Newsletter - May 2009

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1. ascilite Conference Update
2. Call for Hosting Ascilite 2010 Conference
3. Community Mentoring Programme
4. Operational Plan
5. New Website
6. Webinars
7. Alt-C Conference 2009
8. Of Interest
9. Contribute to the Newsletter
10. Advertise in the Newsletter

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1. ascilite Conference Update
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Overview

Preparation and planning for ascilite 2009 is well under way. ascilite 2009, the 26th conference in the series, is in Auckland City, Aotearoa New Zealand for only the second time in the history of the Society.

A Committee from the University of Auckland and Auckland University of Technology is coordinating the event. Both these Universities enjoy a reputation for excellence in teaching and learning with technology. They also have extensive campuses in the centre of Auckland City, in close proximity to each other. A major contribution to conference organisation is also being made by staff from Manukau and Unitec Institutes of Technology.

Call for Papers

Call for papers mid May 2009
Presentation submission system open end of June 2009
Deadline for full and concise papers August 14th, 2009
Deadline for all workshop/round table/interactive session proposals August 14th, 2009
Deadline for all poster proposals October 16th, 2009
Completed reviews sent back to authors October 5th - 12th, 2009
Revised papers due October 23rd, 2008

Registration Dates

Registration opens August 3rd, 2009
Early bird registration closes October 30th, 2009
Registration Closes November 13th, 2009 or when 400 cap is reached

Conference Website

Visit the conference website at:
http://www.ascilite.org.au/conferences/auckland09/

2. Call for Hosting ascilite 2010 Conference
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ascilite is still accepting proposals for hosting the 2010, 2011 and 2012 annual conferences. If you would like further information and/or would like to submit a proposal please contact the ascilite Secretariat, Dominique Parrish – dom@ascilite.org.au

3. Community Mentoring Programme
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The ascilite Community Mentoring Program seeks to involve participants in a professional mentoring relationship built between a new learner (the mentee) and an experienced practitioner (the mentor).

Applications for the Community Mentoring Programme were judged at the Executive Meeting held in late March. Mentees and mentors have now been matched and in each instance a goal for the mentoring relationship has been set. Mentee and mentor pairings are listed below.

Stephanie Beames (Queensland University of Technology) and Professor Geoffrey Crisp (University of Adelaide);
Claire Donald (University of Auckland) and Mark Northover (Auckland University of Technology);
Helen Farley (University of Queensland) and Ron Oliver (Edith Cowan University); and
Ken Johnson (Victoria University) and Associate Professor Di Salter,(The University of Hong Kong)

The programme runs for six months and mentees are expected to provide a written report to ascilite in November 2009; mentors and mentees will also provide a verbal report at a breakfast meeting to be held during the ascilite 2009 conference.

4. Operational Plan
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The ascilite Executive have been updating the operational plan for the period 2009-2011. This work has resulted in a plan that is defined by three strategic focus areas:

Ensure ascilite is sustainable
Encourage and support quality research
Promote exemplary use of ICTs for teaching and learning

The updated plan represents a change to the way in which the Executive carries out its business. In previous years ascilite executive members have been responsible for a particular portfolio e.g. web, community mentoring, awards. Now executive members elect to work in particular operational areas e.g. Develop, enhance and diversify the member base; Actively encourage and support quality pure and applied research on the use of technology in teaching and learning in higher education. It is our hope that this new approach will engender dynamism and creativity as we seek multiple solutions to the challenges in our various operational areas.

5. New Website
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The ascilite website is currently being re-developed; the new site is due to go live late June/early July. This is an exciting initiative as we seek to improve site navigation; update the look and feel of the site to reflect the nature of ascilite as a contemporary and vibrant organisation; and re-write the website copy to better reflect the current status and activities of ascilite.

Additionally, we are working on providing a new member area in Moodle. The new Moodle area will operate as a community forum and a vehicle for disseminating information to members. Members will be updated as we progress with both these initiatives.

6. Webinars
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In response to the member survey in 2008, ascilite will soon be offering members a range of interactive webinars that aim to share good practices in the use of technologies in tertiary education. Be stimulated and tap into your creativity without leaving your office/home. Watch the ascilite email list and the launch of the new ascilite website for further details.

7. Alt-C Conference 2009
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8. Of Interest
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Beginning February 2008 JISC conducted an independent inquiry into the strategic and policy implications for higher education of the experience and expectations of learners in the light of their increasing use of the newest technologies. The report - "Higher Education in Web 2.0 World" – was published in May 2009.

http://www.jisc.ac.uk/publications/documents/heweb2.aspx

If you have an interest in Web 2.0, you might want to take a look at the JISC pages on good practice with Web 2.0 applications and services.

http://www.jiscinfonet.ac.uk/infokits/social-software/index_html

9. Contribute to the Newsletter
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The Ascilite newsletter provides you with news about the society but it's also your opportunity to connect with other Ascilite members and to disseminate information of interest to Ascilite members. If you've got something that you want to share with the Ascilite community then this is the place to do it. Just contact Iain Doherty at i.doherty@auckland.ac.nz

10. Advertise in the Newsletter
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If you or your company would like to advertise in this newsletter the pricing per issue is $100 AUD + GST.

There is an upper limit of 500 words of "copy" or text and one image or logo. The image or logo must be provided at 72 DPI with dimensions no larger than 600x400 pixels.

Your advertisement will appear in both the email newsletter and the online version of the newsletter.

Advertisements will be accepted on the basis that they are of potential interest to ascilite members.

If you have any queries contact Iain Doherty at: i.doherty@auckland.ac.nz

If you are an ascilite sponsor contact Caroline Steel at c.steel@ug.edu.au