e learning age - the magazine for the learning organisation

Categories and Criteria

• The most innovative new product or tool in e-learning

  New software systems, tools of one sort or another and technological advances are appearing all the time but how many of these produce real, positive results in the e-learning sphere? This award is designed to recognise the product that has added the most value by changing how technology is used in learning.
  

  
  Judges will be looking for demonstrable evidence of:
  
  

  • An enabling technology that radically enhances the way that e-learning can be created, delivered or deployed.

  • Proof of the benefits that the new technology has brought to end user organisations.

  • How it differs from what has been used before for similar applications or purposes.

  
  The submission must be supported by hard measures to prove the improvement the new product has brought to its field. These measures might be productivity for development, ease and rapidity for delivery, enhanced quality of presentation, better alignment to working conditions and environment and improved user experience. The evidence presented must be quantifiable through documentation of the user experience. Views of the user are acceptable although ideally these would be compared with similar data prior to the product being implemented. Care should be taken to avoid measures that discuss any content created as a result of the application of the tool. For example a simulation engine may be used to create a learning simulation; the simulation should be entered as content, the means of creating it as a product.

  
  Supporting evidence is required from at least one user, (by which we mean designer, developer, consultant or end user as appropriate) who must state why they feel the product is innovative, and what they found or expected the product to deliver for their organisation. Naturally, a product that has already delivered benefit would have a greater chance of success than one that has not.
  

  
  Supporting evidence from users is required. 

  
  All those shortlisted in this category will be required to give a 20 minute presentation about their submission to the judges in person.

• Excellence in the production of learning content - Private Sector (NEW)

  This award is about excellent content that enables learning for those working in the private sector. 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 
  
  Judges will be looking for demonstrable evidence of:

  • Projects which have combined language, imagery, other media and interaction that transfers learning effectively and efficiently.
  • Users will describe is such positive terms as enjoyable, effective and memorable.
  • Stakeholders will recognise it as value for money, timely and efficient in matching or exceeding the intended outcome in the right way.
  • Learning or communication specialists state it is creative and extends the boundaries of accepted good practice.
  • That the content matches a specified business need.

   

  The submission must have 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 explaining how the solution links to the learning need. Evidence of being exceptional will include feedback from learners (at least at a pilot or usability stage), from stakeholders, from other professionals. Submissions may include a maximum of twelve slides or static screen displays in addition to the written submission. Measurement of success will include learner and client comment and may include performance measure.
  
  Supporting evidence from users is required. 

  All those shortlisted in this category will be required to give a 20 minute personal presentation about their submission to the judges.

• Excellence in the production of learning content - Public Sector (NEW)

  This award is about excellent content that enables learning for those working in the public sector. 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 
  
  Judges will be looking for demonstrable evidence of:

  • Projects which have combined language, imagery, other media and interaction that transfers learning effectively and efficiently.
  • Users will describe is such positive terms as enjoyable, effective and memorable.
  • Stakeholders will recognise it as value for money, timely and efficient in matching or exceeding the intended outcome in the right way.
  • Learning or communication specialists state it is creative and extends the boundaries of accepted good practice.
  • That the content matches a specified organisational need.

  The submission must have 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 explaining how the solution links to the learning need. Evidence of being exceptional will include feedback from learners (at least at a pilot or usability stage), from stakeholders, from other professionals. Submissions may include a maximum of twelve slides or static screen displays in addition to the written submission. Measurement of success will include learner and client comment and may include performance measure.
  
  Supporting evidence from users is required. 

  All those shortlisted in this category will be required to give a 20 minute personal presentation about their submission to the judges.

• Excellence in the production of learning content - Not for Profit Sector (NEW)

  This award is about excellent content that enables learning for those working in the not for profit sector. 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. 
  
  Judges will be looking for demonstrable evidence of:

  • Projects which have combined language, imagery, other media and interaction that transfers learning effectively and efficiently.
  • Users will describe is such positive terms as enjoyable, effective and memorable.
  • Stakeholders will recognise it as value for money, timely and efficient in matching or exceeding the intended outcome in the right way.
  • Learning or communication specialists state it is creative and extends the boundaries of accepted good practice.
  • That the content matches a specified organisational need.

