Save the Date (12/16/13) for our first Northeast E-Learning Consortium Un-Conference

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Please save the date of Monday, December 16, 2013 for our first Northeast E-Learning Consortium Un-Conference. The event will be hosted by the University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, PA. The event will also include the first Philadelphia stop on Blackboard's "Never Stop Learning Tour". 

In a departure from a conventionally structured program of events, the Consortium has decided on a modified unconference format, a loosely structured conference emphasizing the informal exchange of information and ideas between participants.

VIEW PROGRAM SCHEDULE

While there will be some traditional presentations from our sponsors, and other select topics, the bulk of the agenda elearning topics are created by the attendees when they register for the meeting. Attendees with a high level of expertise or knowledge in the topic who want to initiate a discussion on a topic can claim a session slot to lead. 

Our unconference sessions will feature open discussions rather than having a single speaker at the front of the room giving a talk. Alternately, session attendees will be given a few minutes to present in a “panel” format.

PLEASE REGISTER ONLINE NOW! 

Blackboard's "Never Stop Learning" Tour in Philly will be an "Un-Conference"

National Distance Learning Week (Nov 11-15)

There are several ways to participate. Come to the face-2-face annual meeting of the PA/DE/NJ Distance Learning Association (PADLA), the local chapter of the National Distance Learning Association (USDLA).

The PA/DE/NJ Distance Learning Association is very pleased to announce our 11th Annual full-day Distance/e-Learning/AV Technology Conference & Expo which will be taking place at West Chester University on Wednesday 11/13/13.

Featured as our keynote speaker is Dr. Marc Rosenberg, a highly recognized author and thought leader in the world of training, organizational learning, e-learning, knowledge management and performance improvement. His presentation "Building e-Learning Strategy for the Future: 10 Key Shifts to Watch" will no doubt help you make informed decisions about the future of learning technologies within your organizations.

The keynote will be followed by 15 sessions in 3 tracks and our ever popular Vendor Expo, food & much more.

VISIT PADLA SITE FOR DETAILS AND REGISTRATION

Or participate in several free online workshops sponsored by the USDLA.

Register Online Here

• Creating Essential Questions to Guide Student Inquiry Learning
• World Fest 2013 - Florida Virtual School
• Implementing Brick and Mortar Best Practices into the Virtual Classroom

HigherEd Camp Philly 2013

Date: Saturday, November 2, 2013
Time: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM (EDT)
Place: Arcadia University, Glenside, PA

Flip Your Classroom with iPad & Apple TV

Learn how iPad and Apple TV can be used in innovative ways in class to facilitate the "flipped" classroom and hear the results of a pilot program using 100 chemistry and physical therapy students who received iPads.

This is an abbreviated version of a talk given by Rod Murray at the International Association for Medical Science Educators (IAMSE) at St. Andrews University in Scotland on June 8 and 10, 2013.

PADLA/IMS Higher Education Technology Symposium

The PA/DE/NJ Distance Learning Association (www.padla.org) invites you to attend the "Ask the Experts" Higher Education Technology Symposium, moderated by Joanne Green, Director of Academic Computing at the National Defense University and former Director of Academic Technology at LaSalle University.

• When: Thursday, April 25, 2013, 8:30 AM - 03:00 PM
• Where: The Lang Performing Arts Center Cinema
• Swarthmore College
• 500 College Ave
• Swarthmore, PA 19081

This Special Event features a panel of upper level academic thought leaders (Marko Jarymovych from Wharton, Rod Murray from University of the Sciences, JT Singh from West Chester University, Wayne Hill from Drexel University, and Michael Patterson from Swarthmore College) addressing the topics and challenges faced by our region's most prestigious institutions when implementing Distance/e-Learning/m-Learning/Educational Technology.

Following will be a panel of key manufacturers (Polycom, Panasonic, Extron, Haivision) addressing how they are providing solutions to meet these specific challenges. Registered attendees will have the opportunity to submit their challenges prior to the event.

Although the panels will be focused on higher ed, attendees from corporations, non-profits, and K-12s are guaranteed to gain valuable insight relating to their own Distance/e-Learning/m-Learning/Educational Technology missions.

