ALT news digest #54, 3 December 2003
Another bumper round-up of news in learning technology this week:
1. Welcome to new members
2. ALT-C 2004: Blue skies & pragmatism
3. ALT news
4. EASA 2004
5. Other events
6. Other news
7. Vacancies
8. Courses
1. Welcome to new members
A warm welcome to the following organisation which has joined ALT:
Scottish Qualifications Authority http://www.sqa.org.uk/
- and to the individual members who have joined in the last fortnight as
well.
I hope you find this digest useful. To send items for the fortnightly digest,
email [log in to unmask]
with your text in the body of the message (NO attachments, please!)
Deadline for next issue: Tues 16 December
2. ALT-C 2004: Blue skies & pragmatism
Exeter, Devon, UK
Tuesday 14 to Thursday 16 September 2004
http://www.alt.ac.uk/altc2004
Running an event at your institution on learning technology?
Email [log in to unmask] and we will send flyers on ALT-C 2004 and
other useful information.
Submission deadlines:
Research papers: Friday 5 March 2004
Other streams: Friday 26 March 2004
More details will be available next week on
http://www.alt.ac.uk/altc2004
3. ALT news
3.1 ALT-N
If you wish to advertise in the next newsletter (January), please email us
by 19 December to book your space.
Quarter-page adverts in ALT-N cost just £300. Circulation: 4,500
Contact: [log in to unmask]
3.2 ColdFusion server wanted
Is your institution running a ColdFusion web server with some spare
capacity?
Could you host some ALT web pages?
If so, contact us on [log in to unmask]
3.3. Workshop news
We are planning to run workshops in the new year on the following
themes:
Mobile Learning (m-learning) and use of SMS text
Click and Go Video Access for All
Writing research papers on learning technology
- and many more topics.
If you (or your team) have an idea for a workshop you would like to run
with ALT, contact us on [log in to unmask]
3.4 ALT response to the HEFCE elearning strategy
You can access the ALT response to the HEFCE elearning strategy
consultation from:
http://www.alt.ac.uk/documents.html
4. EASA 2004
The deadline for the European Academic Software Awards is soon
approaching. Go to:
http://www.easa-award.net
Deadline for first round: 23 December 2003
EASA welcomes entries from students, graduates, teachers and
researchers, who can register either individually or in teams.
Software is defined broadly as applications used for teaching and
research, covering tutorials, simulations or tools.
The first round requires a general description of the entry (no software is
submitted until the second round).
The finals will be held in Le Locle, Switzerland, 25-27 September 2004.
5. Other events
5.1 OSS Watch inaugural conference: "Open Source Deployment and
Development"
11 December 2003.
The conference is free but you must register to attend.
IT Managers, software developers and end-users at higher and further
education institutions are encouraged to attend. The conference will
take place in the Martin Wood Complex, University of Oxford.
Full details including a booking form are available on the OSS Watch
website, see
http://www.oss-watch.ac.uk/events/2003-12-11/
5.2 Events from NESTA FutureLab
15 December 2003,
Cyber Curricula, London
A one-day conference which brings together experts from education and
industry to explore the development of e-learning.
Presented by NMK, in association with NESTA Futurelab.
3- 6 January 2004,
NESTA Futurelab Design Challenge (in association with GameLab
London)
An event which brings together teams of five people - three from
multimedia design and programming, one teacher and one student - to
produce a prototype of a new learning resource - in three days.
http://www.nesta.org.uk
5.3 Social Science Online Seminars:
"Internet for Sociology": University of Birmingham, 16th December 2003
"Internet for Economics, Business, Management and Accountancy":
University of Bristol, 25th March 2004
One day seminars introducing you to the key JISC and national Internet
information resources in your subject field. Organised by SOSIG, The
JISC
Resource Guide for Social Science, CSAP, LTSN Economics and BEST.
For booking details and full programmes see:
http://www.sosig.ac.uk/events/
5.4 Herding Tigers workshop
University of Oxford, 17th December 2003
There are a few places left on our Herding Tigers workshop. This is an
informal, discussion led event for those involved in the production of
eLearning resources, and we will be concentrating on the areas of
accessibilty, evaluation and standards. A full timetable is also now
available on the web site at
http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/ltg/events/tigers2003/prog.html
Closing date for bookings is Monday 8 December.
5.5 JISC seminar at the BETT Show 2004
Susan Eales, JISC Programme Manager, is presenting a seminar at the
forthcoming BETT Show.
