What about a conference review website?

Cape Town is one of the most popular conference venues in South Africa

Reviews are subjective. We all know this, but although they are bias, we still read them and use them to figure out which hotel to book, which airline to use, where to eat and what to avoid. When planning a trip, my first stop after deciding on a destination, is usually web pages such as TripAdvisor. Although I have loyalty cards and therefore already know which brands I will probably use when it comes to airlines and hotels, I do not want to book my stay in a hotel that 'is in bad shape' or desperately in 'need of an upgrade'. I also make sure that I read recent reviews (as some of the reviews at the top of the list are sometimes outdated) and try to read several reviews on the same hotel in order to try to get a more balanced view. 

If this could be done for conferences also, we will be able to evaluate the merit of attending a conference before spending huge amounts of money. To me one of the saddest things about presenting at international conferences is the disappointment when your expectations are deceived. We paid thousands of rands to attend an international conference once, to find that the host did not pitch. Another time, the 'university' was a suburban house with a plastic banner that transform it to the 'university' that even the neighbours did not know existed. 

How about a rating system, such as a five star evaluation for issues such as planning and organisation, venue, international exposure, value for money, response and support and a topic ranking. Additionally, the hotel accommodation linked to the conference and the additional site seeing tours or excursions can also be evaluated on this star system. 

Any of you interested to join in? And how about suggestions for the rating system? 

Conferences in Mauritius, Cape Town and Orlando, USA

Conferencing in Mauritius is simply awesome

First I would like to remind you about the eLearning Africa 2017 conference that will take place from 27-29 September in Mauritius. Registration is open. This is normally a huge conference with about 1000 attending and very well organised. The international exhibition focuses on showcasing the best and also new products and services while the topics on which the speakers focus are carefully selected to be linked to ICT for development, education and training. Conference themes include:
The African context
In search of education for all
New methods and tools for excellence in learning
Overcoming technical problems and ensuring equal access for all
The power of technology: future trends and what they mean for Africa
Focus on skills:education and labour market needs
New partnerships an initiatives for sustainable development.
The conference fee is 690 Euro and for Africans (based in Africa) 420 Euro. But I do think it is worth it. We attended in 2016 and if the standard would be the same, you will gain from attending. 

Second, this is also a reminder about the 6th Future Managers International North South TVET ICT conference in Cape Town that will be held from 31 July to 2 August. If you would be in Cape Town, you are still welcome to register and attend this very innovative and informative conference that will focus on student employability in the digital age. The conference will explore ways in which lecturers can use the landscape of technology and social media as learning environments to empower students. We also attended three of these conferences and would return each year as we really feel we expand our knowledge and are encouraged to explore and implement new and exciting things in higher education. 

And last, but very important for planning purposes, please consider submitting your proposals to the 9th international conference on education, training and informatics: ICETI 2018 that will be held between 13 and 16 March in Orlando, Florida, together with two other conferences: the 9th international multi-conference on complexity, informatics and cybernetics (IMCIC 2018) and the 9th International conference on society and information technologies (ICSIT 2018). Due date is 16 August 2017. 

OEB conference in December 2017 - Germany

Half of the joy attending conferences is getting there!

This is a reminder about the OEB conference that will take place in Berlin from 6 to 8 December. The pre-conference workshops take place on 6 December and registration opens this week. Do not miss out on these. If you are like me, you will have a rough time choosing: 

• Future Happens– Hack your Way to Influencing and Changing Pedagogical and Technological Strategy and Practice (this sounds WOW?)
• Design Thinking Taster Workshop
• The Changing World of Work: Identities and their Transformation
• Tools and Tips for Secure Assessments
• The Engine of Innovation Story
• Setting Up And Using gRSShopper to Create MOOCs and Personal Learning Environments
• Transform yourself - How Vertical Development Helps you Thrive in a VUCA World
• Create your Own Collaborative Gamebook for Educational Purposes
• Civilization-Level Change in Education
• DistancE-Learning in Europe - Exchange of Experience and Knowledge Sharing
• Speexx Exchange Reality Check

During the conference, you will be able to visit more than 80 international exhibitions and attend more than 100 sessions. This global conference on technology supported learning and training,  brings educators to the forefront of learning and technology developments, and provides new insights on opportunities and challenges that are changing the world of learning. The conference will showcase the latest best practice from leading organisations and will provide opportunities for engagement, collaboration and networking with more than 2300 international learning professionals and experts.

