NSW LearnScope Blog & Podcast

[image: Lord Biro]

The event of the year - eLearning07 - is only a month away (1-2 Nov) and the team here is hard at work preparing what is sure to be a unique experience. What else would you expect!

In 2006 we took risks and pushed boundaries; some of it worked, some didn’t. This year we’re making improvements, trying some new ideas and responding to your 2006 requests and comments.

The event will be held out at the Uni of NSW Roundhouse. It’s a pretty interesting venue - double story with break out rooms upstairs, and its ahhh …. round with a big central space downstairs for main stage, networking and showcasing. We hope the wireless will work for us (fingers crossed) and that the noisy central networking hub will be removed from the rooms where panel sessions and workshops will be run.

Rather than each team having to do an individual presentation this year we’re asking a rep from each team to sit on one of 8-10 panels that will focus on a range of e-learning topics and issues, facilitated by Marg O’Connell and Donna Hensley. We’re hoping this will enable some critical conversation around outcomes rather than a capture of process. We’ll be joined on the panels by a range of colleagues from other Frameworks projects throughout the State.

Project teams are also putting together a poster capturing their project context, issues and outcomes. These will be available in hard and soft copy for those interested in an overall capture of the years journey.

We’ll be using sms extensively leading up to and throughout the event so our participants are asked to register a mobile number and to leave their phone ON. With substantial sponsorship and support from Adobe we’ll be using Adobe Connect amongst other tools to involve those not able to attend.

Barbara Dieu will be facilitating our final conversation/ panel session using a range of media/spaces including Second Life. We’ve had some great chats in Skype getting our heads around the topic - if you’re interested you might like to check out our recent chat log where over 2 hours Bee in Brazil, Alex, Donna in Newcastle, Jo and myself pretty much reached a point of consensus - it’s an interesting example of creative brainstorming in action. Jo and Bee are busy designing the SL space. That will be the final session of the final LearnScope showcase so we plan to go out with a bang.

Of course we are leaving plenty of space for conversation and networking; that’s what its all about! On the Thursday night following the announcement and showcasing of our Slidecast winners, we’re planning a LearnScope alumni get together at the bar. I’ll be seeking some of our LearnScope ‘junkies’ to tell us where they were at in 1998. Past and present LearnScopers are urged to stay on and to proudly display their ’stripes’ for the celebration.

Registration is now open for the event so pass on the information and encourage your friends and extended networks to come along for a great 2 days.