ET4Online  +  Springtime in Las Vegas… ….What could be better?

We plan a “perfect storm” of quality learning events, excellent weather, and remarkable venue for the next Emerging Technologies Symposium this coming April. Please reserve our new dates: April 9-11, 2013.  

The Sloan Consortium, MERLOT, and our Emerging Technologies steering committee welcome you to The 6th Annual Emerging Technologies for Online Learning International Symposium (ET4Online), hosted for the second consecutive year in Las Vegas, Nevada. The conference dates for the symposium are changing, in part, to allow K-12 participants and vendors a better opportunity to join the conference live. No longer a summer conference, ET4Online is moving to spring 2013 and will stay a spring conference for the foreseeable future.

New discoveries in technology happen rapidly and far too frequently. It is difficult to keep up with every new release or innovation.  Advances in technology often become the vehicle for new ways to learn or enhance learner opportunities in our classrooms. As educators we progress forward, gaze back, and aim to bring the best of old and new to create an optimal environment to our students. However daunting this mission is, we tackle the problems and learn best from those who are already building the bridges and taking on the tasks we want to try. The field is advanced by those who share, scrutinize, and study. We invite you to contribute to the progress by presenting and attending this year’s symposium and encouraging your colleagues to join our efforts.

The ET4Online Symposium offers you an opportunity to study best practices, understand applications, discover new technologies, and connect to others who share a love for and belief in the promise of educational technology.

In 2012 the symposium developed a new mission statement designed to emphasize the innovation and invention that is the focus of the conference: A conference devoted to the emerging and innovative uses of technology designed to improve teaching and learning online. Tracks for this year’s conference include Learning Spaces and Communities, Open and Accessible Learning, Evidence-based Learning, Faculty and Student Development, and Innovative Media and Tools. Woven into the conference program and offered within the structure of the tracks will be special emerging technologies, future academics, sandbox, leadership, and STEM sessions. We are also building upon the unconference experience from 2012 to offer again an unconference showcasing innovation and hot topics in 2013.

Again this year, we are excited to offer workshops as part of the conference package. Workshops as part of the conference program were so well received in 2012 we are offering the value again.

Come to Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas this spring and be a part of the 2013 ET4Online Symposium. Las Vegas, Nevada needs no introduction as an exciting conference city. It has much more to offer than just great food, shows, or exciting night life. Famous National Parks surround Las Vegas, including Zion, the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Arches, and Bryce Canyon. Pack your paddles, boots, or high heels and enjoy the many options Las Vegas offers prior to or just after the symposium.

All of the Steering Committee sends a great big thank you in advance to those who organize, review, volunteer, propose, present, host as vendors, travel, and troubleshoot the symposium. The conference is a success because you care about providing the best educational experience and technology for today's student.

Inviting you to join us in Las Vegas this coming spring: April 9-11, 2013.

Shari Smith, Conference Chair	David Wicks, Chair-Elect/Program Chair

 2013 Emerging Technologies Symposium