Passing along this (somewhat wordy) entreat: --jsled ---8<---
FOSSed 2009 Good day everyone! By now either your school has or is about to wrap up Spring Break and you're ready to begin the final push toward summer. Sometimes we'd like to think that it's downhill from here, but in my experience, this is the hardest time of the year. Nonetheless, onward we go. As you are all well aware, times are tough. Not just for us personally, but for schools and companies as well. All over the world schools are faced with some tough decisions about budgets, spending, and how that impacts technology in our classrooms. Unfortunately when times are tough it becomes difficult to figure out how we're gonna' get through it all. Many schools are faced with possible layoffs; not buying any new hardware; trying to get yet another year out of that aging computer lab; sticking with that server for another year; weeding out the software budget to save money; and simply going without. Fortunately there are things you can do to help you deal with what lies ahead. LEARN Knowledge is power in times like these. Just as many folks go back to school to learn new skills when the economy deals them a blow...so can we in a manner of speaking. When things are going well it's easy to hire consultants, buy new hardware, or simply maintain the status quo....but when things get tight it's time to learn about new methods and alternatives. This applies not just to the techies, but to the classroom teachers as well. FOSSed is a great way to learn some of those skills, network and discuss options with others, and gather skills and knowledge to carry you further in the year to come. FOSSed is unlike most other conferences in that we offer 3 days of immersive hands-on learning combined with an "out-of-class" atmosphere at meals and in the evenings that is condusive to great conversations and even greater "informal" learning thorugh interaction with your colleagues. Personally, I've gotten some of my greatest ideas from these conversations and I'm happy to share as well. Professional development is a right and a necessity! This is why FOSSed was created in the first place....to help teachers and IT personnel learn more about using Free and Open Source Software and new online technologies in their schools and classrooms. We have lots of great sessions this year taught by folks just like you! Are you a techie? Boy do we have sessions for you! Everything ranging from reusing that old lab and turning it into a fast new thin-client lab to setting up a very powerful router/filter/proxy server....or even learning all about deployment with FOG. Are you a teacher...a tech integrator? Great! We have some fantastic sessions for you as well! High school and middle level folks can learn about teaching basic computer programming, using online tools to create personal learning networks, and so much more! Elementary teachers can learn all about teaching beginner computer skills, using online tools to replace expensive software, using tools to teach and interact with other classrooms around the state, country, and even the world! (Catch Deb White's awesome session on using Twitter in the classroom)....and a whole lot more. Every year teachers learn new and exciting things that enable them to "fire up" their classrooms and enhance learning without spending additional money. Everyone can learn more about Moodle, Mahara, Elgg, and many other technologies to help us out with distance/online learning, digital portfolios, and more. All these items are little or no cost and can greatly change the way you teach and manage IT in your schools. Professional development credits (CEU's) are available from the University of Southern Maine....there's a small fee (around $20) for the official transcript....you can get credit for attending FOSSed! FOSSed is very affordable. EVERYTHING is included! Rooms, meals, and a fantastic learning experience! You come, park the car, and enjoy 3 days of hassle-free learning and comraderie. $495 for on-campus and for those who live nearby...save a little at $455 (off-campus). Everyone who attends is invited to join us the second night for our legendary reception and banquet....all included in the cost! (thanks to generous sponsors) We're flexible! Need to register, but pay at the conference? No problem. Need to do something creative to pay for it from different funding sources? Gotta' wait until July 1st for the new fiscal year budget? Again...let us know and we'll do everything we can to help....we want YOU at FOSSed 2009. ACTEM members can take advantage of a great professional development benefit for up to $400. Don't feel guilty....that's what it's there for...and you're encouraged to use it! In fact, ACTEM is one of the generous sponsors of our banquet! Go here to learn more about the professional development benefit and how to take advantage of it....it's easy! http://www.actem.org/Pages/ACTEM_ProDev/index (also...we've been doing this for year...feel free to email me with any questions and I can help you out) Visit the FOSSed web site to learn more and to register today! Register soon! FOSSed is coming up in just a few weeks! http:/www.fossed.com Check out the flyer....view the sessions....suggest a session....and much more! http://www.fossed.com Email me with any questions you may have...hope to see you at FOSSed this year! Register soon! (Even if you don't have all the financial details worked out yet...register...so we can get a better count for planning purposes) David Trask FOSSed 2009 Copperdog Consulting & Training [email protected] (207) 446-2738 --->8--- -- ...jsled http://asynchronous.org/ - a=jsled; b=asynchronous.org; echo $...@${b}
pgpy3fng16Rmv.pgp
Description: PGP signature
