Judges will be looking for demonstrable evidence that:

• The project has been aligned to a clearly identified performance need.
• The project has made appropriate use of technology from the options available.
• There is demonstrable evidence of a successful implementation strategy, including alignment with organisational goals, engagement with key stakeholders, marketing, support and evaluation.
• The overall learning strategy has been effective.
• The project has made an impact in terms of individual and organisational performance.
• The project displays innovation or originality that has been applied to positive effect.
• The project represents the best possible solution given the constraints and issues encountered.

The submission must include 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 to explain how the solution links to the learning need.

Supporting evidence from learners and other stakeholders is required. Comments from single learners and stakeholders will carry less weight than broader surveys or research.

The judging panel will score submissions according to how well they fulfil the specific bullet points. This criteria apply to both UK and International categories.

Judges will be looking for demonstrable evidence that:

• The project has been aligned to a clearly identified performance need.
• The project has made appropriate use of technology from the options available.
• There is demonstrable evidence of a successful implementation strategy, including alignment with organisational goals, engagement with key stakeholders, marketing, support and evaluation.
• The overall learning strategy has been effective.
• The project has made an impact in terms of individual and organisational performance.
• The project displays innovation or originality that has been applied to positive effect.
• The project represents the best possible solution given the constraints and issues encountered.

The submission must include 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 to explain how the solution links to the learning need.

Supporting evidence from learners and other stakeholders is required. Comments from single learners and stakeholders will carry less weight than broader surveys or research.

Judges will be looking for demonstrable evidence that:

• The design has been aligned to a clearly identified performance need.
• Text, images, animation, audio, video and other media elements have been used in a way that encourages and reinforces learning.
• Interactivity has been used in a way that encourages and reinforces learning.
• The design displays innovation or originality that has been applied to positive effect.
• The design represents the best possible solution given the constraints and issues encountered.
• The reaction of learners and other key stakeholders to the design has been positive.
  

Judges will be looking for demonstrable evidence that:

• The design has been aligned to a clearly identified performance need.
• Text, images, animation, audio, video and other media elements have been used in a way that encourages and reinforces learning.
• Interactivity has been used in a way that encourages and reinforces learning.
• The design displays innovation or originality that has been applied to positive effect.
• The design represents the best possible solution given the constraints and issues encountered.
• The reaction of learners and other key stakeholders to the design has been positive.
  

Judges will be looking for demonstrable evidence that:

• There was a clear rationale for the use of mobile devices to meet the requirement.
• The design takes account of the particular characteristics of the devices in question and the environments in which they would be used.
• The use of mobile devices for learning or performance support has helped in reaching new audiences and/or achieving learning more efficiently.
• The reaction of learners to the offering has been positive.
• The use of mobile learning has been effective in meeting individual and organisational needs.
  

The mobile offering could be primarily content-orientated, but could also provide facilities for collaboration with tutors, fellow learners or other relevant people. Supporting evidence from learners and other stakeholders is required.

Comments from single learners and stakeholders will carry less weight than broader surveys or research.

Judges will be looking for demonstrable evidence that:

• There was a clear rationale for the use of social and collaborative technologies to meet the requirement.
• Social and collaborative technologies have been appropriately chosen to support the requirement.
• The use of social and collaborative technologies was effectively enabled and supported.
• The target group has participated significantly in the use of social collaborative technologies.
• The use of social and collaborative technologies has made an impact in terms of individual and organisational performance.

The submission must show how the use of social and collaborative technologies has helped create or enhance the overall learning culture. Supporting evidence from the target group and other stakeholders is required.

Comments from single individuals will carry less weight than broader surveys or research.

Judges will be looking for demonstrable evidence that:

• The programme has a clearly defined set of goals that are integrated with post-onboarding performance requirements.
• Text, images, animation, audio, video and other media elements have been used in a way that reflects organisational culture and values.
• The employee’s onboarding experience has been appropriately personalised.
• The programme displays innovation or originality that has been applied to positive effect.
• The programme has been well received by new employees.
• The programme has had a measurable impact on staff retention rates and speed to competence.

It is not necessary for all aspects of the training to be delivered using technology, although the learning technologies element should be significant.

The submission must be supported by either extracts from reports from an external regulator or with equivalent internal evidence. You should submit statistical evidence to support your claims with regard to the reliability and validity of the assessment methods used.

Judges will be looking for demonstrable evidence of ways in which:

• The new product enhances the way that learning can be designed, delivered, supported, enhanced or managed.
• The new product has brought benefits to end users.
• The new product differs from its predecessors and/or competitors.

Note that this category is designed to recognise learning products themselves and not specific learning interventions that might have made use of them.

Products that have already delivered benefits to end users will have a greater chance of success than those that are in development or only just launched.

Supporting evidence from end users is required. Comments from single learners and end users will carry less weight than broader surveys or research. Comments from leading commentators in the field will also carry some weight.

Judges will be looking for demonstrable evidence that:

• There was a clear rationale for the use of a game approach to meet the requirement.
• The game displays innovation or originality that has been applied to positive effect.
• The use of games has been effectively aligned with learning objectives and outcomes.
• Games have contributed to learner engagement, enjoyment and motivation.
• Games have successfully contributed to learning.
• Games have delivered value for money, particularly in comparison with alternative methods.
• The use of games has made an impact in terms of individual and organisational performance.

