VSU Hosts 2011 Online Lifeline Conference

VALDOSTA -- The 2011 Online Lifeline Conference, which focuses on classroom technology and online instruction for institutional educators and personnel, will be held Feb. 16-18.

The educational summit will begin with two days of pre-conference workshops, which include Quality Matters Rubric, Evaluating Online Faculty and Second Life Showcase.

The pre-conference will come to a close on Thursday with the HUB Social and Technology Showcase in The Crescent Auditorium, 904 N. Patterson St. at 5:30 p.m. The networking event will include an informative poster session, Wii game challenges and technology demonstrations.

On Friday, conference participants can attend four of 16 concurrent sessions about the use of technology in course instruction. After the first session, Dr. Curtis A. Carver Jr., vice chancellor and chief information officer of the University System of Georgia, will deliver the keynote address, “Information Technology Services, Higher Education, and the University System of Georgia.” Dr. Bruce N. Chaloux, Sloan Consortium board of directors president, will give the feature presentation titled, “Are We Ready for the New Realities in the 21st Century Ivory Tower?” from noon until 1:30 p.m. 



Jon Sizemore, assistant director for distance learning at VSU, said the 2011 Online Lifeline Conference is an opportunity to get together with professional colleagues to learn and share successful strategies for teaching with technology. 

He emphasized the quality and expertise of the featured speakers and presenters.

“We have presenters from all over the University System of Georgia, and several from VSU,” Sizemore said. “We have also invited world-class speakers to share pertinent information about the future of virtual learning, which is one of the largest areas for increasing enrollment.”

Sizemore expressed special appreciation for this year’s sponsors: Turning Technologies, Blackboard, Wimba and the VSU Tech Shop: Authorized Apple Campus Store.



The conference is open to faculty and staff members from any institution. Registration is $25, and includes continental breakfast and lunch. Presenters and co-presenters can register for $10. Pre-conference workshops require pre-registration and lunch is provided by Blackboard. The deadline to register is Friday, Feb. 11. Visit http://www.valdosta.edu/distance/onlinelifeline/index.shtml to register or for a full schedule, list of breakout sessions and additional information.