Brain science is not a fad and neither is online learning. The more we learn about how we learn, the more opportunities we have to provide more meaningful and lasting learning experiences for attendees at our meetings and events. Inject These 5 Disruptors In Your Conference Education Here are the slides from my joint presentation with Dr. Will Thalheimer of Work-Learning Research, Inc.at PCMA's Convening Leaders 2015. We discussed the research of the following five education disruptors and … [Read more...]
Your Conference Is Offering Learning Scrap That Is Not Even Worth Recycling
Your conference and association value proposition is under attack! Education and networking are two benefits of conference attendance and association membership. Yet, education is being disrupted in major ways. When employees spend too much time in education offerings that do not translate into increased performance and productivity, it is learning scrap. It’s wasted information, knowledge and education that is not applied back on the job. And it’s not even worth recycling and sharing with … [Read more...]
21st Century Leadership Skills Require Collaborative Learning
Are 21st Century conference organizers trying to create success using outdated 20th Century skills? According to a 2012 Skillsoft survey, too many professionals today are trying to lead with last century’s abilities. Then they wonder why their business, or in this case their conference, is not thriving. Skillsoft’s findings illustrate that 21st Century leaders must be more collaborative, creative, flexible and innovative than their 20th Century predecessors. Encouraging Outdated … [Read more...]
7 Fundamental Ways To Drastically Improve Conference Breakouts
Concurrent sessions, often known as breakouts, are the meat and potatoes of conferences. They are also one of the most difficult areas for your continuous improvement efforts. In many associations, volunteers vet submissions, decide topics and select speakers for their annual meeting’s concurrent sessions. While well intentioned, volunteer committees rarely are equipped with a big-picture view of 21st-century adult-learning trends. Seven Improvement Trends For Breakouts This past summer, … [Read more...]
Today’s Conference Education Model Was Created For An Economy That No Longer Exists
Conference education has not kept pace with 21st Century workforce demands. It is usually devoted to information transfer through a lecture or panel, rote learning and memorization of facts and figures to pass a certification test. The reality is that this old style, 20th Century, traditional expert in front of the room presenting to rows of adults that are passively listening is over! We cannot continue to use an industrial revolution 1950s mindset to solve 21st Century … [Read more...]
17 Education And Learning Trends That Will Affect Your Organization This Year!
Today, if organizations don’t take the time, spend the money and learn how to build world-class learning programs both for their customers and their employees, they will not be able to compete or lead their stakeholders into the future. Learning investments are more important now than ever. Learning Trends That Will Be Adopted This Year Here are 17 education and learning trends in alphabetical order that many organizations are adopting this year. These trends are disrupting most traditional … [Read more...]
Will Nonprofit Trade Associations Embrace Open Educational Resources [OER]?
Openness in education is an emergent practice among many organizations and institutions. Open educational resources (OER) affect the practices of instruction, learning, presenting and teaching. Will nonprofit trade associations embrace OER or will they continue to keep educational resources behind a member wall or for purchase only? Defining OER OER are educational materials such as articles, assessments, content, course materials, instructional materials, research, simulations and textbooks … [Read more...]
Social Learning At Conferences: Moving From Passive Attendee To Active Participant
Have you ever received the elbow nudge during a workshop or conference? If you're like me, you've even given a few to colleagues and friends. The Ubiquitous Elbow Nudge The elbow nudge occurs when a peer decides to emphasize something a presenter said. Suddenly you feel an elbow in your rib cage as your contemporary wants to draw your attention to the information being presented. It's usually a friendly gesture although when a spouse or supervisor does it, it feels very awkward. The elbow … [Read more...]
