Ericsson hosts media Suhour in the Kingdom

Ericsson hosted a media Suhour to celebrate the spirit of the holy month of Ramadan in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Hosted by Ali Eid, president of Ericsson, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the event was attended by a number of media representatives from different publications as well as members of the Ericsson team in the country. The Suhour took place at the Four Seasons Hotel on July 29, 2013.

 Throughout the evening, Eid expressed his gratitude to the media for their longstanding support for Ericsson, and gave a brief overview of the current telecommunications market and its promising potential both locally and regionally. 

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L’Azurde Celebrates Ramadan by hosting their employees on Iftar

Riyadh: On the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan, L’Azurde group has organized an Iftar in honor of its employees and their families, at Ritz Carlton Hotel in Riyadh on July 16. The invitees were receipted by Mr. Selim Chidiac, Chief Executive Officer of L’Azurde, Mr. Ayman Al Haffar, General Executive Manager and Mr. Abdullah Al-Obaid, Director of Administrative & Human Resources Department.

Selim Chidiac has expressed his thanks and gratitude to all employees for their continued support and their hard work and said: "we are keen to set up this event on annual bases, stemming from our belief in the need to strengthen cohesion among L’Azurde employees and strengthen the relationships between employees and management.

As we are keen to give the character of family atmosphere to employees, and we wanted in this event to send a message of thanks and appreciation in this holy month on the efforts of all employees in L’Azurde group, which is the foundation of our success that we got and the high reputation that we enjoy."

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Qatari Architects invited to be part of Qatar UK 2013 Year of Culture

Doha, 23 July 2013: The British Council and Qatar Museums Authority (QMA), on behalf of Qatar UK 2013 Year of Culture, are inviting Qatari architects to be part of Qatar UK 2013 Year of Culture by entering the Old Doha Prize – a week long design residency and competition in Doha from 17-24 November 2013.

The Old Doha Prize is organised in association with the Doha Architecture Centre and Msheireb Properties in Qatar as well as the Royal Institute for British Architects (RIBA) and The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL in the UK.

The Prize offers Qatari architects the unique opportunity to collaborate with their UK counterparts; five teams will research and explore new ways to address the changing urban landscape of Old Doha. They will share approaches, skills and creative ideas to explore the process of regeneration and potential for incorporating the heritage and history of the area into their designs.

The winning team will be awarded the Old Doha Prize and a grant of £15,000. The grant will provide the team with the opportunity and resource to implement ideas explored as part of the design residency. This might include the implementation of the project in the form of an exhibition, research project, publication, installation, public intervention or film.

The Old Doha Prize will encourage architects to develop compelling and contemporary ideas in response to Doha’s historic city centre. The brief will focus specifically on the neighbourhoods of Al Asmakh and Najada in the heart of Old Doha, and will be founded on the principle of ‘Living Heritage’.

This is the idea that heritage is not something set in history; rather something that continually evolves whilst remaining deeply rooted in the past.

Angela Brady, RIBA President says ‘The Old Doha Prize provides UK and Qatar based architects and designers a unique opportunity to work together in the spirit of collaboration, experimentation and international learning to help develop sustainable solutions for the long term regeneration of Old Doha.

The rapid development and growth of Qatar coupled with its desire to embrace its ancient Islamic ties and incorporate its unique culture into its surroundings, making it a fascinating area for architecture.’

Tim Makower, Lead Facilitator for the Old Doha Prize and principal of Makower Architects in Doha and London says ‘The idea for the Old Doha Prize is the coming together of two things both of which are important for the future of architecture and urbanism in Qatar. First, it is the opportunity to raise awareness about the character-rich fabric of the old city which could become the foundation of a 'Qatari Renaissance'.

Second, it is a chance to celebrate and explore how young design talent from Qatar and the UK can work together, and push the boundaries of what it means to respond to the identity of a place and explore how 'heritage' can be a springboard into the future as well as being a deep root in the past.’

