Archive for April 7th, 2007
Workshop on Free and Open Source Learning Environments and Tools (FOSLET07)
Extended deadline: April 16, 2007
Call for papers
Workshop on Free and Open Source Learning Environments and Tools
(FOSLET07)
In conjunction with the Third International Conference on Open Source Systems.
June 14th, 2007, Limerick (Ireland)
http://www.elab.usilu.net/FOSLET07
Web-based Learning Environments supported by Course Management Systems, (also known as Learning Management Systems) are nowadays a valid solution for institutions, schools and universities that deliver e-learning or support blended-learning activities. Learning environments are used to distribute information and content material to learners, prepare and deliver assignments and tests, engage in discussions, and manage distance classes without time and space
restrictions.
During the last few years, several institutions have moved from commercial/proprietary solutions to Free and Open Source (FOS) environments. The increasing popularity that FOS solutions for e-learning are enjoying is partly due to the absence of license costs, and partly to their great adaptability and interoperability, also in relationship with the development and adoption of Learning Technology Standards, such as the Shareable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM) and the IMS Content Packaging and Learning Design specifications.
However, the integration of FOS solutions for e-learning is not free from some critical issues that demand research.
GOALS
The workshop aim at providing a discussion platform for researchers and practitioners that wants to share research findings and experiences about the use of FOS applications for e-learning, in order to identify effective and sustainable solutions, open issues and good practices
TOPICS
The workshop encourages submissions on all topics related to Free and Open Source Learning Environments including (but not limited to) the following:
- Interoperability and implementation of standards among Learning Environments
- FOS Learning Environments architectures, configurations, and infrastructures
- Learning & Content Management Systems, repositories
- Metadata models and mapping
- Interoperability use cases, experience reports of interoperable educational systems
- Cost models of commercial/proprietary and FOS e-learning solutions
- Good practices of integration of FOS solutions into real institutional settings
IMPORTANT DATES
- Submission of papers: April 16, 2007 (EXTENDED DEADLINE)
- Notification of acceptance: yup April 30, 2007
- Submission of final papers: May 21, 2007
- Workshop date: June 14, 2007
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
- Luca Botturi, Faculty of Communication Sciences, University of Lugano, Switzerland.
- Riccardo Mazza, Faculty of Informatics, University of Lugano, Switzerland.
- Stefano Tardini, eLearning Lab, University of Lugano, Switzerland.
CONTACTS
Luca Botturi, Riccardo Mazza, Stefano Tardini
NewMinE Lab
Via G. Buffi, 13
CH-6900 Lugano (Switzerland)
{botturil,mazzar,tardinis}@lu.unisi.ch
FOSSCON Call for Papers
FOSSCON is looking for engaging talkers to speak on a range of issues, the complete Call for Papers is below:
What is FOSSCON?
FOSSCON is the Peer Directed Project Center’s (PDPC) first major project beyond the freenode IRC network. Most conferences claim to produce a conference which is profoundly different. Instead, we claim that we’re making our conference profoundly more useful. FOSSCON particularly focuses on open-source communities and collaboration from some of the folks who do it best.
Who are we looking for?
FOSSCON is looking for dynamic and engaging speakers on September 22nd and 23rd to fill two separate tracks:
- Technical Track – this track is more technically oriented and focuses on new technology and specific advances in FOSS software and platforms. This track is a tab more general and any topics dealing with FOSS will be included here though technology which specifically deals with community issues and collaboration is still the focus. Some of the specific technology we’d like to hear about includes:
- Source control management (SCM)
- Technical standardization and interoperability
- Virtualization
- User interface design
- Toolchain improvements
- Networking
- Programming languages
- Any other interesting or innovative technology or tools
- Community Track – this track focuses on the collaborative nature of open source software. The focus in on issues that arise within a project, issues that arise between projects and issues that arise when projects end up interfacing with external entities. All of the following topics fit neatly into this track:
- Community building
- Marketing
- Public relations
- Developer/User relations
- Relations with academia, industry and other open-source projects
- Licensing, assignment of copyright, foundations and other legal issues
- Bug tracking and/or code testing
Each speaker slot is 1 hour long. In addition, we will also be providing slots in lightning rounds for those who have something they want to say but don’t have a full detailed talk; these will be 15 minutes each. Slots in the lightning rounds can be requested using this page on our wiki. We’re also doing workshops so if you’d like to take advantage of a 3 hour workshop slot instead, let us know at talks@fosscon.org… just send an e-mail asking for information and we’ll talk with you about it, the process is slightly different. (Please begin the subject line with the word workshop in capital letters.
