Online Educa Berlin (OEB) is important for the ODL environment

We opted not to take the train to Berlin but instead to stay in Warnemunde for the day and we really enjoyed every moment

Academics in South Africa normally do not have the luxury to attend conferences at the end of November and the start of December due to the exam marks that need to be uploaded and finalized for submission and also because flights tend to be more expensive in the light of the holiday season (Thanksgiving, etc.). However, if you can manage to get the marking done early, or ask a colleague to help out, or are on leave, do make a point of investigating the possibility of attending the OEB conference that normally takes place the last week of November or the first week of December. This year, the Belin conference will be held from 30 November to 2 December. On the OEB web page, there is an option to receive their newsfeeds and e mails to keep you updated and informed. Even if we cannot attend, please do scan the programme and identify main issues and key figures in this developing field. And although it is certainly too late to present, there is still space available for attendance, should you find yourself in the neighbourhood in the coming week or two.

The Online Educa Berlin (OEB) conference draws more than 2300 participants from more than 100 countries and is really a trendsetter for developments in the field of online education.  This year more than 80 exhibitors will also showcase the latest innovations and initiatives in technology-based education.

The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Owning Learning’ and the main question that will be debated, is: Can students take charge of their own education? It is already clear that the answer is yes, indeed, they do and will continue to do so even more with the help and support of technology enhanced education options. This opens up huge possibilities but also present great challenges for educators who will have to face the impact of this paradigm shift in their own teaching strategies, especially in the ODL environment.

Maybe next year, maybe...