The 8th Annual National Blended Learning Conference 2016

Many attempts at improving employee capability through targeted blended learning and development interventions fail to achieve their intended learning objectives. One of the primary reasons for this is the failure to understand the neurocognitive processes involved in learning, which is often compounded by the lack of support for learning transfer on the job.
 
Emerging insights from personality and cognitive neuroscience provide the key to developing and implementing successful blended learning programs. Through this lens we are able to make informed, evidence-based decisions about how to best approach the learning process at the individual, team and organisational level.
 
Facilitated by an accomplished and engaging expert in leadership, learning and neuropsychology, this interactive workshop will equip you with an understanding of the neuroscience underpinning the learning process and its practical application in the workplace. This workshop will explore:
 
Neuroscience and learning – maximising the impact of blended learning
- Neuroscience and the learning process
- Attention, self-regulation and limbic networks
- Information processing, memory and the role of motivational and attentional networks
- Contemporary learning models and neuroscience
 
Attention, motivation and instructional design – insights from neuroscience
- Why blended learning can often fail to deliver lasting behaviour change
- The importance of logic, structure and repetition
- The impact of emotions, attention and task difficulty on learning
- Program design considerations: delivery mediums and support components
 
Stimulating and increasing learner engagement – managing attention and motivation
- Strategies for increasing attention and applying new learning
- Modifying behavior through threat–reward reinforcement
- Optimising attentional resource allocation to maximise learning and performance
- Discussion: sponsorship, mentoring and coaching as learning support components
 
Beyond the event – strategies to embed individual and organisational learning
- Brain-based activities that maximise learning transfer
- Reinforcing self-directed learning
- Evaluating the outcomes of blended learning programs
- Application discussion: promoting the benefits of neuroscience and learning

With a wide range of learning platforms, tools and software populating the market, organisations cannot rely on a single learning package to deliver the desired outcomes. Pedagogy design needs to be learner-based and customised to the organisation’s learning processes in order to achieve the highest effectiveness. Sandra has been involved in a number of Blended Learning initiatives to make e-learning a complementary but integral part of the face-to-face training and development activities at the Defence International Training Centre. In this session, she will share:
- Developing relevant Blended Learning programs 
- Embedding continuous improvement in learning programs
- Producing content for multiple platforms

While organisations understand the benefits of using Blended Learning methods and strategies for capability development, Learning and Development professionals need to take a step back to analyse adult learning principles and recognise different learning styles in order to achieve learning effectiveness. In this session, Walter will share his insights on finding optimal learning approaches. Discuss:
- Teaching people how to learn
- Aligning learning and emotional intelligence
- Enhancing learning capacity before applying Blended Learning methods

The way we learn has evolved significantly over the last decade. With an increasing suite of learning technologies and methodologies at hand, achieving maturity in learning and development does not necessarily mean harnessing the best tools, but more so understanding the core objectives of learning and riding on opportunities to create the best results. In this facilitated interactive session, Chemène will discuss and allow you to rethink effective learning:
- How is learning defined today?
- Are your organisational learning strategies aligned to the latest, most effective learning approaches?
- Consider aspects of your organisation’s various learning strategies and explore ways to enhance performance

Organisations are constantly looking for new ways to yield greater results and higher performance with minimum resources. This can only be achieved with a progressive learning ecosystem that strives to merge learning styles and techniques with blended approaches. At Mater Hospital, a facility of St Vincent's Health Australia, Tanya is responsible for developing, promoting and maintaining educational services to support a  culture of excellence. She will share her insights on:
- The importance of Learning and Development to bridge performance gaps
- Blended strategies to promote continuous learning
- The challenge of tracking learning outcomes and measuring performance 

This interactive panel discussion will provide the opportunity to deliberate and explore current trends and challenges revolving around learning behaviours, processes, and their impact on organisational performance. As there are myriad of emerging tools and technologies to address learning needs, organisations need to be increasingly specific in their selection to drive quality performance. Offering insights and advice from across industries, the panel will explore:
- Exploring current trends and tools – Costs vs benefits
- Understanding different generational learning patterns and what is most effective
- Strategies to achieve greater flexibility in learning programs