Graham Sheffield, Director Arts for the British Council and spokesperson for Qatar UK 2013 says “The Old Doha Prize takes place as part of Qatar UK 2013 Year of Culture which celebrates the long-standing relationship between the two countries. The programme aims to forge new and support existing partnerships in the arts, education, sport and science, while promoting an awareness and appreciation of each country’s culture, achievements and heritage. This Prize is exactly the kind of cultural exchange we want to promote as part of the Year.”

Aisha Ghanem Al Attiya, spokesperson for Qatar UK 2013 says “With this competition, we bring together one of the world’s largest and one of the world’s fastest growing design sectors, the UK and Qatar, whilst providing opportunities for ambitious architects and designers in both nations. More and more people are taking notice of Doha's breath-taking modern skyline and at the same time are discovering that the heritage of art and design in Qatar reaches back many generations.”

How to apply

The ‘Old Doha Prize’ is open to architects with more than two years’ experience. Applicants must have the full support and endorsement of their architecture practice.

Interested architects should submit an Expression of Interest in the format of an A4 PDF portfolio no longer than 10 pages. The submission must include the following mandatory information:

1.Up to five examples of key projects (realised or speculative) that you feel represent your approach.

2. CV of the architect(s) attending.

3. A short statement (in English or Arabic) that will briefly outline why you are applying to take part in the Old Doha Prize and your perspective on the issue of balancing cultural heritage with contemporary design and development. (Max 500 words)

Submissions should be in PDF format and not to exceed 2MB in size. These should be emailed to QatarUK2013_UK@britishcouncil.org by 4pm (GMT) on Thursday 30 August 2013 in the UK and 4pm (GMT) on Sunday 15 September 2013 in Qatar.

For more detailed information about eligibility and how to apply, please visit http://backoftheenvelope.britishcouncil.org.

Context

Old Doha is under-going significant regeneration and transformation, thanks to several powerful catalysts, including the construction of a new Metro, the Msheireb Project and the World Cup in 2022, making this an exciting time for British architects to be forging connections in Qatar. Msheireb Properties’ flagship regeneration project of the historical downtown of Doha will alone see £3.65 billon in development invested in this area.

Architectural developments in Old Doha aspire to balance regeneration and development to ensure the history of the area is celebrated and maintained.

A number of key British based companies including Arup and Allies and Morrison are already working on projects within the Msheireb Project, bringing their experience of working on world class regeneration projects such as the London 2012 Olympic Park to Qatar.

Qatar has the fastest growing and most stable economy in the Middle East and is using its financial strength to promote social development. Its population has doubled in the last four years and is predicted to double again by 2015.

Through its National Vision for 2030, Qatar aims to be an advanced society capable of sustaining its development and providing a high standard of living for all of its people; incorporating long-term strategies for economic, social, human and environmental development. The Old Doha Prize hopes to encourage long lasting ties between British and Qatari architects and designers that will increase the skills of professionals in both countries

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Rosewood Hotels in Riyadh Unveils its Superior Offers for Eid Al-Fitr

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 06 August 2013: In celebration of Eid Al-Fitr, Rosewood Hotels in Riyadh, the Al Faisaliah Hotel and Hotel Al Khozama, have announced a selection of special Eid offers for families staying in the capital city during this festive time.

With the hotels’ superbly appointed rooms and suites available at competitive rates in Al Faisaliah Hotel and Hotel Al Khozama, and signature brunches offering the finest dining in the capital, the Eid celebration offers promise luxury at its most affordable. 

“We are delighted to celebrate the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr with a variety of special rates and promotions. Rosewood Hotels in Riyadh offer unparalleled luxury hospitality and a wide range of the finest cuisine from around the world,” said Alex Pichel Managing Director of the Al Faisaliah Hotel and Hotel Al Khozama. 

