Online Conferencing in the Era of the 24/7 Global Digital Society
Simon KearBeyond Distance Research Alliance
European Foundation for Quality in e-Learning UNIQUe Award
Learning Technologist ofthe Year 2009: Team Award
Beyond Distance RESEARCH ALLIANCE
www.le.ac.uk/beyonddistanceOnline Educa Berlin 2011
Slides at: http://tinyurl.com/bdra-educa2011
Online conferencing
1990sEmail,
Bulletin Boards
June 2003eGen Conference
March 2006JISC Innovating
E-learning Conference
Online Conference
Asynchronous wrapper (VLE)
Synchronous
Online Conference
Asynchronous wrapper (VLE)
Synchronous
12
2
1
4
3
6
57
10
8
9
11
Why online?
• Eliminating time barriers• Eliminating geographical barriers• Target disadvantaged groups• Help balancing family and work life• Very low costs• Reduced environmental impact
Why Follow the Sun?
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13-15 April 2011
Global presentation
Leicester UK
Brighton UK
Canada
USA
Figures
• 48 hours non-stop
• 280 participants
• Hosted from 3 time zones
• 25 countries
• Up to 80 delegates each session
“I managed to participate in selected presentations from Asia/Australia and UK. “The 24-hour format meant I could plan participation and fit into my work schedule.”
Japan
“(I was) not in either destination and thus would not have attended had it not been via the online community and technology”
Australia
“I learned from the comments of the other participants in my session. I have referred to this session in my LinkedIn groups.”
USA
Canada
“I saved travel time … (I) prefer attending online as I can eat or fidget or do anything I like during a session at home and still be at a conference.”
UK
“It has given me some new ideas and links to people and work that potentially are very useful for me.
“I like the chat during the session as participants can make comments while they listen which can be picked up at the end, in many ways more interactive than a traditional conference.”
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Unisa, September 2011 19
Futures for Knowledge
• Engineering• Astronomy• Climatology• Music• Geology• Health and Medicine
… to name a few.