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. Supporting evidence from learners and other stakeholders is required. Comments from single learners and stakeholders will carry less weight than broader surveys or research.

Judges will be looking for demonstrable evidence that:

• There was a clear rationale for the use of a simulation or virtual environment as an approach to meet the requirement.
• The simulation or virtual environment displays innovation or originality that has been applied to positive effect.
• Innovative use has been made of simulations or virtual environments.
• The use of simulations or virtual environments has been effectively aligned with learning objectives and outcomes.
• Simulations or virtual environments have contributed to learner engagement, enjoyment and motivation.
• Simulations or virtual environments have successfully contributed to learning.
• Simulations or virtual environments have delivered value for money, particularly in comparison with alternative methods.
• The use of simulations or virtual environments has made an impact in terms of individual and organisational performance.

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. Supporting evidence from learners and other stakeholders is required. Comments from single learners and stakeholders will carry less weight than broader surveys or research.

Judges will be looking for demonstrable evidence that:

• There is a clear rationale for the mix of other methods with online media within the solution.
• The solution is appropriate to the learning requirements, audience characteristics and practical constraints.
• Effective educational/training methods have been chosen for each phase in the solution.
• The most efficient and flexible learning media (e.g. face-to-face, online, etc.) have been chosen to deliver these methods without compromising their effectiveness.
• The solution includes the elements necessary to ensure effective transfer of learning. • The solution has proved both effective and efficient in practice.
  

Supporting evidence from learners is required. Comments from single learners will carry less weight than broader surveys or research.

Judges will be looking for demonstrable evidence that:

• There is a clear rationale for the mix of other methods with online media within the solution.
• The solution is appropriate to the learning requirements, audience characteristics and practical constraints.
• Effective educational/training methods have been chosen for each phase in the solution.
• The most efficient and flexible learning media (e.g. face-to-face, online, etc.) have been chosen to deliver these methods without compromising their effectiveness.
• The solution includes the elements necessary to ensure effective transfer of learning.
• The solution has proved both effective and efficient in practice.

Supporting evidence from learners is required. Comments from single learners will carry less weight than broader surveys or research.

Judges will be looking for demonstrable evidence that:

• There is a clear rationale for the mix of other methods with online media within the solution.
• The solution is appropriate to the learning requirements, audience characteristics and practical constraints.
• Effective educational/training methods have been chosen for each phase in the solution.
• The most efficient and flexible learning media (e.g. face-to-face, online, etc.) have been chosen to deliver these methods without compromising their effectiveness.
• The solution includes the elements necessary to ensure effective transfer of learning.
• The solution has proved both effective and efficient in practice.
  

Supporting evidence from learners is required. Comments from single learners will carry less weight than broader surveys or research.

Judges will be looking for demonstrable evidence that the learning platform has:

• Contributed to the overall success of the organisation including alignment with organisational goals.
• Demonstrated an effective return on investment.
• Made effective use of the most appropriate technologies.
• Enhanced opportunities for learning, for example through personalisation, increasing speed to deployment of learning materials, improved quality, increasing access to materials or other learners, or building communities of practice.
• Been implemented successfully, evidenced by both quantitative and qualitative data.

The submission must include a summary of the client’s initial requirements. Supporting evidence from the client and the supplier will be required. Comments from single learners and stakeholders will carry less weight than broader surveys or research.

The judges will be looking for evidence of the following:

• The learning data analytics project was aligned to a clearly defined, appropriate and measurable standard or framework.
• The learning data analytics project was conducted using meaningful data, such as that derived from a learning experience, campaign or programme, and/or performance and impact data captured elsewhere.
• The learning data analytics project produced actionable insights that helped inform key business decisions.
• Decisions and actions taken as a result of the analytics project had a positive impact on individual and/or business performance.
  

Judges will be looking for evidence of the following:

• The need for the digital learning transformation programme was clearly identified, defined and agreed with leaders and other stakeholders.
• The digital learning transformation programme was designed to deliver effective and lasting improvement.
• The digital learning transformation programme made appropriate use of available tools and technologies.
• There is demonstrable evidence of a successful implementation strategy, including alignment with organisational goals, engagement with key stakeholders and ongoing evaluation.
• Learners were supported effectively throughout the transformation programme.
• The project is having an impact in terms of business continuity and individual and organisational performance.
  

Judges will be looking for evidence that:

• The work of the team addressed clearly identified learning, performance or organisational needs.
• The team applied effective and efficient ways of working that were collaborative and mutually supportive.
• Each team member performed an essential role that demonstrably contributed to the success of the whole team's efforts.
• The team made a demonstrable and highly effective impact in delivering organisational objectives.
  

The team may have implemented a new programme or used many different ways to ensure that 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 learning technologies.

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.

The award is assessed based on consistent high quality and effective learning design over at least four years.

In particular:

• The learning designer demonstrates an understanding of the learning and performance needs of users.
• The learning designer specifies the most appropriate learning interventions within set constraints.
• The learning designer specifies designs that are fit for purpose.
• The learning designer uses consummate writing skills to write materials of the utmost clarity.
• The learning designer shows originality and innovation where this matches the requirement.
• The learning designer has demonstrated consummate communication skills with external clients, with internal project teams.
• The learning designer has specified consistent high quality and effective learning designs over at least four of years.

Evidence for the submissions will be based on a portfolio of projects. It should be backed up by testimonial and other supporting evidence from users and other stakeholders.