In the world of learning, connection is key. It’s all about building relationships and creating a community of like-minded individuals who can learn from each other. D2L Connection: London is an annual gathering exclusively for people like you. You’ll explore emerging trends in learning and hear from leading thinkers on the future of education and work. Don’t miss the chance to connect with fellow leaders to learn from each other and grow your network.
Date
Nov 1 - 2, 2023
Duration
1.5 Days
Location
County Hall, London, UK, Belvedere Road London SE1 7PB
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A Golden Opportunity
With keynote presentations, panel discussions and networking, D2L Connection: London is a chance for you to gain fresh perspectives on how to navigate the evolving technology landscape, drive innovation, and ensure strategic growth.
Explore how your institution or business can embrace the future of learning
Hear from experts on emerging trends in hybrid, personalised, and corporate learning
Build lasting connections with like-minded peers, partners and experts
Enjoy VIP networking opportunities with fellow education leaders including D2L Founder and CEO, John Baker
Why Attend?
Explore where eLearning is heading in the evolution of learning in the modern university
Discover the latest trends, product updates and best practices
Ask questions and give feedback directly to D2L team members
Where
We’re thrilled to host the D2L Connection: London at County Hall in London, United Kingdom.
County Hall, Belvedere Rd, London SE1 7PB, United Kingdom
National Training and Education Manager, Irish Rugby Football UnionRead Colin Moran's bio
Colin Moran
National Training and Education Manager, Irish Rugby Football Union
Colin has been involved in education all his professional career, initially as a secondary school teacher and then in rugby development with both the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) and World Rugby. Over the past 27 years he has witnessed both evolution and revolution in his sport and considers himself very privileged to have played a part in some of the most significant developments in the IRFU and rugby in Ireland. In recent times one of those revolutions has been brought about by the adoption of Brightspace by the organisation – its first ever eLearning platform.
He is a regular presenter at conferences and workshops and has travelled the world to avail of opportunities to both teach and learn – though always looks forward to returning home to his wife and teenage daughter.
Agustina Bruno Videla, E-Learning & Digital Co-ordinator, Irish Rugby Football Union
Agustina Bruno Videla is an accomplished E-Learning & Digital Co-ordinator with a remarkable journey beginning in Argentina. With a decade-long journey that spans the globe, Agustina’s career ignited as a media creator within an Argentine biochemistry enterprise, where her innate prowess for digital innovation flourished. With a profound passion for leveraging technology to enhance learning experiences, she swiftly transitioned to freelancing, engaging with diverse global communities. Her expertise flourished and eventually led her to the dynamic landscapes of Ireland, where she currently serves as a pivotal force within the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU). As a visionary leader, Agustina ardently orchestrates the GAINLINE platform, striving to empower players and coaches from around the world to thrive amid their demanding schedules. With an innate ability to harmonize innovation and practicality, Agustina Bruno Videla stands as an inspiring advocate for seamless e-learning journeys, poised to share her wealth of knowledge at the Connections event in London, hosted by D2l, igniting the path towards enhanced e-learning experiences.
Mairi McLaughlin is a Partnership Manager with sportscotland, the national agency for sport in Scotland and leads on Digital and blended learning. Mairi is responsible for overall management and delivery of the Learninginsport Brightspace project, which is designed and delivered as a virtual learning environment to be utilised across the sporting sector in Scotland. To date, Mairi and her team have managed and supported over 30 partners to on board and go live in their digital journey through the platform.
Ashley Bruce is a Partnership Manager with sportscotland, the national agency for sport in Scotland. She is responsible for the area of Leadership Development as well as supporting the delivery of the LearningInSport Brightspace platform. Ashley’s main role within Brightspace is to manage the onboarding process of new partners to the platform. To date, Ashley and the team have managed and supported over 30 partners to on board and go live in their digital journey.
Cairo Okba
Digital Programmes Manager, The Grain and Feed Trade Association (GAFTA)Read Cairo Okba's bio
Cairo Okba
Digital Programmes Manager, The Grain and Feed Trade Association (GAFTA)
Meet Cairo, an experienced learning professional with an impressive journey spanning more than a decade. Her key focus revolves around creating engaging learning experiences and overseeing the intricacies of Gafta’s online learning platform, Agribility™. In fact, she’s the driving force behind the scenes, supervising the entire cycle of Gafta’s digital learning programmes – from pre-analysis and design to rollout and delivery.
