TOC Learning Fair

Much like a science fair, TOC Learning Fair is arranged with a table for each project being shown. The developers and/or designers of each project will be right there to answer any questions you might have about the challenge they were trying to solve, the project design they chose, the development and implementation processes they used, and the results they found once the project was launched. In many cases, they’ll even be able to give you a hands-on demonstration.

Feel free to browse all the projects on display or just pick and choose the ones you’re most interested in.

For your proposal to be considered for acceptance:

• It must be submitted by the due date
• You need to meet the registration criteria listed above (as does your co-presenter if you choose to have one)
• It must be the only project you (and your co-presenter, if you have one) have submitted
• It must not be solely marketing or selling a product or be a demonstration of tools or tool features – there must be real-world application involved.
• Preference is given to sessions that feature innovative solutions as well as demonstrated results

Beyond that, the final decision is made based on the number of proposals received, the mix of topics received, and the ease with which your project can be explained in your proposal.

TOC Learning Fair is a place to view actual learning solutions demonstrated by the people who designed and built them. Unlike poster sessions at other conferences that usually comprise cardboard-and-paper displays of a course’s features, TOC Learning Fair instead offers you the opportunity to see the actual projects themselves, talk to the developers and designers, and have a chance to interact with the solutions. It’s also important to note that TOC Learning Fair is NOT a vendor product showcase where solutions are sold to you. It’s instead a peer-to-peer opportunity to explore what others in the industry are working on and learn from one another’s experiences.

TOC Learning Fair embodies what the conference is all about: sharing what works. You will not only see these projects in action, but also have the opportunity to learn about the benefits and results these projects provided to their organizations.

TOC Learning Fair is a fun opportunity to show your projects and get recognition, insights, and feedback. It’s an energetic and collaborative experience that can help you expand your professional network and also help others in our field explore how to approach problems in new ways.

No. This is a more of a conversation than a presentation, so there are NO formal presentations, handouts, or slides. You’ll have a table in TOC Learning Fair to display the devices you bring to showcase your project (such as a mobile device and/or a laptop). Throughout the event you’ll simply discuss and demonstrate your project and then answer questions from the attendees. That said, you may find it helpful to prepare a short description for your project in advance to help you explain it quickly to the people who visit your table.

Have you also participated in the design or development of a learning solution or project? Are you a registered attendee of the TOC Annual Institute? Then you’re eligible to submit an application to present that project. Institute attendees, Exhibit Hall exhibitor staff, and speakers are all able to apply.

Every TOC Learning Fair participant must be a registered Annual Institute attendee or Exhibit Hall exhibitor attendee. If your submission is selected and you have not registered yet, you’ll be asked to do so as a condition of your acceptance. If you have not registered for the Institute by 10 days prior to the event (April 13, 2020), your submission will be pulled.

Yes! You may have one co-presenter at your table to assist in demonstrating your project. Because of the space constraints of this event, we only allow two presenters per project.

If you’d like to have a co-presenter, be sure to add their name and contact information on the submission form, as only the presenters on the original submission will be accepted as demonstrators. Please note that your TOC Learning Fair co-presenter must also be a registered Annual Institute attendee.

We’re looking for a wide variety of cutting-edge projects that show innovative solutions to the challenges we face now and in the future of L&D. We are also looking for projects that achieved their objectives and had a positive impact on their organizations.

Any type of solution that can fit into one of the six Annual Institute Learning Tracks and serves to address a learning or performance topic is eligible. The project you submit must also be in a playable state, as you’ll need to provide us with a link to view and evaluate your project as part of the submission process.

Note that your submission must be for one example project, not multiple. If you have several eligible projects, choose the example that best illustrates your work.

If you’re interested in taking a look at an example of a solid proposal (as well as some examples of proposals that need more work), click here [coming soon].

