Delegates delighted with the eLearning Network

Delegates at the recent one-day conference on instructional design, organised by the eLearning Network (eLN), the UK’s foremost professional association of users and developers of all forms of e-learning, have pronounced it one of the most useful meetings in the eLN calendar.

Conference delegates were challenged to create a distinctive version of the e-learning ‘project’, working with different goals, target groups and development tools. The results included four e-learning programmes produced, from scratch, in the day.

An analysis of feedback from the 80 or so delegates to the event has shown that:
• 88 per cent of delegates believe that the event met their objectives,
• 90 per cent of delegates have ‘taken away something useful’ and
• 90 per cent of delegates would recommend this sort of event to others.

High on the list of objectives for all eLN meetings is the chance to network with fellow e-learning professionals – and 83 per cent of delegates pronounced themselves very satisfied with the networking opportunities that this eLN conference provided.

Ian Lee-Emery, of Wokingham-based performance improvement specialist Head Light Communications and the eLN committee member who led the planning, design and management of this highly practical event, commented: “Delegates’ responses to all aspects of the day, including to all the speakers, were highly positive. Encouragingly, 84 per cent of delegates said that the event represented excellent value for money and 85 per cent said that they are keen to attend other, similar events.”

Phil Green, the eLN’s acting chairman, explained: “The purpose of the day was to share, exchange and compare process and practice. The event made use of highly practical, collaborative learning techniques which, although unusual compared with other e-learning related events, is becoming a hallmark of eLN conferences, since we adopted a similar structure with an eLN meeting last year too.”

Darryl Hobbins, an e-innovations specialist with First Direct, in Leeds, and a delegate at this year’s eLN event, commented: “I thought that the event provided great value for money. The cost is a significant factor in considering which events to attend throughout a year and, by keeping it to a minimum, makes events such as this far more attractive and easier to get the budget agreed.

“Second, the list of speakers more than equalled the quality of speakers from any previous events we have attended over the last five years. It was basically the 'who's who' of e-learning and we felt privileged to receive the views of such a distinguished list.

“The structure of the event was also a bonus. It was a 'full-on' day with plenty of participation from us - far more effective than the usual PowerPoint slides where eyelids become heavy once you get to slide 25 of 90!

“Finally, it was refreshing for people to attend an event where the contributors were genuinely sharing their experiences of e-learning rather than using their slots as a sales pitch for their respective companies. I think the audience would probably have more respect for these companies and, as a result, are probably more likely to follow up any needs they have with them.”

Fellow delegate, Karen McCourt, an e-learning systems developer with Bishop’s Stortford-based OnTrack International Ltd, said: “I greatly benefited from the whole training session and intend to use the templates and knowledge gained, to progress with my current e-learning project.”

Attendance at eLN meetings cost eLN members £95 + VAT; members of the British Learning Association, Association of Learning Technology, eLearning Alliance, Learning Light and NILTA pay only £105 + VAT, and non-members pay £125 + VAT. For further details – and to book a place at an eLN event – visit www.elearningnetwork.org

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Notes for Editors:

About the eLN’s instructional design conference

Delegates were split into eight tables of ten people or so and each table had to develop an e-learning programme that explained how to use a mouse. However, four of the tables had to develop this learning programme for pre-school children, while the other three tables were asked to develop the programme for bus drivers (some of whose first language was not English).

The programme for the day was:
• Goal analysis, led by Clive Shepherd, of Fasttrack Consulting
• Target audience analysis, led by Jan Seabrook, of Conation Technologies
• Learning objectives, led by Geoff Berridge, of Parataxis
• Content analysis, led by Robin Hoyle, of ebc
• Content structure, led by Neil Lasher, of Trainer1
• Storyboarding, led by Bryan Hopkins, a well-known freelance e-learning developer
• A review of strategy, led by Clive Shepherd
• Quality (and quality standards), led by Adam Woods, of LogicaCMG
• Implementation, led by Howard Hills, of Howard Hills Associates
• Evaluation, led by Alex Welsh, of Head Light Communications

Finally, Mike Alcock, of Atlantic Link, led the ‘module development’ section of the programme – where four e-learning developers revealed the programmes that they had produced, following their brief from four of the seven ‘table teams’ of delegates.

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.

For more information about the eLN and eLN events, call 01246 541904 or visit www.elearningnetwork.org

Further information from:

Phil Green, The eLearning Network, 01246 541904
Bob Little, Bob Little Press & PR, 01727 860405