Still time to register for the ILT2014 Conference | Only one week to go!

Screen shot of ILT2014 Conference app saying 7 days to go!

This is officially serious news! ONLY ONE WEEK until the Inclusive Learning Technologies Conference 2014 kicks off on 20th May on Queensland's Gold Coast!

If you have registered already, have you checked out the TOP TEN things you should think about doing to be sure you get the MOST out of your conference experience. I've copied it in again at the end of today's newsletter for you as a reminder in case you have flagged it to look at a bit closer to the conference. With one week to go, it's critical to get all your conference ducks in a row! ASAP!

If you haven't yet registered, YES there are still places left! We can definitely still fit you in and warmly welcome you joining our vibrant and enthusiastic #ILT2014 Conference community.

What if you can't be there but want to be a part of the Conference?  An ILT2014 Conference Virtual Registration offers you access to videos of all of the most popular sessions presented at the conference! All to be available to you a week after the ILT2014 Conference is over. All viewable for a full 12 months afterwards with the option of downloadable certificates of attendance for each session viewed if you require these for professional learning/accreditation credits.

Even if you are at the conference in person, adding on a Virtual Registration gives you access to these awesome resources supporting a full year of presentations and collaborative IT strategy planning on your return-to-base.

The 25 presentations (40 full hours of video) chosen for inclusion as part of the #ILT2014 Conference Virtual Registration experience are now up online. Just visit the Conference Virtual Registration Page to see them all listed … or check out the ILT2014 Conference Program page and select the cool little Virtual Registrations checkbox to see them light up in blue! 


View Virtual Sample    Presentations being recorded

Sign up for a Virtual Registration!


Today meet our own homegrown Keynote Presenter | Greg O’Connor from the Spectronics Consultancy Team

Image of headshot of Greg O'Connor


With so many awesome presenters joining us from many different countries, we need to be sure we don't overlook our own local talent! So today, meet Greg O'Connor, Special Education Teacher, Manager of Spectronics' Consultancy Services Team and Byron Bay Bluesfest tragic.

Greg is well known in EdTech and assistive technology circles internationally, regularly attending and presenting at iconic events such as the ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education)ATIA (Assistive Technology Industry Association) and Closing the Gap Conferences. Along with a growing number of conferences in SE Asia in addition to his gigs across Australia and NZ. So we are looking forward to his insights during his "Keynote Address: Try Another Way. Like it's a Bad Thing?"  A presentation which will explore the intersection of the future and technology in education for students with diverse learning needs. Looking at the world of possibilities that await them and their educators in mainstream and special education settings. This session will be filmed in full to be offered to people who sign up for our NEW Virtual Registration option.

Also watch out for Greg hosting the Five-Minute-Sharing Sessions on the first day of the conference, supporting many first-time conference presenters as they share short vignettes about their work or lives with students with diverse learning needs. He will be hanging around the Spectronics Lounge most days too and, of course, if you hear live music in progress, it's a good bet that Greg won't be too far away! 

Learn more about Greg here.

Image of waving crowds at a Byron Bay Bluesfest performance


What does the full ILT2014 Conference program look like?


Complete Conference Overview   Conference Schedule

All program and presenter details are available on the Conference Program page of the conference website. But if you are one of the many people telling us that they find it handy to have a printed copy of the full conference program on hand, we also offer two downloadable PDF options for you.


Register Online NOW!  Or  Download the Registration Form


Reminder re Google Hangout tonight! Getting ready for the ILT2014 Conference

Image of eight faces on screen during a Google Hangout


Join five of our Google-savvy ILT2014 Conference presenters in their "Getting Ready for the ILT2014 Conference Google Hangout" happening tonight! Tuesday 13th May at 8.00 pm AEST (Australian Eastern Standard Time). Learn about the Google-related topics to be covered during their sessions within the conference program. Listen as they share their thoughts re the positives and negatives of the growing number of assistive technology supports via Google apps and Chrome extensions for students with diverse learning needs. Ask questions for live answers from the panel too!

If you are not able to join in live, you can check out the recording of the Hangout here on Spectronics' YouTube Channel after the Hangout is complete. And if you just want to get your head around how the Google Hangout thing works, read the "Connecting with others via video conferencing: Google Hangouts and the alternatives" Spectronics Blog post by Greg O'Connor who will be heading up the ILT2014 Google Hangout.

Meet our awesome exhibitors | Some visiting Australia for the very first time!

Image of words listing all of the Twitter names for our ILT2014 Conference exhibitors


And finally today … a HUGE shout out to all of our exhibitors at the ILT2014 Conference. They have been in regular contact with us and are very excited to be bringing many new technologies to the conference Exhibit Hall. We can't wait to check out the new gear! It's not about the new gadgets right? But sometimes … well … it's a little bit exciting to check them out! #geekalert

Some of our exhibitors are visiting Australia for the very first time, adding to our sense of privilege at having them join our conference as valued and enthusiastic participants. So, make sure you allow time for two hours of free drinks and canapes in the Exhibit Hall on the first day of the conference. From 5pm to 7pm on Wednesday 21st May. I repeat. Free drinks and food. See you there!!

