Categories

Learning technologies has the potential to have a huge positive impact within an organisation. This award seeks to recognise where excellence across the board, in terms of content, use of technology, and matching design to user and organisational needs, has led to a lasting, measurable and positive impact in the commercial sector.

The project may consist of a single intervention or a broader implementation of learning technologies. The target population may include employees, students, private individuals and other groups. The term ‘learning technologies’ can also be interpreted widely to include all forms of online content, and may incorporate such things as synchronous learning, use of social media, or mobile technologies.

Judges will be looking for demonstrable evidence that:

• The project has been aligned to a clearly identified performance need.
• The project has made appropriate use of technology from the options available.
• There is demonstrable evidence of a successful implementation strategy, including alignment with organisational goals, engagement with key stakeholders, marketing, support and evaluation.
• The overall learning strategy has been effective.
• The project has made an impact in terms of individual and organisational performance.
• The project displays innovation or originality that has been applied to positive effect.
• The project represents the best possible solution given the constraints and issues encountered.

The submission must include a summary of the client brief and/or a statement of the training need that had been addressed. A summary of the analysis should be included to explain how the solution links to the learning need.

Supporting evidence from learners and other stakeholders is required. Comments from single learners and stakeholders will carry less weight than broader surveys or research.

The judging panel will score submissions according to how well they fulfil the specific bullet points. This criteria apply to both UK and International categories.

Presentations to the judging panel are required for all shortlisted entries in this category:

It may be strongly beneficial to your presentation if the judging panel can see the 'submission in action'.

You must be prepared to back up any claims about impact that you made in your submission during the presentation.

Learning technologies has the potential to have a huge positive impact within an organisation. This award seeks to recognise where excellence across the board, in terms of content, use of technology, and matching design to user and organisational needs, has led to a lasting, measurable and positive impact in the public and/or non-profit sector.

The project may consist of a single intervention or a broader implementation of learning technologies. The target population may include employees, students, private individuals and other groups. The term ‘learning technologies’ can also be interpreted widely to include all forms of online content, and may incorporate such things as synchronous learning, use of social media, or mobile technologies.

Judges will be looking for demonstrable evidence that:

• The project has been aligned to a clearly identified performance need.
• The project has made appropriate use of technology from the options available.
• There is demonstrable evidence of a successful implementation strategy, including alignment with organisational goals, engagement with key stakeholders, marketing, support and evaluation.
• The overall learning strategy has been effective.
• The project has made an impact in terms of individual and organisational performance.
• The project displays innovation or originality that has been applied to positive effect.
• The project represents the best possible solution given the constraints and issues encountered.

The submission must include a summary of the client brief and/or a statement of the training need that had been addressed. A summary of the analysis should be included to explain how the solution links to the learning need.

Supporting evidence from learners and other stakeholders is required. Comments from single learners and stakeholders will carry less weight than broader surveys or research.

Presentations to the judging panel are required for all shortlisted entries in this category:

It may be strongly beneficial to your presentation if the judging panel can see the 'submission in action'.

You must be prepared to back up any claims about impact that you made in your submission during the presentation.

This award recognises excellent content that enables learning in the commercial sector. There are many ways in which excellence may be judged, such as:

• The contribution made to individual learning and performance.
• The views of learners and other key stakeholders.
• The impact on organisational performance. 
   

Judges will be looking for demonstrable evidence that:

• The design has been aligned to a clearly identified performance need.
• Text, images, animation, audio, video and other media elements have been used in a way that encourages and reinforces learning.
• Interactivity has been used in a way that encourages and reinforces learning.
• The design displays innovation or originality that has been applied to positive effect.
• The design represents the best possible solution given the constraints and issues encountered.
• The reaction of learners and other key stakeholders to the design has been positive.

The submission must include a summary of the client brief and/or a statement of the training need that had been addressed. A summary of the analysis should be included to explain how the solution links to the learning need.

