Planning a conference for a few thousand people is a lot like planning a wedding!  And it all gets down to the "Guest List".  At least at a wedding, most people will let the bride and groom know - several weeks before, if they are coming.  But, in the world of Conferences, more and more people make last minute decisions - due to unknown schedules, pressures, family obligations and a need to focus on these 2 projects - and then I will see if I can get to Masie's conference in Orlando.

Being one month away - that puts an interesting pressure on The MASIE Center and Disney - in planning rooms, foods, guide printing and more.  Yet, with 20+ years experience in running these types of large events, I have developed my own set of metrics for predicting the curve of attendance and last minute

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When you see a sign like this, what do you think as a learning professional?

Something may be lost in the translation?  As the new play on Broadway, Chinglish, points out - even when we have studied each other's language - we are often separated by the subtle aspects of translation!  And, nothing is more vulnerable to this than the learning process.

So, global languages and translations are on our agenda at Learning 2011.  In my opening keynote, I'll be talking about the need for our organizations to look creatively at how we can develop or expand the 2nd or 3rd language skills of our global employees.

And, we are honored to present a session by our colleagues from John Deere:

Understanding (& Designing for) Successful Translation

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Well, the Program Guide is off to the printer and online (click here)!  So, it is time to turn my design attention to the "Atmospherics" of the event.

There are over 200,000 square feet of meeting and activity space that we have sole use of for Learning 2011 at Disney's Coronado Springs Hotel.   I want to add our own flavor and branding - including elements that will support learning, networking and a culture of fun.  And, we will use both Digital and Printed signage - in the lobby, meeting roooms and on screens throughout our area.

So, I've started to troll for interesting and relevant signs.  Here is one that I saw on Facebook today:

 

We will add this to our list of signage that you may see in Orlando.  And, I'd love your help with other signs - old or new - that we can adapt

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Today, we finished designing the 98+ page Program Guide.  And, it off to the printer to make 2,000 books for Orlando.

Today, you can view, download or print your own copy.

Go to: http://www.learning2011.com/guide

Today, you can start planning your schedule for Learning 2011, which begins in just 32 days!

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Right before the final design for Learning 2011 went to press this morning, I decided to add a big session - actually a Town Hall at Lunch - on this provocative question:  "Is Instructional Design Dead?"

With UserContent, Rapid Authoring, Collective Intelligence, Performance Support, Mobile Access and other innovations - some would make the case that "traditional" instructional design is not adequate or even necessary.  Others, would strongly disagree - pointing to the need for high quality, well structured learning resources - now, more than ever!

So, we designed a Town Hall at Lunch - led by several CLO's with perspectives from both sides (and the middle) of this question - including Academic, Media, 30 Under 30 and Business points of view - on Tuesday of Learning 2011.

I

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Printing a Program Guide for 2,000 people requires one to think in 4 page segments.  That's how it lays out at 4 color printing shop that is getting the final draft of the Learning 2011 Program in a few days.

My designer, Lauren, came into today and said - "Elliott, we got 2 empty pages - what do you want to do with them?"  Some interesting choices:

• Should we place another ad for one of our MASIE Center 2012 events? No, that would be too commercial in the middle of the guide!
• I could always write an article on "Learning Affordances" for participants to read? Sure, but easier to just place it online.
• Pictures from Learning 2010?  Perhaps, but out of context.
• What about a Puzzle? Hmmmm

So, off we went to find a Word Puzzle Creator online - and a few hours later, we have a very fun

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Learning 2011 will honor a very important and serious role for education and training - in the world of Special Ops.

We are proud to announce that the Joint Special Operations University (JSOU) will receive a Learning Spotlight Award Learning 2011.

In these complex times, this award recognizes JSOU’s unique mission: the education of the Special Operations Forces executive, senior, and intermediate leaders and selected other national and international security decision-makers, both military and civilian, through teaching, research, and outreach in the science and art of Joint Special Operations.

We are deeply honored to recognize the unique role that Joint Special Operations University plays in supporting the critical missions and activities of Joint Special

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What do these brightly colored items have to do with Learning 2011?  In a few weeks, we will pack them on to our shipping pallent and take them to Orlando.

Yoga and Exercise Mats will be rolled out early each morning at 6 am for optional sessions led by one of our Learning Leaders, Karen, from Boston Scientific. Karen will lead a group of our participants through a heart pumping Boot Camp class before breakfast.

3 1/2 days of learning often goes better with some relaxation or exercise.  Our design has time for some of our participants to be seen exercising, walking, running, swimming or reading outside before a rich day of learning at Learning 2011 in just 37 days!

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How does one of the largest employers in the world approach Lifelong Learning?  That was on my design whiteboard as we structured the content for Learning 2011. 

I reached out to our learning colleague from Walart, Biran Poland, to describe their innovative approach to supporting lifelong learning by their associates and the impact on the Talent Pipeline.  This will be one of the really interesting sessions at Learning 2011:

Walmart's Lifelong Learning Program: The Intersection of Corporate Ed & Higher Ed

Brian Poland, Senior Director Talent Development, Walmart Stores

At Walmart, we know better than anybody that talent and hard work will take you a long way, but education is the single biggest competitive advantage we can give our people in the 21st century. While a degree is not

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Ethics and Integrity were high on my wish list to topics to address, as we began the design for Learning 2011.  

In many organizations, compliance and assurance about ethics, demands a lot of attention from learning departments.  So, we wanted to design a unique session focus on this critical topic.  Rather than reach out to a consultant on the topic or find a  case study on one company's experience, our design took us in a very different direction.

Why not find two companies -  in industries deeply impacted by compliance - with strong experiences on the topic of ethics and integrity.  And, what 2 industries are more in the news on this than: Drug Companies and Banks?

So, we asked learning leaders from Astra Zenneca Pharaceuticals and Huntington National Bank to collaborate on

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