Am having an entertaining time getting ready as a presenter for ASCILITE 2005 next week.
First up the four of us who are presenting on blog-esque stuff were asked to get our heads together in a ‘fully functional’ online environment to decide how we wanted to run our sessions, where (apparently the botanical gardens were an option) and in what way… which all sounds great in principle. Naturally a few group emails went round, we shared our papers and by the looks of it they made the decision for us :)
Then we’ve all been invited to contribute to the 2005 Activity Portal… where no doubt there will be more rich media, integrated and cutting edge online communication tools for us to use.
One of which, I was somewhat surprised to hear, is blogs! Yes, come the 30th November (but not before?) each session (I think, as opposed to presenter) gets their own ‘blogg’ [sic. – that was from an earlier email ;] Oh w00t. Quite amusing considering that my workshop and session are in many ways about how I reckon you *shouldn’t* use the technology!
The coup de grace, ‘owever, has to be what I received in the email this morning (I’m just assuming that they mean 2005 here…) – emphasis by me:
Iron Chef’ Comes to ASCILITE 2006
We would like to invite you to sign up for the Blackboard ‘Design Circle’ challenge at ASCILITE next week. In the spirit of the ‘Iron Chef’ TV show, two groups will challenge each other (and themselves), to design an interactive learning experience.
Ingredients – two sets of identical online course materials, and access to some exciting online tools from fellow ASCILITE sponsors
Menu – Designing a learning experience, utilizing online tools and strategies
Who’s coming to dinner – Your learning design will be aimed at an undergraduate cohort of students. Roughly half of these students are internal and half off-campus.
Chef Experience – unlike the ‘Iron Chef’ this Design Circle does not require you to be an expert or even have used the Blackboard learning environment. If you’re not ‘techy’ it doesn’t matter. We want people to come and learn, have fun, and throw their own special ingredients into the pot.
Expert facilitators from the ASCILITE executive will lead the teams, and Blackboard will provide support to bring your ‘recipe’ to perfection.
Somebody get me a stiff drink… I think I fancy taking the buggers on ;)