Adobe is once again hosting the Adobe Learning Summit 2023 at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas on October 2nd and 3rd, 2023. Adobe's online events during the pandemic were a good substitution for in-person conferences. Still, there is no substitute for attending these conferences in person. One of the conference's most important benefits is meeting my fellow Adobe Captivate users in person. I have developed business and personal relationships with many people I've met at these conferences, and I wouldn't trade these experiences for anything.
My experience
Being a YouTube creator is often a one-way experience; I put out content each week on Adobe Captivate or other learning technologies, and while your comments on the videos are a great way to get your feedback and find out what's happening in the industry, seeing, and hearing your feedback in person is tremendously valuable to me. I also love meeting each of you who supported me and allowed me to grow my YouTube channel into what it is today. Remember, I'm just another user of Adobe software. Please don't be shy; walk up and say hello if you see me.
Las Vegas
One of the remarkable aspects of this event is that Adobe holds this conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the Mirage Hotel and Casino. Adobe has negotiated a reasonable rate with the resort, and you can book your room directly through the conference website. Remember that other hotels are in the area, many within walking distance of the Mirage, so research what is best for you. I like to book with websites that can find you a combined rate with your flight to save some extra money.
Adobe could hold this conference anywhere in North America, but a genuine benefit of this conference is that they have it in Las Vegas. You'll want to attend as many sessions as possible during each of the two days of the conference, but that leaves you with lots of time to get out and explore all that Vegas has to offer. Even if you don't gamble, there are unlimited dining and entertainment options for you to enjoy.
Conference snapshot
There are two tracks of learning - the Creator Studio Track for creators of online learning and the Learning Strategy Track for people like learning and development managers and those in either customer experience or sales and marketing roles.
On both days, there will be more extensive sessions where everyone gathers for presentations from the Adobe eLearning team. Take advantage of these, as there tend to be incredible keynote presentations from industry leaders, cutting-edge information, and sneak peeks on upcoming updates to the software.
Remember that Adobe provides breakfast and lunch with your conference pass. If you are convincing your boss to send you to this conference, that's an important consideration to ensure they are aware of.
Creator Studio Track
Being an eLearning developer isn't just one set of abilities. You must often be adept in many of the creative skills. Adobe has arranged plenty of sessions and workshops for you. There will be sessions on:
Needs Assessment
Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Express
Course design documentation
Adobe Illustrator
Animation
Storyboarding
Video editing
Not unexpectantly, there are Adobe Captivate sessions on the following topics:
Custom design options
Course building
Interactive simulations
Custom interactions
Game-based learning
There will also be an opportunity for you to showcase your content.
My Session
I will conduct “Create custom interactions using the all-new Adobe Captivate,“ a one-hour session with a 30-minute Q&A. I intend to help new and previous users who want to script their actions to do a little more than just clicking next to go to another slide. I haven’t designed my session, but I’m considering teaching how to build a scenario-based interaction with click-to-reveals that include audio and multi-state objects. Don’t hold me to that, but I promise if you like getting under the hood of the software you use, you will enjoy my session.
Learning Strategy Track
If you decide to inform your manager ;) about the Learning Strategy Track, here is a breakdown of what Adobe's has for them:
Unlocking your organization's potential with continuous learning
How AI Innovations are impacting organizational learning
Creating impactful employee experiences
Connecting employees and learning for total experience excellence
Evolving into a business-driven learning function
Skills to ride the wave of digital in L&D as an L&D leader
Drive high-velocity business performance in a hybrid world
Accelerating performance through engagement strategies
Leveling up knowledge quotient for channel partners with gamification
Virtual engagement studio
The missing link in your CX: customer training
individualize training to enable the workforce of the future
Building informed strategies from comprehensive learning data
Adobe Professional Certification
One tremendous benefit of the Adobe Learning Summit is that each participant will get access to the online curriculum for the Adobe Professional Certification. Once ready you can complete the proctored exam and gain this certification. Not only will you have the knowledge and skills to expertly navigate Adobe Captivate but you will have the certification to prove it. Adobe normally sells this course and exam for $499. Considering what you would pay for the conference fee, this certification doesn’t end up costing you or your organization anything at all.
In conclusion
I hope to see you there at the Adobe Learning Summit 2023, and if you decide to go there, I hope you attend my session on the all-new Adobe Captivate. I promise you will walk away with more knowledge and skills than when you started.