The Handheld Learning Conference claims to be the world’s leading event about learning using mobile and inexpensive access technologies. Over 1,500 international delegates got together last year.
This year’s conference is themed around “Creativity, Innovation, Inclusion & Transformation” in part because 2009 is the European year of creativity and innovation (which was news to me). It runs from Monday 5th to Wednesday 7th October 2009.
Lead speakers include:
* Malcolm McLaren, Agent provocateur and artist
* James Paul Gee, Presidential Professor of Literacy Studies at Arizona State University
* Professor Elizabeth Hayes, Arizona State University
* Gordon Shukwit, Director of IT and Learning Technologies, Apple Inc
* John Davitt, International Learning Advocate, NewTools.org
* Tim Brighouse, Former Commissioner for London Schools
* Donald Clark, e-Learning Expert
* David Cavallo, Chief Learning Architect, MIT OLPC
* Tim Rylands, Teacher & Innovator
HHL promises to bring together experts from the education, technology and entertainment sectors.
Education, technology and entertainment? Hurray! This sounds like a magic mix. Kind of like a geek cocktail for me!
The conference is spread over three days, to demonstrate, debate and explore how mobile technologies such as phones, entertainment devices, GPS locators, and netbooks can enable “transformational improvements” in learning across schools, home, further education, training and business.
I’m not sure what ‘transformational improvements’ are – hope there’s not too much of this type of marketese at the actual conference – but I am interested in seeing how mobile technologies can help us all do things better.
Here in Northern Ireland we’re hoping to get as many companies and organisations as possible together to organise a subsidised Trade Mission to the conference – lots of folk are already signed up. So if you’re a ROI or NI learning company and you’re interested in attending the conference, let me know ASAP.
And if you fancy easing yourself into handheld learning with a sleek Apple device, get yourself signed up for the conference before July 31 – you’ll get a free iPod touch when you arrive at the conference. Nice.