Supporting evidence from learners and other stakeholders is required. Comments from single learners and stakeholders will carry less weight than broader surveys or research.

Presentations to the judging panel are required for all shortlisted entries in this category:

It may be strongly beneficial to your presentation if the judging panel can see the 'submission in action'.

You must be prepared to back up any claims about impact that you made in your submission during the presentation.

This award recognises excellent content that enables learning in the public or non-profit sector. There are many ways in which excellence may be judged, such as:

• The contribution made to individual learning and performance.
• The views of learners and other key stakeholders.
• The impact on organisational performance. 
   

Judges will be looking for demonstrable evidence that:

• The design has been aligned to a clearly identified performance need.
• Text, images, animation, audio, video and other media elements have been used in a way that encourages and reinforces learning.
• Interactivity has been used in a way that encourages and reinforces learning.
• The design displays innovation or originality that has been applied to positive effect.
• The design represents the best possible solution given the constraints and issues encountered.
• The reaction of learners and other key stakeholders to the design has been positive.

The submission must include a summary of the client brief and/or a statement of the training need that had been addressed. A summary of the analysis should be included to explain how the solution links to the learning need.

Supporting evidence from learners and other stakeholders is required. Comments from single learners and stakeholders will carry less weight than broader surveys or research.

Presentations to the judging panel are required for all shortlisted entries in this category:

It may be strongly beneficial to your presentation if the judging panel can see the 'submission in action'.

You must be prepared to back up any claims about impact that you made in your submission during the presentation.

Devices such as smart phones, tablets and games consoles are enjoying increasing use for the delivery of learning and performance support. This category seeks to recognise those projects that make innovative and effective use of mobile devices to reach audiences, achieve goals or deliver efficiencies that were previously unobtainable.

Judges will be looking for demonstrable evidence that:

• There was a clear rationale for the use of mobile devices to meet the requirement.
• The design takes account of the particular characteristics of the devices in question and the environments in which they would be used.
• The use of mobile devices for learning or performance support has helped in reaching new audiences and/or achieving learning more efficiently.
• The reaction of learners to the offering has been positive.
• The use of mobile learning has been effective in meeting individual and organisational needs.

The mobile offering could be primarily content-orientated, but could also provide facilities for collaboration with tutors, fellow learners or other relevant people.

Supporting evidence from learners and other stakeholders is required. Comments from single learners and stakeholders will carry less weight than broader surveys or research.

Presentations to the judging panel are required for all shortlisted entries in this category:

It may be strongly beneficial to your presentation if the judging panel can see the 'submission in action'.

You must be prepared to back up any claims about the impact that you made in your submission during the presentation.

The usefulness of social and collaborative technologies to increase the reach and power of informal learning is becoming increasingly recognised by organisations.

This award seeks to find examples of organisations that are effectively using social and collaborative technologies to enhance learning opportunities and meet organisational needs.

Judges will be looking for demonstrable evidence that:

• There was a clear rationale for the use of social and collaborative technologies to meet the requirement.
• Social and collaborative technologies have been appropriately chosen to support the requirement.
• The use of social and collaborative technologies was effectively enabled and supported.
• The target group has participated significantly in the use of social collaborative technologies.
• The use of social and collaborative technologies has made an impact in terms of individual and organisational performance. 

The submission must show how the use of social and collaborative technologies has helped create or enhance the overall learning culture.

Supporting evidence from the target group and other stakeholders is required. Comments from single individuals will carry less weight than broader surveys or research.

Presentations to the judging panel are required for all shortlisted entries in this category:

It may be strongly beneficial to your presentation if the judging panel can see the 'submission in action'.

You must be prepared to back up any claims about the impact that you made in your submission during the presentation.

One of the most popular uses of learning technologies is to provide training that is required by an organisation to comply with the demands of an external regulator or to satisfy a policy requirement from within an organisation. An important aspect of this training will be the quality of assessment and record keeping. One of the most popular uses of learning technologies is to provide an onboarding programme that introduces new employees to an organisation and their role within it.