As today’s business environment are increasingly volatile and changing, creating an interactive learning program that matches business goals and outcomes is crucial for organisational success. Hence, it is imperative to align the training function in being able to fulfil the business requirements. In this session, Sunny will share his experience in developing best-fit training solutions that enable high performance. Discuss:
- Analysing the requirements of each business function area
- Understanding and aligning key resources and capabilities, including people, systems and processes
- Building up a function or business model
- How to best align training to suit your business needs
- Considering organisational structure, people, leadership, culture and systems

While many organisations have advanced from traditional classroom learning to e-learning, virtual learning and various forms of digital learning methods, Learning and Development leaders need to ensure a smooth transition to become mature in digital learning programs. Ultimately the end goal is to achieve collaborative learning integrated with work and with user-driven, autonomous digital learners. In this session, Stacey and Sarah will provide practical insights on what you can do to manage the migration to digital learning to be a seamless progressive process. Discuss:
- How is your organisation transitioning to become mature in digital learning?
- What this means for you, your team, your audience and the business? 
- Exploring effective strategies to enhance your learning and development approach

While many organisations have advanced from traditional classroom learning to e-learning, virtual learning and various forms of digital learning methods, Learning and Development leaders need to ensure a smooth transition to become mature in digital learning programs. Ultimately the end goal is to achieve collaborative learning integrated with work and with user-driven, autonomous digital learners. In this session, Stacey and Sarah will provide practical insights on what you can do to manage the migration to digital learning to be a seamless progressive process. Discuss:
- How is your organisation transitioning to become mature in digital learning?
- What this means for you, your team, your audience and the business? 
- Exploring effective strategies to enhance your learning and development approach

Universities are using increasingly complex learning spaces for blended learning. Task design for activities that move back and forth between physical and virtual learning spaces help to shape qualitatively different approaches and perceptions in the student experience of learning. This presentation looks at the student experience of a blended learning course. Rob will share practical insights from the effective management of learning spaces. He will discuss:
- Consider why some students are more successful than others
- How they collaborate with others – The experience of engaging with other learners
- Explore the different ways students pursue and perceive their learning tasks across physical and virtual spaces

Managing learning programs for time-poor executives is a common challenge for Learning and Development professionals in this fast-paced business environment. On top of that, it is critical to create a positive learning experience that ensures learning is applied and ultimately delivering overall organisational results. Learning and Development professionals need to build a foundation for continuous engaged learning in order to achieve this. In this session, Karen will share tips for overcoming these obstacles to create a positive learning environment. Discuss:
- Strategies to keep learners engaged and interested in continuous learning
- Understanding training needs, bridging gaps between providers and learners
- Implementing outcomes-based learning programs

With a culturally diverse and geographically dispersed workforce, MSD has a strong Learning and Development structure across regions and borders that is clearly focused on achieving global business outcomes. Following through after a learning program is crucial to successfully meet specific goals and accelerate a learner’s progress and competency. In this session, Shane will provide insights into how organisations can enhance practical applications of Blended Learning to reap the maximum results. Discuss:
- Strategies for a smooth transition from face-to-face to Blended Learning models
- Making after-learning support available
- Optimising Blended Learning – Applying learning across the 70:20:10 model

The C-130J Hercules aircraft provide Air Force with Medium Combat Global Air Mobility in support of Government outcomes. With roles as diverse as Search and Rescue, Night Vision Goggle Operations and Airdrop, the Hercules training system is both complex and diverse. Responsible for the delivery of contractor and Air Force training for the technical workforce and aircrew, Wing Commander  Jason  Baldock will outline the transformation of C-130J training. He will demonstrate how the unit is harnessing efficiencies and utilising simulation to present a streamlined and focused training system. Discuss:
- Training in a complex environment
- Enabling multilevel and applied training
- Lessons learned from driving transformation

