Newsletter Day One

Our Sponsors

Newsletter The ULearn Conference is designed to provide professional development and networking as well as gauge current trends, provide information and celebrate best practice in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in education. This year over 1800 delegates and 200 trade representatives are here to participate in the largest Educational conference New Zealand has seen. With over 400 presenters, 434 workshops, 8 venues, and nearly 50 simultaneous presentations every breakout.

Spot the difference

The ULEARN08 network is the first of this size ever in New Zealand – using the Advanced Network and KAREN to ensure Internet services are available at every venue of the conference. Sponsors of the network include CCNL Allied Telesis, Connector Systems and SNAP. CCNL will be showing off the capability of high-speed advanced technology. The volume of data being accessed and generated by this number of people in a single venue provides a significant challenge for CCNL and associated service providers. This is an opportunity to test and showcase the capability of the fibre-based high-speed network currently being deployed within Christchurch, and other areas around New Zealand. -------

Conference Dinner The gala dinner will be held at Westpac Arena and will be the largest number of people to ever have dinner at the venue. Westpac Arena is the only place in Christchurch where up to 2000 delegates can be seated.

The Powhiri

Ministry of Education The Ministry of Education supports Ulearn08. Visit their team just along from the Registration desk to talk about the strategies, programmes, and research supporting and promoting the effective use of ICT in schools. Learn more about the development of Te Kete Ipurangi (TKI), the Digital Technologies Guidelines, Digistore, Foundations for Discovery (ECE elearning framework), The National Educational Network (NEN), e-Principals, assistive technologies, and Software for learning. Also come and give your view on the Online Learning Environment (OLE) project and the ICT PD review. Check out the at the latest reflections of ministry staff on the conference at the blog – www.lunchbox.org.nz

Housekeeping Notices Cancelled session: Making it Stick! Embedding new ways of thinking about teaching through online communities of practice by Jocelyn Cranefield and Pak Yoong in Breakout 1 has been cancelled. Delegates can select another available workshop for this breakout. Catering - Morning and afternoon teas and lunches will be available in the Convention Centre and also in the Town Hall foyer for about 400 people. If you have a breakout in the Auto Desk Demonstration Lab please take the stairs next to the reception desk in the Convention Centre. There is a flag at the bottom of the stairs. 4.30pm -5.30pm - This afternoon in the Town Hall Auditorium is the Two Views session - Counterpoints on educational futures. The session features commentary from Rod Oram and John Hattie and is chaired by Karen Sewell.

Conference Evaluation http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=3STGci6i28Gy_2fV7X9orurQ_3d_3d Session Backchannels http://centre4.interact.ac.nz/conferences/backchannels/ Ulearn08 Blog http://blog.core-ed.net/ulearn/ Twitter #ulearn http://centre4.interact.ac.nz/conferences/twitter/