Judges will be looking for demonstrable evidence that:

• The programme has a clearly defined set of goals that are integrated with post-onboarding performance requirements.
• Text, images, animation, audio, video and other media elements have been used in a way that reflects organisational culture and values.
• The employee’s onboarding experience has been appropriately personalised.
• The programme displays innovation or originality that has been applied to positive effect.
• The programme has been well received by new employees.
• The programme has had a measurable impact on staff retention rates and speed to competence.

It is not necessary for all aspects of the training to be delivered using technology, although the learning technologies element should be significant.

The submission must be supported by either extracts from reports from an external regulator or with equivalent internal evidence. You should submit statistical evidence to support your claims with regard to the reliability and validity of the assessment methods used.

Presentations to the judging panel are required for all shortlisted entries in this category:

It may be strongly beneficial to your presentation if the judging panel can see the 'submission in action'.

You must be prepared to back up any claims about the impact that you made in your submission during the presentation.

As we have seen repeatedly over the past 30 years, innovative new products have the potential to revolutionise the way learning is designed, delivered, supported, enhanced or managed. This award seeks to recognise such products.

Judges will be looking for demonstrable evidence of ways in which:

• The new product enhances the way that learning can be designed, delivered, supported, enhanced or managed.
• The new product has brought benefits to end users.
• The new product differs from its predecessors and/or competitors.

Note that this category is designed to recognise learning products themselves and not specific learning interventions that might have made use of them.

Products that have already delivered benefits to end users will have a greater chance of success than those that are in development or only just launched.

Supporting evidence from end users is required. Comments from single learners and end users will carry less weight than broader surveys or research. Comments from leading commentators in the field will also carry some weight.

Presentations to the judging panel are required for all shortlisted entries in this category:

It may be strongly beneficial to your presentation if the judging panel can see the 'submission in action'.

You must be prepared to back up any claims about impact that you made in your submission during the presentation.

This award seeks to recognise games that play a key role in the support of specific learning aims. We will recognise innovative uses of these techniques, as well as the extent to which they lead to greater engagement, enjoyment and motivation, and provide a more effective learning experience than more traditional approaches.

Judges will be looking for demonstrable evidence that:

• There was a clear rationale for the use of a game approach to meet the requirement.
• The game displays innovation or originality that has been applied to positive effect.
• The use of games has been effectively aligned with learning objectives and outcomes.
• Games have contributed to learner engagement, enjoyment and motivation.
• Games have successfully contributed to learning.
• Games have delivered value for money, particularly in comparison with alternative methods.
• The use of games has made an impact in terms of individual and organisational performance.

There are many ways in which excellence may be judged: the views of stakeholders, the recognition of peers and professional colleagues and the responses of learners. The judges will use all of these criteria as appropriate to judge excellence.  Supporting evidence from learners and other stakeholders is required. Comments from single learners and stakeholders will carry less weight than broader surveys or research.

Presentations to the judging panel are required for all shortlisted entries in this category:

It may be strongly beneficial to your presentation if the judging panel can see the 'submission in action'.

You must be prepared to back up any claims about the impact that you made in your submission during the presentation.

This award seeks to recognise simulations and virtual environments that play a key role in the support of specific learning aims. We will recognise innovative uses of these techniques, as well as the extent to which they lead to greater engagement, enjoyment and motivation, and provide a more effective learning experience than more traditional approaches.

Judges will be looking for demonstrable evidence that:

• There was a clear rationale for the use of a simulation or virtual environment as an approach to meet the requirement.
• The simulation or virtual environment displays innovation or originality that has been applied to positive effect.
• Innovative use has been made of simulations or virtual environments.
• The use of simulations or virtual environments has been effectively aligned with learning objectives and outcomes.
• Simulations or virtual environments have contributed to learner engagement, enjoyment and motivation.
• Simulations or virtual environments have successfully contributed to learning.
• Simulations or virtual environments have delivered value for money, particularly in comparison with alternative methods.
• The use of simulations or virtual environments has made an impact in terms of individual and organisational performance.
   

