Session Information


2025 Session Information

Below you’ll find a list of this year’s fantastic concurrent sessions. For different registration options, discounts and pricing please visit the Registration page.  For a breakdown of what is happening when, visit our Agenda.

 or access our Conference App.

Conference registration includes morning coffee/tea, lunch, and afternoon snack/coffee/tea on June 13, 2025:

  • Registration – 7:30am to 8:15am
  • Welcome and Keynote – 8:15am to 9:30am
  • Concurrent Sessions (including breaks and lunch) – 9:40am to 4:35pm.
  • Closing Remarks and Door Prizes – 4:45pm to 5:00

Instructional Design and Tools:


Facilitator Bios:

Amanda Douglas-Young is an instructional designers with over 15 years experience working alongside hundreds of institutions including Queens, McGill, Proctor and Gamble, Inclusion NB, and First Nations University designing high quality, accessible online learning. As the CEO and Co-Founder of KnowledgeNow, she lead an incredible team of industry experts across Canada with the mission to design the best learning experiences for everyone. She creates inclusive learning environments through collaboration, best practices and an openness to emerging technology and trends in our industry. Amanda lives in Montreal with her two kids, husband, and labradoodle Charlie.

Mark Borden is a Director of Learning Technologies at KnowledgeNow, with extensive experience in web and software development, project management, and learning management systems. With over a decade of experience in the field, he specializes in technology-driven learning solutions, website security, and digital transformation. Mark has worked with organizations such as 10up, Northern Commerce, and Let's Talk Science, leading teams and projects to enhance web infrastructure, optimize digital workflows, and drive impactful learning experiences. His expertise spans artificial intelligence for business, enterprise-level digital solutions, ensuring organizations achieve scalable and efficient technology-driven growth.

Session Description:

In today’s rapidly evolving educational landscape, the integration of AI in course design is reshaping how we create and deliver learning experiences. However, even as technology accelerates development, the expertise of instructional design teams and subject matter experts (SMEs) remains indispensable for producing high-quality, accessible eLearning. This session, Collaborating Through Change: Course Design in a New Era of Learning, explores the critical role of collaboration in navigating this new era. Participants will gain insights into how to harmonize the strengths of AI, IDs, and SMEs to meet the growing demand for innovative and inclusive learning solutions. Through two real-world case studies, we will demonstrate how teams successfully adapted to these changes, leveraging AI for efficiency while ensuring content remained engaging and pedagogically sound. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to foster productive collaboration and maintain high standards in course design amidst rapid shifts in education. Whether you’re a designer, SME, or education leader, this session will equip you to thrive in this new era of learning.

Session Objectives:

  • Identity collaborative strategies to balance the efficiency of AI with the pedagogical and accessibility expertise of IDs and SMEs.
  • Evaluate real-world case studies to determine best practices for maintaining high standards amidst the rapid shifts in educational approaches.
  • Explore a scalable process that integrates AI tools with the expertise of instructional designers and subject matter experts.
  • Enhance SME buy-in from the start of a project through empowerment and collaboration.

Session Audience: Novice/Intermediate/Advanced

Software/Platforms Used: Accessibility features in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Articulate 360, and other common authoring tools for digital content, VoiceOver, NVDA, WebAIM and W3C tools, and more.

Bring Your Own Device: Yes


Facilitator Bio:
Dr. Nidhi Sachdeva is a Canadian researcher and educator specializing in the intersectionality of educational technology and the science of learning. She serves as a teacher educator at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE). With nearly 20 years of experience in higher education, Nidhi is an evidence-informed learning designer and educational technology specialist, with expertise in microlearning and other innovative pedagogical strategies. Nidhi is deeply passionate about bridging the gap between educational research and teaching practice. She co-authors the newsletter The Science of Learning, dedicated to translating research into actionable insights for educators.

Session Description:
John Sweller said, "Without an understanding of the human cognitive architecture, instruction is blind". Effective learning design requires more than engaging content—it demands a strategic understanding of how the human brain processes information. Cognitive Load Theory (CLT) offers a powerful framework for creating instructional materials that optimize learning by managing the demands placed on working memory. This presentation explores practical strategies to integrate CLT principles into eLearning design. Participants will learn to distinguish between intrinsic, and extraneous, and discover techniques to reduce cognitive overload while fostering deep learning through schema construction. From simplifying complex information to designing tasks that enhance germane processing, this session equips instructional designers with evidence-based tools to create impactful, learner-centered experiences. Whether you’re a seasoned designer or new to CLT, this session will transform how you approach eLearning design.

Session Objectives:

  • Understand Cognitive Load Theory (CLT).
  • Analyze Learning Design Challenges.
  • Apply Evidence-Based Strategies.
  • Design Learner-Centered Materials for deer learning and long-term retention that can help knowledge transfer. (Isn't that the goal?)

Session Audience: Novice

Software/Platforms Used: Content is applicable across all platforms

Bring your own device: Yes


Facilitator Bio:
Yolanda Larner is a seasoned Learning and Development Leader with 14 years of experience, specializing in leadership development, process enhancement, and talent cultivation. She holds the esteemed Certified Professional in Talent Development credential and a BA in Business Information Systems. A dynamic and insightful speaker, Yolanda empowers teams, driving them toward excellence with her inspiring and energizing leadership style.

