SLATE Group Blog

SLATE NG - new year, new look, new URL

2012-01-05T16:20:00.002-06:00

In 2012, SLATE will be celebrating 10 years as a professional development, collborative, and innovative user group. Its come a long way since that first meeting of eight institutions back in May of 2002. What started as a simple roundtable discussion has turned into a true community of practice of almost 80 participating institutions from around the world and over 300 individuals on the mailing list.

The SLATE mission has always been and will continue to be: To support learning and technology in education through communication, collaboration, and innovation while developing a community of practice. By embracing the teaching, learning, and technology challenges of K-12, higher-ed, and the corporate sector, SLATE strives to bring together these groups to identify the common questions and challenges and searches for common solutions regardless of the platform or audience. But where do we go from here... What is our SLATE NG...

So with the start of the new year, I would like to announce a couple of things:

I invite you to visit the new SLATE website at: www.slategroup.org. I hope you will find it to be familiar, but with a sleeker look and feel. Please bookmark it for future reference. Comments and suggestions about the site are welcome.
With the number of registrations at the annul SLATE Conference increasing each year, we have come to a point that we have now outgrown our current venue. So to accommodate the increased number of participants, and also be able to offer things like hands-on and pre-conference workshops that have been asked for in the past, the venue for the 2012 conference will be the NIU Naperville Campus located in Naperville, IL. This will allow for many new options and additional services at the conference. Additional information can be found on the website at www.slategroup.org/conference
The schedule for the monthly meetings is now posted. A lot of new places to visit this year. We are still looking for topics for some of the meetings, so if you have any suggestions please pass them along to me.

I would also like to remind you that now is a good time to review your institution profile and update any information that may have changed over the year. Just click on the apply or update link under the Members Tab and submit when completed. We have condensed some of the information to make it easier. The profile now limits the number of contacts to two but anyone else from your institution that wants to be can be added to the mailing list. Just have them contact me.

I am very excited about the possibilities that 2012 will offer and look forward to working with each of you as we take this next step in the SLATE evolution.

Ken

SLATE Holiday Greetings

2011-12-22T14:53:00.002-06:00

I want to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very Happy Holiday Season and the best in the coming New Year.

In 2012, SLATE will be celebrating ten-years as a group. I think that is quite a milestone. Thanks to all of you for your support and participation in making this the best group around. We are looking forward to some new and exciting changes in the new year.

All the best.

Ken

December 2012 SLATE Meeting

2011-12-01T13:30:00.001-06:00

This is a reminder that our next monthly SLATE meeting will be on Wednesday, December 14th beginning @ 10:00am and hosted by our friends from Sprint. We will be meeting at the Sprint location at 200 S. Wacker Drive, 15 floor. So that Sprint can prepare for our visit, it is very important that you RSVP back to Ken Sadowski by Monday, December 12th with the names of those who will be attending from your institution.

Main Agenda – Using Mobile Technology to Enhance Students' Educational Experiences
Information and communications technology continue to expand the boundaries of higher education into an "anytime/anywhere" experience. Wireless networks and mobile communications coupled with personal computing devices present new means for students to access classroom information and communicate with peers and teachers, and for faculty members to alter the concept of "the classroom". Redefining this educational experience, however, presents new challenges for both educators, IT departments, and service providers as they determine optimal mixes of technology and pedagogy. The educational goal is not to incorporate technology for technology’s sake but to create a meaningful learning experience for the student, and IT departments must support such initiatives accordingly.

In this open forum, we will discuss the challenges of supporting mobile learning solutions, how to best deliver course content to students that are "always on the move", and what solutions and resources are available now or may be needed in the future.

***** Additionally what has become a SLATE tradition...
Once again this year - after our meeting, we will take some time to enjoy and celebrate the holiday season with our friends and colleagues - by having a White Elephant Gift Exchange. The term white elephant refers to a gift whose maintenance cost exceeds its usefulness. In the "WeGe", gifts are wrapped, anonymous - are typically inexpensive, humorous items, or used items from home. In the past some people have been pretty creative - and there are always a couple a really good surprises too...!!! So I hope everyone will participate and bring a gift to exchange.

If you have any questions please let me know. Hope to see you there.

PLEASE NOTE – This meeting will not be streamed !

November 2011 SLATE Meeting Archive

2011-11-17T11:56:00.010-06:00

The November 2011 SLATE Meeting was held at the Robert Crown Center for Health Education. Jarl Jonas of Blackboard showed how CourseSites by Blackboard can serve as an upgrade and course design resource for you and your colleagues. Jarl shared where over 30 course structures can be downloaded from to use as templates to help instructors kick-start the course building process.

For the live-stream of the session, we tried a demo Fusion 4 sound system by Revolabs.