  The submission must have 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 explaining how the solution links to the learning need. Evidence of being exceptional will include feedback from learners (at least at a pilot or usability stage), from stakeholders, from other professionals. Submissions may include a maximum of twelve slides or static screen displays in addition to the written submission. Measurement of success will include learner and client comment and may include performance measure.
  
  Supporting evidence from users is required. 

  All those shortlisted in this category will be required to give a 20 minute personal presentation about their submission to the judges.

• Meeting the needs of compliance for an external regulator or an internal workforce

  E-learning is frequently associated with record keeping and the better management of learning.
  

  
  The need to provide reports on completion and performance is associated with compliance which may be required by an external regulator or to satisfy a business requirement of the employer. Tests of knowledge or skill, examinations, certificates and qualifications may be either required by legislation or considered a business benefit.
  

  
  Judges will be looking for demonstrable evidence of:

  • How compliant performance was secured and audited faster, cheaper or more successfully through the application of technology.

  • Better alignment between assessment and required performance. Technology may have given the opportunity to be innovative in assessment practices but lack of such innovation will not disbar a submission. However, closer alignment between assessment and work will be a criterion used in judging the awards.

  • Assessment that is consistent; that is, reliable and valid.

  
  The submission must include either extracts from reports from an external regulator or internal evidence that reporting and learning has been cheaper, faster, better etc. A factual statement will be required that shows how long the process took before and how long now etc. If the proving of compliance is better the submission should show in what way it is better; easier for staff to access, more flexible etc.

  
  A key element in submissions will be a comparison between the conditions and standards required in the workplace and those assessed through the e-learning solution. Innovation is expected to deliver assessment practices more closely aligned to the workplace. Statistical evidence on the reliability and validity of the assessment methods must be included and a comparison with the reliability and validity of previous methods.

  
  All those shortlisted in this category will be required to give a 20 minute presentation about their submission to the judges in person.
  
  

• The best e-learning project securing widespread adoption

  In order for e-learning to be an embedded component of an organisation's learning policies and strategies, it is necessary to identify all the important stakeholders and judge to what extent they have progressed on a journey towards enthusiastic adoption. Adoption may be of a single e-learning intervention, the introduction of a system or methodology, or any permutation in between.
  

  
  Judges will be looking for demonstrable and tangible evidence of:

  • The extent to which e-learning is used within the organisation.

  • The responses of both users and key management stakeholders

  • Both planned and actual interventions and promotions to overcome resistance and obstacles.

  • A communications strategy and plan for both launch and to sustain initial high levels of adoption.

  
  The submission must include details of usage and comparisons with what had happened before. The judges will accept the results of surveys or anecdotes and comments from amongst users and key stakeholders. They will expect to see extracts of the Communication Plan to show where resistance and obstacles were predicted and how they were to be overcome. They will also expect you to show which of these obstacles did in fact occur and whether they were actually overcome according to the Plan or by some other means.

  
  Supporting evidence from users is required. 

  
  All those shortlisted in this category will be required to give a 20 minute presentation about their submission to the judges in person.
  

• Best use of mobile learning (NEW)

  The reach of using mobile technology to make eLearning more accessible is becoming a key trend.  Organisations can become more responsive and truly deliver learning anytime anywhere.
  
  This award seeks to find examples of organisations using mobile technology to enhance learning opportunities whilst linking to organisational needs.
  
  Judges will be looking for demonstrable evidence of:

  • The rationale behind the choice of mobile technology as an approach to meet the requirement.

  • The ways in which mobile technology have been adopted without unduly compromising on effectiveness.
  • The extent to which the use of mobile technology has improved accessibility to eLearning.
  • The response of learners to the learning content.
  • The effectiveness of the mobile technology approach in meeting organisational needs.