Session Description:
Unleash the power of ChatGPT to revolutionize your storyboarding process. In this session, we’ll explore practical techniques to collaborate with AI for drafting slide content, crafting interactive elements, and generating visual ideas. From overcoming creative blocks to saving hours of work, you’ll discover how ChatGPT acts as your co-designer, helping you create storyboards that are both instructionally sound and visually engaging. Featuring real-world applications, this session equips you with the tools and strategies to integrate AI into your workflow, unlocking new levels of efficiency and creativity.

Session Objectives:

  • How to collaborate with ChatGPT to generate and refine storyboard content efficiently.
  • Techniques to create interactive elements and multimedia suggestions using ChatGPT prompts.
  • Strategies for aligning AI outputs with instructional design principles and project goals.
  • Best practices for integrating ChatGPT into your design workflow to enhance creativity and productivity.

Session Audience: Intermediate

Software/Platforms Used: ChatGPT


Facilitator Bio:
Danielle Wallace and her team at Beyond the Sky: Custom Learning specialize in truly effective learning solutions. As the chief learning strategist, Danielle brings strategic marketing principles she learned from her previous roles at Procter & Gamble and PepsiCo into the world of learning and development. Danielle is a sought-after speaker at global conferences, and her thought leadership is frequently featured in industry magazines and publications. The podcast "You in 2042: The Future of Work," hosted by Danielle, is available on all podcast platforms. Additionally, her AI+L&D Community of Practice can be found at www.beyondthesky.ca.

Session Description:

Ever wonder why learners complete courses but their behavior doesn’t change? Traditional training methods fall short in today’s fast-paced workplace. This session introduces a fresh, actionable approach to drive real performance improvements with the innovative "think, try, then teach" framework. Through interactive activities, you’ll explore practical techniques that prioritize performance support over memorization and integrate AI-powered reflection to elevate learning outcomes. Using real workplace examples, you’ll experience the framework firsthand as we analyze traditional methods, try new approaches, and uncover the "why" behind their success. You'll also learn how performance support tools mimic how we naturally learn technology, ensuring training sticks. Finally, you’ll reflect through an interactive ChatGPT-powered Storyline and explore creative, scalable options like Learning Journals and low-tech PDFs for reflection. This fun, hands-on session practices what it preaches, giving you practical takeaways and resources to transform your own training. Conference attendees will leave energized with actionable insights to drive real-world results.

Session Objectives:

  • A “think, try, then teach” framework for learning that drives skill adoption.
  • The new role for “quizzes” in a modern training.
  • How AI powered solutions can go beyond hype to deliver skill adoption.
  • How to use reflection to foster greater behavior change.

Session Audience: Novice/Intermediate/Advanced

Platform/Software: ChatGPT/Claude/Gemini

Bring Your Own Device: Yes


Facilitator Bio:
Ashley Chiasson is an award-winning Instructional Designer and eLearning Developer, with over 15 years of experience. She is the Director of Learning at Artha Learning and holds a Masters of Education (Post-Secondary Studies) and a Bachelor of Arts (Linguistics and Psychology).

Session Description:

With Articulate Storyline 360, you can transform static content into dynamic, adaptive learning journeys that captivate and empower learners. In this hands-on session, you'll dive into the world of adaptive learning with Articulate Storyline 360 by building interactive scenarios that dynamically respond to learner actions and performance. We'll begin by exploring the principles and benefits of adaptive learning, setting the stage for an interactive learning experience. You'll then follow along with a series of guided exercises designed to reinforce key concepts and techniques. You'll learn how to leverage variables and conditional logic to dynamically adjust content, interactions, and feedback, and you will explore strategies for providing guidance and reinforcement within adaptive scenarios. By the end of the session, you'll have gained practical experience building adaptive learning modules using Articulate Storyline 360, and you will be equipped with actionable insights and tangible skills that you can immediately apply to enhance your eLearning projects.

Session Objectives:

  • Understand the principles and benefits of adaptive learning.
  • Explore methods for designing scenarios that adapt to learner input.
  • Identify strategies for providing guidance and reinforcement.

Session Audience: Intermediate

Software/Platforms Used: Articulate Storyline 360

Bring Your Own Device: Yes

Learning Strategy:


Facilitator Bio:
Dr. William Albert Brantley is a training, development, and organizational improvement expert with over 20 years of experience. He has developed global learning programs for over 100,000 students, including webinars, MOOCs, and self-paced courses. Notable achievements include enhancing the USPTO's Supervisor Certificate Program, creating leadership paths for the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and earning the 2019 Emerging Training Leader Award. Dr. Brantley is also a keynote speaker and thought leader on AI in project management and future learning trends.

Session Description:

Organizations today struggle to align employees' skills with industry demands. Traditional training programs fall short, leaving workers unprepared and firms less competitive. Capabilities academies offer a transformative solution for upskilling and reskilling, promoting continuous learning and business impact. This 50-minute session will explore capabilities academies—initiatives to develop skills aligned with organizational goals. Using real examples and strategies, you'll learn to create academies that empower employees, enhance agility, and future-proof your organization.

Key Topics Covered:
- What are capabilities academies, and why are they game-changers for upskilling and reskilling?
- Building a strategic framework for capabilities academies aligned with organizational priorities.
- Practical methods to integrate adaptive learning technologies and create personalized employee experiences.
- Measuring the impact of your capabilities academy on workforce performance and business outcomes.

