Lasher speaks on informal learning – in the UK and USA

Neil Lasher, of Trainer1, one of the UK’s leading learning consultancies, and the developer of the ‘Five ‘A’s of learning’ instructional design model that relates specifically to informal, task-based and workflow e-learning materials, is to speak at both the Learning Technologies conference, being held at Olympia, London, on 31st January and 1st February 2007, and at the ASTD 2007 International Conference & Exposition, being held from 3rd to 6th June 2007, in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Lasher will be speaking on ‘informal and workflow e-learning design’ at both events in his capacity as President ASTD Global Network UK.

“E-learning is often misunderstood from a learning perspective,” commented Lasher. “Many people who work with the new technologies try to relate classroom-based instructional design techniques to e-learning – with, at best, varying degrees of success.

“At present, informal learning represents 80 per cent of what we learn but only two per cent of our training budgets. Applying instructional design techniques to e-learning materials designed specifically for informal learning should not only improve the effectiveness of these learning materials but also make a greater contribution to an organisation’s efficiency and effectiveness than would be the case if training budgets were only allocated to address formal learning needs.”

The Learning Technologies conference (www.learningtechnologies.co.uk), now in its eighth year, is widely regarded as Europe’s foremost thought-leadership forum on organisational learning. The conference attracts many of the world’s renowned learning experts, speakers and leading industry figures and over 200 delegates.

The ASTD International Conference & Exposition is one of the highlights of the US training and development professionals’ calendar, regularly attracting key practitioners – and thought-leading speakers – from around the world and attracts some 8,000 to 9,000 delegates, of which 30 per cent are from outside the USA..

end

Notes for Editors:

About Trainer1

Trainer1 is one of the UK’s leading independent e-learning specialists, creating sophisticated courseware for learning. It works in a number of areas including:
• Creating custom-built e-learning solutions
• Supplying e-learning training and consultancy to make clients self-sufficient in servicing their e-learning needs – especially in terms of embedded and workflow learning
• Operating as a ‘tools warehouse’ for tools used by Trainer1’s clients

Trainer1 has lengthy experience in computer delivered learning. In particular, Trainer1 develops, supplies and supports:
• Authoring tools - for the creation of content, meeting all common standards.
• Learning and Knowledge Management tools - for the management and distribution of content, including accreditation and reporting of data within existing databases.
• Delivery systems for workflow learning - CSL™.
• Tools and libraries to create multimedia content, including image editors, easy to use Flash production tools, libraries of sound, graphics and animation.
• Specialised training events to assist trainers and instructional designers to become self sufficient in e-learning design and production.
• Development services in the creation and maintenance of learning content.

Trainer1’s client list includes international major corporations such as ABN AMRO, Kraft Foods, Deutsche Post (DHL) and Mitsubishi Corporation, along with clients including DCLG (formerly the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister) in the UK, the Department for International Development, and the UK’s Royal Hospital for Neuro-Disability, along with many municipal authorities.

Trainer1 is privately owned and remains a small, friendly company providing high quality product combined with personal service to Blue Chip Companies, as well as small and medium sized enterprises. Trainer1 is a member of many e-learning organisations, and Neil Lasher, of Trainer1 is a committee member of the eLN and President (from 2006) of the Global Network of ASTD UK. He also works with standards bodies to ensure technology is meeting the needs of users worldwide, as well as the guidelines determined by the governing groups in the e-learning industry.

Further information from:
Neil Lasher, Trainer1, 00 44 (0) 20 7264 4844; www.trainer1.com
Bob Little, Bob Little Press & PR, 00 44 (0) 1727 860405