FUSION 2008 Track Descriptions

To ensure you get the most out of FUSION 2008, we have divided the conference topics into five main tracks based on your feedback from FUSION 2007.

Teaching and Learning

This track emphasizes research and practice in teaching and learning with a focus on uses of innovative learning strategies with Desire2Learn. Proposals can include best practices and techniques as well as unique pedagogical approaches. (Specific format will depend on individual session, please see session description for details)

Audience - This track will be of interest to Instructors and Instructional System Designers

Area – This track is applicable to all areas (K-12, government, military, higher education and corporate)

Expertise – This track is applicable to all areas of expertise (novice, intermediate and advanced — click here for rubrics)

Format – This track will accommodate session style presentations, panel discussions and hands-on workshops

Examples:

• Matching Learning Styles
• Integrating iTunes Access into Desire2Learn
• Online Education and the Adult Learner
• Designing Personalized Learning Environments
• Using Desire2Learn to Support the Learning of Practical Skills to Navigate Ships

Support and Training

As the use of eLearning becomes more and more prevalent and interwoven with all aspects of education, support and training resources are pushed to their limits. This track focuses on support and training strategies, tools and new approaches to an age-old problem. Sessions tackle common user issues including helpdesk protocol, training sessions for all levels, and best practices. (Specific applicability will depend on individual session, please see session description for details)

Audience – This track will be of interest to Site Administrators, Trainers and Help Desk Staff

Area – This track is applicable to all areas (K-12, government, military, higher education and corporate)

Expertise – This track is applicable to all areas of expertise (novice, intermediate and advanced) — click here for rubrics

Format – This track will accommodate session style presentations, panel discussions and hands-on workshops

Examples:

• What Should a Help Desk Look Like with 20,000 Users and Five FTE's?
• New Student Orientation
• Training and Support for Effective Facilitation
• Lessons From the Field: A System Wide Help Desk Support Model

Program Management

Best practices for program management have proven to provide strong benefits for enterprise planning and control. This track tackles topics such as time management, effective communication, cost management, help desk/support management and scope management. Also included in this track is administrative management of software such as Desire2Learn's eLearning solution. (Specific applicability will depend on individual session, please see session description for details)

Audience – Depending on subject matter of the individual sessions, this track will be of interest to C-level Executives, Purchasing Agents, Business and Finance Officers, Site Administrators, Directors of eLearning, Help Desk Directors, and System Administrators

Area - This track is applicable to all areas (K-12, government, military, higher education and corporate)

Expertise - This track is applicable to all areas of expertise (novice, intermediate and advanced) — click here for rubrics

Format - This track will accommodate session style presentations, panel discussions and hands-on workshops

Examples:

• Scope, Time and Cost Management of an eLearning Program
• Asset Planning and the Creation of a Business Case for eLearning
• Quality Assurance Projects
• How to Manage Your Time While Teaching Online
• Organizing your ORG
• Who are the Online Learners and What Factors Lead to Success in Retention?
• Troubleshooting Admin Tools

Technical System Administration

Technology is advancing and the systems administration profession is rapidly changing. New issues develop almost on a daily basis while older issues still remain a challenge. This track focuses on topics such as security tools and techniques, networking, wireless computing, monitoring of traffic, performance tuning, server administration, database administration, software administration, standards, migration, and emerging issues surrounding such areas as virtual social environments and mobile and location independent computing. (Specific applicability will depend on individual session, please see session description for details)

Audience – This track will be of interest to System Administrators, Site Administrators, Database Administrators, Security Officers, Network Engineers, and Chief Information Officers

Area - This track is applicable to all areas (K-12, government, military, higher education and corporate)

Expertise - This track is applicable to all areas of expertise (novice, intermediate and advanced) — click here for rubrics

Format - This track will accommodate session style presentations, panel discussions and hands-on workshops

Examples:

• Application of Emerging Technologies to System Administration
• Real-World Experience with Implementations of Current and Proposed System Administration Standards
• Managing High-Demand and High-Availability Environments
• Experiences with Emerging Procedural/Ethical Issues (i.e., Developing Site Policies, Tracking Abusers, Implementing Solutions to Emerging IT Security Problems)
• Emergency Warning Systems

Executive Leadership

Desire2Learn wishes to bring together senior industry executives and government officials to exchange information, improve communications and build partnerships to enhance teaching and learning and address the issues facing all facets of education.

Audience –  This track is intended for Key Decision Makers at institutions such as School Administrators, Principals, Vice Presidents, Provosts, C-level Executives, Presidents, Chancellors, Vice Provosts, Vice Chancellors, Key Ranking Military Personnel, Senators, Representatives, Governors, and Appointed Governing Board Officials

Area - This track is applicable to all areas (K-12, government, military, higher education and corporate)

Expertise – This track is applicable to advanced areas of expertise only

Format – A great deal of interaction is desired for this track (panel discussions and small group discussions are encouraged)

Examples:

• Globalization of IT
• The Millennial Student
• Challenge of Web 2.0
• Aligning Education With Workforce Requirements