Learning Technologies 2023 in London: Insights and Reflections

Recently, I had the opportunity to present at the Learning Technologies conference in London and I want to share some valuable insights, key takeaways and reflections that I gained from the event. (And who can resist a photo of the London skyline – I’m sure I’ll be making some people homesick!)

Anticipating Disruption

One of the standout sessions was by Njeri Mwagiru, a speaker from the Institute for Futures Research (IFR) at Stellenbosch University Business School. She emphasised the immense disruption happening in our world today, encompassing political, environmental, socioeconomic, and technological aspects. Njeri called on us to confront the fear and anxiety associated with constant disruption and take action. Her message revolved around the need to slow down, reflect, and make sustainable and meaningful decisions. Anticipating these disruptions by conducting thorough research allows us to respond proactively, ensuring our actions benefit both ourselves and the global community.

Embracing Uncertainty

Beau Lotto, from the Lab of Misfits, delivered an equally inspiring keynote during the second day of the conference. He talked about a lot of the work that I do personally, in terms of my own personal growth. One of the things he mentioned that is so powerful was that “attention is not what you look at, but it’s what you look away from.” We are so busy in today’s world and so distracted that attention is going to be what we choose to look away from to give our attention to.

Second great quote from him was “the biggest barrier of change is certainty, we have evolved to hate unknowing.” He touched on the theme of uncertainty and our inherent discomfort with it. Our brains are hardwired to crave predictability, making it challenging to navigate today’s uncertain world. However, Beau encouraged us to get comfortable with uncertainty, drawing parallels with the enjoyment of uncertainty in the field of play, and play as a way of being.

Entering Conflict with a Question

Another valuable insight from Beau’s presentation was the idea of entering a conflict with a question and asking “they might be right?”. Through this, we can take a different frame which will then help shift our perspective. Beau also delved into belief systems and optical illusions, challenging us to examine how our beliefs shape our actions and encouraging us to embrace change.

Other Engaging Sessions

Apart from the keynotes, the Learning Technologies conference featured various fascinating sessions. Dani Johnson from RedThreads discussed data and research, while David Kelly explored disruptions within technology. Additionally, the session by David Perring and David Wilson from the Fosway Group focused on the skills gap and the need to drive meaningful change in skills development rather than merely categorising skills. These sessions served as a reminder that learning transfer is essential to equipping individuals for ever-changing roles.

Fascinating content, and I will try to collect some of my thoughts from the other conferences I’ve been attending as well. I wish everyone well in both their learning and learning transfer journeys. Feel free to reach out if there’s anything I can support you at all with your learning transfer interventions. Look forward to keeping in touch.