Many thanks to PADLA sponsor IMS Technology Services for their efforts in coordinating, co-hosting, and providing all the funding, prizes from vendors, plus a light breakfast and sit-down hot luncheon (limited seating), to make this a FREE event for all attendees.

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

Drexel e-Learning 3.0 Conference

REGISTER NOW!

Mark your calendars for Thursday, March 28, 2013 for the 11th Annual e-Learning 3.0 Conference

• Thursday, March 28, 2013
• 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
• Drexel University
• Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building
• 33rd and Chestnut Streets
• Philadelphia, PA

Attend the 11th Annual e-Learning Conference at our neighbor, Drexel. The keynote will be given by Dr. John P. Campbell, Associate Provost for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer at West Virginia University. John will discuss their early warning system that combines real-time data on course performance with data from Blackboard to help retain students.

The conference presentations feature a range of e-learning topics including:

• Best Practices
• Pedagogy
• Learning Management Systems
• Support
• Administration

This conference is an opportunity to share best practices and creative approaches for learning enrichment and student engagement in an e-learning 3.0 environment. Join colleagues from across the region to learn how to utilize existing and emerging technologies, and develop engaging e-learning 3.0 strategies to augment face-to-face classes, teach hybrid Web-enhanced classes, or facilitate completely online, Web-delivered classes.

Attendees can expect to learn from their colleagues about how they are leveraging the use of teaching and learning technologies in exciting and innovative ways. They will hear about myriad practical and meaningful strategies in e-learning and technology use that they can take back to their colleagues and utilize at their own institutions.

Attendees will also hear about the effects of e-learning on online student retention (persistence), student outcomes, etc. from a broad-based array of perspectives. If these are particular areas of interest for you, please consider sending in a proposal, and certainly plan on joining regional colleagues at this year's event.

The cost of the event is $100 ($25 for students). There is a 10% early bird discount for non-students who register by February 22nd, 2013. The registration fee includes: welcome materials and information, access to the presentations and keynote speaker sessions, continental breakfast, lunch, afternoon refreshments, and a door prize drawing at the conclusion of the event (winners must be present).

7 Things You Should Know about Flipped Classrooms

The following is with permission of EDUCAUSE:

The flipped classroom is a pedagogical model in which the typical lecture and homework elements of a course are reversed. The notion of a flipped classroom draws on such concepts as active learning, student engagement, hybrid course design, and course podcasting. The value of a flipped class is in the repurposing of class time into a workshop where students can inquire about lecture content, test their skills in applying knowledge, and interact with one another in hands-on activities. Although implementing a flipped classroom places different demands on faculty and forces students to adjust their expectations, the model has the potential to bring about a distinctive shift in priorities—from merely covering material to working toward mastery of it.

Download Full PDF

 The "7 Things You Should Know About..." series from the EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative (ELI) provides concise information on emerging learning technologies. Each brief focuses on a single technology and describes what it is, where it is going, and why it matters to teaching and learning. Use these briefs for a no-jargon, quick overview of a topic and share them with time-pressed colleagues.

Copyright © 2013 Educause

NMC Horizon Report: 2013 Higher Education Edition

The New Media Consortium (NMC) Horizon Report is an unbiased source of information that helps education leaders, trustees, policy makers, and others easily understand the impact of key emerging technologies on education, and when they are likely to enter mainstream use.

The 2013 Horizon Report is a decade-long research project designed to identify and describe emerging technologies likely to have an impact on learning, teaching, and creative inquiry in higher education. Six emerging technologies are identified across three adoption horizons over the next one to five years, as well as key trends and challenges expected to continue over the same period, giving campus leaders and practitioners a valuable guide for strategic technology planning.

Time-to-Adoption Horizon: One Year or Less

• Massively Open Online Courses (MOOCs)
• Tablet Computing

Time-to-Adoption Horizon: Two to Three Years

• Games and Gamification
• Learning Analytics

Time-to-Adoption Horizon: Four to Five Years

• 3D Printing
• Wearable Technology