Wednesday 7 January 2004, 15.30 - 16.15
JORUM: a National Learning Material Repository
The JISC is creating a learning materials repository and a number of
exemplar projects that demonstrate how this can be used. The
repository
is being designed with the non-IT expert in mind. The ultimate goal is to
provide a one-stop-shop where teachers can share and re-use learning
materials.
For further information and to book your place, please visit the BETT
website:
http://www.bettshow.co.uk/
5.6 VLEs: Beyond The Fringe... And Into The Mainstream
Online conference, 28th January to 4th February 2004.
http://ferl.becta.org.uk/display.cfm?resID=6293
The conference is aimed at all those involved in working with VLEs,
whether you've got a VLE in place at the moment or not.
Although most of the contributors are from FE, the workshops will also
be relevant to the wider education sector, including schools and HE. The
conference
will have two themes running through it:
· Cultural change - from learners to managers, with a keynote paper by
Grainne Conole, of the University of Southampton
· Implementation and Staff Development, with a keynote by Peter
Kilcoyne,
of West Midlands Regional Support Centre.
As well as these, there are various other papers and presentations, and
a
number of Ask the Expert sessions.
There is a delegate fee of £50 (with discounts for bulk registrations).
For many people this will be cheaper than many "free" conferences - no
travel
to pay, no hotel rooms to book.
5.7 When Worlds Collide Conference
Wednesday 18 to Thursday 19 February 2004
Le Meridien Royal York Hotel, York
A JISC infoNet conference to explore cultural differences between
academic and systems practitioners and the management implications
for institutions developing Managed Learning Environments. The event
is supported by HEFCE, UCISA and ALT.
Day One will consist of presentations, an exhibition of institutional
projects addressing these issues and an Open Forum with a panel of
experts.
Day Two will consist of a half-day 'Think Tank' where a range of issues
based on the themes covered in the conference sessions will be
discussed and the output used as the basis for a HEFCE-sponsored
publication. Numbers for the 'Think Tank' are limited and will be
allocated on a first come, first served basis.
Further details and booking form are available at
http://www.jiscinfonet.ac.uk/Events/wwc_conference
5.8 JISC consultation workshop: "Building Collaborative eResearch
Environments".
The workshop will be held twice at the following locations:
23 February 2004 - National eScience Centre (NeSC), Edinburgh;
5 March 2004 - Scarman House, Warwick.
This workshop will explore issues concerning the cultural differences
between disciplinary research groups, the barriers to planning and
implementation (for example Intellectual Property Rights and copyright
concerns)and will explore generic and subject-specific user
requirements.
The topics to be discussed will be of interest to the DfES, the Research
Councils, research agencies, the Learning and Skills Development
Agency,
Heads of Academic Departments, Deans, Directors of Research and
other senior members of universities and colleges.
For further information about the workshop programme and to book
online, please visit:
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/event_eresearch.html
5.7 JISC Conference 2004
23 March 2004
International Convention Centre, Birmingham
The JISC Conference 2004 will have a new programme format.
Delegates will be given opportunities to learn about the full range of
JISC's work by participating in seminars, debates, workshops and
demonstrations. In the exhibition area, JISC services and initiatives will
be able to provide you with advice and guidance on a range of support
and resources available to your institution.
Conference themes:
* Learning and Teaching
* Research and Development
* Management and Organisational Issues
This free one day event will be of interest to all those in further and
higher education and research involved in planning for and supporting
the use of ICT.
Please register your interest in the conference by joining the conference
e-mail list at:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/JISC-CONFERENCE.html
For further information about the JISC Conference please visit:
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/conf_intro.html
5.8 The Evolution of Learning and Web Technologies:
Survival of the Fittest?
An international research symposium
22-23 March 2004, University of Bristol, UK
http://www.ilrt.bris.ac.uk/news/conferences/colston2004
5.9 EdTech2004: The Fifth Annual Irish Educational Technology Users'
Conference
3rd - 4th of June, 2004
Ireland's biggest e-learning conference organised by the Irish Learning
Technology Association has just issued a "Call for Papers". The
conference will take place in beautiful Tralee, Co. Kerry, which is just a
reasonably priced hop away from Stanstead.