Session Objectives:

  • Define capabilities academies and explain their role in addressing workforce skills gaps and aligning employee development with organizational goals.
  • Learn how to design and implement a capabilities academy tailored to your organization's unique needs and priorities.
  • Explore adaptive learning tools and practices to deliver personalized, scalable upskilling and reskilling solutions.
  • Identify key metrics to evaluate the success of a capabilities academy and apply insights to continuously enhance its effectiveness.

Session Audience: Novice/Intermediate

Software/Platforms Used: None


Facilitator Bio:

Bianca Baumann is VP, Learning Solutions & Innovation at Ardent Learning. Over time, she has developed processes and methodologies to help organizations meet their growth targets with the help of innovative L&D approaches, including workforce transformations, onboarding, and reskilling programs. She has spearheaded multiple projects in the marketing, automotive, financial, and events industries, creating award-winning programs along the way. She shares her expertise in her blog and at global conferences. She teaches Learning Experience Design at OISE. She co-authored the book “Think Like a Marketer, Train Like an L&D Pro”.

With over two decades of real-life, in-the-trenches experience designing and delivering learning experiences, Mike Taylor understands that effective learning isn’t about the latest fad or trendy new tools. Known for his practical, street-savvy style, Mike is a regular and highly-rated speaker at industry events, and consults on learning design and technology at National in Columbus, Ohio. Mike holds an MBA degree from Ohio University and a master’s degree in educational technology from San Diego State University. He co-authored the book “Think Like a Marketer, Train Like an L&D Pro”.

Session Description:

Join us as we explore how marketing techniques, particularly the creation of detailed learner personas, can revolutionize your L&D strategy. Learner personas are the cornerstone of creating L&D content that truly resonates. These fictional representations of your ideal learners inform every aspect of your design process, from word choice to visual elements. By understanding your learners, you can craft content that speaks their language, use relatable examples that click, and present information in a way that aligns with their experiences. In this interactive session, we'll first discuss the value and purpose of learner personas before diving into a step-by-step approach to creating them. Just as marketers battle for consumer attention, L&D professionals can harness the power of visuals and clear, relatable messages to break through information overload. Based on learner personas, compelling images, infographics, and videos can grab learners' interest from the start and enhance retention of key concepts. L&D professionals can borrow these strategies to make educational content more effective. By implementing these marketing principles, you'll develop impactful learning experiences that grab attention and drive results.

Session Objectives:

  • About the transformative power of marketing techniques in L&D.
  • How to create and utilize learner personas.
  • About strategies for leveraging visuals and crafting compelling copy.
  • About practical tools to immediately enhance your L&D content.

Session Audience: Novice/Intermediate

Software/Platforms Used: TBD


Facilitator Bio:

Christi Scarrow is a trainer, consultant, executive coach, Tedx speaker, podcast host and author of the book Truth Warriors. As the Managing Partner at Lighthouse NINE Group, she leads the Insights & Organizational Accountability practice and supports clients in the areas of leadership development, high performing teams, strategy and sales effectiveness. She works with multinational clients and small businesses across many diverse industries. She is passionate about helping leaders to navigate the messy bits of leadership in the changing digital landscape.

Session Description:

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, success in eLearning demands more than technological know-how—it requires digital intelligence. This session focuses on developing the skills needed to navigate, design, and implement effective eLearning solutions that balance technological innovation with human-centric learning.

Session Objectives:

  • Understand the skills needed to build digital intelligence and support the learning needs for the organization of the future.
  • Cultivate digital intelligence to enhance decision-making and adaptability in eLearning design.
  • Build collaborative environments that promote digital fluency among learners and stakeholders.
  • Gain practical strategies on how to build the skills of digital intelligence into e-learning plans.

Session Audience: Novice/Intermediate

Software/Platforms Used: The model of DQ (digital intelligence) and a competency framework.


Facilitator Bio:
Jennifer serves as the Manager of Prophix Academy, where she and her team have guided over 8,000 learners in mastering Prophix software. With a Master of Education from Simon Fraser University and a Certified Training and Development Professional (CTDP) designation, Jennifer combines time-tested, high-impact methodologies with her love of learning and technology to create enjoyable, effective training experiences. She is passionate about using technology to enhance course development and improve learner outcomes, making software training accessible and memorable.

Session Description:
After helping over 8,000 students get up and running with our software, I’ve gathered tried-and-true methods that make software training easier for trainers and memorable for learners. In this session, I’ll share practical tips for building software training that’s efficient, effective, and (at least somewhat) enjoyable—whether you’re designing a full course or giving a quick how-to to a new team member. You’ll leave with a toolkit of strategies to create impactful, time-efficient training tailored to different learning needs. Training thousands of people to use software might not be everyone’s idea of a good time, but I love it and am excited to share my insights with you!

Session Objectives:

  • How to design software training that is both feasible to create and effective for learners.
  • Approaches for balancing best practices in training with the practical constraints of software instruction.
  • Flexible strategies for adapting training to different learner needs and contexts, using techniques suited specifically to software instruction.
  • Ways to streamline the software training process to save time while maintaining quality.

