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Rik Hall (seated) was joined at the workshop on 'How can Libraries- respond to the issues and challenges of online, webbased learning?' by Carol Russell from the Open University UK (currently on secondment to James Cook University), Southern Cross University Library staff members Des Stewart and Janet Fletcher, and Roisin O'Reilly, Head of Teaching Development at James Cook University |
Hall is the Manager of the Instructional Technology Unit in
the Computing Services Department at Canada's University of New Brunswick in
Fredericton. While he was speaking at one of the workshops on AusWeb2K's
first day, his boss, Professor David Macneil, UNB's Director of Computing
Services, was addressing a conference in Prague as a consultant on the Internet
for the United Nations.
While embracing new technologies,
libraries need to 'strike a balance' between their print and online services,
Rik Hall told delegates. He outlined his university's successful trialling of
'wireless' cards that provide unp-recedented mobility for students and other
researchers who need to operate their laptops in the library environment.
Rod Byrnes and Karey Patterson from the Lismore, northern NSW-based Wolftracks consultancy at the opening morning's workshop on 'Working the Web'. Only a week earlier, the firm won the NSW North Coast Business Council's award for best new business for 2000.
Distinguished British visitor Bob Hopgood (pictured right) joined fellow keynote speaker Paul McKey on day 1 of AusWeb2K in Cairns. Professor Hopgood was in Brisbane for the 8 June launch of the year 2000’s third new national office opened by the International World Wide Web Conference Committee (IW3C2). Amongst his activities is the teaching of a Masters Course on Web topics at Brunel University, UK.
His keynote address is titled ‘W3C: Leading the Web to its full potential’.
In an interview with the conference media office Bob Hopgood predicted that rapid advances in programming language and portable hardware technology would result in dramatic lifestyle changes for many people in the world. Those in technology rich countries would experience the Web being used by a range of devices, including cell phones, TVs, PDAs, fridges and microwave ovens, while those in developing countries would be provided with enhanced access to educational opportunities through the broader footprints of communications satellites.
IW3C2 committee members placed great emphasis on the importance of the Web’s internationalisation and accessibility, Bob Hopgood said.
Paul McKey, whose qualifications include a Masters degree from Southern Cross University, is the Chief Technology Officer with NextEd Ltd, a HK and Australia based company partnering universities to provide global online education systems.
His keynote address is titled ‘Preparing Information Systems for Global Web-based Education’.
"We are taking Bob Hopgood’s standards and putting them into action," is the way he described NextEd Ltd’s operational procedure.
Clearly their goals are being achieved. A week ago the company participated in the launch of Global University Alliance (GUA) - http://www.globaluniversityalliance.com/ - that will use the Internet, augmented by other methods such as residential programs, to deliver a comprehensive range of under- and postgraduate programs designed by member universities in Australia, Europe, the USA and Taiwan. September 2000 is the planned commencement date – a full year before the considerably more publicised Universitas21 project.
‘The development of empowering technologies such as XML and RDF along with the IMS Project will allow us to develop systems that make use of the strengths of each of the above influencing elements [pedagogy, technology and commerce – universities have much expertise in the first two but little in the last, he said].
AusWeb2k, the Sixth Australian World Wide Web Conference, Rihga Colonial Club Resort, Cairns, 12-17 June 2000 Contact: Norsearch Conference Services +61 66 20 3932 (from outside Australia) (02) 6620 3932 (from inside Australia) Fax (02) 6622 1954