The online archive is available here: https://sas.elluminate.com/p.jnlp?psid=2011-11-16.0841.M.2D545E2462DDF34D04B3A450D10B2E.vcr&sid=2011362

New SLATE Media Blog - Share your photos, videos, notes, handouts and reflections from SLATE Group meetings!

2011-11-15T12:32:00.001-06:00

We want the information, ideas, resources, and discussions from SLATE meetings to be available publicly online. Following-up on the success of the the SLATE 11 Conference Blog, we've established this similar media blog for SLATE at media.slategroup.org to make it as easy as possible for SLATE members to share photos, videos, notes, handouts, and reflections from SLATE meetings. We plan to then aggregate some of the "best posts" on this media blog to include on the main SLATE Group Blog.

We've set up this blog to receive emailed submissions. It's a site created with Posterous, a blogging platform that accepts posts via email. Posts don't have to be just text. Attach images, audio, video, or documents to the email message and Posterous will post it in a web-friendly format.

SLATE Group members can send an email to slatemedia@posterous.com. The subject of the email becomes the blog post's title, so please include descriptive subjects. Include your name in the body of the post along with what you want to say. Add any photos or files and send it off. After the post passes through moderation, it will be published for the world to see. The best of the SLATE Media Blog will be featured on the main SLATE Group Blog.

The best part is that media.slategroup.org will be a great place to experience sessions that you aren't able to attend in person. If you use news reader, you can subscribe using this web feed. Alternatively, you can sign up to receive daily updates through email.

If submitting blog posts:

Please proofread and edit before submitting.
Write descriptive subjects. Since the subject is the title, please capitalize accordingly.
Be mindful of file size when submitting video. Videos longer than a couple minutes are sometimes too large to attach.
Email each submission just once. It won't show up on the blog until it is approved, which should be within 2 hours.
Optionally include your email, Twitter, Facebook, blog, or any other URLs so people may contact you.
Presenters are encourage to submit and include their handouts and/or slideshows.
The blog automatically generates a photo gallery when you attach multiple images in your email.
Remember, include your name in your submission. The email address you send from will not appear anywhere in your post.

We look forward to seeing you at upcoming SLATE meetings for you to contribute to the SLATE Media Blog!

November 2011 SLATE Meeting

2011-11-03T11:21:00.000-05:00

This is a reminder that our next monthly SLATE meeting will be Wednesday, November 16th beginning @ 10:00am and hosted by The Robert Crown Center for Health Education (Hinsdale). We will be meeting in the Valeda Auditorium (signs will be posted). Additional information, directions, parking, maps, etc., can be found at the end of this message. So that Robert Crown can prepare for our visit, it is very important that you RSVP back to me by Monday, November 14th, with the names of those who will be attending from your institution.

Main Agenda – Introducing CourseSites by Blackboard™: An Upgrade and Course Design Resource
Are you wondering how you can gain more insight and experience with the latest Blackboard technology? Do you need more ideas on how to structure your online learning environments? If so, please join Jarl Jonas of Blackboard to learn how CourseSites by Blackboard can serve as an upgrade and course design resource for you and your colleagues. Attendees will be shown where they can download over 30 course structures to use as templates to help instructors kick-start the course building process. (If time permits, part of the session will be hands-on so bring your laptop and if possible get a CourseSites account setup beforehand).

Additional Agenda Items (as time allows)
- Recap of the 2011 SLATE Conference
- Still looking for hosting institutions for our 2012 monthly meetings
- Additional items for the good of the group

____________________________________________________________________________________________

PLEASE NOTE – SLATE meetings are streamed live online!

If you are unable to attend in person – the monthly SLATE meetings are streamed live using Blackboard Collaborate. To participate, visit: live.slategroup.org and enter your name to login.

We’ll plan to begin streaming this session at approximately at 9:45am

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Logistics
- Location: 21 Salt Creek Lane, Hinsdale, IL 60521 (Ogden Avenue exit & I-294)
- Map: http://www.robertcrown.org/locations.shtml
- Parking: There is a large parking lot in the back of the building for free parking. The back doors are locked so walk around to the front to enter.

Hosting 2012 monthly SLATE meetings

2011-10-31T13:13:00.003-05:00

We are looking for host institutions for our 2012 monthly SLATE meetings. All that is needed is a room that holds around 30 people, a projector, and wired network access (for the live streaming). If you are able to provide lunch (as an option) that is great but not required. Meetings begin at 10:00am, setup usually starts around 9:00am and the meetings end between 12:00-1:00. The 2012 meeting dates are listed below. If you are able to host, please contact Ken Sadowski and let him know your first and second choices.

In addition we are always looking for topics for the meetings. If there is something timely or important to you and your institution please make a suggestion. You do not have to moderate the session unless you would like to or have things to share. Thank you for your support and continued participation in SLATE.