Details can be found at the conference website at:
http://www.ilta.net/EdTech2004
5.10 21st BRITISH NATIONAL CONFERENCE on DATABASES
7th - 9th July 2004
http://www.macs.hw.ac.uk/BNCOD21
CALL FOR RESEARCH TRACK PAPERS
Important Dates
* Paper submission date - 22nd January 2004
* Notification to Authors - 27th February 2004
* Camera ready copy and author registration deadline - 31st March
2004
6. Other news
6.1 TOIA online assessment tool and Exchange for Learning (X4L)
A video summary of the TOIA project and a short walk-through of the
system has been produced as part of the X4L One Year
On promotional web resources that have just been launched. The TOIA
video can be found at:
http://www.x4l.org/videos/index.shtml
In this video, Niall Sclater, Project Director, gives you a sneak preview of
the TOIA online assessment creation tool that has been developed and
is currently being evaluated. The TOIA tool will also be made available
FREE OF CHARGE to all FE and HE institutions on completion of the
evaluation phase of the project.
ALT members can make observations on this project to the JISC
Committee for Learning & Teaching through Seb Schmoller
([log in to unmask])
- or you can send any comments or questions about the project to the
Programme Manager, Susan Eales: [log in to unmask]
6.2 Resource Guide initiative and TechDis short-listed for international
award
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/index.cfm?name=jisc_rg_initiative_sl_internation
al_award_news_211103
Both the JISC Resource Guide team and JISC funded service, TechDis
have been short-listed for the Best Team in an Academic Environment
Award at the International Information Industry Awards, part of
December's Online Information 2003 event. The International Industry
Awards are the only awards that reflect excellence across the entire
information community.
Online Information 2003 is where the world of information content,
management and delivery converge, attracting an international audience
of
over 11,000 visitors and 250 exhibitors. The conference and free
exhibition will be held at Kensington Olympia, 2nd - 4th December, 2003.
6.3 Technology and Standards Watch (TSW) bids invited
The Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) invites tenders from
consultants to provide continuing support and development of its
Technology and Standards Watch (TSW) activity with effect from 1
February 2004 or as soon as possible thereafter, initially for a period of
one year.
Tenders should be emailed in Word or Rich Text Format to Faye
Gardiner (e-mail [log in to unmask] ) no later than 12 noon on
Tuesday 6 January 2004.
It is the responsibility of the bidder to ensure and check that the email
has arrived by the deadline above.
Further information can be found at:
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/funding_tsw_03.html
6.4 News from FERL
http://ferl.becta.org.uk
A new report has recently been published which highlights the generally
inaccessible nature of VLEs.
The report was published by the Centre for HCI (Human Computer
Interaction) Design at the City University London, and the aim of the
research was to investigate the accessibility for disabled students of
VLEs in Further and Higher Education, in the light of new disability
legislation. The study was carried out through a combination of literature
and web reviews, online questionnaire, and interviews. Over 50
practitioners from 44 institutions were consulted.
The survey found similarly low levels of accessibility in VLEs. Aspects of
the VLE software shown to be particularly difficult were synchronous
communication tools (eg. chat and message boards), navigational
structure, and assessment procedures. Accessibility barriers within the
content were often caused by invalid HTML code being produced by
authoring tools used by non-technical authors.
The full report, entitled Return to SENDA? Implementing accessibility for
disabled students in virtual learning environments in UK further and
higher education, is now available (in HTML, Word and PDF):
http://www.saradunn.net/VLEproject/index.html
6.5 The British Universities Film & Video Council News Online
http://www.bufvc.ac.uk/news
* Open Day - Come and Visit the BUFVC
* Major New Feature Added to TRILT
* Read the BUFVC/ITN Report
* Current Affairs - An Endangered Species: Buy the Video Tape
Recordings
* Local Newspapers Back on the Air
6.6 'VLE Surveys - A longitudinal perspective between March 2001 and
March 2003 for Higher Education in the United Kingdom'
is a report available in Word and pdf format at:
http://www.ucisa.ac.uk/groups/tlig/vle/index_html
This Report records the results from a survey conducted by JISC and
UCISA in March 2003 amongst Higher Education Universities and
Colleges regarding their use of Virtual Learning Environments. It
complements the 2001 survey that was conducted by UCISA two years
earlier. The full results, broken down where relevant by type of HE
institution (i.e. pre-91, post-91 and Colleges), is provided as Appendix-1.
The main thrust of this Report, however, provides a comparison for the
UCISA community of the returns from the 2001 and this (2003) survey.
We would welcome your comments and views on this latest report.
These can be posted to [log in to unmask]
6.7 Internet Resources Newsletter
http://www.hw.ac.uk/libwww/irn/
A free, monthly newsletter for academics, students, engineers, scientists
and social scientists.