There are many ways in which excellence may be judged: the views of stakeholders, the recognition of peers and professional colleagues and the responses of learners. The judges will use all of these criteria as appropriate to judge excellence.  Supporting evidence from learners and other stakeholders is required. Comments from single learners and stakeholders will carry less weight than broader surveys or research.

Presentations to the judging panel are required for all shortlisted entries in this category:

It may be strongly beneficial to your presentation if the judging panel can see the 'submission in action'.

You must be prepared to back up any claims about the impact that you made in your submission during the presentation.

Distance learning courses have been enhanced considerably by the use of the internet as a means for accessing content, assessment, communication and collaboration. The majority of distance learning courses now include a considerable online component, sometimes blended with face-to-face, print and other media.

This award seeks to recognise those distance learning programmes which have made excellent use of online media and tools to facilitate learning. The award is particularly focused on those programmes that employ a range of methods and media over many weeks or months of part-time study, typically leading to a formal qualification.

Judges will be looking for demonstrable evidence that:

• A sound case has been made for the use of online distance learning to meet the requirement.
• Appropriate choices have been made with regard to online tools, techniques and media.
• The content of the programme has been aligned to a clearly identified learning need.
• The programme displays innovation or originality that has been applied to positive effect.
• Learners have been supported effectively, either by tutors or facilitators, or by other specified means.
• Collaboration between learners has been effectively encouraged and facilitated.
• The use of online tools and techniques has achieved the required results in terms of learner satisfaction, take-up and pass rates.

The submission must show how the use of online tools and techniques has improved the distance learning programme in question or effectively replaced other methods and media. Reasons may be economic, logistical, practical or related to enhancing the learning experience.

Supporting evidence from learners is required. Comments from single learners will carry less weight than broader surveys or research.

Presentations to the judging panel are required for all shortlisted entries in this category:

It may be strongly beneficial to your presentation if the judging panel can see the 'submission in action'.

You must be prepared to back up any claims about the impact that you made in your submission during the presentation.

Learning technologies are often only part of a bigger, blended learning programme of activity designed to bring about change. This award seeks to find examples of outstanding blended learning, in which learning technologies and other strategies and media have been applied to complement each other to achieve an overall organisational goal.

Judges will be looking for demonstrable evidence that:

• There is a clear rationale for the mix of other methods with online media within the solution.
• The solution is appropriate to the learning requirements, audience characteristics and practical constraints.
• Effective educational/training methods have been chosen for each phase in the solution.
• The most efficient and flexible learning media (e.g. face-to-face, online, etc.) have been chosen to deliver these methods without compromising their effectiveness.
• The solution includes the elements necessary to ensure effective transfer of learning.
• The solution has proved both effective and efficient in practice.

Supporting evidence from learners is required. Comments from single learners will carry less weight than broader surveys or research.

Presentations to the judging panel are required for all shortlisted entries in this category:

It may be strongly beneficial to your presentation if the judging panel can see the 'submission in action'.

You must be prepared to back up any claims about the impact that you made in your submission during the presentation.

Learning technologies are often only part of a bigger, blended learning programme of activity designed to bring about change. This award seeks to find examples of outstanding blended learning, in which learning technologies and other strategies and media have been applied to complement each other to achieve an overall organisational goal.

Judges will be looking for demonstrable evidence that:

• There is a clear rationale for the mix of other methods with online media within the solution.
• The solution is appropriate to the learning requirements, audience characteristics and practical constraints.
• Effective educational/training methods have been chosen for each phase in the solution.
• The most efficient and flexible learning media (e.g. face-to-face, online, etc.) have been chosen to deliver these methods without compromising their effectiveness.
• The solution includes the elements necessary to ensure effective transfer of learning.
• The solution has proved both effective and efficient in practice.

