e-Learning and Performance Conference

November 11, 2003   Penn State Great Valley   8:00a to 4:30p

The PADLA Steering Committee would like to personally thank all attendees., presenters, and sponsors for making the first annual PADLA e-Learning & Performance conference a smashing success. Our feedback indicates that the 150+ participants found this day to be of extreme value and a high return on their time investment. I hope that all of you will continue to support the Pennsylvania/Delaware/New Jersey Distance Learning Association, by becoming active members in 2004 and beyond.

Thanks for your support, Louis Stricoff, M.Ed. Acting President PA/DE/NJ Distance Learning Associations http://padla.org #610-449-5899 [email protected] http://www.media-media.net

Organizational Goal Alignment: The Key to Effective Learning

Dr. Blaine Lee, Senior Executive Advisor, Franklin Covey Inc.

e-Learning Basic Training, members of the SoftAssist Team

• Components of an e-Learning Environment

• Implementation Guidelines and Timelines

• Content Creation

• Instructional Design concerns

• Development Tools

• Synchronous Learning

• Project Management Overview

• Vendors, RFPs and Contracts

• Future Directions

Blended Learning for Employee Training: Influencing Factors and Important Considerations

Doris Lee, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Georgianna Frenzelas, M.Ed., and Charles Anders, M. Ed.

Blended learning is the “blending” and “balancing” of all the aspects of the two major modalities: face-to-face, instructor-led instruction and e-learning. Its purpose in employee training is to have these two modalities build on each other, rather than treating each other as mutually exclusive, in order to achieve better training results. This presentation will first explain each of these two modalities in details, discuss advantages and limitations of each modality and introduce examples of successful blended learning used in corporations. This presentation will continue to address influencing factors and important considerations of blended learning while providing suggestions for its effective design.

Adult Learners, Self Directed Learners, e-Learners … Are they One and the Same?
Jan  Zacharjasz, CAEL, Project Director,  (Center for Adult Experiential Learning)

Take a look at the latest research on adult learning, and discover why many adult learners are naturals for e-learning … with the right kind of support.  During this interactive session, we’ll discuss how to increase the acceptance and success of your e-learning programs with the right preparation and practices grounded in effective adult learning principles. 

Blended learning is the latest buzzword in corporate training and, as a result, there are many definitions.  Examples will be presented of how Prudential Financial applies a blended learning design methodology in different types of training to achieve specific objectives with a variety of targeted learners. Examined will be the components of this approach, how to identify ways to start small and build more e/learning/Distance learning, and a discussion about lessons learned, both barriers and successes. 

Ty's Tirade: The Best and Worst of Instructional Design in e-Learning: 
Ty Johnson, V.P. SoftAssist, Inc

Other than making him a bit eccentric, what effect does going through sample after sample of online courseware for ten years have on a person? If nothing else, it causes one to have some strong (but hopefully sound!) opinions on the good vs. the bad in instructional design. Come ready for a lively presentation-replete with examples-featuring both the pinnacles and pitfalls of instructional design in the e-learning world. Bonus feature: A rare look at the work of one SoftAssist client that earned them e-learning gold from Brandon Hall!

Building a Successful Learning Architecture and Implementing it at a Functional Level
Gary Del Vecchio, Associate Director, e-Learning and Gervasio Tomás Ramírez, Learning Architect, Bristol-Myers Squibb

Included in this interactive case study discussion will be: the essential elements needed to achieve BMS’s learning architecture, such as a foundational technical infrastructure, an enterprise-wide LMS -implementation, an instructional design and reusable learning object strategy, meta-data and content

repository design, and the importance of enterprise-wide collaboration in all e-Learning efforts.

Case Study: Quality Standard's Training Roll-out to FDA Regulated Manufacturing Sites
Armen Papshev, Schering Plough and Bob Madden, Maxwell

This session will explore a case study that will show how Virtual Classroom technology was used to implement training on a global basis. As part of the case study we will show implementation steps for Virtual Classroom training roll-out.

Knowledge Management & Capturing Intellectual Capital
David Bill, Liquid Knowledge Group

This session will investigate the strategic approach to Knowledge Management including strategies for developing and capturing intellectual capital, leveraging that capital, dissemination and maintaining the currency of that knowledge. Session will address both the human and technical issues.

X(M)L-erating Your Course Development Process!
Barrie Maylott, Technology Director, SoftAssist, Inc.

Don't let the title scare you-even you non-techies will appreciate the tips and techniques featured in this session! That infamous conundrum surfaces again: Can you really reduce the amount of time it takes to develop an online course without simultaneously reducing its instructional quality? Armed with XML tags and an ever-growing library of HTML and Flash templates, Barrie sets out to shed some new light on this old enigma.

Affordable Learning Simulations
Todd Cameron, M. Ed. & Kerry Kaczorowski, M. Ed., Vertex Inc.

Training simulations don't have to be expensive. With inexpensive tools and resources on hand, you can create engaging, interactive, and effective training simulations that teach learners more from context than content. See examples of inexpensive simulations and learn how to be resourceful and economical in your approach to designing simulations.

Building Your e-Learning Strategy

Paul Bejgrowicz, Senior Manager, eLearning Specialist Technical Training, Johnson & Johnson, Pharmaceutical Research and Development

Learn what is included from the training perspective to bring a product to market. Topics include: establishing relationships with executive leadership, exec pal presentation, sharing key ROI factors and benefits, defining an implementation strategy, goal linkage and outcome evaluation among others.

Management Development Case Study
Lisa VanDamm & Jim Phelan, Merck & Co.

What do you get when you have a project team of 20 people representing 9 business areas, an external vendor, new technology, funding cutbacks, and high expectations for a blended learning program? The answer: a great case study! Come "under-the-hood" and learn how Merck: - decides on an instructional design approach for a blended new manager curriculum; - manages the project plan for concurrent development of 6 WBTs, 12 virtual classroom seminars, 4 classroom days, 1 simulation, and 18 on-the-job guided activities; implements the entire project and avoids the pitfalls.

Maintaining Your Humor (and Sanity!) Amidst Constant Project Change
Maria Smeykal, Merck & Co. Barrie Maylott, Technical Director, SoftAssist, Inc.

DownloadPowerPoint

That which does not kill us makes us stronger. How many of us have said this over and over again during an e-learning project? This session will outline a number of potential pitfalls (e.g. long review cycles, ever-changing software and difficulty compiling resources) that could happen in any project, and suggest ways in which to plan for and overcome them.

This presentation shares Temple University's online learning management and learning experiences, through administrators and faculty's eyes and it can serve as a guide to others interested in providing quality distance education. Both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies will be shared. The presentation is based on the recent Idea Group Publishing publication entitled:
The Evolution of Distance Education: Issues and Case Studies

Edited by Dominique Monolescu, Catherine Schifter and Linda Greenwood

Using Performance Metrics to Enhance Learning to Optimize Return on Human Capital Investment
Dick Beatty, CEO of Brandywine Consulting Group

During this session you will learn how to: diagnose and pinpoint least competent organizational units, diagnose specific causes of low organizational competence, implement corrective HR strategy and measure its effectiveness, use quantitative techniques to identify & prioritize training needs, measure the effectiveness of a training program, compare, measure and select the most effective training programs, use high-performer competency models to fully integrate HR processes and use "gap management" as the basis for enhancing overall organizational productivity and increasing profits.