TOC Learning Fair is an opportunity for people to share and discuss the projects they’re working on with others rather than a place to sell courses, software, or services. Because of this, the following types of presentations will not be accepted to TOC Learning Fair:
• Product demonstrations or features of products
• Products or applications in beta or other phases of development
• Proof-of-concept products or applications
• Courses or apps that are sold by the demonstrator’s company (however, if this course was built for a specific organization and is only used by that organization, then it can be submitted)

If you’re a vendor of learning services or technologies and want an opportunity to demonstrate your products or services at the Annual Institute, contact Chris King to inquire about a booth in the Exhibit Hall and other marketing promotional opportunities.

Can vendors learning products or custom development services participate?YES! Please refer to the question “Who can apply to participate?” above for requirements.

Note that TOC Learning Fair is not intended as an opportunity to sell your products or services. Instead, it’s designed for peers to share with one another about the problems they faced and the projects they created to solve them. Anyone who is actively marketing or selling during TOC Learning Fair will be asked to leave.

If you have a client who has used your tools or services, you may want to encourage them to participate in TOC Learning Fair, and by association your product or services will be showcased. Your client must be a registered Annual Institute attendee in order to apply.

No. TOC Learning Fair is a place to showcase the work of the TOC community. It is not a place to promote products and services. No materials are permitted other than the equipment or materials needed to effectively demonstrate your project. All equipment and materials must be able to fit onto the demonstration table.

You may bring standard business cards with you (3.5”x2”) and provide them to attendees if they ask for one.

Yes. Annual Institute speakers can participate in TOC Learning Fair.

The submission deadline is March 13, 2019. Click here to submit your project using our online form.

No. TOC Learning Fair is limited to one entry per person.

Shortly after submitting your project, you’ll receive an automated email confirming the receipt of your submission. After the submission deadline has passed, we will evaluate the proposals received and select the final projects for TOC Learning Fair. You can expect a final response on your proposal by March 20, 2020.

If you have not heard back from us after this time, please contact us at technologist@trainingofficers.org for your submission status.

Absolutely! If your project is accepted, we’ll send you complete instructions on setup times, technical options, and more in advance of the event.

You’ll be expected to bring your own technology to display your project (this is typically a laptop and/or mobile device). If sound is important to your project, we strongly recommend that you also bring external speakers or headphones, as the TOC Learning Fair room can at times be loud enough to drown out onboard laptop speakers. Also, while wireless Internet will be available, we encourage you to load your course or program onto your hard drive, a CD, or a USB drive and be prepared to run it locally, just in case.
It’s important to note that your table will not be wired for power. Because of this, you’ll want to fully charge your presentation devices before TOC Learning Fair, and even consider bringing an external battery so you’ll be able to demonstrate for the full two hours of the event without running out of power.

If you’re unsure whether your project is a good fit for TOC Learning Fair, or if you’d like to bounce your proposal ideas off of someone from the TOC Annual Institute Committee before you apply, we’re happy to help. Just contact us at technologist@trainingofficers.org with your questions.

There will be an award component to give recognition to people willing to show their work. The TOC Learning Fair awards are “people’s choice” awards—the winners are voted on by the attendees themselves rather than by a panel or a single judge.

One winner will be selected from each TOC Learning Fair category. In addition, there will be vendor and non-vendor best of show winners selected. There may also be other special awards.

While TOC Learning Fair is first and foremost an opportunity for people in our field to learn from one another, there is also an award component to give recognition to people willing to show their work. The TOC Learning Fair awards are “people’s choice” awards—the winners are voted on by the attendees themselves rather than by a panel or a single judge.

One winner will be selected from each TOC Learning Fair category. In addition, there will be vendor and non-vendor best of show winners selected. There may also be other special awards.

The vendor and non-vendor category definitions are:

• Vendor — The project was built by a person who works for a company that provides services, custom learning solutions, or consultation, or eLearning, mobile, and/or video training products, as the main source of revenue for the company. This category includes individuals who provide consulting services.
• Non-vendor — The project was built by a person who works for a company or agency that does not provide eLearning, mobile, and/or video products, services, or consultation as its main source of revenue. This category includes government and military organizations, academic organizations, not-for-profit learning organizations or associations, and internal corporate training departments.

If you’re a vendor who has built a project with a client, you can list this in the non-vendor category as long as your client is co-presenting with you.