Jennifer Hofmann
What is the Modern Classroom?
Today’s learners participate in a classroom that’s radically different than previous iterations because it’s an experience, not a physical place.
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Technology: We use a number of technologies in the modern classroom, including social collaborative tools, virtual classroom technologies, and infographics. Technology’s purpose is to connect members of the workforce.
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Trends: Today’s workforce is global, mobile, and social, and these trends are redefining our classroom.
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Places of learning: Jennifer maintains that learning takes place in one of four locations - in a classroom, at the learner’s desk, on a mobile device, and on the job.
Who are Modern Learners?
Research by Bersin and ATD identifies that today’s modern workplace learners are demographically and geographically dispersed. Contrary to popular belief, learners aren’t just millennials. To this point, Jennifer shares, “I was teaching a face-to-face class recently and the question was, 'How do we engage millennials in pull training?' Participants pulled together for 20 minutes and the answer for several people was, 'Everything that engages millennials would engage me, too.' The problem is that I didn’t expect this. I have a lower expectation of engagement, and if we design this very engaging content, it would engage all of our learners, not just millennials. We’re raising the bar here."
What Is and Isn’t Learner Engagement?
Before we can create learner engagement, we have to understand it on a fundamental level. Jennifer states, “Learner engagement is NOT learner motivation, attitude, active participation or trainer competence.”
About Jennifer Hofmann:
Jennifer Hofmann, mastermind behind virtual classroom best practices and blended learning pioneer, is Founder and President of InSync Training. Her entirely virtual consulting firm specializes in the design and delivery of engaging, innovative, and effective modern blended learning. Under Jennifer’s expert leadership, Inc. 500|5000 named InSync training the 10th Fastest Growing Education Company in the U.S. in 2013, the 20th Fastest Growing Education Company in 2014, and to their Inc. 5000 list for four consecutive years. Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Network, Forbes Most Powerful Women Issue, The NativeAdVantage, and Goldman Sachs 10000 Small Businesses have all recognized her entrepreneurial drive.
Jennifer has written, and contributed to, a number of well-received and highly-regarded books including: The Synchronous Trainer’s Survival Guide: Facilitating Successful Live Online Courses, Meetings, and Events, Live and Online!: Tips, Techniques, and Ready to Use Activities for the Virtual Classroom, and Tailored Learning: Designing the Blend That Fits with Dr. Nanette Miner. In 2017, The Association for Talent Development (ATD) will release her book Blended Learning: What Works. Check Jennifer’s Amazon.com author page for these books and her new eBook series The Modern Virtual Classroom Experience.
Jennifer frequently presents in-person and online for leading learning organizations including Training Magazine, The Association for Talent Development (ATD), eLearning Guild, Citrix, and Training Mag Network. Subscribe to Jennifer’s blog Body Language in the Bandwidth and connect with her on LinkedIn for new content and timely insight.
5:00 - Networking
5:45 - Dinner
6:45 - Speaker