Supporting evidence from learners is required. Comments from single learners will carry less weight than broader surveys or research.

Presentations to the judging panel are required for all shortlisted entries in this category:

It may be strongly beneficial to your presentation if the judging panel can see the 'submission in action'.

You must be prepared to back up any claims about impact that you made in your submission during the presentation.

A learning platform has the potential to have a huge positive impact within an organisation. This award seeks to recognise that impact in terms of contribution to organisational success, use of smart new technologies, impact on the learners and return on investment.

The learning platform will consist of a single implementation or cloud solution for a specific organisation. The term ‘learning platform’ can also be interpreted widely to include all forms of systems that manage the learning processes of an organisation, for example LCMSs and other software systems that help organise and support learning.

Judges will be looking for demonstrable evidence that the learning platform has:

• Contributed to the overall success of the organisation including alignment with organisational goals.
• Demonstrated an effective return on investment.
• Made effective use of the most appropriate technologies.
• Enhanced opportunities for learning, for example through personalisation, increasing speed to deployment of learning materials, improved quality, increasing access to materials or other learners, or building communities of practice.
• Been implemented successfully, evidenced by both quantitative and qualitative data.

The submission must include a summary of the client’s initial requirements. Supporting evidence from the client and the supplier will be required. Comments from single learners and stakeholders will carry less weight than broader surveys or research.

Presentations to the judging panel are required for all shortlisted entries in this category:

It may be strongly beneficial to your presentation if the judging panel can see the 'submission in action'.

You must be prepared to back up any claims about the impact that you made in your submission during the presentation.

Many organisations are increasingly looking towards the emerging role of data analytics to provide valuable insights into the impact of their learning programmes on both learner and business performance, and to inform important business decisions. 

The judges will want to see analytics that go beyond the traditional learning consumption data (i.e. ‘completions'), and will want to see how a digital learning programme, campaign or experience delivered measurable change.

The judges will be looking for evidence of the following:

• The learning data analytics project was aligned to a clearly defined, appropriate and measurable standard or framework.
• The learning data analytics project was conducted using meaningful data, such as that derived from a learning experience, campaign or programme, and/or performance and impact data captured elsewhere.
• The learning data analytics project produced actionable insights that helped inform key business decisions.
• Decisions and actions taken as a result of the analytics project had a positive impact on individual and/or business performance.
   

Presentations to the judging panel are required for all shortlisted entries in this category:

It may be strongly beneficial to your presentation if the judging panel can see the 'submission in action'.

You must be prepared to back up any claims about the impact that you made in your submission during the presentation.

Many organisations are undertaking fundamental transformations of their learning programmes to embrace the benefits of embedding digital learning technologies into their ways of working, their methodologies and the structures at the heart of their business strategy. 

‘Digital learning transformation’ here means much more than simply ‘going online’, and judges will what to know how meaningful transformation has been planned, implemented and supported, and what its impact has been on the business. 

Judges will be looking for evidence of the following:

• The need for the digital learning transformation programme was clearly identified, defined and agreed with leaders and other stakeholders.
• The digital learning transformation programme was designed to deliver effective and lasting improvement.
• The digital learning transformation programme made appropriate use of available tools and technologies.
• There is demonstrable evidence of a successful implementation strategy, including alignment with organisational goals, engagement with key stakeholders and ongoing evaluation.
• Learners were supported effectively throughout the transformation programme.
• The project is having an impact in terms of business continuity and individual and organisational performance.

Presentations to the judging panel are required for all shortlisted entries in this category:

It may be strongly beneficial to your presentation if the judging panel can see the 'submission in action'.

You must be prepared to back up any claims about impact that you made in your submission during the presentation.

This award recognises teams who have achieved a positive change within their organisation using learning technologies as a performance development tool.