Session Audience: Novice/Intermediate

Software/Platforms Used: Skilljar, TTS, Descript, Camtasia


Facilitator Bio:
Dr. Kylie Bragdon is an expert in leadership development, blending transformative strategies with practical insights. With a background in business and education, she inspires leaders to embrace change, foster resilience, and create innovative, collaborative environments.

Session Description:

As eLearning continues to evolve, the need for dynamic, forward-thinking leadership has become essential across industries. "Transformative Trailblazers" is designed to inspire and equip eLearning professionals—executives, instructional designers, LMS administrators, project managers, and more—with the tools to navigate challenges and drive meaningful change in digital learning environments. This session blends actionable leadership techniques with insights into resilience-building and navigating uncertainty. Attendees will learn to craft a vision for success, foster autonomy in their teams, and leverage learning technologies to enhance engagement and inclusivity. Through practical examples and real-world strategies, participants will leave empowered to lead with confidence and adaptability. Ideal for professionals passionate about collaboration and innovation, this talk provides a roadmap for redefining education and training in the digital age. Join us to explore how transformative leadership can elevate learning experiences and build stronger, more adaptable eLearning ecosystems.

Session Objectives:

  • Navigate Change and Uncertainty: Develop resilience and adaptability to lead effectively through evolving challenges in eLearning environments.
  • Foster Leadership Autonomy: Empower themselves and their teams with practical strategies to take initiative and lead with confidence.
  • Enhance Collaboration: Cultivate stronger connections and alignment across teams, ensuring cohesive and impactful learning solutions.
  • Leverage Learning Technologies: Maximize the potential of EdTech tools to create inclusive, engaging, and innovative digital learning experiences.

Session Audience: Novice/Intermediate/Advanced

Software/Platforms Used: LMS, Collaboration tools (teams, slack, etc.) Edtech tools like Kahoot that gamify engagement

Visual Design and Multimedia:


Facilitator Bio:
Based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Ivan is a seasoned learning professional with over 20 years of experience committed to delivering impactful, accessible, and inclusive learning solutions. With his wife Lyndsay, they lead Field of Play Learning, a company specializing in Organization Development, instructional design, Universal Design for Learning, leadership training, and change management through the lens of accessibility and inclusion. Ivan is passionate about designing modern experiential learning that meets diverse learner needs. His expertise includes learning technology tools like Articulate 360, Synthesia, Generative AI applications, Adobe Captivate, Vyond, Adobe Creative Suite, Brightspace and digital adoption platforms.

Session Description:
Are you tired of long production cycles for learning videos? Enter Synthesia, an AI-driven tool that simplifies video creation without a production crew. In this 50-minute session, discover how to produce high-quality videos faster and at a fraction of the cost. Through practitioner-level insights, we’ll compare traditional and AI methods, showcase the lean process for quick turnarounds, and explore ways to personalize content for accessibility and diverse learners. Revolutionize your video strategy today!

Session Objectives:

  • Master the Synthesia Process: Outline the steps for creating a video with Synthesia, from scriptwriting to publishing.
  • Compare Traditional vs. Synthesia: Analyze time, cost, and resource differences between traditional video creation and Synthesia’s AI-driven approach.
  • Apply Lean Video Production Techniques: Identify three strategies for using a lean process to generate quick, high-impact learning videos.
  • Customize Videos for Diverse Learner Needs: Demonstrate rapid customization of videos for accessibility, language, and diverse audience requirements.

Session Audience: Novice/Intermediate/Advanced

Software/Platforms Used: Synthesia


Facilitator Bio:
Bianca Woods is a Content Manager at ATD, covering all things learning and development. Her past roles include guiding community and content initiatives at Articulate, working on community and event programming at the Learning Guild, piloting e-learning and classroom projects as an instructional designer at BMO Financial Group, and teaching K-12 art. Bianca is passionate about how visual design and multimedia can help people learn, loves test-driving new technology, and collects photos of bizarre warning signs.

Session Description:

Many of us know the power that strong visuals and multimedia have to make our eLearning streamlined, memorable, and even more effective. But lots of people in our field don’t have extensive experience with graphic and multimedia design. And those who do often don’t have the time they’d like to spend on those aspects of their projects. Thankfully, there are loads of budget-friendly tools and services on the market today that can help! In this session, you’ll explore a wide range of tools, services, and techniques that make graphic and multimedia design easier. You’ll discover how these resources can take on some of the heavy lifting of creation, which speeds up processes and improves visuals. You’ll explore online services and resources that help everyone, regardless of their design experience, create solid visuals and multimedia. You’ll learn more about online assets that can quickly add polish to your designs. And you’ll also explore tools that can improve the accessibility of the visuals and media you create.

Session Objectives:

  • What tools can simplify visual and multimedia design for eLearning content.
  • What online resources can help you source great visuals or make the ones you have better.
  • What tools and services can help you improve the accessibility of the visuals and media in your eLearning content.
  • What ways can you use the tools you already have to polish your visual designs further.

Session Audience: Novice/Intermediate

Software/Platforms Used: A wide range of graphic and multimedia design tools, series, and resources, including the Noun Project, Descript, Adobe Express, Affinity Photo, Font Squirrel, CapCut, Canva, SnagIt, Coolors, Unsplash, Pexels, Duotone by ShapeFactory, Remove.bg, colour contrast checker browser plugins and websites, Pinterest, and PowerPoint.


