Session Schedule Available
After the morning keynote, you can choose from 16 breakout sessions in four time slots. See the session descriptions below, and access the Official Program Schedule (PDF) to start planning your day.
Keynote Session
Julie Dirksen | Bio
Using Motivation Science to Power Learning
You can design the most brilliant learning experiences in the world—but if learners aren’t motivated, they won’t engage, retain, or act on what they’ve learned. And even when they do learn, motivation is what drives real-world application. So how can we influence motivation in ways that are practical, ethical, and effective?
In this session, we’ll explore research-backed models of human motivation—like Self-Determination Theory—and zero in on the ones that offer the most actionable insights for learning and development professionals. You’ll learn how to avoid common design choices that accidentally demotivate learners, and how to build experiences that genuinely inspire effort, persistence, and behavior change.
You’ll leave with tools and strategies to:
- Translate motivation models into practical design tactics.
- Spot and fix demotivating elements in your learning experiences.
- Identify and address key motivational barriers in your audience.
- Support self-directed learning in meaningful, sustainable ways.
Whether you're designing training, onboarding, or performance support, this session will help leverage motivation science for better outcomes.
Educational Breakout Sessions
Artificial Intelligence
Amanda Archer, Director, Learning Experience, Advocate Health | Bio
AI and the Instructional Designer: Future-Proofing Our Work
AI is here. The question is not whether it can replace the instructional designer; the question is what the designer needs to do to remain essential alongside AI. AI can create a course from scratch, write a script, and generate images. But what can't it do?
In this session, we will dive into what you can do to prepare yourself for a future where AI is your co-worker, not your replacement. It will require a shift in both mindset and skills. We will explore what those are and the steps needed to begin truly future-proofing your work.
At the end of this session, you will be able to
- Recognize the role of AI in transforming the instructional designer's work.
- Identify what an instructional designer can do to complement what AI does to move an organization forward.
- Identify specific action items an instructional designer can take today to begin to future-proof their work.
Level: Beginner
Josh Cavalier, Founder, JoshCavalier.ai | Bio
From Prompts to AI Agents: The Ultimate GenAI Playbook for L&D
Many learning and development professionals struggle to move beyond basic AI prompts, missing the opportunity to build truly impactful, automated learning ecosystems. This session solves that problem by providing a fast-track journey to mastering advanced prompt engineering, integrating seamless AI workflows, and deploying AI agents. You’ll gain practical strategies and tools to revolutionize your training programs, moving from manual processes to scalable, personalized AI-powered solutions.
At the end of this session, you will be able to
- Design advanced AI prompts that generate consistent, high-value learning experiences.
- Integrate multiple AI tools and platforms to build automated L&D workflows.
- Deploy AI agents to support learner interaction, content generation, and administrative efficiency.
Level: Beginner
Bring your own device: Participants are encouraged to bring their own laptop to get the most out of this session.
James Manning, Workforce Development Program Manager, Miller Welding Automation | Bio
Smarter Learning with AI: Personalization and Feedback Made Easy
Transform ordinary eLearning into adaptive, personalized experiences—no coding required. This session demonstrates how to combine AI tools like ChatGPT with Web Objects to build smart, adaptive learning in any authoring tool. We’ll break down a simple strategy for using low-code AI integration to deliver real-time feedback, dynamic branching, and personalized text and audio—all with copy/paste code and no development experience needed. You’ll see a working example, learn how to prompt AI effectively, and leave with practical tools to start creating personalized, gamified learning experiences right away.
At the end of this session, you will be able to
- Integrate AI-generated feedback into an eLearning module using Web Objects and copy/paste JavaScript.
- Design a personalized, adaptive interaction strategy using AI prompts and low-code tools within their preferred authoring platform.
- Apply prompt engineering techniques to customize learner feedback and responses in real time.
Level: Beginner
Doug Adams, Instructional Designer, Emergency Nurses Association | Bio
Lauren Hamm, Digital Learning Designer, Emergency Nurses Association | Bio
Using Articulate AI Assistant to Develop eLearning Outline and Modules
This session equips instructional designers, project managers, and subject matter experts with the skills needed to effectively use Articulate AI Assistant and Rise to create structured outlines and initial content for eLearning modules. Participants will learn how to generate and refine AI-assisted outlines, customize content for clinical accuracy, and integrate interactive elements to enhance learner engagement. By incorporating evidence-based practices and real-world scenarios, this session supports the development of impactful and efficient educational materials.
At the end of this session, you will be able to
- Identify the key steps in using Articulate AI Assistant to generate outlines and initial content for eLearning modules.
- Demonstrate how to customize and refine AI-generated content to ensure accuracy, instructional clarity, and learner engagement.
- Apply the AI Assistant to create a draft outline and sample content section for a selected learning topic.
Level: Intermediate
Bring your own device: Participants are encouraged to bring their own laptop or other mobile device to get the most out of this session.
