Dublin – Digital Learning Dispatches

If you’re interested in online learning and transforming lives and societies through education, then Dublin is the place to be in November. The official opening of the ICDE World Conference on Online Learning is less than 100-days away when we expect to welcome to Dublin around 1000 delegates from over 50 countries. Our NIDL team has a great social and cultural programme planned for delegates along with an engaging mix of hot topics and topical themes for discussion during the conference. If you haven’t already done so, then make sure you register as soon as possible for this year’s ICDE World Conference.

However, if for some reason you can’t get to Dublin in person then we would like to let you know about the opportunity to submit a Virtual Paper which still gives people from around the world a chance to participate in this major international event. Virtual Papers will be included in the conference programme and formal proceedings with the same validity as other paper categories. The conference website contains further information about the requirements for Virtual Papers and authors need to submit a short abstract (250 words) through the conference submission system by no later than Friday 23^rdAugust.

Lastly, for a more detailed conference update make sure you check the information in last week’s dedicated ICDE World Conference Newsletter and keep an eye out for next week’s edition. The World Conference Newsletter will be published fortnightly as we countdown to the event, with newsworthy items, brief profiles of our major speakers, links to significant reports that will be discussed at the conference, as well as providing valuable tips and information of how delegates can make the most of the event and your time in Dublin.

This is a brief update on planning for this year’s ICDE World Conference on Online Learning that the NIDL is hosting at the iconic and award winning Convention Centre Dublin (CCD) in November. The Organising Committee is pleased to report that paper submissions are already being submitted through the website, with the deadline in March. The 2017 World Conference in Toronto attracted around 1,400 delegates and we are expecting strong interest and a large number of submissions for this year’s Dublin event.

There are several submission categories including full papers, concise papers, lightening talks and digital posters. Unique digital poster boards will be used for the first time to provide conference delegates with a visually attractive and more interactive experience. The conference will also feature a number of symposia and interactive knowledge fora to help discuss a range of contemporary issues, including:

Policy and Strategy
Open Educational Practices
Minority Heritage Language and Culture
Alternative Micro and Digital Credentials
Refugees, Asylum Seekers and New Immigrants
Online Education for Healthy Living and Well-being
Industry Partnerships for Continuing Professional Development

Another highlight of the World Conference will be the “Great Debate” which is intended to explore tensions between new and emerging models of online learning and the time-honoured egalitarian roots of open, flexible and distance education. There will also be a rich pre-conference workshop programme on Sunday 3^rdNovember at Dublin City University’s St Patrick’s campus, including a Doctoral Research Symposium and special invitation only Leadership Summit.

To answer questions and enhance the success of paper submissions the local organising team in the NIDL at DCU will be offering several webinars over the next few weeks for prospective authors. More precise information about the webinar dates and times will available in the next week or so. In the meantime when preparing your paper submissions, please keep in mind the overarching conference theme, which is “Transforming Lives and Societies”, and the five big questions we seek to explore along with the related sub themes.

Lastly, for regular updates remember to follow the conference on Twitter (@WCOL2019) or our Linkedin account where you can also enter our monthly draw for a free tour of the famous Guinness Storehouse during your visit to Dublin in November. More information about other tour opportunities, the exciting social and cultural programme we are planning, and post-conference events and excursions will follow in future updates.