The proliferation of computers, cell phones, wireless laptops, Blackberries, and iPods, as well as the enabling software, is testament to our communal desire to be connected—connected in communities of friends, communities of common interest, communities of peers. In education, the promise of this technology is to provide more meaningful learning connections and allow more fully the interaction among diverse students in disparate locations.
Building Connections—creating webs of relationships to facilitate and enhance teaching and learning—is the theme of the 2007 conference. This conference will explore the advantages of meaningful connections, as well as the facilitation and scope of connections necessary to develop innovative and supportive learning environments and experiences.
The
Advantage of Building Connections is apparent in the realization that education is more than a delivery system for facts. Our interactions and collaborations lead to:
- enhanced learning
- communities of interest and practice
- support of innovation
- linking meaningful opportunities and creative solutions to the challenges of education
- establishing a voice through technology
The
Facilitation of Building Connections describes the practices of establishing and maintaining the structures and processes of building connections to enhance the learning process. Synergistic relationships develop through:
- administrative leadership
- collaborative support mechanisms
- innovative communication processes
- multiple interaction modes
- creative deployment of technology
- blending instruction and library technologies
The
Scope of Building Connections transcends geographic area beginning with the intimate, near at hand, and expanding throughout the world:
- classrooms, libraries, and institutions - students, faculty, administrators, support staff, campus organizations
- community - K-12 schools, local organizations, service learning
- regionally - universities, community colleges, trans-institutional organizations, independent learning groups
- globally – international student base, research collaboration, conservation of resources
Building Connections - focusing on the many types of relationships and collaborations that contribute to using technology effectively in the service of teaching and learning.
We actively solicit proposals that showcase TLT findings and work in progress from faculty, librarians, staff, and administrators who would like to share their knowledge and expertise with colleagues. Proposals about UNC collaborative work, including projects that involve educational, non-profit, commercial, or government organizations from outside UNC, are encouraged, as are submissions on other TLT-related topics. Session types include panel discussions, roundtable discussions, hands-on workshops, formal presentations, demonstrations, and poster presentations. Session lengths range from 30 to 90 minutes.
