7 must-see highlights at LT19 Summer Forum
How far have you progressed in achieving your learning goals in 2019?
It’s the key question posed at Learning Technologies Summer Forum on 11 July at Excel, London as thousands of L&D professionals from the UK, Europe and beyond gather to take stock.
The unique, free event is designed to revisit the themes of the main Learning Technologies conference in February in a more informal and conversational setting, enabling visitors and delegates to discuss, interact and share experiences on what they’ve achieved to date.
But as you’d expect at a Learning Technologies event, there’s a packed scheduled with auditorium speakers, café sessions, workshops, free seminars and an extensive exhibition space – more than anyone can possibly experience in a single day!
The Sponge team will be at Stand 13, and we’ve picked out our seven highlights to help you plan your itinerary:
1. Free seminars
10am to 4pm, Exhibition hall
There’s something for everyone in the exhibition hall, where around 45 free seminars, each lasting 30 minutes, are staged across five theatres. Topics covered this year include artificial intelligence, engagement, video and learning culture.
Don’t miss the seminar hosted by Sponge’s award-winning game expert, Jason Butler and Innovation Producer, Lucy Gibbs. They’ll be considering how to design learning that puts people at the heart of the experience. Their session, 4 ways to create learning that people will love using games and immersive technologies, takes place in Theatre 1 from 12.15 to 12.45pm. And you can catch Jason and Lucy at Stand 13 after the seminar to ask questions.
2. Technology trends update
10:00 - 11:00, Conference track 1
It wouldn’t be Summer Forum without a technology trends update in the company of David Kelly, Executive Director at The Elearning Guild. He’ll provide the latest news on tech trends with the detail you need to make informed decisions before adopting a new technology. With learning innovation expert, Steve Wheeler in the chair, this is the conference session to catch if you really want to know what's hot, what's not, and where you should be wary of hype.
3. Self-determined learning
11:45 - 12:45, Conference track 3
Continuing a theme explored in our Learning Technologies seminar in February on the rise of the foraging learner, this session looks at how people are taking control of their own learning. Jane Daly, Chief Insight Officer at Towards Maturity, reveals new evidence showing how ‘consumer learners’ are driving the skills economy for themselves. The session seeks to prepare learning professionals and organisations to engage and empower this self-determination in learning.
4. Hands on demo
Stand 13, Exhibition hall
After catching a few thought-provoking auditorium sessions, you’ll probably want to mix up your day by getting hands on with a demonstration. The Forum offers plenty of opportunity to try the latest learning products and innovations, including Sponge’s new learning game, Cybersecurity Sorted. Developed in conjunction with cybersecurity experts, BluescreenIT, the game helps players understand how to stay safe from hackers, phishing attempts and everyday cyber threats, working through the game levels to understand the different risks. With the escalation of the cyber threat facing many businesses, this is one demo that’s really worth your time. Come and see us at Stand 13 to try it out.
5. Learning and the mind
13:45 - 14:45, Conference track 3
If you want to find out more about ‘meta learning’ this is a useful place to start. In the company of Stella Collins, explore the science of learning and discover why what you’re learning affects how you learn. The session promises practical tips to make new knowledge, skills and behaviours stick.
6. Engaging learning
15:30 - 16:30, Conference track 4
Join Gemma Critchley, Head of Technology & Innovation for Learning at Aviva to explore a topic close to our hearts at Sponge - driving engagement through experience design. This interactive session will share practical tips and stories about how to help people fall in love with learning and make a life-long commitment to development.
7. Drive success with creativity
Stand 13, Exhibition Hall
At last year’s Summer Forum we were struck by the results of our survey of learning professionals that revealed a gap between the desire to innovate in learning and the day-to-day reality. Here at Sponge we champion creativity, as a means to drive business success using innovative ideas and technologies, and by taking a new perspective on existing challenges. And it all starts with truly understanding your people and what they need to unleash their full potential. Join us at Stand 13 if creativity is your passion, and ahead of time, you can find out more in our new guide, 4 ways to be courageously creative in learning.
All that’s left to do is register for your complimentary conference pass and book free entry to the exhibition. And don’t forget, our friendly team will be on hand throughout the event to chat, but if you’d like to book a meeting for a specific time, please fill in the form below.