I am leading on the organisation of five events this term so I’m finding it useful to think about this. The following is my own, personal informal ‘events checklist’.

All our events planning is done via our online database which is linked to our website. I have taken screen prints of the online forms and attached them to this post. Bookings, delegate lists, sign in sheets, delegate special requirements, evaluation links, certificates for attendance and so on are all handled by our automated system. [Screen prints of database ‘add event’ forms]. Delegate badges are produced by our excellent admin team.

It strikes me, however, that there are a number of other things I think about when planning events, not all of which are on these forms. So here is a slightly higher level checklist.

High Level - Why are we offering this event?

• Is it meeting a need amongst our supported learning providers?
• Are we working in partnership with appropriate other organisations?
• Does it align with our overall organisational strategic plan?
• Could the event be offered online? (There is a whole different checklist for online events, not considered in this post (yet).

Event Design Level

• What type of event is it?
  • Dissemination of research and / or funded projects?
  • Introduction to new technologies / techniques?
  • Introduction to new policies or guidelines which affect supported learning providers’ use of technology?
  • Good practice sharing?
  • A combination of one or more of the above?
• What is the best format for this event? (This will be determined by answers to the above)
  • Conference style presentations with discussion?
  • Hands on workshop / parallel workshops?
  • Contributions from the floor?
• Has delegate feedback from previous events been taken into account?
• Speakers and other contributors:
  • Is it appropriate to invite external speakers / facilitators? National? Regional? Local?
  • Have we spent time talking with them about our event aims and target audience?
• Does the programme for the day work?
  • Will delegates be able to get there / get home comfortably?
  • Have we built in enough breaks / shuffle time?
• How and where will we publicise this event? When?

Venue Considerations

• Is the venue in a reasonable geographical location for the target audience?
• Are there adequate public transport links and / or car parking facilities available?
• Is it accessible for those with mobility needs?
• Is there a good reliable Internet connection? (For the speakers? For delegates?)
• Are there good projection and audio amplification facilities?
• Are any websites blocked from this venue? (Is this an issue?)
• Does the venue provide Wi-Fi? Is is good / reliable? If we’re expecting delegates to use their own laptops, are there sufficient power outlets?
• What is the ideal room layout? Can it be achieved comfortably?
• Do we trust the catering? Has anyone visited the venue recently to make sure all is well?

In addition to the above, there is a great deal of detail to be attended to. Much of this can be seen in the attached database screen prints, but I might have left something out. Please feel free to leave comments and suggestions.

The question of Generator training has come up. Here are some of the dates, venues and links for forthcoming training sessions.

Taunton: 14th January 2010

10.00am – 2.30pm
Learning South West, Taunton Full Address Venue: Bishops Hull House, Bishops Hull, Taunton, Somerset

http://www.rsc-south-west.ac.uk/index.php?p=14_2&e=309

Portsmouth: 29th January 2010

1:15pm to 4:30pm
Venue: Pompey Study Centre, Portsmouth
http://www.rsc-southeast.ac.uk/events/2010/29-01-2010-half-day-generator-workshop.html 

Leicester: 4th February 2010

9.30 Registration, 10.00 - 16.00
City Learning Centre, Leicester, Leicestershire

http://info.rsc-em.ac.uk/events/event_details.asp?eid=116

Cambridge: 9th February 2010
10.30 am- 3.00pm
SmartLIFE Centre, Cambridge Regional College, Cambridge

http://info.rsc-eastern.ac.uk/events/event_details.asp?eid=725

London:25th February 2010

9.30 - 4.30pm
Accelerator
35 Kingsland Road,
E2 8AA, London
http://www.rsc-london.ac.uk/1365/

The day was particularly useful for me because a number of our supported learning providers are in the process of re-writing their social networking policies and guidelines. It was wonderful to be able to hear from people who have done a lot of thinking on this subject. I was particularly grateful to Mike Roch for sharing his University’s  social networking policies with me.