Judges will be looking for evidence that:

• The work of the team addressed clearly identified learning, performance or organisational needs.
• The team applied effective and efficient ways of working that were collaborative and mutually supportive.
• Each team member performed an essential role that demonstrably contributed to the success of the whole team's efforts.
• The team made a demonstrable and highly effective impact in delivering organisational objectives.

The team may have implemented a new programme or used many different ways to ensure that the adoption and take up of new tools has made a demonstrative and highly effective impact on the organisation and how it performs against its objectives.  The team may have produced a new technique that saves time and money in achieving performance change using learning technologies.

Teams must demonstrate that they have made positive contributions and that these are backed up by testimonial and other supporting evidence. Both quantitative and qualitative evidence will be taken into account.  

Presentations to the judging panel are required for all shortlisted entries in this category:

It may be strongly beneficial to your presentation if the judging panel can see the 'submission in action'.

You must be prepared to back up any claims about the impact that you made in your submission during the presentation.

To win this award, organisations must demonstrate a positive contribution to their service/product offering backed up by solid customer service, account and project management. They must also show that they have made positive steps in exceeding customer expectations and that these are backed up by testimonials and other supporting evidence. Both quantitative and qualitative evidence will be taken into account. 

This award recognises learning technologies organisations that have:

• Achieved exceptional and demonstrable results for its customers as a direct result of the e-learning it has developed.
• Demonstrated solid customer service, account management and project management.
• The work of the organisation has benefitted the wider e-learning community
   

Presentations to the judging panel are required for all shortlisted entries in this category:

It may be strongly beneficial to your presentation if the judging panel can see the 'submission in action'.

You must be prepared to back up any claims about the impact that you made in your submission during the presentation.

This is an individual award that recognises the contribution that learning designers make to the success of learning technologies projects. Learning designers are taken to mean those who work with subject matter experts to specify and write learning materials subsequently realised by learning developers and graphic artists. The award is assessed based on consistent high quality and effective learning design over at least four years. In particular:

• The learning designer demonstrates an understanding of the learning and performance needs of users.
• The learning designer specifies the most appropriate learning interventions within set constraints.
• The learning designer specifies designs that are fit for purpose.
• The learning designer uses consummate writing skills to write materials of the utmost clarity
• The learning designer shows originality and innovation where this matches the requirement.
• The learning designer has demonstrated consummate communication skills with external clients, with internal project teams.
• The learning designer has specified consistent high quality and effective learning designs over at least four of years.

Evidence for the submissions will be based on a portfolio of projects.  It should be backed up by testimonial and other supporting evidence from users and other stakeholders.

Presentations to the judging panel are required for all shortlisted entries in this category:

This award will be judged solely on the submission backed up by portfolio based evidence.

This is an individual award that recognises the contribution that developers make to the success of learning technologies projects. Developers are taken to mean anyone involved in realising designs specified at the learning design stage, and thus may include software developers, graphic artists or video developers.  The award is assessed based on consistent high quality and effective development work over at least four years.

Individuals must demonstrate that their work is characterised by a number of key qualities, as follows.

• The learning developer demonstrates a quick and detailed understanding of the requirements of the brief
• The learning developer produces the most appropriate learning media or software solutions within set constraints.
• The learning developer shows originality and inventiveness where this matches the requirement.
• The learning developer is proactive in seeking out and adopting innovative tools and techniques.
• The learning developer has demonstrated consummate communication skills with external clients and/or internal project teams.
• The learning developer is exemplary in their responsiveness and adaptability, for example by proactively seeking solutions and making suggestions to the learning designer about approaches that are more efficient to build whilst not sacrificing usability.
• The learning developer has produced consistent high quality and effective media or software solutions over a number of years.

Evidence for the submissions will be based on a portfolio of projects.  It should be backed up by testimonial and other supporting evidence from users and other stakeholders.

Presentations to the judging panel are required for all shortlisted entries in this category:

This award will be judged solely on the submission backed up by portfolio based evidence.