You’ve registered. You’re excited! Here are the TOP TEN things you need to do before the conference to get the MOST out of being there!

Image of the ILT2014 Conference banner and Facebook Page images

  1. Select your preferred sessions within the program or make changes before Thursday 15th May. As per the instructions emailed to you recently. If you need the instructions on how to do this resent to you, contact us on conference@spectronicsinoz.com or phone Spectronics' Brisbane office on (07) 3808 6833.
     
  2. Check out the sessions being recorded for the Virtual Registrations. This may influence your choice of sessions, or prompt you to sign up for a Virtual Registration.
     
  3. Download the ILT2014 Conference app! It's a great way of carrying the conference around with you in your pocket.  And watch this helpful series of short videos on using the app put together by Amanda from the Spectronics Consultancy Team.
     
  4. Attending any BYO iPad or BYO Laptop sessions during the conference? Make sure you check out if there are any recommended apps that need to be installed before you arrive. Just read the session description on the Conference Program page to find this info.
     
  5. Join the ILT Conference Facebook Group. Please do! It's going to be one of the central places for chat during the conference, with the conversation building already. You'll hear any important news first there too!
     
  6. Sign up for Twitter to be ready to give it a go onsite. Start by following the conference at @ILT2014 and watching the #ILT2014 hashtag conversation thread building already.
     
  7. Join five of our Google-savvy presenters in our "Getting Ready for the ILT2014 Conference Google Hangout" scheduled for tonight! Tuesday 13th May at 8.00 pm AEST (Australian Eastern Standard Time). More details in the Google Hangout article above. If you miss it, you can also check out the recording of the Hangout here on Spectronics' YouTube Channel
     
  8. Enter the competitions! Both the AbleNet iPad Accessibility Bundle Competition and the Texthelp Literacy Bundle Competition. Awesome prizes and the closing date for entries has just been extended. Now not closing until 5pm on the first day of the conference! Wednesday 21st May.
     
  9. Have you booked your accommodation? A limited number of rooms are still available onsite at Jupiters Hotel, our conference venue, and we recommend that you book using our discounted accommodation rate booking instructions. Starting from $199 per night with the option to share a twin room available too.
     
  10. Finally, if you are joining us for the gala Conference Dinner, we are running with a bit of a Black and Gold theme. But really, wear whatever you want so long as you are Dressed to Dance!
     
  11. I lied! We now have 11 things for you to do to get ready! In addition to the Blues on Broadbeach Music Festival happening the week of the conference, we also will be having a bit of our own in-house music festival, courtesy of having Kevin Honeycutt onsite with us. Seriously, anyone who travels with this awesome mobile musical podium kit is not going to have a musical instrument out of his hand for too long! So, if you have room, why not pack your guitar or other musical instruments. Kevin Honeycutt will be in the house and ready to jam after hours!
Conference delegates dancing on the dance floor at the ILT 2012 Conference Dinner event


Register Online NOW!  Or  Download the Registration Form


PS Most of our delegates are saying that they will be bringing their own mobile devices to the conference, but if you do not have access to one, we will have a limited number of iPads for loan during the three days of the main conference program. These will be available for collection during the morning tea break of the first day of the conference, Wednesday 21st May, to be returned by lunchtime of the final day, Friday 23rd May. No pre-booking is possible, just turn up at the Spectronics Lounge outside the main Keynote Presentation room, and the Spectronics team will be happy to sort out a loan … for as long as they have iPads available. 


With sincere thanks for the support of our valued sponsors!

Platinum Sponsors

Images of Nuance and Staging Connections logos Image of logos for Inclusive Technology, AbleNet, Texthelp Systems and Crick Software
Gold Sponsors

Barbara Landsberg

Sales and Marketing Director SPECTRONICS BOccThy, MBA Barbara is an Occupational Therapist who joined the Spectronics team 14 years ago. Prior to that time, she spent 17 years in occupational therapy positions working with adults and children with a variety of physical disabilities and learning difficulties. She also held the position of Coordinator of the assistive technology service of the Independent Living Centre of Queensland for three years before moving to Spectronics. On completion of her Masters of Business Administration (MBA) in 2010, she assumed the role of Sales and Marketing Director at the company and, among other roles, oversees running of the exciting and innovative Inclusive Learning Technologies Conference hosted every two years by Spectronics. Barbara has a strong interest in the opportunities for students with disabilities or learning difficulties made possible through technology. She is also a passionate advocate of the use of social media tools to promote the power of inclusive learning technologies to enable independent achievement for all – whatever form that achievement might take.