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. |