  The submission must show how the use of mobile technology has improved the delivery of learning as a standalone approach or used in conjunction with other interventions. Reasons for choosing mobile technology may be economic, logistical, practical or related to enhancing the learning experience. The results put forward as evidence must be quantifiable, including user feedback. The evaluation sought and evidence provided must support the reasons for using the technology and should justify the reasons.
  
  Supporting evidence from users is required. 

  
  All those shortlisted in this category will be required to give a 20 minute presentation about their submission to the judges in person.

• The best use of rapid e-learning content

  The growth of rapid e-learning development tools and processes has been immense and these are now being used across many different applications from product knowledge to IT to soft skills. In many cases rapid e-learning content is being designed and developed by subject experts and generalist trainers without formal e-learning skills, although sometimes in conjunction with specialist developers. In all cases the emphasis is on responding quickly to organisational requirements, typically within a few weeks.
  

  
  This award seeks to find ‘best practice’ use of rapid technology and processes by an organisation in responding effectively and efficiently to its learning requirements.
  

  
  Judges will be looking for demonstrable evidence of:

  • The case for rapid e-learning in the organisation.

  • The ways in which rapid processes have been adopted without unduly compromising on effectiveness.

  • The active involvement of subject experts and/or generalist trainers in design and/or development.

  • The efficient use of rapid e-learning tools.

  • The time taken to get content designed and developed.

  • The response of learners to the content.

  • The effectiveness of the rapid approach in meeting organisational needs.

  
  The submission must provide evidence of why existing methods were not preferable and why a rapid development tool was selected. Rapid development is constrained to material produced within a two-week period and not exceeding one hour (or 60 screens) of learning. Reasons may be economic, logistical, practical or related to enhancing the learning experience. Both the method of deciding the choice of technology and the reason for doing so must be documented. The results put forward as evidence must be quantifiable, including user and customer feedback. A single customer comment will carry less weight than surveys or comments from users and learners. The evaluation sought and evidence provided must support the reasons for using the technology and should justify the reasons.

  
  Supporting evidence from users is required. 

  
  All those shortlisted in this category will be required to give a 20 minute presentation about their submission to the judges in person.
  

• The best use of synchronous e-learning

  The application of synchronous e-learning through the use of web conferencing/virtual classroom tools has increased enormously in recent years. As a result, distance learners and those working in different geographical locations have been able to interact, collaborate and access information in real-time without the need for expensive and time-consuming travel. Synchronous e-learning has also been used to overcome the perceived ‘loneliness’ of self-paced e-learning and to enable the benefits of face-to-face classes, workshops and seminars to be made available to over the internet.
  

  
  This award seeks to find examples of the ways in which synchronous e-learning technologies have contributed to the overall delivery of learning and development interventions, where without this technology the interventions would have been disadvantaged.
  

  
  Judges will be looking for demonstrable evidence of:

  • How the need for synchronous e-learning was identified.

  • How and why the particular synchronous e-learning tool(s) was chosen and exploited.

  • The innovative ways in which synchronous online communication has been used.

  • The ways in which synchronous e-learning has been effectively integrated with other learning methods and media.

  • How instructors/facilitators have been developed to take full advantage of the technology.

  • How the use of the technology has been received by learners.

  • How use of the technology has been effective in meeting the organisational requirement.

  
  The submission must provide evidence of why a synchronous approach/tool was selected. Reasons may be economic, logistical, practical or related to enhancing the learning experience. Both the method of deciding the choice of technology and the reason for doing so must be documented. The results put forward as evidence must be quantifiable, including user and customer feedback. A single customer comment will carry less weight than surveys or comments from users or learners. The evaluation sought and evidence provided must support the reasons for using the technology and should justify the reasons.
  

  
  Supporting evidence from users is required. 

  
  All those shortlisted in this category will be required to give a 20 minute presentation about their submission to the judges in person.
  

• The best online or distance learning programme

  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 of:

  • The rationale behind the choice of online distance learning as an approach to meet the requirement.

  • The basis for selection of the various online tools and techniques.

  • The appropriate use of media within the learning materials.

  • The effectiveness of the support provided to learners by tutors and facilitators.

  • The ways in which learner collaboration has been encouraged and facilitated.