And if you need a reminder about the theme for 2017, it is all about learning uncertainty. The one thing that is defining our existence when speaking about the future of higher education. The uncertainty is born from the rapid and constant change surrounding us. The question is: Can we learn/teach uncertainty?  The main tracks are:

• adapting for action
• collaboration to compete
• redefining learning technology
• designing to engage
• enhancing new skills learning
• made to measure learning

This is one opportunity to prepare for uncertainty, change and adapting to these challenges, so if possible, do attend and spread the word.   

Dr Tony Bates at the ICDE conference in Toronto, October 2017

Toronto is a beautiful city to visit with much to see and do.

I already made you aware of the ICDE conference that will be held in Toronto, Canada from 16 to 19 October 2017 which is the conference to attend if your university or institution is into distance and online teaching and learning and assessment. Although the call for papers closed, early bird registration is still open. 

The theme of this conference is 'Teaching in the digital age: Guidelines for designing teaching and learning. One special bonus that is included in the conference fee is the five practical advice exchange sessions by Dr Tony Bates to assist faculty and instructors to design their first online course or to redesign existing online courses. 

The conference will accommodate five tracks:
1) Emerging pedagogies and designs for online learning
2) Expanding access, openness and flexibility
3) Changing models of assessment
4) New delivery tools and resources for learning
5) Re-designed institutional business models

This means that there is something for everyone - from academics to administrators and management staff. The conference only takes place every second year, so be sure not to miss out on the 2017 opportunity to learn, experience and build your network in the Distance and online higher education environment. 

Although all five tracks are important and interesting, I do hope that scholars would take note of the importance of number 3. Assessment is often seen as an add on to teaching or a grading system to compare students and year groups. Assessment should be focused on the students and it must be transformative -   it should change the way the student acts and thinks. It should positively influence his or her perceptions, believes, values and behaviour because only then learning would have the required result: Change. If this is not the case, students do not learn, they just obtain qualifications. And Higher education runs the risk of becoming obsolete. 

Not all conferences are good value for money

Our stateroom on board the Emerald Princess during our journey to Alaska 

I was just recently on a cruise ship conference for a week and we had the time of our lives. One of my colleagues in another department also went on a cruise conference for three days in Europe and came back with 'never ever again' written all over her face when we met for coffee to chat and show our pictures to each other. Their 'stateroom' on the ship looked like a small train compartment. They had to make their beds themselves each night and in the morning make the beds into a place to sit. No wonder she wanted to abandon the ship in the first port of call to take a flight back to South Africa. 

Once again, this shows that academics need to do thorough research on both the conferences and the accommodation they will have to face. We once had a conference in the old city of Dubai. There are very nice hotels next to the Dubai creek but the conference hotel was not one of them. After studying photos and reading a few TripAdvisor reviews, we decided that we would indeed attend the conference but booked in a hotel on the creek within walking distance. Talking to the other attendees at the conference, this was the smart thing to do.

Other times, the conference hotel is actually out of reach for our South African pockets but due to the fact that they host the conference, they have special packages for those attending and you are able to stay in a wonderful, expensive hotel for cheaper than what you would pay in the normal three star or four star hotel that we usually do. 

If you cannot do the research on the accommodation yourself (some of my colleagues say they do not have the time to do this), ask someone to help you with that (you travel buddy, wife or children, a agent or a colleague) but do the research on the conferences yourself to avoid disappointment.  Only you really know what you are looking for in a conference. And be adventurist - although it is good to annually go to the same conferences that are focused on your area of specialty, also look for other or new conferences to broaden your perspective and network.