January - no meeting

February 15

March 21

April 18

May 16

June 20

July 18

August 15

September 21 - Goshen College

October - 10th Annual SLATE Conference

November 14 * (second Wednesday of the month)

December 19

If you would like to host in a particular month but the date won't work for you, let let Ken know and we may be able to adjust it to the week before or after. If you have any questions please contact Ken at sadowski@uchicago.edu or call 773.702.4665

2011 SLATE Star Award Recipients: NIU Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center

2011-10-14T13:53:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to the NIU Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center for receiving the 2011 SLATE Star Award in recognition of outstanding contributions and dedicated service to SLATE - Supporting Learning And Technology in Education.

The SLATE Star Award was established in 2004 as a way to recognize an individual who has shown leadership, demonstrated initiatives, presented new ideas, improved procedures, established effective relationships or provided substantial resources that have effected the success and promotion of SLATE, the educational experience, and/or the general Blackboard Community of Practice. More details concerning the award, including a list of previous award winners, is available at slategroup.uchicago.edu/slatestaraward.html

Nominations for the 2012 SLATE Star Award will be accepted beginning in January 2012.

2011 SLATE Conference - Conference Blog is Live!

2011-10-05T15:47:00.001-05:00

In a little over a week, nearly 200 individuals representing over 50 institutions will converge on the University of Chicago for the 9th Annual SLATE Conference. The SLATE Conference is an annual event presented by the Midwest Blackboard Users Group and hosted by the University of Chicago. This conference invites all faculty, system administrators, CIO's, Web developers, instructional designers, librarians, students, and user support staff from institutions that are deploying and/or currently using any Web-based tools, applications or programs, in their teaching and learning. One of the many goals of this conference is to provide a forum where all participants are able to connect, gather ideas, and find opportunities for future collaboration.

Before, during, and after the conference, there are many ways to connect! This year, we've setup a blog devoted to the conference, now available at slate11.posterous.com. To help share the experience, we're encouraging participants to blog about sessions they attend, as well as share photos, videos, and even audio clips from the conference. Presenters may wish to ask at least one person from the audience during their presentation to blog notes from the session so that those who couldn't attend the session can benefit from the information covered and resources shared.

We've setup the conference blog to receive emailed submissions. Posts don't have to be just text, but can have images, audio, video, PowerPoint files, or documents attached to the email message and they will be posted in a web-friendly format. More details about how to post to the blog are available here. So stop by the blog, leave a comment, and plan on joining us on the blog throughout the conference!

For those on Twitter, please be sure to tag all your conference-related tweets using the hashtag #slate11 to add your tweets to the conference-related conversations via Twitter. Also, follow @slategroup on Twitter for conference news and updates as well as monthly SLATE Group meeting notices and notes. And, if you'd like to follow on Twitter what's being posted on the conference blog, follow @slateconference.

Use the tag slate11 whenever posting to other online social networking tools. If you have other tools that you recommend for the SLATE Conference, leave a comment here with your suggestions.

Let's get connected! We look forward to seeing you at the conference and to connecting online.

2011 SLATE Conference - Last Day for Standard Registration

2011-09-30T08:30:00.000-05:00

Today is the FINAL day of standard registration. Late registration will begin on October 1. Register today at https://formulator.uchicago.edu/Submitter/EditSubmission.aspx?Id=108. You can still take advantage of the group discount rates by registering 3 or more people at the same time (see registration page for additional information). Please note that only institutional or personal checks may be accepted at this time. When sending payments be sure to send to the address as shown below. Payment is not required today - only the registration - but payment should be made as soon as possible.

2011 SLATE Conference - REGISTRATION Reminder

2011-09-26T15:45:00.000-05:00

The 9th Annual SLATE Conference is only a few weeks away - October 13-14, 2011 in Chicago, IL. The preliminary schedule http://slategroup.uchicago.edu/pre_agenda08.html has now been posted (click here for additional information http://slategroup.uchicago.edu/pre_agenda08.html). Over 50 sessions will be presented during the course of two-days and 15 vendors will be participating. Of special note is the, Blackboard 9.1 Upgrade mini-Series sessions which will feature user-experience, technical, and Blackboard-led focused discussions to help you through the upgrade process and implementation. So if you are contemplating upgrading to v9.1 in the near future these sessions are for you. Also, hear about what is coming in Service Pack 8 and beyond in the, Blackboard Learn Platform Product Roadmap session.

FInal Week for Standard Registration
This is the FINAL week of standard registration. Late registration will occur starting October 1. Go to https://formulator.uchicago.edu/Submitter/EditSubmission.aspx?Id=108 to register today. You can still take advantage of the group discount rates by registering 3 or more people at the same time (see registration page for additional information). Please note that only institutional or personal checks may be accepted at this time. When sending payments be sure to include the address as shown below.

