Conferences! Conferences!

I love my field b/c at least once a year, we get to go to a conference and stay in a fancy hotel (paid for by the school!) and hang out with fellow edtech geeks. In March, my co-workers and I are staying at the Moody Gardens Hotel down in Galveston to attend the TxDLA conference. Then in May, if our proposals are accepted, we're going to the IOL conference in Austin.

Speaking of proposals, I figured I'd post the abstracts.

TxDLA

• Virtual Environments: The Evolution of Online Learning?
  Abstract: Virtual environments offer students the ability to interact with their class in a 3-D setting. Realistic Learning environments can be created where students can explore and manipulate learning materials, and collaborate with other students via avatars. This presentation will demonstrate some educational uses of the virtual world “Second Life”.
  (View complete Virtual Environments proposal here.)
  
  
• Using Respondus Tool to Create and Manage Online Quizzes
  Abstract: Respondus is a handy tool for creating, publishing and managing quizzes/surveys for online courses. This session will provide faculty and supporting staff a hands-on experience to get to know about this tool and learn how to actually create and publish a quiz to an online course site using the tool.
  (View complete Respondus proposal here.)

IOL

• Cutting Edge Innovations in Online Learning: Web 2.0 For Everybody
  Abstract: With the emergence of Web 2.0, educators have a plethora of online tools, such as Skype, Odeo, and Slideshare, which encourage collaboration and the sharing of ideas. This showcase will demonstrate several of these tools and give participants ideas on how to apply them to their educational setting.
  (View complete Web 2.0 proposal here.)
  
  
• We're in Second Life! From Brainstorming to Begging to Building
  Abstract: From idea to implementation, our journey into the virtual world of Second Life. This presentation will cover the UTD School of Management's approach to developing a virtual island in Second Life -- from the proposal process to planning and design to lessons learned.
  (View complete Second Life proposal here.)