The conference is co-chaired by Gilly Salmon, Professor of eLearning and Learning Technologies at the University of Leicester, UK and Professor Tom Boyle, Director of the Learning Technology Research Institute at London Metropolitan University, UK.


Gilly comments, "We are heading towards the end of the first decade of the 21st century. It's a time to review, regroup, and revise the key and critical role of learning technology for the future". Tom adds, "Can we use the technology to transform how we learn? What are the dreams - where is the evidence? These are the challenging themes of ALT C 2009."

Keynote speakers will include:

• Michael Wesch, Assistant Professor of Cultural Anthropology at Kansas State University, USA and active in research in new media, particularly digital media ;
• Terry Anderson, Professor and Canada Research Chair in Distance Education at Athabasca University, Canada. He teaches and advises students in his University's Master's of Distance Education program, which is the world's largest, and is active in research in the fields of distance education and eLearning.

Seb Schmoller, Chief Executive of ALT, expands on the conference theme: "Learning technologies and learning technologists are now at the heart of modern learning, and yet our community still faces many challenges. These include spreading innovations that are of true value; redesigning pedagogy, the curriculum, and assessment methods to secure a substantial positive impact on learning; and developing both a research culture that informs practice and also a culture of practice that uses research evidence.

To rise to these challenges, we must dream and act on our dreams, but evidence must justify the choices we make. ALT-C 2009 will provide a broad forum for practitioners, researchers, and policy makers from all sectors to explore, reflect, and learn."

Key dates:

• The submission system will close on the 16 February 2009
• Bookings will open in early May
• Presenters' booking deadline is 29 June 2009
• Early-bird booking deadline is 6 July 2009 and bookings close on 14 August 2009