  • How 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. Reasons may be economic, logistical, practical or related to enhancing the learning experience. The results put forward as evidence must be quantifiable, including user feedback. The evaluation sought and evidence provided must support the reasons for using the technology and should justify the reasons.
  

  
  Supporting evidence from users is required. 

  
  All those shortlisted in this category will be required to give a 20 minute presentation about their submission to the judges in person.

• The best learning game, simulation or virtual environment

  The use of games, simulations and virtual environments as an aid to learning has become more widespread as the tools and technologies for developing these become more accessible and the population in general becomes more familiar with video games as well as multi-user online games and worlds.
  

  
  This award seeks to identify proven implementations of this type of technology leading to a known and measurable learning outcome against established objectives. These objectives could be knowledge or skill-based or attitudinal.

  The award will recognise innovative uses of technology, as well as the extent to which this brings about greater engagement, enjoyment and motivation than more traditional approaches. 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.

  
  Judges will be looking for demonstrable evidence of:

  • The appropriate selection of the technology as a means to bring about learning, either on a stand-alone basis or in conjunction with other media and methods.

  • The innovative use of the technology.

  • The effective alignment of the technology with learning objectives and outcomes.

  • The extent to which the technology has contributed to learner engagement, enjoyment and motivation.

  • The extent to which the learning objectives were successfully achieved.

  • The extent to which stakeholders regarded the project as value for money, timely and efficient in meeting the intended outcome.

  
  The submission must have 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 explaining how the solution links to the learning need. Evidence of exceptional work may include feedback from learners (at least at a pilot or usability stage), from stakeholders and from other professionals. Submissions may include a maximum of twelve slides or static screen displays in addition to the written submission. Measurement of success will include learner and client comment and may include performance measures.

  
  Supporting evidence from users is required. 

  
  All those shortlisted in this category will be required to give a 20 minute presentation about their submission to the judges in person.
  

• E-learning internal project team of the year

  This award recognises internal project teams in organisations who have achieved a positive change using e-learning as a performance development tool.
  

  
  The team may have implemented a new programme and used many different ways to ensure 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 e-learning.

  
  Internal 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. 

  Internal project teams will be chosen by a panel of judges who are established and recognised within the industry.
  

  
  All those shortlisted in this category will not be required to give a personal presentation but will need to supply a written submission and may be required to answer supplementary questions about the submission via email.
  

• E-learning development company of the year

  This award recognises e-learning development companies that have achieved exceptional results within their customers’ organisations as a direct result of the bespoke e-learning content that they have developed.
  

  
  The award seeks companies that have a positive contribution to their service/product offering backed up by solid customer service, account and project management.

  
  Companies must demonstrate that they have made positive steps in exceeding customer expectations and that these are backed up by testimonial and other supporting evidence. Both quantitative and qualitative evidence will be taken into account. 

  
  Development companies will be chosen by a panel of judges who are established and recognised within the industry.

  
  All those shortlisted in this category will not be required to give a personal presentation but will need to supply a written submission and may be required to answer supplementary questions about their submission via email.
  

• E-learning industry award for outstanding achievement - individual

  This is an individual award and assessed based on the contribution made to the sector either over a number of years or from achieving a significant positive change.
  

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

  Individuals will be chosen by a panel of judges who are established and recognised within the industry.
  

  
  All those shortlisted in this category will not be required to give a personal presentation but will need to supply a written submission and may be required to answer supplementary questions about the submission via email.
  

• E-learning industry award for outstanding achievement - corporate

  Outstanding contributions are often made by a team or organisation. Therefore this award has been established to recognize such a contribution. This is a corporate award and assessed based on the contribution made to the sector either over a number of years or from achieving a significant positive change.
  

  
  Organisations must demonstrate that they have made significant contributions and that these are backed up by testimonial and other supporting evidence.
  

  
  Organisations will be chosen by a panel of judges who are established and recognised within the industry.
  

  
  All those shortlisted in this category will not be required to give a personal presentation but will need to supply a written submission and may be required to answer supplementary questions about the submission via email.