Design
Ron Price, Chief Learning Officer, Yukon Learning | Bio
Beyond Content Dumps: Designing E-Learning with Learners in Mind
Too often, as designers, we dive into our eLearning tools before fully understanding the big idea behind the content or identifying the desired results for our learners. The result? Courses full of content, often disconnected from a clear purpose or a defined audience. In this session, we’ll explore the “backward design” approach from Understanding by Design by Wiggins and McTighe. Working in groups, you’ll mind map a topic to uncover the “big ideas” and shift your focus toward creating a more learner-centric training offering.
At the end of this session, you will be able to
- Obtain greater clarity around your subject matter.
- Challenge the expert blind spots that prevent our content from resonating with students.
- Establish the conceptual velcro that holds your course content together.
Level: Beginner
Tim Crowe, Independent Contractor, Tim Crowe Productions | Bio
eLearning Adjacent: Non-Traditional Storyline Projects to Enhance your ID Skills
Articulate Storyline is an industry mainstay for instructional design, and for good reason. It is an extremely powerful and versatile tool for creating eLearning, but have you ever wondered what else you can do with it? This session explores innovative, non-course projects that expand the boundaries of Storyline’s capabilities while sharpening your instructional design skills. From crafting eCards and interactive documents to designing applications and even building a karaoke machine, you’ll discover fun and practical ways to grow your Storyline expertise. These projects offer creative opportunities to develop new skills that can be applied to both future training initiatives and personal endeavors.
At the end of this session, you will be able to
- Create a basic interactive document in Storyline.
- Build an interactive mock-up for a mobile application.
- Share these projects with others.
Level: Beginner
Bring your own device: Participants are encouraged to bring their own laptop to get the most out of this session.
Jim Larkin, Learning Consultant/Instructional Designer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois | Bio
Integrating Storytelling and Scenario-Based Learning
Scenarios are a powerful way to help learners build new skills, but without a compelling story, they can feel flat and predictable. What if we created stories with relatable characters and realistic challenges that mirror learners' actual work experiences? These kinds of scenarios allow participants to see themselves navigating real-world problems—succeeding at times and failing at others, just like in everyday life. In this session, you’ll learn how to combine two powerful tools to bring stories to life by using Vyond to set the narrative context, and building engaging, branched scenarios in Storyline 360 to deepen the learning experience.
At the end of this session, you will be able to
- Describe the benefits of integrating scenarios and storytelling using both Vyond and Storyline 360.
- Create a preliminary character and branched scenario storyboard in session.
- Utilize a process flow for building the e-learning deliverable (using Vyond and Storyline.
Level: Beginner
Kimberly Kouame, Learning Resource Manager, Rotary International | Bio
Using Technology to Make Evidence-Based Learning Decisions
When we post learning materials on our website, we don't always know who is consuming them. In this session, you’ll learn how using a learning management system, along with other technologies, has helped us continuously improve our course content and make evidence-based decisions about when to create a new course, revise an existing one, or unpublish content. Eventually, we will be able to see how course completion relates to engagement and retention.
At the end of this session, you will be able to
- Obtain greater clarity around your subject matter.
- Explain the benefits of using a learning management system.
- Determine readiness to help answer larger organizational questions.
- Identify opportunities to improve course offerings based on learner behavior and platform insights.
Level: Intermediate
Development
Amanda Roseboom, Senior Instructional Designer, Hummingbird Healthcare | Bio
Accelerating eLearning Development: Choosing Between Rapid and Traditional Methods
Organizations often struggle to balance speed and quality when developing eLearning. This session explores both rapid and traditional eLearning development processes, focusing on when and how each approach should be used. Attendees will learn how to tailor their strategy based on the complexity and scope of the training need, ensuring efficient development without compromising effectiveness.
At the end of this session, you will be able to
- Analyze when to use rapid versus traditional development methods in eLearning.
- Design a flexible development process that meets organizational needs and timelines.
- Implement best practices for managing eLearning projects of varying complexity and timelines.
- Identify opportunities to improve course offerings based on learner behavior and platform insights.
Level: Intermediate
Bring your own device: Participants are encouraged to bring their own laptop or other mobile device to get the most out of this session.
Elizabeth Kuhlmann, Senior Trainer, Yukon Learning | Bio
Get Real: Crafting Authentic Branched Scenarios with Storyline 360
Scenarios are a powerful way to build conversational and decision-making skills through challenging learning experiences, yet many courses still rely on standard quiz questions with correct/incorrect feedback. In Storyline 360, you can take learners to the next level of application by having them complete soft-skill scenarios in an interactive eLearning environment. In this hands-on class, you’ll learn how to use Articulate Storyline 360 to address unique needs in your eLearning design. You’ll have the opportunity to observe, design, and practice building dynamic, multi-path scenarios using robust elements tailored to your own content and situations.
At the end of this session, you will be able to
- Design a freeform quiz question with custom branching and scoring.
- Adjust course flow in Slide and Story View.
- Develop scenes that can be duplicated and reused for subsequent challenges in the scenario.
Level: Beginner
Bring your own device: Participants are encouraged to bring their own laptop to get the most out of this session.
