JISC

James Clay ( ALT Learning Technologist of the Year 2009)

Keynotes at a conference are there to inspire, set the tone and can engage the audience to discuss and debate the issues over the days of the conference.

With an online conference, keynotes fulfil a similar function.

I always think it is a challenge to find a keynote that will both inspire but also challenge the delegates.

At the JISC Innovating e-Learning 2010 Online Conference there are three keynotes, one for each theme. and Elliott Masie will deliver the closing keynote.

I heard Elliott Masie speak at ILTA’s EdTech10 conference and found it a stimulating and interesting talk. He will be delivering the closing keynote and I am looking forward to it.

Of course, before the end we have the keynotes for the two themes.

Keri Facer will be delivering the the keynote for the first theme, realising the potential. She is Professor of Education at the Education and Social Research Institute, Manchester Metropolitan University. She leads the Create Research Group in digital cultures, informal learning and educational change.

Read the abstract
Anyone who is reading or watching the news will know that we certainly do live in interesting times. I think this will be an inspiring and interesting keynote. The discussion that follows is something I am looking forward to at the online conference.

The keynote for theme two, realising the value, will be delivered by Anne Miller. She is an authority on creativity and innovation and one of the world's most prolific female inventors, with 39 patents for a diverse range of products. 

Read the abstract

Innovation in some senses is easy; taking innovation and embedding it into something more concrete can be much more of a challenge. Again the discussion that follows will certainly be interesting.

One of the key advantages of the keynotes at an online conference is that unlike a keynote at a physical conference where only a few delegates get a chance to ask a question of the keynote presenter, at the online conference everyone gets a chance to ask a question. But there’s more, these questions can stimulate further discussion and debate amongst the delegates. The platform for the online conference also ensures that this discussion (that probably in a physical conference would happen over coffee) can seen and read by all the delegates. They can also jump into the discussions.

The keynotes at the JISC Innovating e-Learning 2010 Online Conference have a range of inspiring presenters and will more than likely result in a stimulating debate and discussion.