Additional information can be found at the following:
• Preliminary Conference Schedule http://slategroup.uchicago.edu/pre_agenda08.html
• SLATE Conference home http://slategroup.uchicago.edu/slateconference.html
• SLATE home page http://slategroup.uchicago.edu

If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact:

Ken Sadowski
SLATE Conference Coordinator
% The University of Chicago
1100 E. 57th Street
Regenstein Library, room 220
Chicago, IL 60637
ph: 773.702.4665
fx: 773.702.8802

Nominations for the SLATE Star Award

2011-09-16T08:26:00.002-05:00

The SLATE Star Award was established in 2004 as a way to recognize an individual who has shown leadership, demonstrated initiatives, presented new ideas, improved procedures, established effective relationships, or provided substantial resources that have effected the success and promotion of SLATE, the educational experience, and/or the greater good of the general Blackboard Community of Practice.

Eligibility

All nominators and nominees must be from a SLATE member institution. Multiple nominations may be submitted by the same person, for different individuals, but only one nomination per form. Anyone may be nominated but a person may not nominate themselves. The deadline for submissions is September 30, 2011.

Nomination Process

Nominations must be made and will only be accepted using the online submission form (see link below). All information is required. Award nominations must include a supporting paragraph (100 - 200 words) and brief description of the work or other activities performed that prompted the nomination. Any additional documentation may be sent separately.

Award Presentation

The award is presented at the annual SLATE Conference being held this year on October 13-14, 2011.

Helpful Links

- General information: http://slategroup.uchicago.edu/slatestaraward.html

- Nomination form: https://formulator.uchicago.edu/Submitter/EditSubmission.aspx?Id=113

- Conference Registration: https://formulator.uchicago.edu/Submitter/EditSubmission.aspx?Id=108

2011 SLATE Conference - Agenda Posted

2011-09-16T08:24:00.000-05:00

The 9th Annual SLATE Conference is only a month away - October 13-14, 2011 in Chicago, IL. The preliminary schedule has now been posted (click here for additional information). Over 50 sessions will be presented during the course of two-days and 15 vendors will be participating. Of special note is the, Blackboard 9.1 Upgrade mini-Series sessions which will feature user-experience, technical, and Blackboard-led focused discussions to help you through the upgrade process and implementation. So if you are contemplating upgrading to v9.1 in the near future these sessions are for you. Also, thanks to our friends at SonicFoundry, these sessions, along with the keynote address, will be taped for later viewing.

This conference has become a premier event in the Midwest and has attracted participants from around the world in higher-ed, K-12, government, and the corporate sector. Realizing that everyone has the same challenges and issues (no matter the platform) this conference reaches out to institutions and individuals that are using and supporting technology and web-based teaching tools tools such as Blackboard’s family of products (WebCT, Angel), along with Moodle or other open source systems. If you weren't able to attend BbWorld this year, here is your opportunity to learn, share, and connect with colleagues and friends.

Registration Open
Registration is open. CLICK HERE https://formulator.uchicago.edu/Submitter/EditSubmission.aspx?Id=108 to register today. Take advantage of the group discount rates by registering 3 or more people at the same time (see registration page for additional information). Please note that only institutional or personal checks may be accepted at this time. When sending payments be sure to include the address as shown below.

Additional information can be found at the following:
• Preliminary Conference Schedule http://slategroup.uchicago.edu/pre_agenda08.html
• SLATE Conference home http://slategroup.uchicago.edu/slateconference.html
• SLATE home page http://slategroup.uchicago.edu/

If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact:

Ken Sadowski
SLATE Conference Coordinator
% The University of Chicago
1100 E. 57th Street
Regenstein Library, room 220
Chicago, IL 60637
ph: 773.702.4665
fx: 773.702.8802

Annual SLATE Planning Summit

2011-08-31T09:31:00.000-05:00

The annual SLATE Summit is scheduled for Friday, September 23rd @ noon EST and will be hosted by Floyd Saner of Learning Contexts LLC, at Goshen College, Goshen, IN.

The SLATE Summit is our annual planning meeting and the last meeting before the SLATE Conference in October. This gives us an opportunity to finalize any activities for the conference, discuss and exchange ideas for next year's meetings, and define goals and strategic initiatives for the group. I hope you will plan on joining us to set the agenda for this meeting and also help set the direction of SLATE over the coming year. If you have topics you would like to discuss please forward them on to me. I will also be asking for hosting institutions for next year's monthly meetings so if that is a possibility for you please let me know.

This events also provides some time to relax and connect with friends before we get too far into the upcoming school year. After the meeting, a fabulous Amish meal is planned from 5:00pm - 7:00pm which includes a traditional Amish buggy ride, followed by a visit to the Michiana Relief Sale from 7:00pm - 9:30pm. For those who choose to stay the night in Goshen, join us on Saturday morning, September 24 for breakfast from 8:30am - 9:30am at the Goshen Farmers Market. Registration is required and needs to be made by clicking on the link below.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/slatesummit

You have plenty of time to make your plans but you must register by Wednesday, September 14 so that Goshen College can prepare for our visit and all activities are properly planned. Please note, spouses, significant others, friends, and family members are invited to partake in the meal and any/all other activities. So why not make a weekend of it. Additional information and helpful links are shown below. If you have any further questions please let me know. Look forward to seeing you there.