Prior to Gafta, Cairo’s career path meandered through various industries such as healthcare and finance. Her expertise found its roots in training management, Learning Management Systems (LMS), instructional design, and delivering valuable learning experiences.
Cairo’s dedication and achievements haven’t gone unnoticed. In 2021, her outstanding contributions secured her the esteemed Association Executive of the Year award at the AAE International and European Association Awards. This recognition speaks volumes about her impactful work on Gafta’s Distance Learning Programme and the pioneering Agribility™ platform. With Cairo, you’re accessing a wealth of experience and expertise wrapped up in a friendly and professional package.
With a Diploma in Education at the University of London, as well as a Masters and PhD in Philosophy at the University of Bath, Dr. Lesley Snowball has a strong expertise in the education sector and has gained extensive experience in the field by working in 50+ countries across the world. She has previously worked on the design and reform of systemwide curriculum plans, with a large focus on school evaluation and improvement.
She has also explored personalized learning plans and alternate learning pathways for those students with special educational needs, striving to establish more inclusive education systems. In the past, she has held positions such as Teacher, School Principal, Adjunct Professor, and Special Needs Coordinator, with a current role as Educational Director at the MBRGI Digital School.
Lisa is the Director of Learning & Curriculum at Kaplan UK, an independent training provider specialising in accountancy, financial services and data & technology apprenticeships and professional qualifications. She discovered her passion for learning while working in the training department of Deloitte, shortly after qualifying as a chartered accountant in 1996. This led to her career at Kaplan which has included roles as a full time tutor, head of the London training centre and subject matter expert for ICAEW. Since 2006, she has immersed herself in digital and blended learning and pioneered Kaplan’s first implementation of its digital, online and virtual learning environments and then led the selection of and migration to Brightspace in 2016.
Lisa has led the Learning and Curriculum team since 2020, focusing on the design and development of programmes for apprenticeships and professional qualifications, championing the learner experience – using data, research, and learner and employer feedback.
Martin Sexton
Faculty Lead for Business, Health and Computing, Academy Transformation TrustRead Martin Sexton's bio
Martin Sexton
Faculty Lead for Business, Health and Computing, Academy Transformation Trust
I currently work at Mildenhall College Academy, part of Academy Transformation Trust. I have been teaching computing in secondary schools for 11 years, 9 at my current school. As well as my teaching role, I also lead Business, Health and Computing at MCA and help lead Computing across the trust. I was part of the team to choose and start to introduce Brightspace at our trust and we now use Brightspace as the way to share lesson and homework resources.
eLearning Technology Manager, The Royal College of Psychiatrists
I am an eLearning Technology Manager at the Royal College of Psychiatrists where I manage BrightSpace and Course Merchant platforms delivering a range of learning resources to psychiatrists. I have over 10 years LMS and eLearning experience, including LMS migration projects.
Dr. Sue Folley is an Academic Developer at the University of Huddersfield, with a remit to support the pedagogic development of staff with the use of digital technologies. Her role involves contributing to the University’s strategic developments in this area and providing training courses, resources and support for academic staff. She has worked in Higher Education for the last 24 years and has a PGCE, a master’s degree in Multimedia and eLearning, and a doctorate in Education focusing on tutors’ experiences of teaching online. She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and her research interests include online teaching, digital literacy, and student dashboards.
Strategic Learning Technology Advisor at the University of Huddersfield
Steve is the Strategic Learning Technology Advisor at the University of Huddersfield, and has over 20 years’ experience of supporting and developing learning technologies. His particular areas of interest are in assessment and feedback and in using analytics to inform decision making and development. He has developed a number of API driven widgets to enhance Brightspace functionality to support Huddersfield’s existing workflows and requirements.
Danny Ball
Learning Design Manager, The London Institute of Banking & FinanceRead Danny Ball's bio
Danny Ball
Learning Design Manager, The London Institute of Banking & Finance
Danny Ball is the Learning Design Manager at The London Institute of Banking & Finance. Joining in 2018, he has extensive experience of designing and developing, learner-centric online learning experiences for higher and further education. In addition to leading on the design of training and qualifications, he has overseen the implementation of several learning technologies and has a keen interest in how technology can be used to enhance learning.
