Monthly Archives: August 2013

Keynote at Challenges 2013 International Conference on ICT in Education

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The key theme of the VIII International Conference on ICT in Education – Challenges 2013, held in Portugal in July 2013, was “Learning anytime, anywhere.”

Organized by the ICT in Education Competence Centre of the University of Minho Institute of Education, the conference covered a wide range of issues structured in three main topics:

  • Emerging environments
  • Digital and curriculum
  • Digital evaluation

The topic “Emerging environments” focused on the most recent technological innovations, exploring future developments related to education and training.

As a keynote speaker, Ale Okada presented the project WESPOT, “Working Environment with social, personal, and open technologies for inquiry-based learning.” This project’s features, deeply rooted in digital and networked technology, aligned well with the conference’s key theme.

The conference attracted over 400 attendees from higher and basic education, with all keynotes also live-streamed to increase open access to the conference. Notably, Okada mentioned that increasing access to conference talks through live webcasts was not a new concept for Challenges. Seven years ago, during the initial editions of Challenges, Okada presented Open Learning Technologies of the OpenLearn Project through webinars using FM, which gained widespread access. Challenges was the first international event to allow online presentation of a conference paper, a significant and innovative opportunity that paved the way for many other online talks in various events. This approach significantly expanded the reach, both geographically and temporally, through the video web conferencing application FM.

During Challenges 2013, Okada also launched her book “Open Educational Resources and Social Networks,” edited by the OU KMI and published by UEMA University in Brazil. Free printed copies were distributed at the conference and received by the Chancellor (Rector) of the Open University in Portugal, the Educational Projects Director of the Education and Science Ministry, as well as the Director of EUN (European Schoolnet).