Thoughts on Alt-C

September 8th, 2006

Back from the the ALT-C conference in Edinburgh. I always go to these events convinced I am going to blog through the conference and never do. In reality I suspect that post-conference reflection may be of more value than ‘news coverage’ as it happens. Lets face it - academic conference have little that requires up to the minute reporting.
I have come away with about ten headings for future posts - so I must have learnt something. Hopefully these will roll out over the next couple of weeks.
My overall impressions? Well this was the year of social software. Presentations about blogging in education were the topic of the conference. Wikis were also popular though less so. Interestingly there was little or no reference to tagging (might that be next years trend?).
About the blogging - as far as I can see there were two main issues. First was whether blogs should form a structured part of the curriculum or be an additional - add-on - space for students - or both. The second issue was whether blogs should be open to the whole world or be used in a closed system - and who should decide?
There was little talk about VLEs - apart from the by now customary slagging off of Blackboard. Indeed there was even public doubting of the future need for VLEs in a services led world. There was plenty of angst about the future role teaching and of institutions. And plenty of what seemed largely ungrounded discussions about the ‘net generation’. More research and less talk would seem to be useful.
I organised a symposium (which we turned into a workshop) on Personal Learning Environments. I enjoyed it greatly and the audience seemed to too. I will post a video of my contribution on this blog tomorrow. And the ever gorgeous Joise Fraser is working on a Flickr stream of the results of the workshop.
It is good to see (at last) the take up of social software. I just worry a little that this is this years fad - and as it proofs hard to get students involved and develop appropriate pedagogy people will move on to the next technology - video?
had a great time night out drinking with the ELGG boy band (photo pending). And met many old and new friends. Thanks to all of you who told me you read the blog regularly - I never new so many people cared. And thanks to all who helped with the workshop especially Ray, Terry, Josie and Lawrie,

Technorati Tags: Alt-C2006, social software

Entry Filed under: Personal Learning Environments (PLE), Bazaar, Social Software