Chris Holmes
Manager, Education Technology, The London Institute of Banking & FinanceRead Chris Holmes's bio
Chris Holmes
Manager, Education Technology, The London Institute of Banking & Finance
Chris Holmes is the Manager for Education Technology at The London Institute of Banking & Finance. Joining in 2015, he delivers education technology across a range of educational levels: Professional Education, Global Learning, Higher Education and Financial Education. Taking the lead responsibility for managing the content on our VLEs and maintaining the consistency of our course websites, he has ensured that student needs are met every step of the way.
Learning Technology Team Manager, Bournemouth University
Tracey Webb is the Learning Technology Team Manager at Bournemouth University. She is a certified member of the Association for Learning Technology and an Advance HE Fellow. Tracey has over 30 years’ experience of working within the education sector; within higher education and in Learning and Development in the charity sector. She has worked with several different virtual learning environments and contributed to the production of an institutional framework to support the adoption of TEL tools and digital pedagogies.
Head of Centre for Fusion Learning Innovation and Excellence, Bournemouth University
Dr. Gelareh Roushan has extensive leadership expertise in higher education and is currently the Head of Centre for Fusion Learning Innovation and Excellence where she leads institutional projects in education enhancement and innovative pedagogies for Higher Education. She led the successful achievement of AACSB accreditationin her previous role in the Business School and more recently, she led the successful achievement of bronze award in Race Equality Charter. She has served on the Board of UK Academy of Information Systems and is mentor for AACSB International. Current research interest includes using digital transformation to develop staff capabilities and enhance students’ experience. Gelareh is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Jiska Bomans
Functional Consultant - Digital Learning Environment, Leiden UniversityRead Jiska Bomans's bio
Jiska Bomans
Functional Consultant - Digital Learning Environment, Leiden University
Jiska Bomans is a seasoned professional who has worked in the field of education at Leiden university for over 20 years. She started out as an assistant professor in the psychology department and got involved in managing the digital learning environment in 2009 when she began as an assistant application manager of Leiden University’s previous digital learning environment.
Over the years, Jiska’s expertise and dedication have been instrumental in guiding the department through a transformative period. She actively participated in the tender process and subsequent implementation of Brightspace, a monumental shift that revolutionized digital learning at Leiden University.
Jiska’s wealth of experience, from her early days as an assistant professor to her current role as a Functional Consultant, has not only contributed to the department’s success but has also paved the way for cutting-edge solutions in educational technology. Her commitment to improving the learning experience at Leiden University is unwavering, making her a respected and indispensable member of the Digital Learning Environment team.
Simon Danckaerts embarked on his journey with the University Leiden’s Digital Learning Environment department in 2018 as a Functional Application Manager. With a passion for innovation and a strong commitment to enhancing the educational experience.
In his role, Simon specializes in the seamless integration of learning tools into Brightspace, a task that requires a keen understanding of both educational technology and the unique needs of the academic community. He’s familiar with APIs and uses them effectively to improve the university’s digital learning ecosystem.
Interim Head of Digital Education, VLE Project Director, De Montfort University
Dr. Carmen Miles is currently leading a Brightspace implementation, as part of embedding the university’s vision for empowering staff and students and supporting the creation of transformative learning experiences across the diverse curriculum at De Montfort University. An experienced educator, having 30 years teaching experience, she has spent over 20 years leading distance and online education and is regularly invited to share her insights on drawing from her vast experience in learning design, learning technology and academic development. Having led learning, teaching and academic development through the formation of Arden University, the first private online university, she is reputable leader in creating a vision for pedagogical change and harnessing innovative ways to embed these across an institution.
Head of Learning, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)
Andy Lancaster leads the vision for workplace learning at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). He has been at the heart of CIPD’s transformation to digital and self-directed learning, now accessed in over 180 countries. He has more than 30 years’ experience in learning and organizational development in a range of sectors and has a research Masters’ degree in instructional design. He regularly speaks at conferences, writes, and contributes to research in learning. His award-winning book “Driving Performance Through Learning” is available through Kogan Page publishing, and his new book on social collaborative learning entitled: “Organizational Learning Communities” is due out in mid-2024.
