ICT Conference '08

Dear participants,

We are pleased to announce that we have finalised the workshop programme, after much tweaking of the programme written to help us do
it. Although this took longer than expected, it has saved us hours and
hours of work pushing bits of paper around! So thanks go to Roberto
Macedo, the programmer who has been developing all the database systems to help us organise the conference.

So here we go, newsletter #2 (you may get more of these increasingly as the conference draws even nearer, we will make all newsletters available to registered participants via the website Resources section, so new participants can catch up on what you have missed).

Participants Update

We currently have 94 participants registered for the conference, including the 2 keynote speakers, the workshop leaders, 39 teachers/assistants from the host school (The British School, Rio de Janeiro), 16 from Argentina, 1 from Columbia, 3 from Ecuador, 1 from Mexico, 8 from Peru, 1 from Venezuela and 22 from other Brazilian cities (Sao Paulo & Salvador). There is another school that is trying to join in if they can get flights at this late stage. There are less than 30 spaces left. The total no of participants and vacant places will be kept updated daily on the News section of the website (scrolling news links at top of the page).

Fee Payments

Thanks to all participants/schools that have paid their fees and have thus guaranteed their places. We have reserved all the other places too and places will be kept and payments received up to 14th November (unless those 26 places get filled - keep a check on the totals update in the News section on the website). If you want to check whether your payment has gone through OK, you can do so in the Registration and Fees section, and click on Making your Fee Payment - you should see a message to say that Payment has been received.

Workshop Schedule

We have used a computer program to find the best fit of the workshop programme with all the participants’ selection of 10 preferences. To help us get the best schedule possible, a few workshop leaders have agreed to repeat their workshop. Many thanks to them for that! You can find the programme on the website under the Programme section and also
when you login and go to the Workshop section.

Your Workshop allocations - Viewing and Editing Because of the loss of 4 workshops (see below) and various clashes, it was impossible to give everyone their top 7 choices but we've done our best to identify the best fit. When you log on and check the workshop section, you can see your current programme. You can view and edit your personal allocation, by adding, deleting, or swapping workshops within the contraints of the programme You will be able to view/edit your Workshop allocation by logging in and going to the Workshop section.
Warning: if you Remove a Workshop from your list, do not leave it very long to Add a Workshop in its place, or you might not be able to get back the workshop that we have allocated for you. So have fun editing, but take care, always leave it as complete as possible.

Workshop changes

Although we have lost some workshops, we have gained some too. If you want to include them, you will be able to ADD WORKSHOP to your individual programme if it is available to you. But you might have to remove one first to do so.

OUT: (unfortunately, two workshop leaders had to pull out of the conference for personal reasons):
* Wii Dig Education
* Animation with Scratch
* Memorable Moments
* Moods & Emotions in a Digital Age.

IN:
* Consultation Opportunitiy with a Keynote speakers (6 sessions have been included, particularly for those who can't stay to the Sunday brunch/consulation opportunity)
* Do-It-Yourself Interactive Technologies (3 sessions have been
included) - some technicians/helpdesks from the host school, want to show the possibilities for home-made interactive whiteboards and other technologies for a fraction of the cost

Recommended Hotel bookings

Many apologies for the problems people have had making hotel reservations. All those people who have been in touch with the Mirasol hotel have had their reservations confirmed. If anyone still has any queries or concerns, Del is happy to chase them up. Contact her directly by email djames@britishschool.g12.br <mailto:djames@britishschool.g12.br>

Workshop Leaders

When you login and go to the workshop section, you will have an additional option to see your workshop allocations and participant
numbers. For workshops that do not require a computer lab, i.e., they
are presentations; we have set a higher limit for the maximum number.
For some workshops that are repeated, you may find your second one is empty or with only a few participants... but this might fill up as the participants start filling in their empty spaces in the programme and as new participants join up. If it remains empty by the time of the
conference you obviously will not need to run the repeat workshop. You
will be able to keep yourself updated on progress via the link in the workshop section.

Workshop Leaders - extra resources?
If you are a workshop leader and you need any additional resources that you didn't request on your proposal. Please let us know. This could be if you want any handouts photocopying for your sessions, or anything else that you think of as you make your final preparations (but remember that all participants will get a copy of the conference DVD with all workshop resources included - so if you can go green and help preserve the rainforests, please do!)

Optional Activities

You should have received an email from Lesley Rocha Mello who is coordinating these optional activities, outlining the activities in more detail. If you responded to the survey, she will have also emailed you a copy of your earlier responses. If you haven't yet filled out the survey or if you are a recently-registered participant, we will be in touch shortly by email.

Pre-conference Survey

Penni Tearle, one of the Key Note Speakers, has requested that we run a short survey to help participants reflect on the use of ICT in their schools, as we approach the conference. She will be analysing the findings and feeding back to us at the conference and will follow-up
post-conference too. You will be receiving the short survey form early
next week - please complete it before you come to the conference.

That's it for now...phew.. more to come in newsletter #3 ..

Peter, Del & Lesley
Rio ICT conference coordinators
www.rioict.com.br

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