecast how simulations such as this will be accessible on mobile devices by the end of the year and how this will truly take learning beyond any traditional sense of the ‘course’.

Graeme is the Chief Executive Officer of Caspian Learning where he has responsibility for all strategic planning, commercial and partnering activities. Graeme is a leading expert on the development, use and deployment of games-based learning applications and tools.

Jane Hart, Centre for Learning and Performance Technologies
Transforming Workplace Learning with Social Media

This session will look at a number of different ways that social media is transforming workplace learning. It will provide examples of what individuals, groups and organisations are doing, the social media tools and systems they are using, together with the benefits they are experiencing. It will also consider the implications for the future direction and role of L&D departments. This will be an interactive session making extensive use of Twitter.

For over 25 years Jane Hart has been helping organisations understand how new technologies can be used to improve education and training as well as business performance. With the emergence of powerful social media tools she now focuses on helping organisations understand what it is to be a Social Business. Jane is the Founder of the Centre for Learning & Performance Technologies, She also works internationally with the Internet Time Alliance.

Patrick Fitzpatrick, PTK Learning
Living in a World Without ‘Click Next to Continue’

There are many challenges facing elearning, one of the most important of which is the quality of elearning content. For many years we have been used to a vast amount of ‘web site’ design or interactive presentation style of delivery. In addition, the take up of elearning can be varied – learners want to be engaged but find content boring and patronising.

How can we change this? How can we move away from the ‘click next to continue’ syndrome and bring what would be considered the most mundane elearning content to life. This session will explore a number of possible solutions, including how visuals can be used effectively, increasing the dynamics of Flash, and the potential future 3D worlds may have.

Patrick is an elearning specialist with over 16 years experience, who is passionate about making a real positive impact in the way we learn. Patrick established PTK Learning to challenge conventional methods of elearning delivery and to look at the media technology world to add a new dimension on elearning.

Patrick believes elearning must become more realistic to the needs of the learner, deliver powerful impact on the performance of a learner, reflect the role of the learner, be immersive to engage the learner and challenge the knowledge, skills and ability of the learner. His overall objective is to break away from antiquated elearning solutions, and create a positive view on a new kind of elearning delivery.

Ed Stonestreet, Yoodoo
Not eLearning

Elearning is a $10bn industry which is almost without exception dull, dry and academic. It is focussed on those who have a mandate to learn, those who need to tick a box. And yet it could be so much more! Only 20% of any audience is motivated and inspired to act, the other 80% may have a latent interest but they need to be engaged, entertained and wowed in order to get them to participate. How can this be done....? Ed shall explain!

Ed is passionate about people and ensuring that they have the skills and the tools that they need to achieve their potential. Working with entrepreneurs and business people as a mentor outside of the work environment has added greatly to Ed's understanding of the issues faced across a whole array of vertical sectors including engineering, finance, education, hi-tech, software, property and others.

With Yoodoo, Ed has played a fundamental part in shaping the platform to deliver the highest return on investment for Yoodoo clients and the most engaging and life-changing experience for users. Ed is a seasoned public speaker with experience at all levels within corporate and entrepreneurial businesses.

Pecha Kucha competition 2010

This event sees the final round of the eLN's 2010 Pecha Kucha competition. Have you got something you want to say? Come and present a Pecha Kucha (20 PowerPoint slides auto advancing on 20 seconds each) on a learning-related subject and you'll get a reduced entry price of £59. Here's an example. Contact lucy.cartlidge@redtray.co.uk if you'd like to participate.