The 7th Sloan-C International Conference on Online Learning:

Emerging Standards of Excellence in Asynchronous Learning Networks

We invite you to submit a proposal to The 7th Sloan-C International Conference on Online Learning (last year called the 6th International Conference on Asynchronous Learning Networks sponsored by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation), to be held at the Rosen Centre Hotel, Orlando, Florida, November 16-18, 2001. Last year’s conference attracted over 500 people to more than 100 sessions as well as exhibits, pre-conference workshops, a keynote address, and a variety of other special events. Planning is underway to make this year’s gathering more comprehensive and dynamic than ever.

This year’s theme, Emerging Standards of Excellence in Asynchronous Learning Networks, reflects the maturing of online learning from an experimental approach to a rapidly growing and integral component of higher and post-graduate education.

1. Submit a Proposal by completing the electronic submission form

Step 1: Choose the program track that best fits your topic.

- Emerging Standards of Excellence for Faculty Development and Participation.

The establishment of clear and commonly held expectations of the faculty member’s role in the development an delivery of on-line instruction is a key to the long-term acceptance of on-line learning.

This track will provide opportunities to share experiences about the faculty member’s role and expectations regarding overall workload, course development processes, interaction with students, and the emergence of standards of practice. Also encouraged are proposals that relate to faculty recognition and reward.

This track will explore the varied faculty development projects and programs that have been beneficial to fostering a strong learning environment.

- Emerging Standards of Excellence in Online Technology.

Technology creates the virtual presence of an online learning environment. How we use technology reflects our basic assumptions about the learning community and the teaching and learning environment.

This track will provide opportunities to share innovations in the structure and use of technologies that support online learning.

This may include new authoring tools, new features for course management software, effective applications of various technologies to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the learning environment, and measures for evaluating the value of software packages.

- Emerging Standards of Excellence for Learning and Pedagogy.

What defines an online learning course? As the field moves toward establishing standards, it is important to develop a common understanding of what is and is not an online course.

This track will provide opportunities to explore these issues from a variety of perspectives: new approaches to pedagogy, standards and expectations for interaction, content delivery, student learning experiences, particularly powerful mixes of technologies and more.

This track also will be useful for those who want to compare and contrast the use of ALNs on campus and off campus.

- Emerging Standards of Excellence in Assessment and Evaluation.

This track provides opportunities for institutions to share experiences regarding assessment and evaluation of different facets of online learning: course design and pedagogy, faculty and student performance and satisfaction, student services, administrative procedures, cost efficiency and effectiveness, and technology.

- Institutional Best Practices.

This track provides opportunities to share institutional best practices in the following areas:

Step 2: Select the session type that is most appropriate for your presentation.

- Individual Presentation:

Give a 30-minute presentation in which you share information related to one of the learning tracks. It is anticipated that two such sessions will be presented during each 75-minute concurrent session, followed by time for questions, answers, and discussion with the audience.

- Group Presentation:

Design a panel presentation or other interactive group session related to a learning track that will engage the audience for an entire 75-minute concurrent session.

- Demonstration:

Propose to demonstrate a unique application of technology, a pedagogic approach, new authoring or learning tools, etc. These will be 45-minute sessions that will focus on institutional applications, rather than vendor presentations.

- Roundtable Discussion:

Facilitate one of the hour-long round table discussions scheduled to conclude the conference. Choose one of the learning track themes for further discussion, propose another topic raised during the conference, discuss and debate important issues not included among conference themes, consider future directions.

You should know the topic well enough to be able to launch the session by briefly framing the topic and then facilitate the remainder of the informal interaction by guiding the conversation and encouraging others to participate. Facilitators also will be expected to capture key ideas and suggestions that emerge from the session to share with other conference attendees on the ALN Web site.

Step 3: Complete all of the following information before submitting your proposal:

(Note: The following standard audiovisual equipment will be provided in each room: data projector equipped with a universal cord to accommodate both PC and Macintosh platforms, an Internet connection, an overhead projector, and a screen. If you need a computer or any special equipment, you must provide it yourself)

Step 4: Have the designated contact person submit the completed proposal to:

http://md2000.vuse.vanderbilt.edu/alnconf2001

2. Proposal Selection Criteria

Proposals will be selected based on the following criteria:

3. Timeline

Proposals due May 31, 2001

Notification of acceptance July 14, 2001

4. Proceedings

If your presentation is accepted, you are strongly encouraged to post it as a text file or in PowerPoint format to the ALN Web site using the following URL:

http://md2000.vuse.vanderbilt.edu/alnconf2001.

The contributions will remain online as part of the conference proceedings after the conference. Session abstracts and information about the presenters also will be included on the site.

5. Publications

You may wish to submit your full paper for consideration for publication in the Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks (JALN) or the ALN Magazine.

The former is oriented toward research results; the latter toward case studies, technologies, and other practical issues. Papers should be submitted electronically to John Bourne (john.bourne@olin.edu).

6. General Conference Information

Conference location: All presentations and pre-conference workshops will be held at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Florida. One of Orlando’s premier hotels, it is located just fifteen minutes from Orlando International Airport.

Conference fees: Early bird registration fee for the conference will be $350.

The fee for later registrations is $375. The fee includes the opening reception and dinner, two continental breakfasts, two luncheons, refreshment breaks, and the cost of all materials.

Conference updates: The ALN Web site (http://www.aln.org) will include the latest conference information as soon as it is available. The site will be updated regularly as the schedule develops and will provide information on lodging, transportation, exhibitors, program schedules, and special events. A brochure detailing the conference will be mailed as well.

For additional information about the program, contact:
Gary Miller
Program Chair
E-mail: GEM7@PSU.EDU
Fax: 814-865-3290

For additional information about the conference arrangements, contact:
J. Patrick Wagner
Assistant Vice President
Division of Continuing Education
University of Central Florida
12424 Research Parkway, Suite 265
Orlando, FL 32826-3269
Phone: (407) 207-4920
Fax: (407) 207-4930
jwagner@mail.ucf.edu

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