I'll prepare two presentations for the Australian conferences. Topic 1, Dump the Drone, could be a quick, funny keynote or a longer, hands-on workshop. Topic 2 focuses on a subset of Dump the Drone and could either be a keynote or an in-depth workshop.

Please send me an email or a copy of your programme so I know which topics you'd like me to cover and how long each session is scheduled to last.

Topic 1: Dump the drone

Tired of boring e-learning? Join the crusade to "dump the drone." You don't need fancy software, just an action-packed design and some simple techniques from the worlds of marketing and fiction. In this hands-on session, you'll use action mapping to quickly identify the most powerful activities. Then you'll flesh out the design with compelling characters, high-energy text or narration, and just enough information. You'll end up with a streamlined design process that will make your e-learning effective, lively, and memorable.

Topic 2: How storytelling techniques can make any material more engaging

Storytellers make any message more memorable by giving it structure and meaning. Elearning designers can do the same by using basic storytelling techniques. Cathy will show that any type of elearning can benefit from the methods that storytellers use to create anticipation and emotional engagement, and she'll help you decide what approaches will work best for your projects. Soon you'll be using storytelling techniques to make even dry technical material more engaging and easier to learn.

Possible topic 3: Action Mapping

If your audience creates elearning for business employees, you might be interested in my Action Mapping presentation. It's designed to help trainers develop lean, lively elearning that supports business goals. You can learn more about it and see a slideshow here. (While some educators also use Action Mapping, it might not seem as intuitive and useful to them.)

About Cathy Moore

Cathy has been creating lively instructions for more than 25 years. She currently designs elearning for global corporations, using scenarios and other character-driven approaches to help learners quickly understand and apply what they're learning.

Cathy started out as a trainer and technical writer for PC users and then moved into distance learning for adults. Her background also includes work in K-12 elearning, and her children's history book has won several awards.

Cathy has presented workshops on instructional design at events like the Elearning Guild Annual Gathering, Brandon Hall Innovations in Learning, and Articulate Live. She shares her ideas about elearning through her blog at www.MakingChangeBlog.com.

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