Instructional Design & eLearning Meetup

2024 Update!
This meetup is morphing into a new format called The IDeL Table. It's purposes and vibe remain aligned with the original meetup, and many of the key people are still involved.
The IDeL Table exists to rebuild connection in the Instructional Design and eLearning profession, and to learn together to improve the profession.

The concept is simple - two learning design people (who are happy to have dinner together if no-one else turns up) host a table of 6-8 people at a pizza place (just pizza? No, but more on that later). In preparation for the session, there is pre-reading/ watching/ listening on a topic, chosen by the hosts from a crowdsourced list of topics and content (that is kept on the LinkedIn Group page).
'Entree' time is spent with six questions for building (real, authentic) connection. 'Main course' time is spent discussing the topic, with loosely held leadership of the conversation by the hosts.

It's a three month pilot program, which started in February 2024. If you want to join the program we're asking

1. That you to commit to two 'tables' in that time, one as host, one as guest.
2. That you contribute to the crowdsourcing of topics/content, and suitable venues (pizza is the starting point, as it's cheapish, there's usually a range of things that people of all preferences can eat, and they're licenced, but you could go anywhere you want really if it meets those criteria. You could potentially also do a lunch or breakfast (although licenced MAY be less of a criteria for a breakfast!).
3. That you provide useful feedback on the experiences.

Here's the link to the new group, https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14365624/
Tables will be posted here as events, so we can keep track of numbers.
I've left the original group description below. If the new direction isn't for you, all good, see you around the IDeL world!

The original IDeL meetup:
For everyone interested in instructional design, improving training and creating great learning, whether that's eLearning, face-to-face or blended.
Participants range from seasoned industry leaders to recent graduates. Members' roles include instructional designers, trainers, eLearning developers, technical authors, training managers and heads of talent development. Individuals include freelancers, team members from some of Australia's top training companies, solo training practitioners at local companies up to internal team members from multinational corporations.
Come to learn more about a specific topic each meeting. Stay to enjoy networking and meeting others interested in improving training and learning. The format, topics and venue constantly vary. If you don't find what you're looking for then please feel free to suggest a MeetUp we should run. 
We're always looking for spaces to host groups as small as 30, and as large as 80, so if you have a space that could host, we'd love to talk! 
Our Meetups always aim to run for free when possible.