Samuel Tanner
Head of Flexible & Work-Integrated Learning, Nottingham Trent UniversityRead Samuel Tanner's bio
Samuel Tanner
Head of Flexible & Work-Integrated Learning, Nottingham Trent University
As Head of Flexible and Work-Integrated Learning within the Centre for Academic Development and Quality (CADQ), Samuel is responsible for leading flexible and online courses, lifelong learning, continuous innovation for new methods of delivery of education, and work-integrated provision. Samuel manages the Apprenticeship team, which is accountable for apprenticeship funding, regulatory compliance, quality management, and external engagement, and the Flex team, which manages the institutional Virtual Learning Environment and designs and develops online provision at NTU. In support of this, Samuel acts as Chair for the Online Learning Governance Committee.
Allard Naber
Coordinator Support and Development of Educational Applications, University of GroningenRead Allard Naber's bio
Allard Naber
Coordinator Support and Development of Educational Applications, University of Groningen
Allard is one of the coordinators for educational applications in the University of Groningen’s team ICT for Education. In this role, he has been involved in the early phases of digital exams at the institution and the university’s transition to Brightspace as LMS and exam environment. The team is responsible for a collection of applications that span the whole student lifecycle, which allows the team to optimally align these systems to pursue the best possible user experience. The team consists of coordinators, student assistants to provide first and second line support, application managers and developers.
Kelvyn has over 2 decades of experience within the education software industry. His career started in the Royal Air Force. A qualified aerospace engineer and pilot, Kelvyn first got interested in virtual learning by designing, building and selling a Learning Management System, with his own company back in the early days! He was also an inaugural board member of the UK SCORM standards committee. After selling his company, he joined Microsoft and enjoyed a 10 year period which culminated in him managing education software solutions in the Middle East & Africa, covering 79 countries, based in Istanbul. Since then, Kelvyn has helped to build a joint venture start-up between Capita PLC and the UK Government, which delivers global best practice certifications, working with over 700 global partners. He has also lived and worked all over the world, for many large and small learning & development companies, during which time he has amassed a vast amount of industry knowledge and experience. Today, Kelvyn is the UK & Ireland Country Manager for Class Technologies.
John founded D2L in 1999, at the age of twenty-two, while attending the University of Waterloo. He strongly believes that learning is the foundation upon which all progress and achievement rests.
He is a member of the Business Council of Canada, board member of the Business Higher Education Roundtable, member of the Industry Strategy Council in Canada, Chair of the Digital Economic Strategy Table in Canada, has served on the Governing Council of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, is the 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.
Dr. Cristi Ford serves as the Vice President of Academic Affairs at D2L. She brings more than 20 years of cumulative experience in higher education, secondary education, project management, program evaluation, training and student services to her role. In this role, she offers thought leadership and direction to the academic affairs unit of the organization. Her previous roles have allowed her to have impact in education from secondary and higher education settings within North America and as part of the international landscape. Her reach has allowed her to focus on building online education in the US and in Africa.
In addition to her experience building new online learning programs and research related to online teaching and learning, Dr. Ford possesses significant experience in the design and delivery of integrated educational support, training and transition services for young adults and children with neurodevelopment disabilities.
Dr. Ford was selected by the Online Learning Consortium as the 2022 OLC Fellow (the highest professional distinction offered by the association). She is a tireless advocate for quality online education and has leveraged her passion and expertise in many realms in the education space. She is known for utilizing her leadership in extraordinary ways to help institutions build capacity to launch and expand online programming through effective faculty development, instructional design and pedagogical practices.
Dr. Ford holds a PhD in Educational Leadership from the University of Missouri-Columbia and undergraduate and graduate degrees in the field of Psychology from Hampton University and University of Baltimore, respectively.
A graduate of The University of Nottingham, Stewart has worked in the software industry within Education since 2011 gaining a good understanding of the intricacies of FE/HE institutions, the challenges they face and the common goals and objectives across the sector. Stewart moved to D2L in January 2016 having previously run the sales operation at Blackbaud Europe helping schools, colleges, universities and charities grow their revenue through fundraising and alumni relations technology.
At D2L, Stewart manages the EMEA sales operation and has overall responsibility for the retention and growth of D2L’s customer base within both the education and enterprise sectors. Since joining D2L in early 2016, Stewart has worked closely with a large number of universities across Europe and acts as D2L’s Project Sponsor for any new implementations of Brightspace within the region.
Surekha Rao is a seasoned Senior Manager, Product Management at D2L. She has been in the technology industry for over 20 years. She has a deep passion for education and technology and has devoted much of her career to educational technology.
