Association for Learning Technology
Fortnightly news digest 102, 2 March 2006

Apologies for the delay... Lots of calls for papers, events and great 
jobs this week.

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Deadline for next issue (number 103): Wednesday 7 March 2006

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1. Association news: staff news; search the digest archive
2. Association events: book now for Spring Conference and workshops!
3. Invitations to tender: three from the JISC
4. Calls for papers: six calls for events
5. Other events: five staff development opportunities
6. News: LSC, HEFCE, JISC, BBC and EU news
7. Vacancies: six excellent vacancies
8. Courses: e-assessment, online tutoring...

1. Association news

1.1 Staff news
Marion O'Dea, our Operations Manager, starts her maternity leave after 
today. We wish her a happy delivery!
Bob Green will be covering in Marion's absence. He can be contacted on 
[log in to unmask]

1.2 The digest archive
If you have lost the last digest email with that really interesting call 
for papers/job/bid call, you can look it up on the web site at
http://www.alt.ac.uk/news.php
This page also has a link to our Document pages, where many useful 
reports re stored:
http://www.alt.ac.uk/documents.html

2. Association events

2.1 Spring Conference & Research Seminar 2006
New connections, new challenges
6-7 April 2006, Leiden University, The Netherlands
In association with SURF and ILTA.
BOOK NOW to secure accommodation:
http://www.alt.ac.uk/conferences.php

Themes:
* Tools for lifelong learning: identity, movement and standards
* Emerging technologies and the 'Net generation'
* Digital games: play and simulation

A timetable for Thursday's conference can be found on the website and 
further details are available on the wiki:
http://altspring.jot.com/WikiHome
* Speakers include: Prof Angela McFarlane, Prof Robert Jan Simons, Scott 
Wilson, Leo Waaijers, Igor Mayer
* Booking deadline: 23 March 2006 (hotel booking deadline: 5 March)
http://www.alt.ac.uk/conferences.php

2.2 ALT-C 2006: the next generation
5-7 September 2006, Edinburgh, UK
Conference co-chairs: Prof Terry Mayes and Prof Ron Oliver
http://www.alt.ac.uk/altc2006/
A record 356 submissions have been received for the conference!
Submitters will be notified by mid-May of the outcome. Registrations will 
open in April.

Key deadlines:
Presenters to register by 9 June 2006
Earlybird rate closes 30 June 2006
Registrations close 11 August 2006
Keynote speakers: Stephen Heppell, Diana Oblinger, Tim O'Shea
http://www.alt.ac.uk/altc2006/keynotes.html

2.3 Bidding for learning technology funds: a one-day workshop
26 April 2006, Novotel Manchester West
Presenters: Mark Stiles, Staffordshire University, and Jeff Haywood, 
University of Edinburgh.
Project bids are time-consuming and should not be undertaken lightly; 
this workshop will give tips on how to avoid wasted effort and dashed 
hopes. Three experienced learning technology project managers, who have 
run projects with funds from the JISC and other sources, and who have 
judged bids written by others, will share their perspectives on writing 
convincing bids for funds.
Cost: £150 for ALT members; £250 for non-members
Booking deadline: Wednesday 12 April 2006
http://www.alt.ac.uk/workshop_detail.php?e=217

2.4 Edublogs: the educational use of weblogs, weblogging tools and really 
simple syndication (RSS)
4 May 2006, King’s College, London
Presenters: Josie Fraser, Wyggeston & Queen Elizabeth I College, and 
Steven Warburton, King’s College London.
This workshop addresses the current theory and practice surrounding the 
use of blogs and RSS (Really Simple Syndication) within a variety of 
educational settings. Blogs and RSS will be considered within the wider 
changes that are occurring on the Internet, which are now being grouped 
under the banner of Web 2.0. There will be a discussion of the issues 
raised by Web 2.0 technologies and why educational establishments need to 
engage with emerging technologies such as blogs and wikis. 
Cost: £95 for ALT members; £150 for non-members
Booking deadline: Friday 12 April 2006
http://www.alt.ac.uk/workshop_detail.php?e=216

3. Invitations to tender

3.1 JISC ITT: A Feasibility Study on the Acquisition of e-Books by Higher 
Education Libraries and the Role of the JISC
The study is intended to inform the JISC e-Books working Group and the 
JISC Content Services committee about the feasibility of JISC adding 
value at a national level, by engaging in negotiations with publishers of 
e-books. Funding of up to £25,000 plus VAT is available for this study. 
Deadline for receipt of tenders: 1.00 pm on Friday 31 March 2006.
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/index.cfm?name=funding_ebooks

3.2 JISC ITT: Information Governance Gateway
... tenders to design, implement, host and maintain an online gateway 
containing resources of relevance to both the public and practitioners 
regarding the HE sector's compliance with information governance 
legislation. Initial funding of up to £50,000 is available for stage 1 of 
the project... Funding of up to a further £150,000 is available for stage 
2. Deadline for proposals: Thursday 6th April 2006.
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/index.cfm?name=funding_foigateway

3.3 JISC ITT: NewsFilm Online Graphic User Interface
... tenders for the design and development of the NewsFilm Online graphic 
user interface to be hosted and served from a JISC national data centre. 
Funding of up to £100,000 is available. Deadline for proposals: 1300 
hours on Monday 3 April 2006.
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/index.cfm?name=newsfilm

4. Calls for papers

4.1 EISTA 2006 (The 4th International Conference on Education and 
Information Systems, Technologies and Applications)
Extension of the deadline for papers and abstracts: now March 7, 2006.
http://www.conf-info.org/eista06

4.2 IADIS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE MOBILE LEARNING 2006
14–16 July 2006 - Dublin, IRELAND
Deadline for submissions (new date): 13 March 2006
http://www.iadis.org/ml2006
 