ISSN: 1361-9381
6.8 Resource Discovery Network moves onwards to Manchester
The Resource Discovery Network Centre (RDNC - http://www.rdn.ac.uk )
will be re-locating to the JISC data centre MIMAS
(http://www.mimas.ac.uk ), based at the University of Manchester. The
RDN comprises the RDNC and its eight hubs. Together they provide the
UK's leading subject-based quality-assured internet resources
catalogue. The decision, which was taken after an extensive review of
the service, is expected to benefit the RDN and the education
community in general. It will do this by drawing upon the huge
experience, resources and collaborative advantages that location with
MIMAS will offer.
The RDN, with its well-established and highly-regarded support of the
learning, teaching and research communities, has just secured funding
for a further three years.
In addition to the move, the management structure of the RDN will also
change, with the appointment of an RDN Director, supported by a
management board. The appointments to both are expected within the
coming months.
For further information please contact: Pat Crocker, JISC Head of
Services Management Group:
[log in to unmask]
7. Vacancies
7.1 Adviser in ICT and Distance Education, Universal Basic Education
Project, Nigeria
£35,000 - £40,000 per annum plus generous benefits package
(including rent-free accommodation and pension provision)
Contract: Two years in the first instance starting February 2004
Closing date for applications: 16 December 2003.
The World Bank and UK Department for International Development
(DFID) are providing financial and technical assistance in support of
Nigeria's Universal Basic Education Programme. The British Council,
Cambridge Education Consultants and ActionAid Nigeria are managing
the DFID financed technical assistance support which includes the
appointment of an Adviser in ICT and Distance Education to work at the
National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA),
based in Ondo, south-west Nigeria.
The aim of the post is to assist the Director and staff of NIEPA to
develop training in educational planning using appropriate distance
learning approaches and techniques. Part of a team of educational
planners at NIEPA, the Adviser will also work closely with an
internationally recruited adviser in Planning, Management and Capacity
Development and the Technical Assistance Team Leader (UBEP),
based in Abuja.
Application forms together with CVs should initially be sent by e-mail,
then hard copies by post. Interviews will be conducted in mid January in
Manchester.
For further details of the project and post, together with an application
form and details of our preferred CV format, please visit
http://www.britishcouncil.org/work/jobs.htm
or e-mail: [log in to unmask]
7.2 VLE Support Officer
Central and Academic Services
University of Strathclyde
£21,125 - £27,339
Application closing date: 17 December 2003
The University of Strathclyde is seeking to appoint a full time person to
support the implementation and roll out of the Virtual Learning
Environment (VLE), WebCT. The VLE will be part of the University's
managed learning environment that already includes appropriate IT
infrastructure and a web-based Staff Student Information Server (SSIS).
As VLE Support Officer you will work closely with the VLE Project
Leader and be supported by the University's extensive IT and academic
services to develop the integration of WebCT with SSIS. Further duties
will include providing ongoing technical and user support for the resulting
environment.
For application form and further particulars (available on request in
alternative formats for applicants with a disability) visit Vacancies at our
website
http://www.strath.ac.uk
8. Courses
8.1 CeLTT
Although a relatively new programme of study, the Certificate of
Professional Development in eLearning, Teaching and Training (CeLTT)
has already proven its worth amongst practitioners in Further and Higher
Education who have begun to implement new approaches to learning
and teaching drawing upon what they have learnt whilst engaged in the
programme. Strengths of CeLTT include the level of support provided by
programme tutors, its experiential nature and focus on professional
practice.
A 'blended' version of an Introduction to eLearning, Teaching and
Training (the first course of the programme) is available as 6 half day f2f
workshops with pre and post on-line activities. This version of the initial
course may be of particular interest to staff developers seeking to
integrate an accredited programme of study with an in-house
programme.
For an information pack on the Certificate of Professional Development
in eLearning, Teaching and Training contact Recruitment and Marketing
at the University of Greenwich on 0800 005 006. Calls within the UK are
free.
Or why not visit the CeLTT web site at:
http://www.gre.ac.uk/celtt
--------------
The digest returns on 17 December. All news, jobs, events to
[log in to unmask] by 16 December, please.
Regards
Rhonda
Rhonda Riachi, Director
Association for Learning Technology
Oxford Brookes University, 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 2004, 14-16 September, Exeter, UK
http://www.alt.ac.uk/altc2004
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