This Year, It Really Was Personal: Five Lessons From Fusion 2022

D2L Fusion in Boston is a wrap. After months of preparation, days of workshops and speeches, hours of networking and conversation with friends and colleagues, and—for some of us—more than a few minutes of running along the Charles River in the scorching heat, our first in-person Fusion in three years is behind us.

And it was amazing.

Our theme was “This Year, It’s Personal,” and it could not have been more appropriate. Not only did we talk a lot about personalized learning and how important it is that we start to emerge from the pandemic, but we also spent a lot of time reconnecting, sharing, and enjoying each others’ company after a long time apart. Fusion this year was warm—in every sense of the word.

After reflecting for a bit, I’ve come up with five main lessons or takeaways from Fusion 2022 that I wanted to share with you:

1. Future-Focused: The clients and partners I spoke to are firmly focused on the future. While there were a lot of useful lessons to be learned from the pandemic, most people don’t want to dwell on the past. That said, focusing on the future doesn’t mean “returning to normal,” either. The world has changed considerably since 2019—there are new crises in our world, and there are new challenges and new opportunities in learning as a result. Enrollment is a challenge in postsecondary education. Persistence in getting degrees is a challenge. And the need for building new skills is greater than ever before. We need to start applying what we’ve learned to the issues in front of us today—specifically when it comes to workforce upskilling and lifelong learning.
2. Future-Focused: The clients and partners I spoke to are firmly focused on the future. While there were a lot of useful lessons to be learned from the pandemic, most people don’t want to dwell on the past. That said, focusing on the future doesn’t mean “returning to normal,” either. The world has changed considerably since 2019—there are new crises in our world, and there are new challenges and new opportunities in learning as a result. Enrollment is a challenge in postsecondary education. Persistence in getting degrees is a challenge. And the need for building new skills is greater than ever before. We need to start applying what we’ve learned to the issues in front of us today—specifically when it comes to workforce upskilling and lifelong learning.
3. Personalized Service Matters: It’s been a stressful few years. And that’s why our clients have really appreciated our attention to service. Our customers have noted that when they call, someone picks up. When they email, someone gets back to them. And when they have a complex question, they get thoughtful answers. It’s gratifying that people have noticed our attention to personalized customer service—and I’m thankful that D2Lers care so deeply about making sure our customers are happy.
4. The D2L Community Is Strong: I admit, I was a little worried. After three years away, would our beloved D2L community show up at Fusion? Would we still be engaged and interested in the important issues facing learners? I am pleased to say that our community is stronger, more engaged and more determined than ever to work with a partner that cares just as much about learners. Overall, there was a tremendous feeling of catharsis—and people travelled 40 hours or more through all kinds of travel challenges just to be together in Boston.
5. Learning Is All About Humanity: At one point in my opening speech, I asked people to take a moment to think about why they became an educator, and what they love about it. In the 20 seconds of silence that followed, people reflected deeply on that question—and many people came up to me afterward to tell their story. The common thread in all of those stories was that educators chose their profession to help people. Not all of them were happy stories—I learned that some educators are motivated by unimaginable grief and heartache. But what all educators share—no matter what motivated them to teach—is a sense of hope and purpose. A belief that our world can be better. And that, as Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai Malik said, “One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world.”

Technology is great, but if it doesn’t support our humanity, it’s not serving its purpose. Because, in the end, learning really is personal.
I can’t wait for next year.

Written by:

John Baker

CEO and Board Chair

John founded D2L in 1999, at the age of twenty-two, while attending the University of Waterloo. D2L is a global software company that believes learning is the foundation upon which all progress and achievement rests.

A strong believer in community involvement, John devotes both his personal and business efforts to supporting young entrepreneurs who are developing and applying technology to improve society worldwide.

He was appointed to the Governing Council of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Member (Entrepreneurs’ Circle) of the Business Council of Canada, Business Higher Education Roundtable, Past Chair of the Board of Communitech, and is a board member of Canada’s National Ballet School.

John was awarded the Meritorious Service Cross, the EY Entrepreneur of the Year (Ontario for Software and Technology), Young Alumni Achievement Medal from University of Waterloo, and Intrepid Entrepreneur of the Year in Waterloo Region Hall of Fame.

John graduated from the University of Waterloo with an Honours B.A.Sc. in Systems Design Engineering, with First Class Honours and an option in Management Sciences.

Twitter: @JohnBakerD2L
LinkedIn: John Baker
In the News: Want to Learn, Train, and Lead Better? Use These 4 Strategies From Neuroscience