Learning Technologies Centrewww.umanitoba.ca/learning_technologies
Online Conferences
George SiemensUniversity of Manitoba
November 6, 2007
Learning Technologies Centrewww.umanitoba.ca/learning_technologies
Why online conferences?
Change pressures:• Diversity• Speed• Decentralization• Democratization/participation• Choice
Learning Technologies Centrewww.umanitoba.ca/learning_technologies
Your experiences with online conferences...
Learning Technologies Centrewww.umanitoba.ca/learning_technologies
Conferences
Online Connectivism Conference
Future of Education
Copyright/Copyleft (one day)
Corporate Learning (Upcoming)
Learning Technologies Centrewww.umanitoba.ca/learning_technologies
Learning Technologies Centrewww.umanitoba.ca/learning_technologies
Learning Technologies Centrewww.umanitoba.ca/learning_technologies
Gradients
Augmented
Blended
Online
Learning Technologies Centrewww.umanitoba.ca/learning_technologies
ADETA: Distributed Learning Symposium
Learning Technologies Centrewww.umanitoba.ca/learning_technologies
Webheads in Action 2007
Learning Technologies Centrewww.umanitoba.ca/learning_technologies
Learning Technologies Centrewww.umanitoba.ca/learning_technologies
Planning
• Model of delivery• Speakers• Fees• Registration• Promotion
Learning Technologies Centrewww.umanitoba.ca/learning_technologies
Delivering
• Mix of synch/asynch• Capturing• Fostering conversations: “context
filters”
Learning Technologies Centrewww.umanitoba.ca/learning_technologies
Questions, comments, suggestions?
Learning Technologies Centrewww.umanitoba.ca/learning_technologies
Involving participants
• Wikis, blogs, discussions• Determining “whose space”• Conference tags• Images, activities (2L tour)• Space for self-organization• Aggregating
Learning Technologies Centrewww.umanitoba.ca/learning_technologies
The Model: Presence
• Asynch: Moodle• Synch: Elluminate• Continual: Regular emails• Access: Sharing resources (podcasts,
recordings)
Learning Technologies Centrewww.umanitoba.ca/learning_technologies
Evaluating
Participant reactions...
Learning Technologies Centrewww.umanitoba.ca/learning_technologies
Strengths/Benefits
• Costs• Depth of learning• Quality• Retrievability• Access• Exposure and impact• Change
Learning Technologies Centrewww.umanitoba.ca/learning_technologies
Weaknesses
• Space and time required for participants
• Academic acceptance?• Revenue/cost recovery model• Continuous partial attention• Technical skills required
Learning Technologies Centrewww.umanitoba.ca/learning_technologies
Lessons
• Control shift: “do it for ourselves”
• Significant shift in – access to experts– access to resources
• Dual-mode conferences
Learning Technologies Centrewww.umanitoba.ca/learning_technologies
Planning your next conference
1. Record everything2. Permit flexibility3. Pre-conference work4. Conference tags 5. Aggregate6. Notes/papers wiki7. Social networking tools
Learning Technologies Centrewww.umanitoba.ca/learning_technologies
Questions
Learning Technologies Centrewww.umanitoba.ca/learning_technologies
www.elearnspace.orgwww.knowingknowledge.com
www.connectivism.ca