Announcing Flat Classroom Conference
Some of you may wonder why this is the same time as Chris Lehman's amazing work at Educon 2.1 in Philadelphia -- the first reason is that we have a stellar speaker who has tentatively planned to come to Qatar and this is the only time he could do it, and secondly, we hope to network the two at some point if it works out. Additionally, this conference will be very international, pulling heavily from participants in past projects, and I don't know that the audience will have a lot of overlap. Educon is great, and this conference will have a different format from what he is doing.
August 29, 2008 - Doha, Qatar - Flat Classroom Project co-founders Julie Lindsay and Vicki Davis in conjunction with Qatar Academy and the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) announce the first Flat Classroom Leadership Workshop and Student Summit to be held January 24-26, 2009 at Qatar Academy in Doha.
Visit our website for more details: http://flatclassroomconference.com/
This event is targeted to teachers and students of past, current and future 'flat classroom' collaborations as well as Information Technology teachers and Directors and school administrators who are responsible for pedagogical development with ICT in their schools.
Two strands: 'Leadership Workshop' and 'Student Summit' will meet separately and in combined sessions to discuss best practice and promote global collaborative leadership as part of a global flat classroom. Participants will be given the opportunity to develop leadership skills in using information technology, particularly Web 2.0 tools, to connect, communicate and collaborate.
The conference will take place in the city of Doha, State of Qatar, with sessions hosted by Qatar Academy. The conference objectives include:
- To provide an opportunity for participants and supporters of the Flat Classroom Project and it's sister, the High School Horizon Project to have an educational and cultural exchange via an organized gathering.
- To promote connection and understanding between geographically dispersed ethnically and culturally diverse groups of students in meaningful, global cooperative authentic learning experiences.
- To focus on enhancing digital citizenship and fostering best practice methods for online learning in ways that can be shared synchronously and asynchronously with other schools around the world.
- To provide further opportunity for pedagogical development using emerging ICT and creation tools in differing modes.
- To promote leadership skills for 21st century learning amongst participants of all ages with an increasing leadership role for students in education practice.
- To provide an opportunity for participants to explore and experience what it means to learn in a 'flat classroom' with extensive involvement from students and teachers
- To advance our approach to the next stage in the establishment of educationally viable and valued global classroom(s) and all this means for relationship building and the development of independent and cultural learning for teachers and students.
The conference format will be plenary sessions with keynotes and 'flat classroom' opportunities as well as summit and leadership strands with round table discussions, hands-on workshops, and panel discussions.
Confirmed presenters and workshop leaders include:
- Don Knezek (CEO, ISTE) and Lynn Nolan (Senior Strategic Initiatives Officer, ISTE)
- Vicki Davis (IT Director Westwood Schools, Camilla, Georgia, USA), Flat Classroom Project Co-founder
- Julie Lindsay (Head of Information Technology and E-Learning, Qatar Academy, Doha), Flat Classroom Project Co-founder
- Dr John Turner - Flat Classroom teacher and leader, PLC, Melbourne Australia
Student Summit details
Students internationally and locally will come together in Qatar with the purpose of learning more about how to connect, communicate, collaborate and create using Web 2.0 tools. They will be encouraged to foster interactions and to use the power of the 'flat world' to take action and make a difference to the world through enhanced cultural understanding. It is expected the skills and friendships developed at the summit will be taken back to their own schools and countries and further interactions and actions planned for the future.
A number of scholarships for students and accompanying teachers are available.
Our aim is to encourage participants from around the world to attend and wish to support this by providing funds to cover registration and accommodation. Students and teachers who have been past or current participants in the Flat Classroom Project will be given priority however we strongly encourage all interested applicants.
We invite teachers to apply on behalf of their students. Up to 4 students will be considered for sponsorship from each school.
Applications must be submitted by October 12, 2008.
Successful applicants will be notified by October 19, 2008
More information about student and teacher scholarship opportunities is available form Julie Lindsay, Head of Information Technology and E-Learning at Qatar Academy, Email: lindsay.julie@gmail.com
Registration Details:
Conference Dates
January 24-26 (Saturday 1pm start, Monday 4:30pm finish)
It is recommended that international participants arrive on the Friday.
Conference Registration
Full registration: QR800 (approx $200 US - currency conversion)
Student Registration: QR400 (approx $100 US currency conversion )
Deadline for registration: October 26, 2008
Scholarships for students available but applications must be submitted by October 12, 2008.
Hotel details
The conference hotel is the Gloria Hotel in Doha. For information see http://gloriahotel-doha.com
Rooms have been reserved for January 23, 24, 25 and 26 as needed by conference participants.
Room rates: Single QR450 (about $125), Double QR 550 (about $152) per night
Hotel reservations (to get this corporate rate) are to be made through Qatar Academy. Registrants are requested to complete the online form to register and reserve a place at the conference and to reserve a hotel room.
More information, if needed, about accommodation and registration is available from Ann Rogers, Public Relations Officer at Qatar Academy. Email arogers@qf.org.qa
Payment details to be confirmed in October.
For more information on this event, visit the website at http://flatclassroomconference.com/
