Conferences and Professional Development

eLearning 2.0 Conference
Uxbridge, England

http://www.elearning2.org/
The Fourth eLearning 2.0 conference aims to explore Technology-enhanced Learning in the context of Web 2.0 and social media including Twitter, Facebook, Blogs, Wikis and YouTube. It will be held on 7th and 8th June 2012 in Brunel Business School's brand new building at the entrance to Brunel University.

Themes include: evolving pedagogies for Web 2.0, security, privacy, social networking, podcasting, wikis, blogging, video sharing, screencasting, folksonomies, eLearning 2.0 and people with disabilities, the potential impact of eLearning 2.0 on the Third World, creativity and Web 2.0, Human-Computer Interaction, and Business.

It brings together international Education, Information Systems and Technology-enhanced Learning researchers and practitioners to participate in sharing ideas and to enjoy the exciting surroundings of the historical capital of the UK – London.

ISTE 2012
San Diego, CA

http://www.isteconference.org/2012/program/
Now in its 33rd year, ISTE's annual conference and exposition features an amazing array of professional learning and collaborative networking opportunities. As part of your conference registration, you can choose from three inspirational keynotes and more than 700 concurrent sessions including: lecture, panel, Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), model lesson, research paper, poster, student showcase, and Birds of a Feather discussion formats. Also be sure to check out our special focus playgrounds and networking lounges for even more hands-on exploration and one-to-one connecting.

Our theme for ISTE 2012 is "Expanding Horizons." With this mantra we’ll continue our goal of providing professional development and networking opportunities to help infuse technology solutions into education. Students who receive a comprehensive, digital-age education are better prepared for their futures, and their personal horizons become limitless.

A horizon is a range of perceptions or experiences. At ISTE 2012 you’ll be in the company of thousands of educational professionals with a broad range of knowledge and experience—all of whom are excited to share their unique observations with you.

Our conference program will provide myriad opportunities for you to explore and expand your professional learning networks, job expertise, and career satisfaction. Whether you are a teacher, tech coordinator, district administrator, or media specialist, you'll find formal sessions, informal venues, and networking areas to help you achieve your ed tech goals and expand your own horizons as well.

BbWorld 2012
New Orleans, LA

http://www.blackboard.com/BbWorld/Home.aspx
BbWorld is the premier event of the year for you to meet experts, connect with peers, and hear about Blackboard’s product roadmap. BbWorld 2012 will be our best conference yet, with more sessions than ever and larger capacity session rooms. In addition to quality session content, BbWorld provides valuable networking opportunities, expert speakers, world-renowned keynote presenters, hands-on training and more.
Get Connected with Your Community

BbWorld is a unique opportunity to engage with thousands of fellow Blackboard users, transfer knowledge and come away with all the answers to your most pressing questions.
Find Ideas You Can Implement Now

Each session is designed to arm you with core competencies and actionable next steps to help you get the most out of the software you work with every day. You’ll take away tangible solutions and tools to make change happen at home.
Influence the Blackboard Roadmap

Help shape the future of our products through on site usability sessions, round tables and client focus groups. Take advantage of the multiple opportunities to share your feedback in person and tell us about your needs and concerns.

IETC 2012
National Central University, Taoyuan, Taiwan

http://www.iet-c.net/index.php?page=about
International Educational Technology Conference series, founded in 2001, is an international, non-profitable, educational technology activity with the mission of educational technology in education and it's practical application. IETC serves the profession with international conferences, quality proceedings books and leading edge digital library for professional growth.

It is an international educational activity for academics, teachers and educators. This conference is now a well known educational technology event and the number of paper submissions and attendees increase every year. It promotes the development and dissemination of theoretical knowledge, conceptual research, and professional knowledge through symposium activities, the symposium book, and the Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology (TOJET). Its focus is to create and disseminate knowledge about the use of instructional technology for learning and teaching in education.

"The International Educational Technology Conference (IETC)" series is an international academic, educational, professional group dedicated to the advancement of educational technology knowledge, theory, and quality of learning and teaching at all levels.

