The interplay between policy, strategy and practice is irrefutable but are the claims made for eLearning by politicians, researchers and theoreticians, mere rhetoric? Many policy makers, managers and innovators claim that eLearning ‘makes a difference’ but where is the evidence for these assertions? Are we still at the pioneering stages of developments in the use of eLearning? Is what we are witnessing simply the smoke and mirrors of a happy band of early adopters? Is the use of the technology still the focus of activity or are we at last beginning to move towards the mainstreaming of innovations where learners and learning takes centre stage?

Following several years of investment in eLearning in all sectors of education and training, we have witnessed enthusiastic individuals experimenting with a range of tools, technologies and approaches. What strategies exist to encourage and support the early and late majority? We need to capitalise on this experimentation and consider how these pockets of innovation and the work of early adopters can be made more strategic.

In this year’s conference we examine the extent to which some of the claims for eLearning have been realised. There will be a series of presentations of case studies of effective and strategic practice and discussions of eLearning in action in a range of learning, teaching and training contexts.

We invite practitioners, policy makers and managers from all education and training sectors to celebrate the enhancement of learning, teaching and training made possible through diverse approaches to eLearning and to consider strategies for the effective mainstreaming of innovation that will be part of our common futures.

Rogers, E (1962) Diffusion of innovation theory.