Pre-conference Workshop: Dial M for Learning
This workshop will introduce participants to various technologies that have changed the face of teaching and learning in recent times. Participants will learn how to access various technologies that can enhance their own teaching. The workshop is designed for those with little or no knowledge of the technologies and the ways in which they can be used. It will give an overview and practical examples of:

• eConferencing – audio, web & video
• Blogs
• Wikis
• Podcasts
• mLearning

For a full description of the workshop, click here.

The workshop will be conducted by Carol Daunt (Dip T, Grad Dip Dist Ed, B Ed & M Ed (Research)), Australia’s leading learning technology trainer who, for over 20 years, has b lkbu8f86 een involved in the application & effective use of technologies for teachers, lecturers and trainers from many organizations throughout Australia, New Zealand, USA & Europe. This workshop is based on Carol’s own experience as a teacher & trainer. Her approach is non-technical – she will explain simply how you can access these technologies and use them for teaching and learning.

For more information about Carol, click here.

NOTE: There is no charge for registered IFWE participants to attend this workshop. However, you must reserve your spot by indicating your attendance on the IFWE registration form. If you have already registered (before this workshop was added to the agenda) and would like to attend the workshop, please send an email stating such to Michelle Leija, at mleija@utsystem.edu. Deadline to RSVP for this workshop is March 10, 2006.

Sponsored by

Opening Keynote: Ellen Wagner, who explores emerging and best practices found at the intersections of learning, technology, productivity, and creativity, currently works for Adobe Systems as Senior Director of Worldwide eLearning Solutions.

For more of Ellen’s bio, click here.

eWarriors: How Our Work Changes the World
In her keynote, Ellen will highlight international examples of how technology really is changing the world. She will also discuss how new consumer technology crazes are shaping expectations of technology integration like never before, and the new personal technology wave is going to have profound impact on learning future - because personal technologies are all about being mobile. And THIS is really what mobile learning is all about.

Sponsored by

Sponsored by

In “Dancing on the Glass Ceiling,” Don Olcott, Darcy Hardy, and contributors explore ideas about women and leadership, examining how they intersect with the growth of technology. In order to get a clear picture, they have explored the research plus interviewed women in various phases of their careers, as well as men who have witnessed the evolution of women's leadership responsibilities. In this panel the editors and authors discuss interesting trends as well as their own perspectives on this dynamic topic.

Books will be available for sale and there will be a book signing following the session.

Book signing event Sponsored by Oklahoma State University, Institute for Teaching & Learning Excellence.

Moderators and Book Editors
Dr. Darcy Hardy
Chair Emerita, USDLA
Director, UT TeleCampus
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs,
The University of Texas System Administration

Dr. Don Olcott
President Elect, USDLA
Executive Director,
Western Oregon University

Authors and Panelists
Dr. Pam Pease, Pease Consulting

Dr. William Cunningham, Professor and Former President
The University of Texas at Austin,
and Former Chancellor, The University of Texas System

Responders
Julie Young
CEO, Florida Virtual School

Rene Weston-Eborn
Assistant Provost
Western Governors University

Dr. John Flores, CEO,
USDLA

IFWE Reception: Meeting at the Billibong
(Billibong: What Australians call a watering hole).
Join us for drinks, hors d’oeuvres and networking on the top floor of the Moody Gardens Hotel with what locals consider the best view of Galveston Island. Engage in lively conversations with speakers, panelists, and conference participants while enjoying local musical entertainment.

Sponsored by

Sponsored by

General Session: Karen Sexton
Commanding the Ship in All Kinds of Weather

Dr. Karen Sexton, Vice President and CEO, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Dr. Sexton is currently responsible for a patient care complex that includes six hospitals, more than 750 beds, 25 operating rooms, 45 campus-based clinics, 47 community-based clinics, and more than 4,500 employees. She oversaw the transfer of patients from New Orleans to Galveston as a result of Hurricane Katrina and two weeks later organized the first full evacuation of patients from UTMB in preparation of Hurricane Rita. In addition, Dr. Sexton directed the establishment of the Austin Women's Hospital, a "hospital within a hospital," designed to meet the Ob/Gyn needs of women in the area, particularly indigent patients. Although not directly involved in e-learning, her story of becoming a top female executive within a large teaching hospital, combined with the recent stories described above, will be motivating and enlightening for all participants.

For more of Karen’s bio, click here.

Sponsored by

Concurrent Sessions

Special Activities* and Free Time
Endless Summer – Enjoy beautiful Galveston and Moody Gardens

• Bishop’s Palace: Tour around the Palace
• The Strand: Great Shopping
• Moody Gardens: Spa, IMAX Theatre, Aquarium, and more…
• Train Tours
• Boat Tours/Cruises
• Galveston Duck Tours
• And More

General Session on Women’s Health and Safety

• Riding the Waves of Change...from PMS to Menopause: Female Wellness in the High Tech Workplace –Pam Holder, DSN, RN, Coordinator, Nursing Education, RODP, Tennessee Board of Regents
  
• Hotel and Travel Safety—Garvin O’Neil, Executive Director of the Moody Hospitality Institute. “O'Neil is one of the former top [hotel] managers in the country, as the past food and beverage director for the Mansion on Turtle Creek, general manager of the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas, and general manager of the La Playa beach resort in Naples, Fla.”

Closing IFWE Keynote and Luncheon
Keynote: Composing A Life, Learning to Be

Estee Solomon Gray will share personal and professional reflections on her wide path through a career in engineering, marketing, strategy, knowledge management, elearning and entrepreneurship. Her current work focuses on the emerging rubric of social networking and social software.

Click here for a more lengthy biography.

Special Post-Conference Workshop: Shake, Rattle and Roll!
Conducted by Robbie Melton, Associate Vice Chancellor – Academic Affairs, Tennessee Board of Regents, and Belly Dancing Instructor

Abstract: Come experience a ‘shake~rattle~roll’ belly dancing aerobics exercise class. Participants will discover the ease and fun of belly dancing in an aerobics workout. No prior dancing required and all body types welcomed. Guaranteed to have anyone dancing in fifteen minuets. Come in your workout clothes. Belly dancing belts will be provided.

More detail: Belly dancing (formally acknowledged as the Oriental Dance) is known as the ‘dance to transform a woman into a goddess’. Belly dancing aerobics is a quick and easy cardio activity that will ‘shake~rattle~roll’ you back into good health.

One of the disadvantages of modern life, especially in the profession of technology and distance education, is that we do not use our bodies enough throughout the day. Computers, cars, flying, and endless meetings require us to sit and become inactive. Muscles that do not get used much become "flabby" looking and we tend to gain weight and develop poor posture from working at a computer. Due to our stressful multi-tasking schedules we usually can not find the time to go to the gym or the energy to participate in cardio types of exercise.

Belly dancing aerobics is one fun and easy cardio exercise that will improve your posture, help you to lose weight, reduce stress, and tone your muscles (your legs, bum and arms will become more shapely and your waist will pull in as the obliques (diagonal muscles from the ribs to the hip) tone up). *Not to mention that it will also turn you into a goddess!

This exercise wellness’ presentation will demonstrate the fundamentals and the sensual art of belly dancing in an aerobics workout. Participants will learn how to belly dance within fifteen minuets and learn a dance routine to use at home. (Designed to teach those to dance with flat feet and/or two left feet).