Facilitator Bio:

Ron has 40 years of experience in organizational effectiveness, leadership coaching, instructional design, spiritual development, and experiential learning. His unique background has allowed him to support a wide range of customers, from schools like Duke University and Harvard Business School to multinational corporations. In 2002, Ron founded “Real-ationships”, a consulting firm and outdoor challenge course devoted to assisting individuals and organizations in increasing their performance while developing and maintaining authenticity and integrity. After joining Yukon Learning in 2008, Ron began working closely with the Articulate team to design and develop the certified training programs for the Articulate suite of tools.

Session Description:

In this session, you’ll tap into the latest techniques in Articulate Storyline for creating movement that matters, building a foundation for simple movement up to more extravagant gaming. You’ll explore some of the lesser-known uses for animations, including designing animations within states.

Session Objectives:

After this session you will be able to:

  • Build a variety of animations and motion paths.
  • Use triggers to control motions.
  • Build some of the lesser-known and creative animation and motion features.
  • Design some of the more complex animations by animation items within groups.

Session Audience: Intermediate/Advanced

Software/Platforms Used: Articulate Storyline 360


Facilitator Bio:
Matthew Pierce is a video creator, podcast host, instructional designer, and loves to share his knowledge, experience, and expertise. As Learning & Video Ambassador for TechSmith, he hosts The Visual Lounge podcast, leads the TechSmith Academy, and launched the Camtasia Certification program. He has experience in Training, Customer Education, Customer Support, and more. He's a speaker and contributor to learning and development, customer education, and marketing events and conferences.

Session Description:

Short-form content on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram has surged in popularity, captivating audiences with concise, engaging presentations. While not inherently educational, many creators have mastered the art of facilitating learning through brief videos. As demand for quick, efficient content grows, L&D professionals have a unique opportunity to adopt these techniques. This session will explore leveraging short-form video's potential to enhance learning experiences for educators, instructional designers, and content creators. We'll examine innovative strategies used by successful creators, analyzing video examples to uncover engaging hooks, creative topic ideas, and storytelling techniques that captivate audiences. You’ll gain practical insights into the video creation lifecycle—from concept to production—with tools and AI enhancements to streamline development. Additionally, we'll discuss repurposing long-form content into bite-sized pieces for different platforms, improving accessibility and reinforcing learning outcomes.

Session Objectives:

  • Engaging video techniques that enable top content creators to captivate their audience.
  • How to leverage current video trends for impactful learning experiences.
  • Strategies for streamlining content development and overcoming creation challenges.
  • How to condense long-form content into short, impactful videos, including the use of various tools and techniques.

Session Audience: Novice/Intermediate

Software/Platforms Used: No specific tool, will apply to multiple platforms


Facilitator Bio:
Phil Cowcill began his career in Training and Development in 1983 as an Education Technologist. He was part of the pioneering team that developed Canada’s first three Interactive Videodiscs. In 1995, he became the Coordinator of the Interactive Multimedia program, and in 2011, he launched and taught Canada’s first Mobile Application Development program. Phil later joined the Department of National Defence as a Senior eLearning Specialist. He is passionate about sharing his expertise and frequently travels to speak at conferences around the world.

Session Description:
Over the past few years, Adobe Photoshop has radically changed and has made editing images incredible fast - if you know about the tips. Not only is it faster for Training and Development professionals, it also does a much better job. This session will demonstrate how AI helps with the editing of an image as well as generating new content.

Session Objectives:

  • Use a variety of methods to select content.
  • Apply a generative AI to build new content.
  • Apply Neural Filters to alter and fix images.
  • List the appropriate graphic formats to export to for eLearning projects.

Session Audience: Novice/ Intermediate

Software/Platforms Used: Adobe Photoshop, output images for web and video editing.

Bring your own device: Yes

Data, Evaluation and Strategy:


Facilitator Bio:
Sean has been an instructor, instructional designer, and developer for over 20 years. He has spent his career designing and developing training programs, both instructor-led and online, for many different industries, but he has had a strong focus on creating material for software companies. Sean has also spent the last several years focusing on the use and deployment of the Experience API (xAPI) and its affect on learning interventions. Sean has spoken at many industry conferences on the subject and is co-author of “Investigating Performance” a book on using xAPI and analytics to improve performance.

Session Description:
Collecting data is the easy part. Collecting intelligent data is where it gets tough. That means collecting data that provides value. No matter how you collect the data – xAPI, cmi5, Google Analytics, others – the data can come in fast and furious. It can overwhelm practitioners quickly at times. Most of the specifications are easy to implement, i.e. there is not much coding involved, if any at all. Where your time should be spent is planning what you want to collect and how that data will inform whether or not behavior change or performance improvement has occurred. One of the most important aspects of a successful project backed by data is the creation of a data strategy. Participants will be shown how to build documentation to ensure they will understand why decisions were made and to build a strategy that meets the needs of the stakeholders and informs future interventions for learners.

Session Objectives:

  • Learn how to define data strategy.
  • Describe why a data strategy is important.
  • Learn the steps to run a successful data strategy project.
  • Learn how to document the data strategy for future use.

