DEANZ is a professional organisation that I have belonged to for over 20 years. It enables me to connect with other educators involved in the open, flexible and distance learning field – with a good mix of researchers and academics involved. I strongly encourage anyone whose work is in this area to attend – it's a unique opportunity for you can meet and interact with the other professionals from univeristies, polytechs, schools and other sector groups whose work is similar to yours.  

Registration is open for the DEANZ14 conference, “Open, Flexible and Distance Learning, where is the ‘e’ in engagement?” DEANZ14 is the premier conference in Aotearoa New Zealand for leaders and practitioners involved in open, flexible and distance learning. The conference will be relevant to tertiary and secondary educators, including librarians, and those company trainers seeking professional and organisational development that DEANZ supports. You can get more details on the DEANZ conference web site and brochure here and Register by clicking here.

 

Key information:

1.       When: 30 April to 2 May, 2014

2.      Where: New Zealand College of Early Childhood Education, Christchurch, New Zealand

3.       Registration (now open):

• Members: $675 inc GST registration (early-bird rate) which includes rejoining DEANZ for two years $120 value).
• Registrants in Member Institutions or Aligned Organisations: $625 inc GST (early-bird rate).
• Non-Members: $775 inc GST registration (early-bird rate). 

One-day registrations are also available: $350 inc GST per day (early-bird rate).

1. Keynotes and invited speakers: DEANZ is pleased to announce the keynotes: included on the virtual panel chaired by Derek Wenmoth, Dr Martin Oliver (UK), Professor Martin Weller (UK) and Dr Terry Anderson (Canada), at the conference: Dr David Gibson, Professor Gilly Salmon, Professor Rhona Sharpe, Professor Peter Twining and invited speakers: Dr Bill Anderson and Sue Roberts
2. Website: http://deanz.org.nz/  

Submit a proposal:

The call for proposals is extended.  Non-refereed papers, digital posters, workshops, round tables and exhibitions are all invited for the event. Refereed papers deadline has passed however if you have a proposal please contact Professor Niki Davis.

Author guidelines are available by emailing mcampbell@teacher.co.nz 

• Refereed papers. Abstracts of 300 words are invited for review. Please email your abstract with ‘DEANZ2014 Refereed paper proposal’ in the subject line to 2014DEANZ@gmail.com. Instructions for submitting full papers through the DEANZ Online Journal System will be provided to authors. Full papers will be between 3,000 and 6,000 words and will be peer-reviewed. Decisions based on abstracts for refereed papers will be made within a two week timeframe, where requested. Final refereed paper submissions now closed. Accepted refereed papers will be published in a special issue of the Journal of Open, Flexible and Distance Learning http://journals.akoaotearoa.ac.nz/index.php/JOFDL.
• Non-refereed papers. Abstracts of 300 words are invited. Please email your abstract with ‘DEANZ2014 Non refereed paper proposal’ in the subject line to 2014DEANZ@gmail.com. Non-refereed presentations will not be published, however any slideshow or accompanying notes will be made available through the DEANZ 2014 Web site.
• Digital Posters. Please email a 300 word description of the proposed digital poster with ‘DEANZ2014 poster proposal’ in the subject line to 2014DEANZ@gmail.com. Digital Posters (up to 100 MB in size) will be linked to the Deanz website with the opportunity for blog posts to be added by the author and those viewing the posters during and after the DEANZ14 conference. Authors must be able to access the website and post and reply to blogs about their digital poster.
• Workshops. Workshops of up to one hour are available. Please send an outline of your proposed workshop (including any technical requirements) with ‘DEANZ2014 Workshop proposal’ in the subject line to 2014DEANZ@gmail.com.
• Round table. Round table sessions of up to 40 minutes are available. Please send an outline of your proposed round table (including any technical requirements) with ‘DEANZ2014 Round table proposal’ to 2014DEANZ@gmail.com.
• Pecha Kucha. Pecha Kucha sessions of up to 10 minutes are available. Please send an outline of your proposed Pecha Kucha (including any technical requirements) with ‘DEANZ2014 Pecha Kucha proposal’ to 2014DEANZ@gmail.com. A definition of Pecha Kucha is available here or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PechaKucha
• Trade exhibits. Please contact Michael Campbell on mcampbell@teacher.co.nz

Proposal deadline Friday 7 March 2014 – all forms except refereed papers

You will be advised of the outcome of your proposal by Friday 28 February 2014.

Final refereed paper submissions due Friday 21 March 2014

Selection of presentations will be based on the relevance of the submission to the conference theme and strands; likely interest to conference delegates; and contribution to open, flexible and distance learning theory and/or practice.

Conference strands:

• Engaging (with) gaming – e.g. real Sims
• Engaging communities and whānau
• Engaging collaborations – e.g. work integrated learning
• Networked Learning Environment – includes design
• Engaging for e-learning excellence – includes Ako Aotearoa stream
• Engaging e-resources – e.g. e-library, e-books, OER
• Engaging (with) assessment – e.g. Turnitin, ePortfolios

Preceding SITE International Symposium in the same week:

Overseas delegates and teacher educators  may wish to attend the SITE International Symposium in the University of Canterbury e-Learning Lab held in the same week in Christchurch.  Two conferences for one visit to Christchurch, see http://www.education.canterbury.ac.nz/site-symposium/