Conference Day Two

John left early today, took the ferry determined to take some video of Albert Park before heading to the conference. It was another lovely day and he got some great video. It was a special day for some students who were convocating so he got a few shots of them and their parents. A lot of people go to the park to take pictures on memorable occasions.



He arrived a little late for the first keynote speaker - a guy extolling the virtues of Balcboard, an online software platform that is a major sponsor of the conference. However, there were two real presenters afterwards and they were very good.

This conference is short by North American standards but people go to sessions from 9:00am to 5:00pm and that is very tiring. John did take some video of some cool ASCILITE people. One of them, the convenor rings a big cow bell to tell people it is time to go their next session. And this is at an educational technology conference!!!! Sometimes the old technologies are the best!

After lunch John presented with Josie and Cathy. They did a session that asked people about the state of e-learning at their institutions. Forty four people showed up. It was originally designed for 90 minutes but they only had 45. No worries!

Josie started with a warm up, asking participants to put up their hands to answer three questions. Of course, the questions were designed ot make the partiicpants smille but at the same time realize that things are not perfect at ther uuniversities. then John talked to the group, saying that common practices tell you a lot about policies and planning and aksed people to say what the practices were at their places.

They divided the group up into three and each took a group. because it would have bee too noisy for three big groups in the same room, John took his group out into the wide coridor. The group appreciated that. After only 10 minutes it was time to go back in and John, Josie and Cathy said what their groups had talked about. The three groups had done the quesion differently but there were a lot of nodding heads. then cath intorduced her question. What next steps need to be taken? John again took his group outside. This was an even better discussion this time as was to be expected. Again ten minutes wasn't enough time. however, it seemed to John that there was lots of agreement and that the participants enjoyed knowing other had many of the same ideas and the same problems.
Josie then did the wrapup. people seemd pleased with the session and Josie collected the notes and stuff and is going to send it out to all the participants.

After the seesion, John did some email while waiting to go to the big conference dinner. There is a prize for the best costume. John is going as a stuffy old Canadian! hahahah I told him he should have taken me to look hip!

TRB