VLEs: pedagogy and implementation
 
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VLEs: Pedagogy and Implementation, the theory and practice of learning platforms and virtual learning environments

Date: 16 - 19 October, 2006

(Please note that this closed for new postings on the 19th October. However, you can still register to get access to the content, which will be available until until November 17th. )

Location: Internet - this is an online conference

This four day online conference is aimed at everybody who is responsible for using and implementing learning platforms, including Virtual Learning Environments, in education. It has two themes:

  • Pedagogy, looking at the teaching and learning aspects of using learning platforms. The keynote presenter for this is Martin Dougiamas, who created the open source course management system, Moodle.

  • Implementation, looking at issues around the implementation of learning platforms. The keynote presenter for this is James Clay, Director, Western Colleges Consortium.

Each theme will have other presenters and papers available, and up to date information on this can be seen in the programme section of this site. We have chosen themes and presenters on the basis of interest and relevance to the topic. We hope every attendee will benefit from the wide variety of knowledge on offer.

The speakers are all very talented members of their respected fields, and whether these papers reflect your own interests, or you are an expert in computer hardware or o2 Broadband, you should find something to pique your interest. Please take a look at the other details to get a better sense of what's on offer.

This conference is the natural successor to the one we organised in association with Becta, in 2004, "VLEs: beyond the fringes and into the mainstream". A report written by Direct Learn after that conference provides guidance on the mainstreaming of VLEs, using the lessons drawn from the conference. You can download the report here.

Why an online conference? As Russell Francis (University of Oxford) said of one of our recent conferences:

"I'd never participated in an online conference before and I must say I found the whole experience extremely stimulating and informative. I really liked the way it gives people the time to compose intelligent questions, incorporate links and participate in multiple in-depth discussions. What a great way to create and share knowledge!".

Why a delegate fee? Like any event, an online conference costs money to organise and run. And the fee is much smaller than that for most face to face events, even more so when you take into consideration that there are no travel or accommodation costs, and that, in our conferences, you have a month after the conference to read and reflect on the proceedings. And our previous delegates agree that they are good value. Feedback from our March 2006 conference, Innovating e-Learning, organised on behalf of the JISC, showed that 94% of delegates responding to our survey thought the conference good value. And 96% of them would be willing to attend further online conferences.