The internet has revolutionized the world. It changed our lives more than we could’ve imagined. Everything happens online now: we do our banking, we pay our bills, we get tickets to upcoming concerts, we watch films, we date, we communicate. Especially we communicate: with our loved ones, with our friends, with our colleagues, with our bosses.
And we also learn online. Whether we want to impress someone with something new, master a new skill for a better job, or simply keep up with the ever-changing business environment, we turn to video tutorials, MOOCs, or follow company training courses. Most of the times, all this learning happens online. If not all, at least part of it anyway.
But from time to time, we need to get out of the comfortable bubble of the online world and interact with people. Really, shake hands with a stranger. I’m not talking about having a water-cooler conversation with someone from another department — although that may not be such a bad idea either. I’m talking about getting out of the building and meet other like-minded people.
And what better way to do this than attending a conference that is relevant to your personal and/or professional interests?
Learning Technologies 2017: Keeping up with the world of L&D
If you have any interest whatsoever in organizational learning and development and the technology used to support learning at work, you must have at least heard about Learning Technologies.
Learning Technologies, incorporating Learning and Skills, is Europe’s leading conference on L&D matters. It all started 18 years ago, and it has grown in importance, value and attendance year after year.
The 2017 edition has been incredible.
Thousands of visitors from all over the world roamed the two exhibition halls for two entire days. They were mostly attracted by over 250 exhibitors representing many of the leading private and public sector organisations in the UK and Europe — all offering diverse solutions to the diverse challenges L&D professionals face.
They also took notes at the 150 free seminars held by more than 70 inspirational speakers and facilitators. Each session tapped into relevant L&D themes, from blended learning and gamification, to learning design and learning models, to learning software and user experience, to emerging technologies and what holds the future of workplace learning. Both the fundamentals of learning — the human memory and engagement — and the new technologies that will transform they way we live and learn — AR, VR, AI — have been under the spotlight during these incredibly useful sessions.
Besides the free seminars, attendees of Learning Technologies had access to plenty of keynote addresses, case studies, café sessions, theory presentations, practical debates, hangouts and a wide range of collaborative and networking opportunities.
The MATRIX team at Learning Technologies 2017
The MATRIX team attended the Learning Technologies 2017 conference and met many amazing people there.
We thank everyone who responded to our calls and social media posts and who booked a meeting with either of us. It’s always a pleasure to connect face to face and to shake hands with strangers that become valuable partners or clients.