Ken

***

- registration form link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/slatesummit

- map/directions to Goshen: http://www.goshen.edu/aboutgc/map/

- information on the Michican Relief Sale: http://mennonitesale.org/

- hotel information: http://www.super8.com/Super8/control/Booking/property_info?propertyId=12265&cid=IP_Local

- things to do in Amish country: http://www.amishcountry.org/explore-the-area/cities-and-towns/goshen

August 2011 SLATE Meeting

2011-08-09T10:45:00.000-05:00

This is a reminder that our next monthly SLATE meeting will be this coming Wednesday, August 17th beginning @ 10:00am and hosted by Northwestern University (Evanston Campus). We will be meeting in the Norris University Center, in the Big 10 Room. Additional information, parking, maps, etc., can be found at the end of this message. So that Northwestern can prepare for our visit, it is very important that you RSVP back to Ken Sadowski by this Monday, August 15th, with the names of those who will be attending from your institution.

Main Agenda – Blackboard Course Files: A Powerful Integration for 9.1

Northwestern Academic & Research Technologies staff supporting Blackboard 9.1 (SP5) instance, will briefly demonstrate features of CourseFiles (software that is now a part of Learn) and lead the discussion on how this new set of features might be introduced to faculty and used effectively in many Blackboard course sites. CourseFiles offers instructors easy options for sharing whole folders with students, without having to upload and name the files one-by-one, along with many other useful features.

Additional Agenda Items (as time allows)

- 2011 SLATE Conference

- SLATE Summit (Goshen College)

- Preparing for the Fall. Last minute checkup.

PLEASE NOTE – SLATE meetings are now streamed live online!

If you are unable to attend in person – the monthly SLATE meetings are now streamed live thanks to our friends at Blackboard Collaborate – we are using Wimba Classroom.
To participate, visit: http://bit.ly/slatemeeting and login using the following:

Enter Room ID: SLATE
Enter Name: first initial+lastname (no spaces. Example: jsmith)

We’ll plan to begin streaming this session at approximately at 9:45am

Logistics

Driving Directions: http://www.northwestern.edu/campus-life/evanston-campus/driving-directions-evanston.html

Campus Map: http://maps.northwestern.edu/#latlngz=42.053%2C-87.675%2C17
Parking: Purchase a daily parking pass at the NU parking office at 1819 Hinman Ave. The cost is $7.00. Parking areas are colored green on the campus map.

SLATE 2011 Planning Summit

2011-08-09T08:51:00.001-05:00

The annual SLATE Summit is scheduled for Friday, September 23-24 @ noon EST and will be hosted by Floyd Saner of Learning Contexts LLC, at Goshen College, Goshen, IN.

The SLATE Summit is our annual planning meeting and the last meeting before the SLATE Conference in October. This gives us an opportunity to finalize any activities for the conference, discuss and exchange ideas for next year's meetings, and define goals and strategic initiatives for the group. I hope you will plan on joining us to set the agenda for this meeting and also help set the direction of SLATE over the coming year.

This events also provides some time to relax and connect with friends before we get too far into the upcoming school year. After the meeting, a fabulous Amish meal is planned from 5:00pm - 7:00pm which includes a traditional Amish buggy ride, followed by a visit to the Michiana Relief Sale from 7:00pm - 9:30pm. For those who choose to stay the night in Goshen, join us for a Saturday morning breakfast from 8:30am - 9:30am at the Goshen Farmers Market. Registration need to be made by clicking on the link below.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/slatesummit

Ken

***

- registration form link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/slatesummit

- map/directions to Goshen: http://www.goshen.edu/aboutgc/map/

- information on the Michican Relief Sale: http://mennonitesale.org/

- hotel information: http://www.super8.com/Super8/control/Booking/property_info?propertyId=12265&cid=IP_Local

- things to do in Amish country: http://www.amishcountry.org/explore-the-area/cities-and-towns/goshen

2011 SLATE Conference - REGISTER TODAY!

2011-08-04T15:36:00.002-05:00

The 9th Annual SLATE Conference will be held on October 13-14, 2011 in Chicago, IL. This conference has become a premier event in the Midwest and has attracted participants from around the world in higher-ed, K-12, government, and the corporate sector. Realizing that everyone has the same challenges and issues (no matter the platform) this conference reaches out to institutions and individuals that are using and supporting technology and web-based teaching tools tools such as Blackboard’s family of products (WebCT, Angel), along with Moodle or other open source systems. If you weren't able to attend BbWorld this year, here is your opportunity to learn, share, and connect with colleagues and friends.