Classroom and virtual learning spaces are traditionally the Blended Learning mix that have expedited learning and development for leading organisations. However, when it comes to developing leadership skills, organisations need to go beyond the classroom to emphasise learning by experience. Focusing on advancing leadership and learning culture at Telstra, Claire will provide key insights into leveraging Blended Learning for leadership excellence. Discover:
- Understanding what it takes to build leadership capabilities
- Creating a structure that supports how leaders learn
- Why all leaders need to be in the business of shaping culture
- Case Study of Blended Learning opportunities for leadership development

The Blended Learning approach will achieve its maximum potential and success when it is effectively aligned with your Learning and Development needs and organisational goals. This interactive session will sum up the ideas, strategies and practical insights that have been discussed over the last two conference days, and provide key steps to integrate and apply these into your Learning and Development processes. Walter will invite participants to explore:
- Key take-aways from the conference
- How you can apply them back in your organisation
- Tracking the impact on business performance

With a magnitude of digital learning tools, technology and platforms in the market, Learning and Development leaders are often drawn into a complex decision-making process when it comes to deciding what is best for the current organisational need.
 
Besides building the capabilities to design, develop and implement effective learning programs that best match learner demands and achieve the desired business outcomes, it is imperative for Learning and Development leaders to also demonstrate the bottom-line value that Blended Learning brings.
 
This interactive workshop session will look at practical approaches to break down complex learning design while developing an effective Digital Learning strategy to provide a holistic learning experience across a range of platforms. Discover:
 
A look at the value Blended Learning brings – Why has Digital Learning become a preferred learning tool?
- What do learners demand from a learning program?
- Discussing suitable formats for different learning demands
- Increasing accessibility and user-driven learning
- How does this impact and enhance workplace performance?

Utilising multiple Digital Learning platforms to create a holistic learning experience
- Using story-telling to create unique and specific learning experiences
- Creating an engaging learning experience to enhance learner memory and encourage application
- Program design considerations: Pedagogies, delivery mediums and support components
- Discussion: Examples of the effective use stories on digital learning tools
 
Developing an effective Digital Learning strategy
- Aligning your Digital Learning strategy with overall learning objectives and outcomes
- Developing the content – Know your target audience /learners, how this will be used and when it will be used
- Group Exercise: Designing your digital learning strategy – What’s your story and how to create consistency across different learning platforms
 
Strategies to gain support from management and getting stakeholder buy-in
- Measuring overall performance outcome of implementing digital learning strategies
- Demonstrating ROI and gaining management buy-in

With a magnitude of digital learning tools, technology and platforms in the market, Learning and Development leaders are often drawn into a complex decision-making process when it comes to deciding what is best for the current organisational need.
 
Besides building the capabilities to design, develop and implement effective learning programs that best match learner demands and achieve the desired business outcomes, it is imperative for Learning and Development leaders to also demonstrate the bottom-line value that Blended Learning brings.
 
This interactive workshop session will look at practical approaches to break down complex learning design while developing an effective Digital Learning strategy to provide a holistic learning experience across a range of platforms. Discover:
 
A look at the value Blended Learning brings – Why has Digital Learning become a preferred learning tool?
- What do learners demand from a learning program?
- Discussing suitable formats for different learning demands
- Increasing accessibility and user-driven learning
- How does this impact and enhance workplace performance?

Utilising multiple Digital Learning platforms to create a holistic learning experience
- Using story-telling to create unique and specific learning experiences
- Creating an engaging learning experience to enhance learner memory and encourage application
- Program design considerations: Pedagogies, delivery mediums and support components
- Discussion: Examples of the effective use stories on digital learning tools
 
Developing an effective Digital Learning strategy
- Aligning your Digital Learning strategy with overall learning objectives and outcomes
- Developing the content – Know your target audience /learners, how this will be used and when it will be used
- Group Exercise: Designing your digital learning strategy – What’s your story and how to create consistency across different learning platforms
 
Strategies to gain support from management and getting stakeholder buy-in
- Measuring overall performance outcome of implementing digital learning strategies
- Demonstrating ROI and gaining management buy-in