The presentations from the day are available here:

http://www.eduserv.org.uk/events/wn4di.aspx

Tweets here: http://twapperkeeper.com/wn4di/?limit=500

and photos here: http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=all&q=%23wn4di&m=text

(I have copious notes and thoughts from the day scribbled down, but am just going to publish this much for now. Who knows, this post may grow :-))

Waiting for people to arrive, a boat trip around an oil rig. A party. All part of the JISC Online conference activities.

Originally uploaded by Shri Footring, JISC RSC

Originally uploaded by Shri Footring, RSCe

JISC Online conference orientation session

The usual RSC Update from the forum meeting is available here for reference.

Accessibility and Assistive Technology

Toolkit: We have recently updated our accessibility and assistive technology toolkit. It is available for you to explore here, today. We can also loan the equipment out to you, should you wish. Please contact Maryse or Gerard if interested. Techdis Assistive Technology Scheme

EduApps: This time last year we had started to distribute AccessApps memory sticks. This initiative has now developed to include applications specifically aimed at learners and teachers. Keep up with the latest updates here: www.eduapps.org

Support for the E-Guides programme

Regional Support Centres will be working closely with NIACE to offer E-Guides Plus training. In this region, this will be in addition to our successful E-Guides day. Please watch this space for details of forthcoming events. We are looking for suitable venues, please get in touch if you would like to host an event.

Details of forthcoming E-Guides training

Events

• VLE forum Our next meeting will be on the 6th November at Suffolk New College.
• Generator Training Regional training session on the 10th November.
• Moodle training Early December, please watch this space.

For a full list of forthcoming events, please see our website. Please note that the RSC e-skills resources are available on our Moodle. Please see Catherine or Malcolm for further details.

The RSC e-Skills programme

Please note that the RSC e-skills resources are available on our Moodle. The pilot phase is complete. If you would like to offer this programme at your organisation, please see Catherine or Malcolm for further details.

Funding Opportunities

WBL e-learning Content Creation pilot programme:
http://www.excellencegateway.org.uk/page.aspx?o=252965

Deadline for Technology Exemplar Networks is 30th October.

Time is running out – don’t miss out on funding opportunities, and the chance to participate in Phase 2 of the technology exemplar network

Further to our recent communication, please remember the closing date for applications to join the Technology Exemplar Network as a participating provider is fast approaching, and with interest levels high, we encourage providers to submit their application as soon as possible. The closing date is noon on 30^th October.

Grants are available to the successful participating providers for up to £15k delivering LSC funded learning programmes.

JISC RSCs are here to support to providers during the period of application.  In particular, they can offer support on the use of Generator; the technology improvement leadership tool, and how an applicant might use Generator to demonstrate the strength of their application to join the technology exemplar network.

It is not expected that managers or advisers from the JISC RSCs will respond to queries on the application process. These will be handled by the Association of Colleges (supported by the Association of Learning Providers) on behalf of Becta and the LSC.

Regular updates will be posted to the Becta website during the application process and, where appropriate, will be notified to managers and advisers within JISC RSCs. Frequently asked questions are also available on the Becta website.

The application form and guidance notes are available by clicking the respective links.

Please email us at exemplarnetwork@becta.org.uk if you are considering applying to become a participating provider in Phase 2 of the Technology Exemplar Network. Please include the name and type of your organisation; e.g. general FE college, sixth form college, land-based college, specialist college, work-based learning, offender learning, adult and community learning. This is not a commitment to apply but will allow us to monitor applications.

We look forward to hearing from you.

http://www.alt.ac.uk/altc2009/keynotes.html 

Highly recommended.

The organisers of ALT-C have shown the world how to make the best of pre-conference online support. For a couple of weeks now I have been a regular visitor on the conference crowdvine:

ALT-C 2009 Crowdvine

This has enabled me to engage with the conference content as well as delegates and presenters well before the event itself.

I’m looking forward to taking part in the “VLE is dead” debate, learning about the latest developments in Second Life / other virtual worlds as well as finding out what work / research is being done in the fields of mobile learning, the social web and the wider ethical implications.

See my ALT-C crowdvine network here and my schedule here.

I loved the way in which details of my personal schedule can be imported as an outlook calendar and accessed from my ‘phone.