Some of the sessions that will be presented include; Bb9.1 upgrade series - a Roadmap for Success, Accessibility & Usability of an LMS, SP6 and Beyond, Conversations with an Online Masters Graduate, and, Is Technology Stressing You Out. These and many more will be presented during the day and a half conference. So register today...!!!

Registration Open

Registration is now open. CLICK HERE to register today and also take advantage of the group discount rates (see registration page for additional information). Please note that only institutional or personal checks may be accepted at this time. Payments need to be received at least two weeks prior to the start of the conference. You can send payments to the address below.

Additional information can be found at the following:

• Conference Hotel Reservations

• Preliminary Conference Schedule

• SLATE Conference home

• SLATE home page

If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact:

Ken Sadowski
SLATE Conference Coordinator
% The University of Chicago
1100 E. 57th Street
Regenstein Library, room 220
Chicago, IL 60637
ph: 773.702.4665
fx: 773.702.8802

SLATE Conference Call for Papers - final reminder

2011-07-25T12:13:00.000-05:00

This is the final call for presentations for the 2011 SLATE Conference. The deadline for submitting your presentations, panel discussions, or working group activity is this Friday - July 29. Topics can include a broad range of subjects that relate to best practices, or innovative, engaging, and pedagogically sound uses of technology in teaching and learning, new tools or Building Blocks, mobile learning, support and training activities, etc., regardless of the version or platform you are on. If you have any questions or suggestions let me know. Please pass this along to others at your institution that may be interested.

Some of the topics presented in past conferences have included:

     • Using Podcasting to Meet the Needs of Millennial Students
     • Platform-Independent Course Design
     • Teaching Writing Using Blogs and Wikis
     • Student GPA and Course Delivery Methods
     • Using Technology Tools to Ensure Faculty Success
     • Online Assessment Strategies
     • Using Your CMS as a Retention Tool

Key DatesCall for Papers Submission Deadline - extended: July 29, 2011
Notification of Paper Acceptance: August 5, 2011
Conference dates: October 13-14, 2011

Additional information can be found at the following:

• SLATE Conference home http://slategroup.uchicago.edu/slateconference.html
• Call for Papers https://formulator.uchicago.edu/?Id=107

• Conference Registration https://formulator.uchicago.edu/Submitter/EditSubmission.aspx?Id=108

• SLATE home page http://slategroup.uchicago.edu

If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact:

Ken Sadowski
SLATE Conference Coordinator
% The University of Chicago
1100 E. 57th Street
Regenstein Library, room 220
Chicago, IL 60637
ph: 773.702.4665
fx: 773.702.8802

Blackboard World 2011 Notes

2011-07-25T12:10:00.002-05:00

Jeff Hunt has compiled a list of notes from Blackboard World 2011 and shared them at http://wp.me/pJpvr-bD

SLATE Conference Call for Papers - extended

2011-07-11T16:13:00.000-05:00

We are still in need of quite a few presentation for this year's SLATE Conference (October 13-14). That said, the deadline for submitting your presentations, panel discussions, or working group activities has been extended to the end of the month - July 29. Topics can include a broad range of subjects that relate to best practices, or innovative, engaging, and pedagogically sound uses of technology in teaching and learning, new tools or Building Blocks, mobile learning, support and training activities, etc., regardless of the version or platform you are on. If you have any questions or suggestions please let me know.

Some of the topics presented in past conferences have included:

     • Using Podcasting to Meet the Needs of Millennial Students
     • Platform-Independent Course Design
     • Teaching Writing Using Blogs and Wikis
     • Student GPA and Course Delivery Methods
     • Using Technology Tools to Ensure Faculty Success
     • Online Assessment Strategies
     • Using Your CMS as a Retention Tool

Key DatesCall for Papers Submission Deadline - extended: July 29, 2011
Notification of Paper Acceptance: August 5, 2011
Conference dates: October 13-14, 2011

Additional information can be found at the following:

• SLATE Conference home http://slategroup.uchicago.edu/slateconference.html
• Call for Papers https://formulator.uchicago.edu/?Id=107

• Conference Registration https://formulator.uchicago.edu/Submitter/EditSubmission.aspx?Id=108

Upcoming SLATE Events in July

2011-07-11T16:11:00.000-05:00

Mark your calendar for two upcoming SLATE events:

- Wednesday, July 13 @ 3:00pm - SLATE Meet & Greet at BbWorld

SLATE will be meeting as a group at BbWorld. This has become a tradition to gather at the conference to put faces to names/emails for those who are unable to connect on a regular basis. If you get a chance, please stop by and say hello. Bring your colleagues and friends and anyone who may be interested in learning more about SLATE and the Bb User Group Community in general. There will be an open informal discussion about upgrades, the upcoming SLATE Conference, and other items of interest. Check the conference program for the specific room designation.

