Highlights of ASTD's 2009 Conference
Flash mentoring, communicating change, and adapting under fire are only part of the cutting-edge learning to be available both live and virtually during ASTD's 2009 International Conference & Exposition through June 3 in Washington, D.C.
The American Society for Training & Development's 2009 International Conference & Exposition began May 31 and continues through June 3 in Washington, D.C. at the Washington Convention Center. Thousands of training professionals and exhibitors attended the event, learning about new technologies, new priorities, and the expected impact of more than $5 billion in the U.S. economic stimulus package set aside for training.
ASTD is the world's largest association dedicated to workplace learning and performance professionals. The society has members in more than 100 countries, some 130 U.S. chapters, and more than 30 international partners.
Featured keynote addresses include:
- Tony Bingham, president and CEO of ASTD, discussing the latest trends in learning and new ways to demonstrate the value of learning as a way to further business priorities.
- Renée Mauborgne, a leader in business strategy, innovation, and wealth creation in a knowledge economy, co-author of Blue Ocean Strategy, author of five best-selling Harvard Business Review articles, and a Distinguished Fellow of Strategy and International Management for INSEAD, Europe's leading business school.
- Annie Griffiths Belt, a National Geographic photojournalist whose work has appeared in Life and Fortune.
More than 300 educational sessions and workshops in nine tracks are on the program, with an expanded track of government programming featured. The expo includes hundreds of suppliers.
New for 2009
A three-part series of Learning Transfer sessions is new this year, with attendees able to take them individually or as the full series:
- Monday: Creating the New Finish Line of Learning
- Tuesday: Designing and Delivering Learning Programs for Application
- Wednesday: Driving Follow-Through and Deploying Active Support
Micro Sessions are quick overviews of a topic geared to learners who want to cover many topics quickly. Selected speakers will highlight their full session topic in 20-25 minute increments each day of the conference.
Global Focus Discussions address topics of interest to participants from around the world. Each discussion is an informal learning opportunity led by a designated facilitator.
2009 Virtual Conference
The 2009 Virtual Conference brings the conference experience tolearners' homes or offices. Free as part of registration to the main conference, the virtual conference allows attendees to watch videos again and again for 30 days and join an exclusive LinkedIn group for added networking opportunities. Virtual Conference-only registration costs $595 for ASTD members, $895 for non-members.
The Virtual Conference features:
- 80 live webinars: shorter, more interactive versions of the "live" sessions that take place in Washington. At any time during the Virtual Conference, visitors may choose from as many as three simultaneous sessions.
- 15 videos of general sessions, showcase speakers, and other selected sessions made available immedidately after they happen.
- Virtual Conference orientation, with host Anthony Allen (director of Digital Media for ASTD) in a Conference Orientation and Virtual Attendee Networking Event.
- Networking sessions. At the end of each conference day, join Virtual Conference attendees in a networking event, on a conference call, or in Second Life.