Today, more than ever, there is a need to ensure that virtual learning works to improve organizational outcomes. Because of the surge in work-at-home arrangements and travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 crisis, most learning has shifted to virtual learning. This requires program owners to design virtual learning with desired outcomes in mind and demonstrate that the virtual format works.

Studies show that virtual learning often breaks down when measured at the application level (using what was learned) and impact level (the business impact connected to learning). However, this breakdown can be avoided. To secure the support and funding that virtual learning needs, it must deliver business results. This session highlights an ROI study that shows how virtual learning delivered business value in terms that executives, sponsors, and funders appreciated and understood.

This session explains how designers, developers, providers, and program owners can ensure that technology-based learning will deliver desired results by applying design-thinking principles that focus on delivering application and impact with virtual learning.

Objectives
After attending this session, participants should be able to:

1. Identify the five levels of outcomes from virtual learning.
2. Describe why virtual learning fails to deliver application and impact.
3. Explain the need to deliver impact and ROI for selected virtual learning programs.
4. Design virtual learning to deliver application, impact, and ROI, using design-thinking principles.
5. Plan next steps to ensure virtual learning delivers business value. 

Materials
Tools, templates, case studies, job aids, and a chapter from the book, Measuring Success of Learning Through Technology, will be provided to participants who attend this session.

Jack J. Phillips, Ph.D., chairman of ROI Institute, Inc., is a world-renowned expert on accountability, measurement, and evaluation. Former bank president, HR Executive, and learning manager, Phillips provides consulting services to Fortune 500 companies, nonprofit entities, and government and non-governmental organizations worldwide. He is the author or editor of more than 100 books, conducts workshops, and presents at conferences worldwide.

Jack has received several awards for his books and work. The American Society for Training and Development gave him the award, Distinguished Contribution to Workplace Learning and Development, and the Thought Leader Award (its highest award). The International Society for Performance Improvement presented Jack with its highest award, the Thomas F. Gilbert Award, for his contribution to human performance technology. The Society for Human Resource Management presented him with an award for one of his books and honored a Phillips ROI study with its highest award for creativity.

In 2019, Jack, along with his wife, Patti P. Phillips, received the Distinguished Contributor Award by the Center for Talent Reporting for their contribution to the measurement and management of human capital. His work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek, and Fortune. He has been interviewed by several television programs, including CNN.