- Wednesday, July 20 @ 10:05am - SLATE regular monthly meeting

The next monthly SLATE meeting will be on Wednesday, July 20th beginning @ 10:05am and hosted by Dominican University. We will be meeting in Parmer 108 also know as the Bluhm Lecture Hall. Parmer Hall is building 10 on the main campus map. Additional information, parking, maps, etc., can be found at the end of this message. So that Dominican can prepare for our visit, it is very important that you RSVP back to Ken Sadowski by Monday, July 18th, with the names of those who will be attending from your institution.

Main Agenda – BbWorld in Review

This will certainly be an "interesting" BbWorld after the announcement of last week. So for those who are unable to attend the conference in person, hear from those of us who were there about what will be coming next. We'll share any other interesting news and information. Also, take-away's from interesting presentations, discussions, and sessions we attended. I hope that anyone that is attending BbWorld will also be able to attend this meeting and share their experiences, stories, and connections with others.

Additional Agenda Items (as time allows)

- 2011 SLATE Conference call for proposals, registration, etc.

- Updates/reports on those who have upgraded to Bb9.x

- Service Pack 6

PLEASE NOTE – SLATE meetings are now streamed live online!

If you are unable to attend in person – the monthly SLATE meetings are now streamed live thanks to our friends at Wimba – we are using Wimba Classroom.
To participate, visit: http://bit.ly/slatemeeting <http://bit.ly/slatemeeting> and login using the following:

Enter Room ID: SLATE
Enter Name: first initial+lastname (no spaces. Example: jsmith)

We’ll plan to begin streaming this session at approximately at 9:45am

Logistics

Campus Map: http://www.dom.edu/about/campus-map.html

Directions: http://www.dom.edu/about/locations-directions.html

Parking: is available in the lot just outside Parmer or in the parking garage - building D. No parking fees or stickers are required.

2011 SLATE Conference - final week for early bird registration

2011-06-27T13:45:00.003-05:00

Early-bird Registration Open

This is the final week for early-bird registration (open through June 30). Register today to take advantage of huge discounted savings. Regular rate registration will start July 1.

Call for Papers

We invite submissions for presentations, panel discussions, or working group activities (now through July 15, 2011) which can cover a broad range of topics that relate to best practices, innovative, engaging, and pedagogically sound uses of technology in teaching and learning, etc. The conference theme of “build it better," hopes to ask the next question, explore new possibilities, and develop sound models that can be implemented in online, distance education, and classroom instruction.

Some of the topics presented in past conferences have included:

     • Using Podcasting to Meet the Needs of Millennial Students
     • Platform-Independent Course Design
     • Teaching Writing Using Blogs and Wikis
     • Student GPA and Course Delivery Methods
     • Using Technology Tools to Ensure Faculty Success
     • Online Assessment Strategies
     • Using Your CMS as a Retention Tool

Key Dates
Call for Papers: May 10, 2011
Paper Submission Deadline: July 15, 2011
Notification of Paper Acceptance: July 29, 2011
Conference dates: October 13-14, 2011

Additional information can be found at the following:

• SLATE Conference home http://slategroup.uchicago.edu/slateconference.html
• Call for Papers https://formulator.uchicago.edu/?Id=107

• Early-bird Registration https://formulator.uchicago.edu/Submitter/EditSubmission.aspx?Id=108

2011 SLATE Conference Call for Papers & Early-bird Registration

2011-06-22T09:49:00.000-05:00

The 9th Annual SLATE Conference will be held on October 13-14, 2011 in Chicago, IL. We are still looking for presentation submissions. Also, early-bird registration will end in a little more than a week (June 30th). Register now to take advantage of the discounted rate. See below.

This conference has become a premier event in the Midwest and has attracted participants from around the world in higher-ed, K-12, government, and the corporate sector.   Realizing that everyone has the same challenges and issues (no matter the platform) this conference reaches out to institutions and individuals that are using and supporting technology and web-based teaching tools tools such as Blackboard’s family of products (WebCT, Angel), along with Moodle or other open source systems. Here is your opportunity to share your experiences and expertise with friends and colleagues and learn from each other. Please pass this information along to others at your institution who may be interested in participating.

Call for Papers
We invite submissions for presentations, panel discussions, or working group activities which can cover a broad range of topics that relate to best practices, new tools, innovative, engaging, and pedagogically sound uses of technology in teaching and learning, etc. The conference theme of “build it better," hopes to ask the next question, explore new possibilities, and develop sound models that can be implemented in online, distance education, and classroom instruction.

Some of the topics presented in past conferences have included:

     • Using Podcasting to Meet the Needs of Millennial Students
     • Platform-Independent Course Design
     • Teaching Writing Using Blogs and Wikis
     • Student GPA and Course Delivery Methods
     • Using Technology Tools to Ensure Faculty Success
     • Online Assessment Strategies
     • Using Your CMS as a Retention Tool

Early-bird Registration Open

Early-bird registration is now open through June 30. Register today to take advantage of huge discounted savings - only $100. per person.

