Next week I’ll be heading up to DC for the annual ASAE Technology Conference and I’m thrilled to know that this year’s conference will feature an e-learning track. (I prefer not to think of e-learning as belonging to the province of technology, but it’s still hard to argue that this is anything but a positive step for association e-learning.)
I’ll be participating on a panel (see below), but more importantly, will do my best to provide updates and insights from the conference here on the blog and on Twitter. Stay tuned for audio and (possibly) video interviews from the conference as well as text postings. Here’s the list of sessions focused specifically on e-learning, with some comments from me:
February 11 Sessions
11 Steps to a Successful Virtual Conference
This session is a quick-fire lesson in getting a virtual conference off the ground. Learn the ins and outs of the technology, planning and execution that is necessary for success. Benefit from The American Society for Training and Development’s two years of experience in this space. Presenter: Anthony Allen, ASTD.
I have to admit that I have nagging doubts about whether replicating conferences – some of which aren’t all that great in person – in a virtual environment is really the best way to approach learning on the Web. Still, I guess ASTD knows something, so I’ll be listening.
Managing Moodle for Members
This session is designed to help you evaluate the benefits and challenges of using the free open source Learning Management System, Moodle, to deliver education. Through several case studies you’ll examine topics such as using the system for inexpensive content authoring, utilizing extensions to enrich functionality, eCommerce, and webinar connectivity. Presenter: Jon Aleckson, Web Courseworks; Sharon Chaplock, EDI.
Moodle was the learning management platform most used by participants in our Association E-learning: State of the Sector report, so it will be good to hear more about actual implementations. You might want to check out our earlier interviews with Jon Aleckson, one of the presenters, about Moodle and about CourseStage, his company’s version of it.
Organizing and Operating a Web-Based Learning Management System
Learn how to build a user-friendly and cost-effective learning management system that fits your requirements. Using familiar and not so familiar web applications, learn how to manage an online program. From the participant’s perspective, you’ll gain a clear understanding of what is valued and what is not. Presenters: Richard Faulkner, Strategic Management Association; Joshua Gibb, Galesburg Community Foundation.
I’ll be interested to what applications they have in mind and how they put them together.
Lessons Learned: Building Bridges for Effective eLearning
Learn how AHIP forged a cohesive and effective project team to define and articulate its complex requirements, chose an appropriate eLearning partner and worked through the implementation process to build and launch a successful program. Greg Dean and Raffaele Vitelli, AHIP; Brendan Noud, WBT Systems, Tobin Conley, Delcor Technologies.
WBT Systems is one of the larger LMS providers that has recently started to focus much more on the association market, and AHIP is one of their flagship customers. It will be interesting to hear the ups and downs of this implementation. You may want to also check out our earlier interviews with Brendan Noud of WBT Systems and Tobin Conley of Delcor.
February 12 Sessions
Reconnecting the Member – Engagement Thru eLearning and Educational Technologies
This session addresses new online strategies, social learning, informal learning, mobile access, podcasts, gaming, and simulations. Hear from a panel of leaders responsible for mission critical learning within their organizations and how they incorporate engaging activities in their online learning to help enhance member engagement. The content leaders represent various stages and “depths” of adoption, offering a broad array of potential strategies.
Very glad to see a session that is going beyond traditional e-learning to explore the impact of informal learning and newer technologies. You may also want to see a recent post here that touches on social learning, informal learning, and other trends.
Running a Hybrid Event
This session demonstrates how associations and organizations are using 3D virtual technology to enhance the engagement and outreach of their events. Using the Virtual Edge platform, you’ll see how one conference doubled its attendance and created an environment that allowed virtual and live speakers to present and engage with virtual and live attendees. Presenters: Michael Doyle, Virtual Edge; James Parker, Digitell.
I think 3D has great potential for association learning, though I hope it will eventually move beyond conference replication. I’ll be interested to hear what this session has to offer.
Ask the Experts: Get Your Burning eLearning Questions Answered
Learn from a panel of experts, each with decades of experience designing and implementing successful e-learning programs. Ask questions such as: With e-learning, is it possible for a learner to communicate with an instructor or peers? How would I determine if I need an LMS? What options are available for developing courses? Bring all of your questions to this engaging session. Panelists: Tammy Blosil, ASAE; Jeff Cobb, Tagoras; Jennifer DeVries, BlueStreak Learning; Lance Simon, iCohere, Neal Sipress, KRM
I’ll leave it to the audience and history to determine whether I deserve to be on a panel of “experts,” but Jennifer DeVries from BlueStreak Learning has certainly pulled together others on this panel who deserve that title – including herself. I look forward to this conversation.
Using eLearning Games to Recruit, Engage, and Educate Members
This session provides an overview of the current buzz and practical knowledge needed to develop an effective game-based learning strategy. Two specific game development stories will provide insights; a construction industry association’s initiative to create a project management game; and a nonprofit organization’s release of an educational game into the online casual gaming community, resulting in 26,000 plays in three weeks. These two unique case studies allow for exploration of factors contributing to successful strategy, development and deployment plans in game-based learning for achieving association recruiting and educational goals. Presenter: Jon Aleckson, Web Courseworks.
Jon Aleckson gets an A+ for his efforts to raise his company’s profile in the association sector by contributing meaningfully to the conversation about learning. Aside from the Moodle session above, he is also leading this session on game-based learning. You may want to check out our earlier conversation with Jon on games and also see his article in this month’s Associations Now: Five Ways Associations Can Use Games Online.
If by any chance you are going to be at the conference, please drop me a line through the Tagoras contact form. It would be great to meet up in person.
Jeff
P.S. – If you’d like to receive regular updates from the Tagoras blog, be sure to subscribe by RSS or by e-mail.
Related posts:
- Association E-learning Newsletter – New Edition I’ve just put out a new edition of the Association...
- Virtual Conferences – Rich Finstein and Jim Thompson Here’s a brief conversation (about three minutes) with Rich Finstein...
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Jeff,
Coming from the virtual events industry, I would be interested in hearing your thoughts on the two sessions you’re attending.
Emma King, a learning strategist, provided a guest post on our blog on how a virtual environment is perfect for learning (http://bit.ly/aLGt0k). This might provide some insight for you.
As for attending a virtual event yourself, my company is planning to hold a virtual event companion to this year’s Virtual Edge conference. If you’re interested in checking it out, the link is: http://www.bit.ly/InXpoLive_Blog
Best,
Cece Salomon-Lee
InXpo
Cece- Thanks for commenting. Ironically, the place-based event I wrote about here has been canceled due to bad weather. There are some rumblings about a virtual alternative coming together. It would be great if that happens. By way of further clarification – I’m not opposed to or even skeptical about virtual events in general, I’m just dismayed that many organizations seem to do no more than transfer their placed-based conferences online without transforming them in any significant way. The same thing happens all the time with moving classroom-based courses to online. They have their value, but they tend to fall far short of what the full value could be.
I’ll definitely check out your virtual event.
Jeff
Jeff – That’s unfortunate! With regard to the virtual events, I believe that we are moving into the phase beyond just “replicating online.” While this is one option for some organizations, we consult our customers on how to leverage the best of virtual to provide the best experience possible. In the case of the event at the end of the month, we’re looking at ways to blend the experience.
Thanks and look forward to hearing your comments! Cece