The conference
ICDE’s world conference lands at the Sheraton Hotel in Toronto this week.
I am very much looking forward to the coming week in Toronto. I am not usually a great fan of very large conferences, but this one seems to be somewhat different, with a huge number of smaller, interactive sessions and few if any large keynotes given by old white men (yes, people like me) with lots of ‘telling’ and not much discussion.
Nevertheless, this old white man is pretty busy at this conference. In all, I have four formal sessions, as well as several informal functions.
The national survey of online and distance education in Canadian post-secondary education
What: We will be launching the report on the national survey, briefly presenting the results, then discussing the implications. This is the first pan-Canadian survey of online learning of all public post-secondary institutions in Canada, universities AND colleges.
When: Tuesday, October 17, 4.00 pm, Osgoode West Room.
For more information on the survey: Go to: https://onlinelearningsurveycanada.ca/ to download the report; see also: Responses to the Canadian survey of online and distance learning.
Three sessions on my book: Teaching in a Digital Age
What: I am doing three seminar-type sessions on my open, online textbook, Teaching in a Digital Age, under the heading of Guidelines for Designing Teaching and Learning. If you wish to attend you are advised to read first the recommended chapters from the book (click on time and place links below for the recommended readings) if you have not already done so, as this will be more a discussion of the issues than formal presentations.
When:
Monday, October 16, 3.00 – 4.00 pm, City Hall Room:
Presentation 1:
Building an Effective Learning Environment – How to Enable More Flexible Models of Learning Design to be Created and Applied
Presentation 2:
Making the Choice – How to Choose between Online, Blended or Campus-Based Delivery for Effective Learning
Wednesday, October 18, 11:45 am – 12:45 pm, Maple Room
Presentation 1:
Choosing Media – How They Differ and How to Make the Best Choices for My Teaching
Presentation 2:
How Open Education Will Revolutionize Higher Education: The Impact of Open Research, Open Textbooks, OERs and Open Data on Course Design and Delivery
Thursday, October 19, 11.00 am – 12 noon, City Hall Room
Presentation 1:
Ensuring Quality – How to Design and Deliver Quality Courses in a Supportive Learning Environment
Presentation 2:
General discussion of the design issues raised in the book.
Networking
Perhaps the most important part of any conference like this is networking. If you want to connect, try texting me at 604-418-7484. It will be great to meet in person any of my blog or book readers!
Try to make it a coffee or lunch break, though, as I want to go to many of the other sessions.
Hope to see you at the conference!
Dr. Tony Bates is the author of eleven books in the field of online learning and distance education. He has provided consulting services specializing in training in the planning and management of online learning and distance education, working with over 40 organizations in 25 countries. Tony is a Research Associate with Contact North | Contact Nord, Ontario’s Distance Education & Training Network.
