World Conference on Online Learning – Page 2

In the first week of November, we expect over 800 delegates from 77 countries (on last count) will be converging on Dublin for the ICDE World Conference on Online Learning. Another group of valued participants will be formally contributing virtual papers as part of the conference programme, and we expect many others will be following the event via our live stream and through various social media channels. Watch for our guidelines coming shortly on how you can maximise your virtual participation.

And before the Open Ceremony on Monday 4th November, more than 200 participants will join together on Sunday at DCU’s St Patrick’s campus for an interesting mix of pre-conference activities.

But that’s only the beginning of the action as our unique “Gasta” style lightning talks starting in the Convention Centre Dublin on Monday afternoon, coupled with Tuesday’s guided walking tours ending with a bit of “pedagogy in the pub”, should make for lively conversations. Whilst there is a serious side to the conference too, with some challenging invited speakers, lots of busy and bustling breakout presentations across 4-days and 10 parallel tracks, along with a mix of 15 interactive symposia, action labs and SWOT fora, we also hope that you have your ticket to the Gala Dinner. The conference dinner promises to be a grand event, where we will present a number of prestigious ICDE Awards as well as later in the evening encourage you to join our céilí dancers. We respectfully ask all guests to wear something “green” and there will be special green awards for those entering into the spirit of the occasion.

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And the good craic in Dublin doesn’t stop at the dinner, as the final day of the ICDE World Conference starts with a future-focussed keynote by Professor George Siemens. This is one talk not to miss! George will explore some of the big questions facing us in the future and set the scene for the “Great Dublin Debate”. Our debate should prove to be a real highlight of the conference as you can expect two teams to draw on their considerable experience, intellect and no doubt spontaneous wit for a lively discussion presenting different futures for online education.

Our local NIDL team can’t wait to welcome you to Dublin as we have a number of other creative twists and little surprises to share when you arrive. If you haven’t yet registered for the ICDE World Conference, then please don’t delay any longer, as we really want you to join us in Dublin to help shape the future.

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Go to the latest conference newsletter published earlier today to read lots more about the ICDE World Conference, including what’s new, the latest programme, our guiding aspirations, the conference app, an update for presenters, another speaker spotlight, information about our sponsors, the taste of Ireland, and more.

A month from now people will be arriving in Dublin from all parts of the globe for this year’s ICDE World Conference on Online Learning. The level of excitement is really building here in Dublin, which is evident by the range of activities and updates contained in our latest conference newsletter. Last week, for example, we visited our different conference venues to finalise many of the more creative and innovative features of the event; we briefed Ireland’s Minister for Education and Skills about the World Conference; and we published the first version of the full conference programme and notified presenters of their breakout sessions.

Over 5-days in the first week of November we have a really action packed schedule starting on Sunday with our busy pre-conference programme. We have already had to close registrations for some pre-conference workshops at Dublin City University’s St Patrick’s campus as the level of demand for Sunday’s event unfortunately exceeds our room capacity.

The official Opening Ceremony begins the following morning on Monday 4^thNovember in the award winning Convention Centre Dublin (CCD). Over the next four intensive days conference participants have the opportunity to engage with 8 great plenary speakers along with hundreds of educators from around the world, as they share their work over 11 breakout sessions, with 10 parallel tracks in each session. Our unique “Gasta style” lightning talks coupled with panel discussions and a variety of action labs, fish bowls, symposia and SWOT fora provide a vibrant platform for rich and challenging conversations.

And, of course, beyond the CCD, often referred to as a greenhouse for ideas, you can continue your conversations at the end of the day with old friends and new colleagues during our guided walking tours ending with “pedagogy in the pub” and at Wednesday evening’s Gala Dinner (Ceiliúradh na Comhdhála) in the famous Round Room at Mansion House. Whatever the location this year’s ICDE World Conference invites difficult and confronting questions as we seek to explore, push boundaries and heighten new understandings in the context of the overarching theme of “transforming lives and societies”.

If you want to learn more about the World Conference, and what’s new, then make sure you read through all the information contained in this week’s newsletter.