Martin Bean, Vice-Chancellor designate for the OU to speak at ALT conference

The Association for Learning Technology announces a third keynote speaker for its 2009 conference. The conference title is "In dreams begins responsibility" – choice, evidence, and change and will take place at the University of Manchester, UK from 8-10 September 2009. Martin Bean, Vice-Chancellor Designate of the Open University, will join Michael Wesch and Terry Anderson as keynote speakers. Martin has over 20 years experience in global business training and education in organisations including Microsoft, Novell Inc, Sylvan Learning, Thomson Learning and New Horizons Computer Learning Centres, Inc.

He is currently General Manager responsible for product management, marketing and business development for the Worldwide Education Products Group at Microsoft. Martin says he sees opportunities to "fundamentally alter the nature of learning by using technology to shift education from being content-centric to people-centric".

He comments that he views technology very much as an enabler rather than a set solution, saying that “technology should provide as much choice as possible”.

Keynote speakers previously announced are: • 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 the world’s largest Masters of Distance Education program at Athabasca University and is active in research in the field of distance education, and elearning. Key dates • Bookings will open in early May. • Presenters’ booking deadline: 29 June 2009. • Earlybird booking deadline: 6 July 2009. • Bookings close: 14 August 2009.

To sponsor, exhibit, or attend as a delegate, please visit: www.alt.ac.uk/altc2009.