ICELW was delighted to have world-renowned learning and development expert Donald H Taylor along with simulation and game expert Dr. Alicia Sanchez as our 2017 keynote speakers! More information is below.

Donald H Taylor

Chairman, Learning and Performance Institute
London, UK

Talk: Learning Today: Why Nothing and Everything Has Changed

Nothing has changed in how we learn, not fundamentally. The way neurons fire and form networks in our brain is the same as it was when we stood on the African savannah a few tens of thousands of years ago.

In other ways, though, everything has changed – the tools we use, the distractions we face and the breadth of information we have access to, are all vastly different to what we faced just few years ago, never mind tens of thousands.

In this opening keynote, Donald will explore how today’s fast changing world affects learning and development, whether in academia or in the workplace. What impact does technology and superabundant information have on our daily roles, on the expectations of our employers and our learners?

Be prepared to be energized, enthused and challenged for the conference as we consider:
- Adapting our natural ways of learning to the modern world;
- Why memory is now more important than ever;
- The long, imperfect legacy of the schoolroom;
- Why Artificial Intelligence is both a tremendous opportunity and threat;
- The profound implications for learning professionals.

In this keynote, Donald will explore how today’s fast changing world affects learning and development, whether in academia or in the workplace. What impact does technology and superabundant information have no our daily roles, on the expectations of our employers and our learners?

About Donald H Taylor
Donald H Taylor is a 25-year veteran of the learning, skills and human capital industries, with experience at every level from design and delivery to chairman of the board. He has been chairman of the Learning and Performance Institute since 2010.

A recognized commentator and organizer in the fields of workplace learning and learning technologies, Donald is passionately committed to helping develop the learning and development profession.

His background ranges from training delivery to director and vice-president positions in software companies. Donald has been a company director and shareholder for three companies through start up, growth and acquisition.

He is an influential writer and speaker in the fields of the professional development of L&D and of technology-supported learning. He was the 2007 recipient of the Colin Corder award for services to training and has chaired the Learning Technologies Conference since 2000. He also chairs the Learning and Skills Group, hosting its bi-weekly webinar programme, and edits Inside Learning Technologies Magazine. He is a graduate of Oxford University and in 2016 was awarded an honorary doctorate by Middlesex University in recognition of his work developing the L&D profession.

Dr. Alicia Sanchez

Games Czar, Defense Acquisition University
CEO, Czarina Games
Alexandria, VA

Talk: Games for Today, Tomorrow, and the Day after That

The use of Games in E-Learning is quickly become an expectation, not an enhancement. Experiential games have become an integral part of leading curriculums by allowing their students to practice and apply skills and knowledge gained within their courses. Many organizations, however, still stumble in their first steps to incorporate these powerful tools. In this keynote address, Alicia will take you on a journey of why games must become the norm in E-Learning and how to successfully craft your own games initiative. Blending old school with cutting edge research and years of practical experience, this discussion will challenge you to explore the potential impacts of games. Be prepared to consider concepts relevant to games such as:

- Demographics of game players;
- Making content memorable;
- The novice to expert continuum;
- Motivational constructs in learning; and
- The difference between games and gamification.

About Dr. Sanchez
Alicia has served as the Games Czar for Defense Acquisition University for the last 9 years. During that time she has implemented over 50 games into the DAU curriculum. After completing her PhD at the University of Central Florida in the Modeling and Simulation program, Alicia served as a researcher at the Naval Air Warfare Center, as faculty for the Institute of Simulation and Training, as faculty for UCF’s Digital Media program and as a researcher for the Virginia Modeling Analysis and Simulation Center. Alicia’s games have earned recognition from CLO, Brandon Hall, PBS, and the SGS&C. Alicia launched the first ever DoD Casual Games site in 2010 and has presented nationally and internationally at events including GDC, NATO events, Harvard Publishing, Serious Play, Games and Learning Society, and IITSEC. In 2012 Alicia founded Czarina Games, a company dedicated to the development, research, and implementation of games for training and development.