Throughout her career, Surekha has demonstrated exceptional leadership and expertise in driving the development and launch of innovative productions. Her extensive experience in ed tech has equipped her with a profound understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities within the education sector. Her inclusive and customer-focused leadership style creates an environment that encourages innovation, problem-solving and continuous improvement.
She always stays abreast of emerging technologies and market trends in the ed tech industry. Recognizing the transformative potential of AI, she is proactively exploring opportunities to integrate AI technologies, such as natural language processing, machine learning, and predictive analytics, into her products to deliver engaging learning experiences.
Over his career, Chris has worked as a Commercial Pilot, Canadian Forces Officer, Transportation Systems Engineer, Flight Instructor, Secondary School Teacher, and Level 1 Crossfit Instructor. Applying his experiences in these diverse learning environments, Chris has spent the past 4 years at D2L helping clients around the globe create engaging Learning Experiences in Brightspace.
Bettina Schlass is a subject-matter expert in the digital development of educational organizations. She joined the D2L Europe team in 2016 as a Customer Success Manager, advising and supporting Higher Education institutions in their strategic implementation and operation of D2L’s Brightspace learning environment. Now she manages D2L’s Customer Success team in the EMEA region for the education and the enterprise sectors.
Bettina holds master degrees from the University of Amsterdam in Literature (1995) and in Teaching (2013) and an MBA in Education and Research Management from the University of Oldenburg (2018).
Heather is a Senior Implementation Consultant and Trainer who has been with D2L for over 5 years. She has a strong focus on accessibility and is a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) with the International Association of Accessibility Professionals. She has previous experience in education technology and also as a professional dog trainer!
As we make our way back to the new normal of educational settings, we are greeted with a renewed sense of appreciation for doing great work as educators. With grace and an openness towards change, these trying times will be yet another opportunity to show just how prepared and determined we can be in tackling difficult challenges that come our way. Together let us face this season head on while showing resilience through empathy – it is what has gotten us here thus far!
Speaker: Dr. Cristi Ford, Vice President of Academic Affairs, D2L
2:00 pm - 2:05 pm
Room Change
Higher Education
2:05 pm - 2:45 pmDuke Suite
Degree apprenticeships aim to narrow the UK skills mismatch, increase productivity and act as a vehicle for social mobility. They provide individuals with a good job, an income, and a route to a degree with no student debt. For employers, they provide access to a diverse talent pool with in-demand skills. This presentation will demonstrate how Nottingham Trent University is partnering with employers to deliver high-quality learning that meets skills needs and how technology is used to meet the challenges faced by work-integrated learning.
Speaker: Samuel Tanner, Head of Flexible & Work-Integrated Learning, Nottingham Trent University
Professional + Corporate Learning
2:05 pm - 2:45 pmEarl Suite
In this session we will share how we onboard partners to have their own branded department within the sportscotland platform as well as the support offered by the sportscotland team of digital learning officers to bridge the skills gap between subject matter experts and Brightspace content creation.
UNESCO currently estimates that 539,000,000 students are in schools worldwide. This sounds an impressive figure….until we read on to find that this represents only 35% of the worlds’ total school-age population. COVID school closures and disruptions significantly exacerbated what was already an issue on a huge scale, and post-COVID recovery has not caught up to pre-COVID levels.
The United Arab Emirates reacted very quickly and effectively to the COVID pandemic, and within weeks, while most other countries were still thinking about it, all schools in the UAE, private and public, implemented online teaching and learning , minimising the disruption to students’ education.
Post-COVID, HH Sheik Mohammad Bin Rashid, Ruler of Dubai and Vice-President of the United Arab Emirates, wanted to extend the UAE’s success and experience to the world’s marginalised students, and so The Digital School story began…
Speaker: Dr. Lesley Snowball, Educational Director, MBRGI Digital School
2:45 pm - 3:15 pmKnights Lounge 1
Coffee Break
Higher Education
3:15 pm - 3:55 pmDuke Suite
In 2022 the University of Groningen started using Brightspace as LMS and as the exam environment. Join our journey from the early proofs of concepts to where we are now. How do we make sure the exams are well-prepared and secured, and students can easily take them? After one year with 170.000 exams, we have faced some challenges, but surely more challenges are ahead!
Speaker: Allard Naber, Coordinator Support and Development of Educational Applications, University of Groningen
Professional + Corporate Learning
3:15 pm - 3:55 pmEarl Suite
Focused on meeting learner and pedagogical needs by adopting a solutions-based approach, showcasing practical examples of using Brightspace and other tools to support innovative assessment methods. Case studies include capturing experiential learning, employing video assessment and using workarounds to meet customer requirements.