Key Dates
Call for Papers: May 10, 2011
Paper Submission Deadline: July 15, 2011
Notification of Paper Acceptance: July 29, 2011
Conference dates: October 13-14, 2011

Additional information can be found at the following:

• SLATE Conference home http://slategroup.uchicago.edu/slateconference.html
• Call for Papers https://formulator.uchicago.edu/?Id=107

• Early-bird Registration https://formulator.uchicago.edu/Submitter/EditSubmission.aspx?Id=108

2011 SLATE Conference Call for Papers

2011-06-08T11:06:00.000-05:00

The 9th Annual SLATE Conference will be held on October 13-14, 2011 in Chicago, IL. This conference has become a premier event in the Midwest and has attracted participants from around the world in higher-ed, K-12, government, and the corporate sector.   Realizing that everyone has the same challenges and issues (no matter the platform) this conference reaches out to institutions and individuals that are using and supporting technology and web-based teaching tools tools such as Blackboard’s family of products (WebCT, Angel), along with Moodle or other open source systems. Here is your opportunity to share your experiences and expertise with friends and colleagues and learn from each other.

Call for PapersWe invite submissions for presentations, panel discussions, or working group activities (now through July 15, 2011) which can cover a broad range of topics that relate to best practices, innovative, engaging, and pedagogically sound uses of technology in teaching and learning, etc. The conference theme of “build it better," hopes to ask the next question, explore new possibilities, and develop sound models that can be implemented in online, distance education, and classroom instruction.

Some of the topics presented in past conferences have included:

     • Using Podcasting to Meet the Needs of Millennial Students
     • Platform-Independent Course Design
     • Teaching Writing Using Blogs and Wikis
     • Student GPA and Course Delivery Methods
     • Using Technology Tools to Ensure Faculty Success
     • Online Assessment Strategies
     • Using Your CMS as a Retention Tool

Early-bird Registration Open

Early-bird registration is now open through June 30. Register today to take advantage of huge discounted savings off the regular rate.

Key DatesCall for Papers: May 10, 2011
Paper Submission Deadline: July 15, 2011
Notification of Paper Acceptance: July 29, 2011
Conference dates: October 13-14, 2011

Additional information can be found at the following:

• SLATE Conference home http://slategroup.uchicago.edu/slateconference.html
• Call for Papers https://formulator.uchicago.edu/?Id=107

• Early-bird Registration https://formulator.uchicago.edu/Submitter/EditSubmission.aspx?Id=108

June 2011 SLATE Meeting

2011-06-01T11:32:00.000-05:00

This is a reminder that our next monthly SLATE meeting will be this coming Wednesday, June 8th beginning @ 10:05am and hosted by the Adler School of Professional Psychology. We will be meeting in the Community Hall (register at the front desk 15th floor). Additional information, parking, maps, etc., can be found at the end of this message. So that Adler can prepare for our visit, it is very important that you RSVP back to me by this Monday, June 6th, with the names of those who will be attending from your institution.

Main Agenda – Blackboard Collaborate, the Best of Both Worlds

Blackboard Collaborate delivers open, education-focused collaboration that enhances learning, reduces costs, and improves outcomes by enabling anywhere, anytime, instruction, meetings, and help. Our comprehensive solutions empower you to collaborate your way with Web, video, and audio conferencing; presence and instant messaging; and content creation and social learning
Formed by the union of industry leaders Wimba and Elluminate, Blackboard Collaborate provides a unified learning and collaboration SaaS platform to thousands of higher education, K-12, professional, corporate, and government organizations worldwide. Millions of students, teachers, trainers, and administrators use these solutions every day for online, blended, and mobile learning that transforms education.

Join Ned Steinke from Bb Collaborate as he discusses the future technology direction and strategies for the combined companies as well as answers questions about migration issues for current customers of Wimba and Elluminate. Ned will be talking about near term, but also the long term product roadmap across the entire Bb Collaborate division, sharing the very latest about the new version release scheduled this summer and answer any and all questions, whether you're an existing Wimba or Elluminate customer or thinking about becoming one!

Additional Agenda Items (as time allows)

- updates/reports on those who have upgraded to Bb9.x

- 2011 SLATE Conference call for proposals, registration, etc.

- BbWorld; attendance, meeting, etc.

PLEASE NOTE – SLATE meetings are now streamed live online!

If you are unable to attend in person – the monthly SLATE meetings are now streamed live thanks to our friends at Wimba – we are using Wimba Classroom.
To participate, visit: http://bit.ly/slatemeeting and login using the following:

Enter Room ID: SLATE
Enter Name: first initial+lastname (no spaces. Example: jsmith)

We’ll plan to begin streaming this session at approximately at 9:45am

Logistics

Adler School of Professional Psychology

17 North Dearborn, 15th Floor

Chicago, IL 60602

phone: 312.662.4000