August 2009

You may be aware of the opportunities for quality learning through the keynotes, spotlights and workshops at Ulearn. However there are other opportunities for sharing learning during the breaks between these sessions.

A lot of my most memorable learning situations have happened after sessions while walking with other delegates back to the venue, or chatting with colleagues after their sessions. This networking gives you the time to reflect and consolidate learning and add to others’ conference experience. In more recent years I find this networking has continued online. There are many opportunities for connecting with delegates online using social software applications such as blogging, twittering, Facebook and more. Most of the people I have met at conferences during the years are now my online network who I call on for help regularly, and they on me.

One conference delegate mentioned that being a part of a Twitter social network meant she had many people to catch up with at conference that she had never seen face to face. It also provided her with many people to share the conference experience with and she never felt alone.

So take the opportunity to get to know your colleagues across this country and build up your personal learning network. Maybe you could leave your blog address or twitter name in the comments to find others who are coming along to the conference to connect with.

Two things you need to know about online booking of workshops
1) You need to have paid your invoice in order to select your breakouts.  To check if you have paid, the procedure is a little different this year. There is no Login button as such but if you go to Registration and then to “View my Invoice”, you will be prompted for your login.  Paid invoices are marked in red at the top with the word PAID.
We recommend that you don’t assume someone else is taking care of this for you.  For 10 days after we open selections for breakouts/workshops, requests to be marked off as paid because the “cheque is in the mail” will be declined.   This is only because of the work this causes administratively when at least 400 people are currently still not paid up.  So please check you have paid as soon as possible.

2) To book your workshops you will also need to be able to login. As above, there is no Login button as such but you will be prompted for your login which you go to select your breakouts.   If you cannot login, go to the FAQs page for tips and instructions.  We do not have access to passwords in any case.  We recommend that you test this now; the acid test is whether or not you can view your invoice.