Kali Dimaris, Senior Instructional Designer, Morningstar | Bio
Morph Effect in Slides and Video: From Boring to Brilliant
Are you struggling to keep learners engaged with your eLearning content? In this session, discover how to use Microsoft PowerPoint and Articulate Storyline's Morph transition tool to create cinematic effects that captivate and maintain learner attention. Through hands-on demonstrations, you'll learn how to seamlessly animate text, images, and interactive elements to enhance the learning experience. In this session, you'll be equipped with practical techniques to transform your slide presentations and interactive scenarios into dynamic, engaging learning experiences that leave a lasting impression. Perfect for instructional designers looking to elevate their eLearning projects with powerful, easy-to-use tools.
At the end of this session, you will be able to
- Apply the Morph transition tool in PowerPoint to create seamless animations for text, images, and objects in presentations and videos.
- Design engaging eLearning interactions in Articulate Storyline using Morph transitions to enhance learner engagement.
- Implement best practices for using cinematic transitions to improve the flow and interactivity of eLearning content.
Level: Beginner
Bring your own device: Participants are encouraged to bring their own laptop to get the most out of this session.
Tory Hord, Learning Consultant, Tory Hord Consulting | Bio
Storyline Accessibility: Building Courses Everyone Can Use
Creating accessible eLearning isn’t just about checking a box; it’s about making learning better for everyone. In this session, we’ll walk through five key ways to make your Articulate Storyline courses more accessible. From visual design choices to navigation and interactivity, you’ll get practical tips to help you build courses that are truly inclusive and user-friendly for all learners.
At the end of this session, you will be able to
- Identify key accessibility features in Articulate Storyline that enhance course usability for diverse learners.
- Design intuitive navigation and interactivity that supports a wide range of learner needs.
- Apply best practices for designing accessible visual elements, including color contrast and captions.
Level: Beginner
Bring your own device: Participants are encouraged to bring their own laptop to get the most out of this session.
Strategy
Sarah Phillips, Learning & Development Program Manager, CNH | Bio
Developing Psychologically Safe eLearning
Psychological safety is often discussed in the context of team dynamics or workspaces, but can we leverage its benefits to help participants feel comfortable and confident during their learning experience? When learners feel safe, they are more likely to be engaged. By reducing anxiety and promoting inclusion, we can create a learning environment that is both accessible and supportive for all. In this session, we’ll introduce strategies for applying universal design principles to eLearning development to create a more psychologically safe learning experience.
At the end of this session, you will be able to
- Define psychological safety as it applies to learning.
- Apply universal design methodologies to eLearning.
- Identify practical techniques to reduce learner anxiety and foster a sense of inclusion.
Level: Advanced
Jazmin Webster, Blue Cross Blue Shield, CivicaRx | Bio
Engage, Evaluate, Enhance: Leveraging Technology for Continuous Feedback
Have you ever been asked to maintain high levels of learner engagement and achieve effective training outcomes with limited time to create? Work smarter, not harder, by leveraging user-friendly technology to tap into continuous feedback, ignite engagement, and capture actionable insights. In this session, we will explore three examples of free to low-cost applications that require minimal experience to implement alongside your existing learning solutions. These are tools I have used with little to no budget in non-profit organizations. Make capturing feedback a fun, integral part of your learners' experience.
At the end of this session, you will be able to
- Analyze the role of continuous feedback in enhancing learner engagement and training effectiveness, identifying key opportunities for integrating technology throughout the learning process.
- Evaluate three user-friendly applications for their suitability in capturing feedback before, during, and after learning events.
- Apply a best practices guide for implementing these types of technology tools in their own training programs to improve engagement and gather actionable feedback.
Level: Intermediate
Bring your own device: Participants are encouraged to bring their own laptop or other mobile device to get the most out of this session.
Matt Kurtin, Senior Director, Technology and Visual Design, Innovative Learning Group | Bio
Set Your Organization Up for Success with a Learning Technology Strategy
A comprehensive learning strategy includes many elements: vision, audience analysis, macro learning needs, governance, delivery methods, procurement, technology and infrastructure, evaluation, organizational structure, and an implementation plan. In this session, you'll explore how making strategic choices about learning technology can strengthen and support each of these interconnected areas.
At the end of this session, you will be able to
- Describe the value of having a clear learning technology strategy.
- Identify key components of an effective learning technology strategy.
- Explain how strategic choices affect the development, delivery, and tracking of learning.
Level: Intermediate
Kristina Rogers, CEO, Letters and Marques | Bio
The Neurodivergent L&D Leader: Supporting and Thriving Together
An L&D team can include a range of individuals—neurodivergent and neurotypical alike. And while we, as L&D professionals, may know how to create learning that supports neurodivergent learners, we don’t always consider, understand, or support our neurodivergent selves or team members. In this session, you’ll learn from a neurodivergent L&D professional about practical tools and strategies to better connect with and support neurodivergent colleagues, as well as address personal “neurospicy” challenges that may arise in leadership. You’ll leave with greater understanding and purposeful actions to help foster success—for yourself and your team.
At the end of this session, you will be able to
- Recognize shared experiences and challenges faced by neurodivergent professionals.
- Apply five practical tools to navigate neurodivergent struggles in the workplace.
- Implement five design strategies to make learning more supportive for neurodivergent learners.
Level: Beginner