Session Audience: Novice/Intermediate/Advanced

Software/Platforms Used: Analytics platforms


Facilitator Bio:
Mike is an award winning, senior learning advisor with over 20 years in corporate training, process improvement, and performance management. He specializes in performance-based, digital learning programs that align learning to organizational goals. Mike's credentials include the CTDP from the Institute for Performance and Learning and a MSc. IPT from Boise State University. He is the co-founder of the Toronto Storyline User Group. In his personal life, Mike is a dedicated rugby enthusiast and coach, he also has a talent for cooking and is known for throwing themed feasts and parties. His also loves board games, where his current obsession is Ark Nova. Underestimate him at your own peril - he's a three-course, board gaming, rugby force of nature!

Session Description:
This presentation, "Empowering Change: How Interactive Portals Drive Continuous Learning," introduces a transformative approach to training that moves away from traditional, one-time courses toward dynamic, ongoing learning through interactive content portals. These portals serve as reusable resource hubs, enabling employees to revisit and refresh their knowledge whenever necessary, thereby fostering a culture of continuous learning. We will explore how these portals build learner confidence by focusing on real-world application rather than mere memorization. By offering tailored, role-based content and personalized guidance, participants can quickly access relevant information that aligns with their specific roles in the change process. By the end of this presentation, attendees will grasp the concept and benefits of content portals, experience firsthand how they enhance learner confidence and practical application, and gain actionable insights for developing and implementing these portals within their organizations. This approach empowers a culture of adaptability and continuous improvement, equipping participants to navigate the complexities of change with confidence and resilience.

Session Objectives:

  • The concept and benefits of interactive content portals as a modern approach to change management training.
  • How to enhance learner confidence through practical application rather than rote memorization.
  • Strategies for developing and implementing tailored, role-based content within your organization.
  • Best practices for fostering a culture of continuous learning and adaptability in response to ongoing change.

Session Audience: Intermediate


Facilitator Bios:

DJ Jaeger is a dynamic L&D leader and Sr. Training Manager at Akamai Technologies. She designs data-driven, inclusive learning solutions for employees and customers. As an Instructional Design professor at Portland State University and Director of Professional Development at ATD Cascadia, DJ brings deep expertise in learning technology, neurodiversity, and transformational digital experiences.

Monique Babin is a Learning Experience Design Manager at Ellucian, with a strong background in instructional design, higher education, and customer training. She brings expertise from diverse sectors—sportswear, aerospace, defense, and tech—and a passion for building high-impact, resource-savvy training teams that drive improved workplace performance.

Session Description:

Customer training can be a game-changer for business, but how do you prove its impact? In this session, you'll learn which metrics matter, how to collaborate with customer success teams, and ways to communicate training value to stakeholders. Perfect for L&D leaders, this is your guide to proving the power of customer training.

Session Objectives:

  • Identify key quantitative and qualitative data points in customer training programs that drive positive business outcomes.
  • Analyze learner data to understand its impact on customer success and retention.
  • Collaborate effectively with customer success and account management teams to align on training goals and leverage shared insights.
  • Develop strategies to communicate training value and demonstrate ROI to key stakeholders.
  • Create a data-informed roadmap to continuously enhance customer training initiatives and showcase their business impact.

Session Audience: Novice/Intermediate

Software/Platforms Used: We will discuss LMS, LRS, xAPIs, and spreadsheets/dashboards as well as Data Viz/Business Insights dashboard tools


Facilitator Bio:
Debbie Richards is a highly accomplished learning architect and technology enthusiast who has dedicated over thirty years to designing impactful learning experiences. Passionate about fostering growth within the learning community, Debbie actively mentors fellow professionals and holds a board position at L&D Cares. Debbie's influence extends beyond her professional work, as evidenced by her past presidency of the ATD Houston chapter and her role as a former national advisor. She is the author of  "Seeing the Possibilities With Augmented Reality" and "Preparing Your Organization for New Technologies." Recognized as a "Guild Master" by the Learning Guild in 2022, Debbie's contributions continue to shape and inspire the learning industry.

Session Description:

Organizations must proactively embrace technological advancements in today's rapidly evolving business landscape to remain competitive. This session will equip you with the strategic tools and insights to champion new technologies within your organization effectively. Learn how to conduct thorough research, analyze potential risks, and build a compelling business case that demonstrates the value and ROI of your proposed technology solutions. Attending this session will give you the confidence to navigate the complexities of technology adoption, mitigate potential pitfalls, and drive innovation that propels your organization toward success. Furthermore, the session will address the specific challenges and considerations associated with the safe and ethical implementation of artificial intelligence (AI). Attendees will gain valuable insights into responsible AI practices, ensuring that AI initiatives align with organizational values and avoid unintended harm.

Session Objectives:

  • Explain how L&D professionals can guide and support organizations through technological change.
  • Create a business case that articulates the value proposition, ROI, and implementation roadmap for new technologies.
  • Integrate ethical considerations and safeguards into AI initiatives.
  • Define metrics and processes to measure the impact of new technologies and demonstrate their value.

Session Audience: Intermediate

Software/Platforms Used: AI, Immersive Learning (AR and VR)


Facilitator Bio:
Jane Bozarth, the Director of Research for the Learning Guild, is a veteran classroom trainer and instructional designer who transitioned to eLearning in the late 1990s and has never looked back. In her previous job as leader of the State of North Carolina’s (USA) award-winning eLearning program, Dr. Bozarth specialized in finding low-cost ways of providing online training solutions. She is the author of several books, including "eLearning Solutions on a Shoestring", "Show Your Work: The Payoffs and How-To’s of Working Out Loud", and the newly reissued "From Analysis to Evaluation", now updated with a chapter on accessibility, inclusion, and Universal Design for Learning.

