Awards

The E-Learning Awards 2008

Now in their fourth year, the E-Learning Awards are firmly established as the primary source of recognition for best practice in elearning. The eLN plays an important part in the awards, establishing the criteria by which the entries will be evaluated and carrying out the judging.

Your opportunity to become a judge for 2008

This year we would like to provide the opportunity for all full eLN members to apply to join the judging panel. We're looking for twelve judges with demonstrable experience and expertise in elearning, who are able to be completely objective in their deliberations (so no-one with an interest in any of this year's award entrants please) and who have two days to dedicate to the judging process this September. In return, you'll get a free ticket to this year's Gala Awards Dinner taking place on 6th November 2008 at a 5-star hotel in central London.

If you'd like to apply to become a judge for 2008, request an application form from info@elearningnetwork.org.

2007 Winners
2006 Winners
2005 Winners

Criteria & Judging

The E-Learning Awards for 2008 will be judged against a set of criteria which can be seen below. The shortlist will be determined by a panel drawn from the membership of the eLearning Network. The E-Learning Awards are unique since much of the judging will be open, transparent and verifiable. As well as assessing the submissions against the award criteria, the judges will be looking for demonstrable evidence to support the application. This evidence will be available for anyone to inspect at a later date. All submissions will be considered and a shortlist produced. Those on the shortlist will be invited to present their submission to the judges in person and a winner will be selected from these presentations. Some categories require evidence from learners or users which may be followed up by the judges. In these cases please ensure that your submission includes evidence from your client and include contact details. The closing date for submissions and entries is Monday 30 June 2008. This year the Gala Awards evening takes place on Thursday 6 November 2008 at a 5-star hotel in central London.

For entry forms and to make table bookings for the awards dinner, visit the
E-Learning Awards site.

Award categories:

The most innovative new product/tool in elearning
The most innovative application of learning technology
Excellence in the production of learning content
Meeting the needs of compliance for an external regulator or an internal workforce
The best elearning project securing widespread adoption
The best use of rapid elearning content
The best use of synchronous elearning
The best online distance learning programme
The best learning game, simulation or virtual environment
Elearning internal project team of the year
Elearning development company of the year
Elearning industry award for outstanding achievement – individual
Elearning industry award for outstanding achievement – corporate

The most innovative new product/tool in elearning

Supporting evidence from users is required. 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 elearning 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 elearning 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.

The most innovative application of technology to learning

Supporting evidence from learners is required. Although some may assume that the term elearning refers only to online learning, there are now many and various technology based approaches available for learning. In some cases a particular training requirement may challenge designers to use technology in a way in which it has not been used before for learning. This award seeks to find the most striking example of innovative application of technology leading to a more satisfactory learning experience. This award will recognise the creative use of existing technologies; if your submission is about a new technology or combination of technologies you should enter it for the most innovative new product in elearning. Judges will be looking for demonstrable evidence of:

How and why this particular technology was chosen and exploited.
The ways in which it is innovative and different from other applications.
How the use of the technology has achieved the required results.
How the evaluation of the project has shown the particular contribution made by the use of the technology.

The submission must have evidence of why existing methods were not preferable and why innovation was needed. The technology does not necessarily have to be new; it just might not have been used for learning before. 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 learners. The evaluation sought and evidence provided must support the reasons for using the technology and should justify the reasons.

Excellence in the production of learning content

Supporting evidence from learners is required. This award is about excellent content that enables learning. 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.

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

Elearning 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 elearning 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.

The best elearning project securing widespread adoption

Supporting evidence from learners is required. In order for elearning 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 elearning 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 elearning 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.

The best use of rapid elearning content

Supporting evidence from learners is required. The growth of rapid elearning 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 elearning content is being designed and developed by subject experts and generalist trainers without formal elearning 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 elearning 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 elearning 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.

The best use of synchronous elearning

Supporting evidence from learners is required. The application of synchronous elearning 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 elearning has also been used to overcome the perceived ‘loneliness’ of self-paced elearning 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 elearning 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 elearning was identified.
How and why the particular synchronous elearning tool(s) was chosen and exploited.
The innovative ways in which synchronous online communication has been used.
The ways in which synchronous elearning 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.

The best online distance learning programme

Supporting evidence from learners is required. 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.

The best learning game, simulation or virtual environment

Supporting evidence from learners is required. 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.

Elearning internal project team of the year

This award requires no presentation. Judges will require a written submission. This award recognises internal project teams in organisations who have achieved a positive change using elearning 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 elearning. 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.

Elearning development company of the year

This award requires no presentation. Judges will require a written submission. This award recognises elearning development companies that have achieved exceptional results within their customers’ organisations as a direct result of the bespoke elearning 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.

Elearning industry award for outstanding achievement – individual

This award requires no presentation. Judges will require a written submission. 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.

Elearning industry award for outstanding achievement – corporate

This award requires no presentation. Judges will require a written submission. 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.