Staying up-to-speed with rapidly changing instructional technology and communications advancements is critical to the effective development of instruction, training and learning opportunities for educators across the board. For this reason, IACON 2011 brings together leaders with a broad range of specialties, providing a strategic overview of the distance learning landscape, as well as a tactical focus on individual hot spots within the merging technology arena. The annual conference is sponsored jointly by the Iowa Distance Learning Association (IDLA) and the Iowa Association of Communication Technology (IACT).
“This conference is a great opportunity to network and expand your knowledge and skill in distance learning and instructional technology in education, in the corporate arena, in nonprofit agencies, in government entities, and in government and military contracting organizations,” says Jean Cross, Drake School of Education online instructional designer and president of the IDLA.
The IACON 2011 conference specifically addresses the need to understand and correctly use instructional technology with the theme, “Driving Education with Technological Innovation.” The event will be held on Friday, April 15, from 8 a.m. – 4:15 p.m. at the Adventureland Inn, 3200 Adventureland Drive in Altoona. Registration is available online.
The keynote speakers for the conference are Lisa Dawley and Burke Oakley II. Dawley will speak on “The Importance of Serendipity in Educational Innovation” during the morning session, and Oakley will speak during the lunch session on how “New Technologies Enable New Online Pedagogies.”
In addition to the keynote speakers, there will be three breakout sessions throughout the day. Information on the breakout sessions is available online, along with registration information and the conference schedule.
Organizations doing exceptional work in distance learning and instructional technology will be recognized though the Points of Presence and Innovators awards. New work in fields of distance learning and instructional technology are supported through the $500 mini-grants.
IACON 2011 will host vendors during the conference, including: AVI Systems, Blackboard, Cisco, Drake University, Iowa Communications Network, Kramer Electronics and PolyCom.
IACON is Iowa’s premier distance learning conference. One conference sponsor, the IACT, provides a forum for and support to providers of communication technology services in Iowa institutions, businesses and other agencies involved in education and training. The other sponsor, the IDLA, brings together professionals in distance learning areas from education, corporate training, government and military organizations to share experience, knowledge and expertise to better serve lifelong learners.
For more information, contact Diane Spahr, 515-271-2070, Diane.spahr@drake.edu