Session Description:

For years L&D has measured things that are convenient, like completion rates, quiz scores, and satisfaction ratings. But few of those items directly connect to improved performance. And other measures, like the familiar 5-level evaluation taxonomy, only give us information about outcomes, not causes, of problems in our training programs. In this session Jane Bozarth, Director of Research for the Learning Guild, offers conversation around some truths about data collection: What you measure is what you get; there is danger in letting measures become targets; and bad measures can be worse than no measures. Then we’ll take a look at more meaningful measures and some ways we can use data to improve performance.

Session Objectives:

  • Ways of framing questions to get you more useful information.
  • The 4 types of analytics.
  • Alternatives to the Kirkpatrick 4-level taxonomy.
  • Making better use of your LMS.

Session Audience: Intermediate

Software/Platforms Used: LMS, LRS, other tools for gathering and reporting data

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility:


Facilitator Bio:

Vanessa Dunn is an eLearning consultant and educator with 12+ years’ experience in online design and development. Vanessa is hearing and has served as coordinator and instructional developer for the Deaf Learn Now program for 10 years.

Sonia Proulx-Prusin is an educator with over 25+ years of experience and 10+ years of instructional design and development experience. Sonia is Deaf and is an advocate for Deaf and Hard of Hearing literacy and education and has worked for Deaf Learn Now since its inception in 2013.

Deaf Learn Now is an online literacy program run through George Brown College. We offer free online literacy courses to Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf-Blind adults who are 18 and live in Ontario. Our program is the first of its kind.

Session Description:

This presentation will explore the critical importance of inclusive online design principles in creating accessible and equitable learning experiences using the Deaf Learn Now program an as example. We will discuss the key elements of inclusive design: accessibility, usability, equity, and diversity. While this presentation will use the Deaf Learn Now (DLN) program as a case study, we will provide valuable insights and practical guidance for anyone interested in creating online learning experiences that are truly accessible, equitable, and inclusive.

Takeaways:

  •  Understand the core principles of inclusive online design and their importance for learners.
  •  Learn how to implement practical strategies to create accessible and equitable online learning experiences. 
  • Appreciate the value of community engagement in the design and development of inclusive online learning programs.
  • Gain insights into the challenges and opportunities in creating inclusive online learning environments.

This presentation is relevant to a wide range of professionals, including: 

  • Educators and instructional designers, course developers.
  • Anyone interested in creating inclusive and equitable learning environments.

Session Objectives:

  • Learn the core principles of inclusive online design and their importance for learners.
  • Learn how to implement practical strategies to create accessible and equitable online learning experiences.
  • Learn the challenges and opportunities in creating inclusive online learning environments.
  • Learn the value of community engagement in the design and development of inclusive online learning programs.

Session Audience: Novice/Intermediate/Advanced

Software/Platforms Used: n/a


Facilitator Bio:
Elayne is a seasoned instructional designer with over 30 years of experience designing and delivering innovative training programs. Specializing in accessibility, inclusion, and learner-first approaches, Elayne has worked with diverse teams in the federal government, military, and fintech spaces to create impactful learning experiences. Known for integrating creative storytelling and engaging interactions, and possibly some Easter eggs into *yawn* compliance training, Elayne is passionate about fostering inclusive, learner-centered environments that drive personal and professional growth.

Session Description:

In our dynamic and evolving workplaces, embracing neurodiversity has become a necessity. In the thought-provoking Little Spoon/Big Spoon: Neurodiversity and eLearning session, we will:

  • Explore how to understand, affirm, and accommodate neurodiverse learners.
  • Focus on the unique needs of this learner community.
  • Delve into how neurodiverse learners contribute and bring unseen strengths and perspectives into the workplace.

You’ll learn how to design eLearning tailored to neurodiverse needs by using multimodal approaches and techniques, while accommodating learning preferences. As advocates and allies, you'll be equipped with strategies for addressing biases, promoting psychological safety, and maintaining open communication to ensure ongoing support. Be part of the transformation of eLearning into a truly inclusive and empowering practice. Join me for an engaging and informative session, as we reimagine eLearning through the lens of neurodiversity. You’ll leave with a renewed purpose and a virtual shopping cart of toolkits, checklists and tips.

Session Objectives:

  • Identify barriers to inclusivity by recognizing common biases, assumptions, and systemic barriers.
  • Understand neurodiverse learning needs by exploring the unique preferences, strengths, and challenges of neurodiverse learners.
  • Develop actionable strategies for creating eLearning programs using multimodal approaches and best practices in instructional design.
  • Promote advocacy and reduce bias by learning how to courageously challenge unconscious biases, promote psychological safety, and serve as allies.

Session Audience: Novice

Software/Platforms Used: Rise, Articulate, Google Workplace


Facilitator Bio:

Sarah Dewar is a seasoned instructional designer and content developer who is passionate about sharing experiences with other designers and developers. She has over 20 years’ experience in the realm of adult learning complimented by 15 years’ experience creating innovative eLearning solutions for healthcare professionals. Sarah has now turned her attention to discovering the delights of mixed reality simulations, deepening her research and application of virtual simulations over the past 3 years.

