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The conference will be of interest to educators, administrators, students, and community members who value the importance of integrating technology into the curriculum to improve instruction, learning, and business. Online learning involves various skills on the part of the instructor and learner. These include social and communication skills, social networking, independent learning strategies, critical and higher order thinking skills, creativity, and effective online and face-to-face facilitation. In addition, there are many challenges that educators, administrators, students, businesses, and community members face. The theme of the conference is, connecting online for instruction and learning that goes beyond the classroom. Presenters from around the globe will discuss the following topics: Connecting online to improve instruction and learning: Online learning and pedagogical/instructional experiences Experiences with the use of technology in face-to-face and online classes. What worked and what didn't work for you? How do you use technology to promote your online workshops, consultation, business, and communities? Research conducted on e-learning Books written on e-learning 21st Century learning and teaching Challenges of the 21st Century learning/teaching environment Leading a business with e-learning technology

A local platform with curriculum resources, apps and content for teachers and learners

The future success of e-learning depends on appropriate selection of tools and services. This symposium will propose that the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) as an institutional tool is dead, no more, defunct, expired. The first panel member, Steve Wheeler, will argue that many VLEs are not fit for purpose, and masquerade as solutions for the management of online learning. Some are little more than glorified e-mail systems. They will argue that VLEs provide a negative experience for learners. The second member of the panel, Graham Attwell, believes that the VLE is dead and that the Personal Learning Environment (PLE) is the solution to the needs of diverse learners. PLEs provide opportunities for learners, offering users the ability to develop their own spaces in which to reflect on their learning. The third panel member, James Clay, however, believes that the VLE is not yet dead as a concept, but can be the starting point of a journey for many learners. Creating an online environment involving multiple tools that provides for an enhanced experience for learners can involve a VLE as a hub or centre. The fourth panel member, Nick Sharratt, argues for the concept of the institutional VLE as essentially sound. VLEs provide a stable, reliable, self-contained and safe environment in which all teaching and learning activities can be conducted. It provides the best environment for the variety of learners within institutions.

There are many resources available to help support schools to teach pupils to be responsible users of the Internet and to educate pupils to be as safe as possible when using online tools.  Here are some resources to support teaching digital literacy:

A brilliant linked map of tools and stuff

This Google Site has been set up by Dr. Helen Barrett to focus on the use of Google Apps to create ePortfolios. On this site, there are instructions on how to use the different elements of Google Apps to maintain e-portfolios.

CoZa Cares has recently been involved in many discussions around open source content, free textbooks, and how we can collaborate with other great educational initiatives to bypass the ineffective and corrupt textbook distribution process. On this topic, we want to share the work that Breadbin Interactive is doing to provide free content direct to teachers and learners - without all the storage, transport, or distribution cost issues.

"The situation: You've just been given your first 15-page college research paper assignment. Your professor wants you to use books and scholarly journals in writing your paper, and doesn't want you to rely solely on Google and Wikipedia to do the research. What do you do? You could call your parents or ask advice from a friend. But a far better idea would be to follow these 10 best tips, offered by visiting blogger Cheryl LaGuardia, research librarian at Harvard University's Widener Library"

Use Educational Technology to overcome institutional barriers in Higher Education. Follow a case study to learn how to deploy educational technologies in your institution. Guides to get the most out of using educational technology in Higher Education: e-Learning Learning Management Systems Information Systems

"When adopting technology in the classroom, one of the key concerns for teachers and administrators is classroom management. I am often asked if there is a way to "lock down an iPad screen" or "ensure students cannot go to inappropriate websites" (e.g. Social Media). In other words, how do we keep students on task and are not distracted by the novelty of gadgets or communicating with friends via texting or social media. Often, teachers will take up devices (such as mobile phones) to avoid the issue of students texting or checking Facebook on their phones (eliminating access to a powerful, pocket computer in the process)."

Here are the Top 100 Tools for Learning 2011. This, the 5th Annual Survey of Learning Tools, was finalised on 13 November 2011. This year's list was compiled from the Top 10 Tools lists of 531 learning professionals worldwide - from education, training and workplace learning. 

Such a good idea to join this if you want to learn about how to use twitter for teaching and learning

"12 Days of Twitter is a convenient and free way to learn to tweet on Twitter itself. Our friendly team - including people who learnt Twitter on 12 Days of Twitter themselves - will teach you how to reap the rewards whilst avoiding the risks of social media.  It will take just half an hour a day over 12 days, with live support, online chat and guidance throughout - although you may want to spend more time to get the full benefit for a current project or cause. You'll learn the mechanics of Twitter itself, as well as the tools, techniques and tactics to get it working for you and your goals - whether you're in business, using social media to learn or to teach, or trying to change the world with a hashtag."