Record attendance at the eLearning Network’s ‘Members’ Showcase’

A ‘Members’ Showcase’ event, arranged by the eLearning Network (eLN), the UK’s leading professional association for users and developers of e-learning, attracted a record number of over 100 delegates.

The Showcase, held at the Kensington Hilton Hotel in London in May, offered delegates a choice of 12 presentations in two streams, covering key issues in e-learning. The topics covered were:
• What is e-learning best practice? A panel session involving Nige Howarth, Alex Welsh and Steve Mackenzie discussing the current state of e-learning best practice.
• A case study from Information Transfer. Owen Rose explained how Priory Group implemented e-learning as part of a blended learning initiative.
• Knowledge Workers or Knowledge Warriors? Fabrizio Cardinali, of Giunti Interactive Labs, discussed the need for new learning content management technologies.
• Rapid e-learning. Mike Alcock and Tony Reddington, of Atlantic Link, showed how technology can swing the development balance from technical implementation to learning design.
• A new instructional design model. Neil Lasher, of Trainer1, outlined his ‘Four ‘As’’ model of instructional design.
• Why e-learning hasn’t grown up. John O’Connor, of John O’Connor Consulting, explained why e-learning has many faces but lacks identity.
• Learning Management Systems Surgery. Vaughan Waller conducted a masterclass, discussing the arguments in favour of learning management systems – from the managers’ and the learners’ perspectives.
• The eight ‘ps’ of e. Phil Green, of Optimum Learning, offered his thoughts on how to deliver successful e-learning.
• Emerging tools. Ron Edwards, of Ambient Performance, outlined how emerging tools such as podcasting, wikis, blogs, mobile and game technologies are being used for learning today
• Borrowing from the marketing professionals. Robin Hoyle, of EBC, suggested how to use marketing theory and practice to build learner loyalty for e-learning materials.
• Workshop on graphic design for e-learning. Sam Morgan explored the issues surrounding the design of the graphical user interface (GUI) for e-learning materials.
• The Skills for Business Network. Laura Overton outlined the key points in her groundbreaking report, ‘Linking Learning to Business’.

"According to the research and consultancy specialists Learning Light, the market for corporate learning materials in Europe is currently estimated to be worth some $893m and this is expected to reach $2.1bn by 2007," commented the eLN’s chairman, Vaughan Waller. "This suggests that the e-learning market is enjoying a period of growth – and that was borne out by the record attendance at our May conference."

At the event, Optimum Learning’s Phil Green examined the design and technology aspects of e-learning to build acceptance and use. Among his recommendations were: at the outset agree a process for analysing the project’s ‘success’ (in terms of meeting business goals as well as the appropriate use of design and development tools, along with the project’s implementation strategy); adhere to best practice principles of design (Green proposed the ‘prepare, engage, present, practice, encourage and review’ (PEPPER) model), and embrace the ‘pizzazz’ that new delivery technologies make possible, thus encouraging the learners to engage with the learning material through the delivery technology.

His fellow presenter, Neil Lasher, of Trainer1, outlined a new model for instructional design (ID) – the ‘Four ‘As’ of Learning’ – which relates to ID for the up-coming techniques of task-based and workflow e-learning.
In general, delegates pronounced themselves well satisfied with both the content of the conference and the opportunities to ‘network’ and meet other users, buyers and developers of e-learning materials.

One delegate – Mark Rodgers, managing director of the Dublin-based Cipherion Translations, said: "This has been a very worthwhile day. I’ve learnt some things about the key issues facing the e-learning world – and the new trends in the sector, including new delivery technologies.

"It’s also been immensely useful to meet most of the industry’s key players – brought together under one roof through the eLN.

For further details of the eLN and its conferences, visit www.elearningnetwork.org

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Notes for Editors:

About the eLearning Network

Formed – as The Association for Computer Based Training (TACT) in 1987 – the eLearning Network (eLN), which adopted this title in 2000, is the UK’s foremost professional association
of users and developers of all forms of e-learning. It is a non-profit making body that exists to promote information and best practice among all those who are involved in the e-learning world, as well as act as a networking medium for its members.

Its elected chairman is Vaughan Waller, who is a well-known speaker and writer on e-learning issues.

For more information about the eLN and eLN events, call 01992 634244 or visit www.elearningnetwork.org

Further information from:

Vaughan Waller, The eLearning Network, 01992 634244
Bob Little, Bob Little Press & PR, 01727 860405