Speakers:
Danny Ball, Learning Design Manager, The London Institute of Banking & Finance
Christopher Holmes, Manager, Education Technology, The London Institute of Banking & Finance
K-12
3:15 pm - 3:55 pmBaron Suite
Showcasing how Brightspace can be used for synchronous learning in the classroom. At Academy Transformation Trust, we have been developing content with classroom teaching in mind. This presentation will show how courses have been developed on Brightspace to teach from in a classroom setting and how the data gathered can be used by students and staff.
Speaker: Martin Sexton, Faculty Lead for Business, Health and Computing, Academy Transformation Trust
3:55 pm - 4:00 pm
Room Change
4:00 pm - 4:45 pmWaterloo Suite
D2L Product Roadmap
Speaker: Jack Pinette, Senior Director, Market Segments, Product Management, D2L
Dr. Cristi Ford, Vice President of Academic Affairs, D2L
9:45 am - 9:50 am
Room Change
Higher Education
9:50 am - 10:30 amDuke Suite
The session presents key insights on how the use of Brightspace at De Montfort University (DMU), and their implementation journey which started with the institutional roll out of mandatory training to over 5,000 members of staff as a first step in the journey. Carmen Miles. the VLE Project Director will share insights on the approach to implementation at DMU to support the ‘The Empowering University’ strategy and support the goals around learning for life and digital transformation.
Speaker: Dr. Carmen Miles, Interim Head of Digital Education / VLE Project Director, De Montfort University
Professional + Corporate Learning
9:50 am - 10:30 amEarl Suite
How do you get the right learning to the right people at the right time? Creating a Course Merchant site that integrates with BrightSpace, making it easier for learners to find resources and use on-demand enrolments whilst managing online payments and subscriptions.
Speaker: Rebecca Harnett, eLearning Technology Manager, The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Learning Trends
9:50 am - 10:30 amBaron Suite
Organizations are finding delivering high quality learning at the pace required for today’s modern learners increasingly challenging as skills evolve more rapidly and technology forces fast change. This presentation will explore ways we can meet learner expectations by changing the way we design our learning through shorter, bite-sized course design, and automation. We will also explore a case study using AI and Creator+ to cut design and development costs in half in order to stay ahead of our learner’s needs.
Speaker: Chris Watson, Learning Experience Consultant, Learning and Creative Services, D2L
10:30 am - 11:00 amKnights Lounge 1
Coffee Break
Higher Education
11:00 am - 11:40 amDuke Suite
GenAI (Generative Artificial Intelligence) is transforming higher education as we evolve to cater to the changing needs of students and educators. How can GenAI assist in creating and marking different types of assessments, facilitating inclusive assessment practices, and offer a more personalised and engaging learning experience for students on Brightspace?
Speakers:
Dr. Gelareh Roushan, Head of Centre for Fusion Learning Innovation and Excellence, Bournemouth University
Tim Galling, TEL Development Manager, Bournemouth University
Tracey Webb, Learning Technology Team Manager, Bournemouth University
Professional + Corporate Learning
11:00 am - 11:40 amEarl Suite
Join our presentation on the Irish Rugby Football Union’s Rugby Coach CPD project – the ‘Active Coach Badge’. We’ve shifted to a flexible, gamified learning model using Brightspace which has boosted engagement and learner rewards. Coaches earn points and qualifications through practical workshops and online modules. Learn about our progress tracking and enrolment through Course Merchant integration. Don’t miss this dynamic and interactive session!
Speakers:
Colin Moran, National Training and Education Manager, Irish Rugby Football Union
Agustina Videli, E-Learning & Digital Co-ordinator, Irish Rugby Football Union
Learning Trends
11:00 am - 11:40 amBaron Suite
Providing all diverse learners with a sense of agency and satisfaction requires harmonious teaching and learning ecosystems that prioritise personalised assessment and feedback, helping grow essential transferable competencies. Join this session to learn how FeedbackFruits partners with D2L to support institutions such as Deakin University, Technical University Denmark, or Georgia State University with scalable, student-centred pedagogic solutions for peer feedback, social annotation, polling + team-based learning, and more.
