(Apologies for cross-posting)

IMS Learning Design: the UNFOLD project starts activities.

If you are interested in the future of eLearning and eLearning
standards, and specifically in IMS Learning Design, you may be
interested to know that the UNFOLD project has started its first phase
of on-line activities. We are organising international Communities of
Practice (CoPs) which are open to all those using the specification, or
considering doing so. There are three CoPs:

- Systems Developers (those building tools and systems to support
learning);
- Learning Designers (those involved in constructing learning events
such as modules, courses, etc);
- Teachers and Learning Providers (individuals and institutions which
work directly with learners).

The CoPs provide the opportunity for professionals and researchers to
share and deepen their understanding of the specification and the issues
which it raises. Our intent is to encourage active participation and
cooperation between individuals and groups.

The CoPs will meet four times a year in person, but a principal focus
for their activities will be the on-line presence at
www.unfold-project.net, which has on-line facilities to read, discuss,
share, critique and create, and we will also provide initial questions
for discussion.

At this Website, which has recently gone live, you will find:

- extensive resources about the IMS Learning Design specification;
- access to the on-line support for the
- details of the UNFOLD face-to-face events, workshops, presentations
and on-line events, interoperability tests, etc.

If you are involved in this field, please visit the site, join a CoP,
and let us know about your interests and issues relating to IMS Learning
Design!

Details of UNFOLD activities are available on the Web site, but two
dates which you might like to note down are:

* July 16th - On-line discussion of a paper by Bill Olivier which will
discuss progress being made in the implementation of Learning Design.
Please go to http://www.unfold-
project.net:8085/UNFOLD/about_folder/events/billjuly04/ from Tuesday
13th July to download the paper, and to see details of the organisation
of the session, scheduled for 16.00 Central European Summer Time, 15.00
UK time, and early in the morning in North America.

* September 8-9-10 - First CoP face to face meetings in Barcelona. This
is your chance to set the agenda for the activities of the CoPs.  See
http://www.unfold-
project.net:8085/UNFOLD/about_folder/events/f2fbarcelona/ for the
agenda, registration, and other details.

You can also access these and other events from the list of "upcoming
events" in the panel to the right of the UNFOLD front page.

Best wishes,

Dai Griffiths, UNFOLD Project Coordinator [[log in to unmask]].

--------------------------------------------------------
Lisa Corley
Pedagogy Forum Co-ordinator
CETIS  (Centre for Educational Technology Interoperability Standards)
Bolton Institute of Higher Education
Deane Road, Bolton,  BL3 5AB

Tel: +44(0)1204 903851
Mob: +44(0)7909 688224
email: [log in to unmask]
website: http://www.cetis.ac.uk/pedagogy