SLOAN-C 5th Annual International Symposium for Emerging Technologies for Online Learning
The Venetian | Palazzo Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada

http://sloanconsortium.org/conference/2012/et4online/welcome
The Emerging Technologies Symposium is devoted to the emerging and innovative uses of technology designed to improve teaching and learning online. The conference focuses on the technologies that drive online learning effectiveness, highlighting research, applications and best practices of important emerging technological tools. We encourage submissions related to instruction, networking, assessment, open educational resources, new media and support services.

Who Should Attend
This conference, which will provide the latest information on emerging technology applications for online learning, is geared to both experienced professionals and interested newcomers to online learning who hail from a variety of work sectors, including higher education, continuing education, business, government, health care, professional associations, and nonprofit organizations.

28th Annual Conference on Distance Teaching and Learning
Madison, WI

http://www.uwex.edu/disted/conference/
The Annual Conference on Distance Teaching & Learning is recognized internationally for the quality and integrity of its program. Each year the conference provides an exchange of current resources, research, and best practices from around the world that are relevant to the design and delivery of distance education/training.

Conference Objectives
Teach
* Discuss critical success factors and innovative practices in distance education and training.
* Examine the key components of effective applications: needs analysis, course design, teaching methods, active learning, learner support, management, policy, and evaluation.
* Share successful approaches, strategies, and techniques.
* Identify active teaching/learning methods for effective engagement, motivation, and performance outcomes.
* Discuss major issues, new developments, and trends.

Learn
* Reflect on progress made in distance education.
* Consider future possibilities for distance education.
* Increase knowledge about teaching/training at a distance.

Connect
* Facilitate networking among distance educators, practitioners and administrators.
* Share program resources via technology (e.g., print, audio, video, multimedia, and the Internet).

18th Annual Sloan Consortium International Conference on Online Learning
'At A Crossroads: Online Education in a Complex World'
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort - Lake Buena Vista, Florida

http://sloanconsortium.org/conference/2012/aln/welcome
A crossroad, an intersection, however we define it, there is no doubt that the future of online education will be shaped by important choices that confront us today. The higher education landscape is changing rapidly and we have much to consider.

Does the shifting nature of literacy in an always-on digital world demand new approaches to online teaching, learning, and assessment or do we already understand principles that have stood the test of time? How can we bridge practice with emerging research from the learning sciences and neuroscience that may prove crucial to the future of online education?

How do we frame discussions about reputational and ethical issues? These clearly require nuanced analysis and we know that serious research concludes learning online can be better than classroom learning. But problematic practices do exist; recent headlines and congressional investigations are not lightly dismissed. Do we meet these challenges head-on, or should we hope others will deal with them? In a related sense can we delay decisions around accountability metrics and looming regulatory oversight already impacting pre-college institutions, or should we take steps to deal with these now?

Issues of costs in higher education are of perpetual concern, does online learning provide a way forward or are we unrealistic with such thinking? These questions lead to deeper themes - what is the societal value of higher education in the 21st century and how do we garner the resources to support it? Ongoing issues around assessment, access, and quality all present questions that require thoughtful decision making. How will we confront these challenges?

The 2012 Sloan-C International Conference on Online Learning is the premier forum for approaching the complex questions that face all concerned with the future of our students, faculty, colleagues, and institutions. Join us for this year’s gathering and participate in the conversations that will provide crucial insights and help us make the decisions that will chart the future course of high quality online education. We look forward to your contributions!

2012 AECT International Convention Learning in the Age of Globalization
Louisville, Kentucky

http://aectorg.yourwebhosting.com/events/Louisville/default.asp?clientid
This year’s convention theme is Learning in the Age of Globalization. Global citizens “must be able to competently negotiate cultural differences, manage multiple identities, comfortably interact with people from different cultures, and confidently move across cultures as well as the virtual and physical worlds” (Zhao, 2007). Converging web, mobile, and social technologies have generated a level of communication and interaction never before possible. In the Age of Globalization, how are these tools being used to enhance learning and prepare students and their organizations to succeed in a global society?