4.3 mLearn 2006
October 22-25, 2006, Banff, Alberta, Canada
Abstract Submission Deadline: May 31, 2006
http://www.mlearn2006.org/
                
4.4 CAA Conference – Update and Call for Papers Reminder
10th International Computer Assisted Assessment Conference (Also known as 
E-Assessment)
4th and 5th July 2006 - Loughborough University, UK
http://www.caaconference.com/

4.5 Blended Learning – A dialogue in Innovation and Practice
FINAL CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS - 17th MARCH 2006
Thursday 15th June 2006, Fielder Centre, University of Hertfordshire.
http://www.herts.ac.uk/blu

4.6 12th Sloan-C International Conference on Asynchronous Learning 
Networks
"The Power of Online Learning: Realizing the Vision"
November 8-10, 2006, Rosen Centre Hotel, Orlando, Florida
Proposals must be submitted by April 14, 2006.
http://www.aln.ucf.edu

5. Other events

5.1 eLearning Alliance event: Challenging On-line Assessment
10 March 2006, 0930 - 1300
http://www.elearningalliance.org/events/event_viewer.cfm?id=695

5.2 Understanding teaching & learning
21 March 2006, Wills Hall, University of Bristol
- showcasing innovative practice in learning and support for law 
librarians.
http://www.ukcle.ac.uk/newsevents/ukcleevent.html?event=304

5.3 Innovating e-Learning 2006: Transforming Learning Experiences
An online conference based around the work of the e-Learning and Pedagogy 
and Innovation strands of the JISC e-Learning Programme
27 - 31 March 2006
The conference will open 20 March for pre-conference reading, and will be 
available for viewing up to two weeks after the close. Registration is 
now open: £50 per delegate
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/elp_conference06.html

5.4 TASI digital images workshops: 1,000th booking to be a free place!
http://www.tasi.ac.uk/training/

5.5 Serious games event
25th May 2006, London - with 60% off usual delegate fee for members.
http://www.applyseriousgames.com

6. News

6.1 Flexible learning is attractive, but cost is main factor for learners
http://www.hefce.ac.uk/news/hefce/2006/demand.htm

6.2 Professor Eastwood appointed Chief Executive of HEFCE
http://www.hefce.ac.uk/news/hefce/2006/ce/

6.3 LSC’s review of ICT Programme Weighting Factors
http://tinyurl.com/r53zr

6.4 Vivian Reding’s speech to European Regulators Group on e-
communication
http://tinyurl.com/8ejdp

6.5 JISC news headlines:
6.5.1 UKERNA to provide online back-up, hosting and web file services
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/index.cfm?name=ukerna_backup
6.5.2 JISC sends guidance on open source software to all colleges and 
universities
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/index.cfm?name=oss_bp
6.5.3 Roaming service to support network access for visitors
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/index.cfm?name=roaming_network

6.6 History news archive open at BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/calc/news/

7. Vacancies

7.1 Lauder College
LEARNING RESOURCES SYSTEMS SUPPORT OFFICER
Salary: £20,015 - £25,044 per annum
Closing date: 10 March 2006.
http://www.lauder.ac.uk/vacancies

7.2 Nottingham Trent University, Educational Development Unit
Five vacancies:
SENIOR EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPER
Post No: A6152 - Scale PO 38-41: £32,490 - £35,256 p.a.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING MANAGER
Post No: A6146 - Scale PO 34-37: £29,211 - £31,662 p.a.
EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPER
Post No: A6138 - Scale SO1: £23,184 - £24,822 p.a.
LEARNING TECHNOLOGIST
Post Ref: A6131 - Scale SO1: £23,184 - £24,822 p.a.
VLE SUPPORT OFFICER
Post Ref: A2255 - Scale 6: £20,835 - £22,290 p.a.
Closing date for all posts: Wednesday 22nd March 2006
http://www.ntu.ac.uk/careers

8. Courses

8.1 eXcellence in eLearning Ltd
Now offering an online version of the SQA Diploma in eAssessment. The 
award is designed for those who wish to design and implement eAssessment 
within an online learning environment. A cohort for the unit in 
eAssessment Principles and Practice will commence on Tuesday 14th March 
2006. The diploma comprises 3 taught units, of which this is the first, 
and a project (4 units in all).
http://www.ex-el.org

8.2 eTTCampus
Are you a teacher or trainer interested in using ICT in your teaching? 
Are you interested in working collaboratively with colleagues in 
different countries? EDEN would like to invite you to join the piloting 
of the Virtual Campus and give feedback to the project consortium.  
http://www.ettcampus.net/elearning

8.3 New e-tutor online training courses
In line with a curriculum developed as part of the European ISEeTT 
project, the University of Hull is offering a new range of 6 different 
online courses designed to help both inexperienced and experienced people 
involved in online and blended learning to develop and/or enhance their e-
tutoring skills. Courses commence at the beginning of April 2006.
http://www.hull.ac.uk/cll/foundationawards

--
The digest returns on 9 March 2006. All news, jobs, events, etc, to
[log in to unmask] by Wednesday 8 March, please.

Regards
Rhonda

Disclaimer: Whilst every care is taken to provide accurate
information in compiling this digest, ALT cannot vouch for the
accuracy of information provided on other web sites to which the
digest links, and opinions expressed on those sites should not be
construed to be those of ALT.

  Rhonda Riachi, Director
  Association for Learning Technology
  Gipsy Lane, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK.
  Tel: +44 (0)1865 484125   Fax: +44 (0)1865 484165
  Email: [log in to unmask]   URL: http://www.alt.ac.uk/
  Registered Charity Number: 1063519

  ALT-C 2006: 5-7 September, Edinburgh, Scotland
  http://www.alt.ac.uk/altc2006
  
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