Speaker: Ian Haugh, Partnerships Executive, FeedbackFruits
11:40 am - 11:45 am
Room Change
Panel Discussion
11:45 am - 12:30 pmWaterloo Suite
Upskilling the Workforce of Tomorrow
In a tight labor market, businesses across all industries are already struggling to find the talent they need to fill open positions. As we look further ahead, challenges will only compound as demographic shifts, technological advancements, and climate adaptation needs radically transform the jobs of today. So how do we think about upskilling to support economic growth? This panel will explore where we’re falling behind in shifting our mindset about how jobs can be done today, and where we urgently need investments to upskill and reskill people for the jobs of tomorrow.
Facilitator:
Dr. Cristi Ford, VP Academic Affairs, D2L
Panelists:
Dr. Gelareh Roushan, Head of Centre for Fusion Learning Innovation and Excellence, Bournemouth University
Lisa Nelson, Director of Learning & Curriculum, Kaplan UK
Samuel Tanner, Head of Flexible & Work-Integrated Learning, Nottingham Trent University
12:30 pm - 1:30 pmKnights Lounge 1
Lunch + Networking
Higher Education
1:30 pm - 2:10 pmDuke Suite
This presentation will discuss several approaches to increasing response rates on module evaluation surveys at the University of Huddersfield, and how Brightspace data sets have been used to support an evidence based approach. We will also demonstrate API based approaches including our latest iteration, integrating with an external survey platform.
Speakers:
Steve Bentley, Strategic Learning Technology Advisor, University of Huddersfield
Sue Folley,Academic Development Advisor – Learning Technologies, University of Huddersfield
Professional + Corporate Learning
1:30 pm - 2:10 pmEarl Suite
In the emerging digital learning landscape, empowering self-directed learning and reflective practice is vital. This session explores learner-centred solutions on CIPD’s Learning Hub, pioneered with D2L. Using the CIPD Profession Map, it showcases a self-assessment and reflection tool underpinning personalized learning journeys and to embed development in learner contexts.
Establish theories underpinning a shift from a taught “push” digital learning model, to a “pull” learner-centred approach.
Explore the CIPD-D2L self-assessment, personal learning journey and reflective practice tools.
Consider the vital role of reflective practice to embed digital learning.
Speaker: Andy Lancaster, Head of Learning, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)
K-12
1:30 pm - 2:10 pmBaron Suite
Harness the Power of Partnership – An Overview of Optimisation Services
Speakers:
Ellie Fox, Learning Administration Manager, D2L
Ian Peach, Senior Technical Accounts Manager, D2L
Learn about training offerings ranging from free resources open to the public all the way up to our tailored private training. We have something for everyone!
Rules and regulations such as GDPR and archiving laws can make it quite the challenge to keep the data in your learning environment in check. We will present Leiden University’s working process (which is a work in progress) to having an organized clutter free Brightspace.
Speakers:
Jiska Bomans-Memelink, Functional Consultant, Leiden University
Simon Danckaerts, Application manager LMS, Leiden University
Professional + Corporate Learning
2:15 pm - 2:55 pmEarl Suite
Explore how Gafta enriches the learning journeys of its diverse global membership. This presentation delves into the adept use of online tools and the D2L Brightspace platform to ensure training is accessible, engaging, and highly effective across international boundaries.
Speaker: Cairo Okba, Digital Programmes Manager, The Grain and Feed Trade Association (GAFTA)
Learning Trends
2:15 pm - 2:55 pmBaron Suite
This session will look at the realities of learning today, we will discuss the benefits and the challenges of both, in – person and online learning and how the desire for human connection is affecting the delivery of learning today.
Class, the leading virtual classroom solution, is now integrated with D2L Brightspace, offering the best of both synchronous and asynchronous learning, in one solution.
The presentation will culminate with a short demonstration of Class and the Brightspace integration.
Speaker: Kelvyn Hicks, Director, UKI, Class
2:55 pm - 3:30 pmKnights Lounge 1
Coffee Break
3:30 pm - 4:15 pmWaterloo Suite
Role of AI in Education
The advances in artificial intelligence (AI), especially with the release of OpenAI’s generative AI tool ChatGPT in November 2022, can reshape various industries, including the ability to transform education. In this session, we will explore the role of AI in education – how AI can personalize learning experiences, empower educators, and foster a more inclusive and equitable learning environment for all learners. We will also account for the ethical implications of AI and the guardrails that need to be established to ensure fairness and transparency.
