Many learning and development professionals have spent the past two years in reaction mode, adjusting their plans to keep up with ever-changing COVID-19 guidelines and the impact of social activism. Fortunately, the ATD 2022 International Conference & EXPO will provide L&D professionals with the chance to pause, reflect, and move forward in a proactive rather than a reactive way.

Virtual Learning Sessions

A major theme in ATD 2022’s learning tracks (instructional design, training delivery and facilitation, and evaluating impact) is that virtual learning is here to stay. Most L&D professionals had to upskill fast in 2020, adapting to virtual learning at the speed of light. Now that professionals have made that pivot, the focus changes from doing virtual training quickly to doing virtual training right. Most facilitators have developed a baseline proficiency in virtual facilitation, but ATD 2022’s sessions will help build on this proficiency:

• The Top 5 Virtual Training Tips to Advance Your Facilitation, presented by Diana Howles, on May 15 from 8:30–9:30 a.m.

• Elevating Virtual Facilitation: A Case for Performance Standards, presented by Moe Poirier and Jennifer McRae, on May 16 from 3–4 p.m.

• Advancing Your Virtual Classroom Facilitation Skills, presented by Kassy LaBorie, on May 17 from 10:30–11:30 a.m.

Hybrid Training Sessions

The instructional design and training delivery tracks also have a strong focus on hybrid and blended learning, which reflects the reality that some learners have returned to in-person settings while others remain remote. Hybrid training can be tricky, but it’s increasingly the learning environment that L&D professionals are operating in. Both the design and delivery facets will be covered at ATD 2022:

• Design Blended Solutions for Learning Transfer and Results, presented by Ian Townley and Jason Durkee, on May 18 from 8–9 a.m.

• Hybrid Facilitation and Training: Bridging Physical and Virtual Participants, presented by Robert Kienzle, on May 15 from 10:30–11:30 a.m.

• Facilitating Hybrid Classes: 5 Practical Tips for Success, presented by Cindy Huggett, on May 16 from 4:30–5:30 p.m.

DEI-Focused Sessions

The events of the past two years have also shown the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace—and the role that L&D professionals can play in building better workplaces for all. ATD 2022 has a variety of sessions that showcase how DEI training can create organizational impact such as Brad Karsh’s session Advancing Allyship and Inclusion Through a Simulation-Style Training on May 17 from 1–2 p.m. There are also sessions on how to show that impact, such as a panel discussion on May 17 from 10:30–11:30 called Measure, Prove, and Improve the Value of DEI Programs. Finally, a number of sessions focus on how instructional designers and facilitators can design and deliver training that is itself inclusive, equitable, and accessible, such as a panel presented by NBC Universal employees called Remove Bias From Your Learning Experiences on May 17 from 3–4 p.m.

Sessions About Past and Future Trends

ATD 2022 will also provide focused opportunities to look backward and forward. Travis Waugh’s session 2 Years of Behavior Change: COVID’s Lessons for Compliance Training on May 16 from 1–2 p.m. will explore effective and ineffective COVID-19 campaigns from around the world and how these campaigns can help instructional designers create compliance training that leads to real behavior change. Meanwhile, Jim Kirkpatrick’s session Retool Your Training and Evaluation Strategy for 2022 and Beyond on May 16 from 4:30–5:30 p.m. will offer advice for how attendees can use their time, money, and resources now and in the future. Finally, the panel Staying Future-Ready One Trend at a Time, which will be offered a few times throughout the conference, showcases how to use design thinking to convert a trending idea into a concrete practice.

In addition to these learning opportunities, ATD 2022 will provide L&D professionals with networking opportunities where they can connect with one another, discuss the challenges and successes of the past few years, and celebrate being back together.

Check out more great instructional design, training delivery and facilitation, and evaluating impact sessions on the ATD22 website.