Session Description:

Stock image websites rely on computer algorithms, staff curators and metadata input from contributors to create searchable images. There is bias in each of these touchpoints. Your own bias will influence which search terms you use. This presentation is designed to help you recognize how implicit bias influences how we search for stock images that reflect diversity of race, ethnicity, gender identity, and age. In small groups of 3 or 4, participants will be shown a stock image and asked to search for similar images. The groups will then analyze some of the most used search terms for stock image sites to understand to what degree these search terms influenced their search results. Each group will then share their results with the other groups, to understand how the viewer’s bias also influences the interpretation of the image. 

Session Objectives:

  • How stock image sites use algorithms to catalogue images submitted by vendors.
  • How personal and societal biases influence how we search for stock images.
  • Practical ways to eliminate or reduce bias in stock image searches implementation.
  • How AI is influencing bias in stock image sites and how we generate "new" images with AI.
  • How to overcome inherent bias and racism when searching for images that reflect cultural, religious or gender diversity.

Session Audience: Novice/Intermediate/Advanced

Software/Platforms Used: PowerPoint, various stock image sites


Facilitator Bio:
As the eLearning Specialist at the UTM Career Centre, Sevvie utilizes her expertise to create inclusive and engaging online learning experiences that are grounded in universal design and adult learning principles. Her background in adult education, curriculum and instructional design enables her to bring a blend of pedagogy and technology to her role. Sevvie holds an MBA in Educational Management and is the recipient of the Canadian 2020-2021 Governor General’s Award. While serving as an educator in global higher educational institutions, she conducted research on the effective use of technology in education and presented at international conferences. Her personal interests include hygge, arts, travelling and mindful self-compassion.

Session Description:

The session is divided into two parts: theory and practical application. The first part will provide an overview of UDL 3.0, highlighting key changes from UDL 2.2 and their implications for eLearning. Participants will explore strategies for representing content in diverse ways and supporting various forms of learner expression. The second part will focus on practical tips and strategies for ensuring document and eLearning accessibility. Participants will explore tools such as screen readers, color contrast checkers, and built-in accessibility checkers in common software. Additionally, we will cover accessibility practices such as writing effective alt text for images, checking reading order, and ensuring proper color contrast. By the end of the session, participants will have a comprehensive understanding of UDL 3.0, as well as actionable insights and techniques to enhance the accessibility and inclusivity of eLearning environments. This session is ideal for those involved in developing online learning experiences who is committed to fostering inclusivity and equity in education.

Session Objectives:

  • Understand the significant changes from UDL 2.2 to UDL 3.0, and explore how to implement these in eLearning.
  • Explore strategies for inclusive course design.
  • Learn about strategies and tools such as screen readers, color contrast checkers, and built-in accessibility checkers to ensure accessibility.
  • Learn how to write effective alt text for images, check reading order, and ensure proper color contrast to enhance the accessibility.

Session Audience: Novice/Intermediate

Software/Platforms Used: Accessibility features in Microsoft Word, Power Point, Adobe Acrobat and Articulate 360 (with Storyline and Rise AI features), NVDA, CCA

Bring Your Own Device: Yes


Facilitator Bio:
Lee works with organizational leaders to improve technology decision-making, increase market engagement, and grow operational effectiveness by maturing organizational practices to deliver more inclusive products, services, and learning programs.

Session Description:

Let's go beyond LLM basics and showcase how AI can responsibly expand course accessibility and engagement. Deliver more immersive courses with automated audio and readalong experiences that are effortless to manage. Extrapolate, translate, and integrate a multi-lingual glossary in your courses so you can support learners in multi-lingual workplaces and globally distributed teams. Let's explore methods of bringing scenarios into live and self-directed moments along the learning journey in order to gather data that signals behaviour change. We'll discuss and demonstrate these underpinnings of expanding course accessibility and engagement. We'll use custom developed AI tools to illustrate the outcomes and also the challenges of delivering AI-powered authoring and insights. This approach will highlight how a mix of LLMs, other tools, and code can facilitate impactful AI automation and insights around multi-modal, multi-lingual, and learning-focused data, while sharing limitations and gaps that arise from only using LLMs. Uncover the paths to reducing manual work and an inability to automate with a walkthrough of the design, custom code, and testing necessary to move beyond prompt engineering and LLM-only approaches.

Session Objectives:

  • Identify and solve gaps in delivering multi-modal content to improve accessibility and automation to meet learner content preferences.
  • How to identify and solve gaps in delivering multi-lingual content that better supports global workforces.
  • How to put in practice a model for growing data-driven workplace performance insights, including during facilitated and asynchronous sessions.
  • How to identify and close gaps in authoring automation that could otherwise lead to poor outcomes when using AI.

Session Audience: Novice/Intermediate

Tools/Platforms Used: A series of AI tools, including a variety of LLMs and custom tools and processes for solving LLM and automation gaps, as well as considerations around LMS integration with SCORM, xAPI, and more. This will include tools related to translation, audio, and more. We can and will get into some behind-the-scenes workflows that talk about technical gaps. I think this is essential when collaborating with an LMS or vendor, but we won't get into code or solutions in this vein to keep this as a higher level discussion.