Why Attend a Learning and Development Conference in 2018
The best way to learn is by doing and sharing. Learning industry conferences, most with hands-on workshops and panel sessions, are the best place to soak up a lot of information in a short amount of time. The value of networking alone is enough to include one or more conferences in your budget for 2018. Our industry is always innovating and changing, so getting a broad overview of the latest technology and techniques can help you choose what to incorporate into your own program.
If you can’t make a conference, be sure to look into purchasing the content after the event, or scroll through our list for online summits and pre-or post-conference workshops. David Kelly, Executive Director of the eLearning Guild, has a page called Curated Backchannels on his blog that lists valuable (free!) content from all of the major conferences from the previous year, not just guild-sponsored ones.
Here are our top picks for must-attend eLearning conferences over the next year, listed in date order:
- Training Conference & Expo 2018
- Innovations in Training Atlanta
- Learning Solutions 2018
- 14th International Conference on Mobile Learning
- ATD International Conference & Expo 2018
- Digital Learning Summit
- Realities360
- Connected Learning Summit
- DevLearn 2018
- Elliott Massie’s Learning 2018
10 Must Attend eLearning Conferences in 2018
Again, these are organized by date starting with the most recent. We’ve made it easier for you by including the exact location and registration fees with links to additional info. Clicking on the calendar download inserts the information into your calendar, along with a reminder to register by the early bird deadline for a discount, if applicable.
Don’t Forget to Sign Up for ELM’s 2018 eLearning Conference! Reserve Your Spot Today – iCal download: Elliott Massie’s Learning 2018
1) Training Conference & Expo 2018
Date: February 12-14, 2018
iCal download: Training Conference & Expo 2018
Location: Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, GA USA
Registration Fee: $1595
Tip: This is a conference for learning professionals and executives who are mainly from corporate, healthcare and government institutions. Look for the Training Technology Test Kitchen on the Expo floor for a hands-on digital learning experience. Be sure to check out “Games, Interactivity, and Gamification for Learning” on Monday to hear about the science behind gamification.
After the conference, there will be several online clinics covering microlearning, gamification, blended learning and many other subjects. For example on Thursday, March 1 you can view “Best Practices for Implementing Gamification.” You are allowed one online clinic with your registration.
2) Innovations in Training Atlanta
Date: February 14-15, 2018
iCal download: Innovations in Training Atlanta
Location: Several locations throughout the Atlanta metro area. Busses provided.
Registration Fee: $695 if you register for conference beforehand; $895 if you don’t.
Tip: This is an add-on after the Training Conference and Expo 2018, and functions like a two-day field trip around Atlanta showcasing advanced eLearning technology such as the flight simulators at Delta Airlines. Added bonus: they feed you and give you wine.
3) Learning Solutions 2018
Date: March 27-29, 2018
iCal download: Learning Solutions 2018
Location: Rosen Centre, Orlando, FL USA
Registration: $1695
Tip: This conference is for learning and training professionals, designers and developers. The International Perspectives sessions should be interesting, as the European community makes innovative use of AR and gamification. They’ve divided the Expo floor into three stages. The most interesting is sure to be “design & development,” but we’re biased.
4) 14th International Conference on Mobile Learning
Date: April 14-16, 2018
iCal download: 14th International Conference on Mobile Learning
Location: VIP Grand Lisboa Hotel & Spa, Lisbon, Portugal
Registration: IADIS Member/Student €395 (about $490) by January 29, 2018. Non-member €485 (about $580) by January 29, 2018. After January 29, 2018: €470 member (about $575)/ €560 non-member (about $660)
Tip: This conference is heavily research-based, with presenters from the top universities in the tech learning field. If you want to be on the cusp of everything that will happen in mobile learning, this is the place to be. It’s more technical and geared towards developers and designers — not so much for learning professionals and executives.
5) ATD International Conference & Expo 2018
Date: May 6-9, 2018
iCal download: ATD International Conference & Expo 2018
Location: San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, CA USA
Registration: (Rates vary according to your industry) $1695 until January 31, 2018. After that, it goes up, but they aren’t saying by how much.
Tip: President Barack Obama is delivering the keynote! This is the largest conference in the world for training professionals, with a huge expo floor, so leave room in your suitcase for all the free swag like pens, sticky note pads, and stress balls. They don’t post the conference schedule until January 2018, so be sure to check back for updated information. Currently, they have last year’s schedule up on the site.
6) Digital Learning Summit
Date: May 16-17, 2018
iCal download: Digital Learning Summit
Location: Virtual
Registration: $395 non-members; 20% off for members with Pro Package; free for new members and for those with Premium Package.
Tip: The eLearning Guild offers these online summits throughout the year. If you can’t attend a conference in person, you can take advantage of this content.
7) Realities360
Date: June 26-28, 2018
Location: Fairmont San Jose, San Jose, CA USA
Registration: $1795 Best Possible Rate; $250 discount if you register by February 2, 2018.
Tip: This is a hands-on conference all about AR, VR, and simulations, and the title for 2018 is “Immerse Yourself in Learning,” so bring your Dramamine. Geared towards designers and developers as well as learning professionals, this conference appeals to pretty much everyone involved in learning technology. Even though it isn’t until next summer, the discounted room blocks are already sold out, with the rest of the city soon to follow. Book a hotel room soon if you are even thinking of attending; at most hotels, you can get your money if you cancel within their policy’s terms.
8) Connected Learning Summit
Date: August 1-3, 2018
iCal download: Connected Learning Summit
Location: MIT Media Lab, Cambridge MA USA
Registration: $370 until May 1, $410 after that.
Tip: The “About” page says it all, “Join a gathering of innovators harnessing emerging technology to expand access to participatory, playful, and creative learning.” The goal of this summit is to bring three communities together: The Digital Media and Learning Conference, the Games+Learning+Society Conference and Sandbox Summit. This leans towards higher education, but if you work on the creative side of digital learning, it’s an ideal place to brainstorm and pick up new ideas.
9) DevLearn 2018
Date: October 24-26, 2018
Location: The Mirage Hotel, Las Vegas, NV USA
Registration: $1695 Best Possible Rate $250 discount if you register by May 14, 2018.
Tip: This conference covers everything there is to know about technology and learning. They haven’t released the schedule at the time of this post but based on last year, they will have hundreds of specialized sessions and regular tracks, so be sure to get the schedule early and map out a plan ahead of time. Running concurrently with DevLearn 2017 last year was the Adobe Learning Summit 2017, which featured hyper technical workshops on how to work with Adobe Captivate.
10) Elliott Massie’s Learning 2018
Date: November 4-8, 2018
iCal download: Elliott Massie’s Learning 2018
Location: Disney’s Coronado Springs Convention Center, Orlando, FL USA
Registration: $1595 Very Early Corporate Rate
Tip: Nothing about the 2018 conference has been released, save the date, location and registration info. This conference appeals to learning professionals as well as those active in learning policy (Michelle Obama gave the keynote in 2017). While it’s not hyper-technical, it does give a broad overview of the field and tends towards motivational/inspirational content.
When was the last time you got to meet with inspiring and intelligent people in the L&D industry in one room dreaming about the future of learning? Asking what if questions? Sharing industry trends such as blended learning, microlearning, and authoring tools? Figuring out solutions? That the purpose of ELM networking events, a casual gathering space where L&D professionals can share stories and learn together over complimentary drinks and snacks. We’ve got you covered on both coasts with events in San Diego and New York. Want to learn more about learning? Contact AT@elearningmind.com