A haven of hospitality and personalised service for which the Rosewood Group is renowned, the Al Faisaliah Hotel, Al Faisaliah Suites and Hotel Al Khozama offer special Eid packages on a wide range of ultra-luxury suites and superior rooms, starting from SR 1650 per night for Al Faisaliah Hotel, SR 2880 per night for Al Faisaliah Hotel Suites and SR 785 per night for Hotel Al Khozama. The packages include: Eid brunch and early breakfast for two persons, complementary valet service, 24-hours butler service and the option for late check out until 6pm.   

Adding to the joy of Eid, both Rosewood Hotels in Riyadh have laid on the finest Eid Brunches in the capital city. Al Faisaliah Hotel will offer an international brunch. Choices include the finest traditional Arabian and Italian fare - kharouf, shawarma, pizza, pasta, seafood, as well as an array of international dishes from almost every corner of the globe. Eid brunch will be offered for SR 320 per person.

Hotel Al Khozama will offer a spectacular Eid brunch in the intimate and inviting Windrose restaurant, with a range of culinary dishes from almost every corner of the globe. Youngsters will be enthralled by the hotel’s resident clown offering face painting, fun and games, as well as Cartoon Corner and a bouncy castle in the famous Hotel Al Khozama garden. Eid brunch will be offered at SR 185 per person.

“There is no better place to celebrate Eid Al-Fitr than Rosewood Hotels in Riyadh. We look forward to welcoming both our long-standing and first time guests,” said Pichel. 

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L’Azurde Adopts New Strategy Inspired By Arab Women

Riyadh, July 27, 2013: L’Azurde, the first company in the Middle East to obtain accreditation from the London Bullion Market Association, revealed plan to open 30 showrooms during the next three years in order to raise their market share to 40 percent of the jewellery market in Saudi Arabia, and join 10 existing one’s in the MENA region specialized in selling different collection of diamond.

Hosting a Suhoor on Friday, the Riyadh-based L’Azurde Group, with an experience of more than 30 years, unveiled a new strategy to strengthen its position in the global gold market through developing its brand to compete with the other international brands.

Ayman Al Haffar, Executive General Manager of the Group, gave an overview of the new expansions and projects in GCC region, in addition to revealing the new strategy of the group and the current situation of the jewellery market and promising prospects locally and regionally. “This strategy comes to commensurate L’Azurde leadership with its distinctive position in the formulation and distribution of jewelry, making it number one in this field in the Gulf and the Middle East,” he said.

L’Azurde’s success can be attributed, in a way, to its ability to have access to Arab women and meet all their needs of gold and diamond to shine and boasts by wearing the distinctive cut from L’Azurde. “L’Azurde experience made the group understand women for different character and habits,” he further said, adding that “L’Azurde believes jewelry is more than just a status symbol. It designs original classical and contemporary jewelry for every moment in a women’s life, creating a signature style that offers elegance and uniqueness for every occasion.”

Moreover, he said perhaps the most striking proof on L’Azurde’s new strategy success is the sheer number of viewers for the new identity announcement on L’Azurde channel on YouTube, which surpassed one million 1,000,000, a figure which the majority of the companies operating in this sector in the region did not reach, he noted.

 L’Azurde produces more than 3,000 different jewelry models every year, and one of the few manufacturers operating in 21-karat and 18-karat gold and diamond jewelry. Its award-winning designers and model-makers are at the heart of what L’Azurde does. Because L’Azurde believes jewelry is more than just a status symbol, it designs original classical and contemporary jewelry for every moment in a women’s life, creating a signature style that offers elegance and uniqueness for every occasion.

 Over the last decade, L’Azurde has received industry recognition at the highest level. Among many awards, it received the “Gold Virtuosi International Award” for design excellence in gold jewelry awarded in Italy, and the “International Quality in Gold Jewelry Award” by the Trade Leaders’ Club in France.

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National Football Museum Launches Exhibtion of Arab Women in Sport as a part of Qatar UK 2013 Year OF Culture

A new exhibition illustrating Arab women’s love of sport has opened at the National Football Museum in Manchester, UK as part of Qatar UK 2013 Year of Culture.

Commissioned by Qatar Museums Authority, Hey’Ya: Arab Women in Sport, which runs until 13 October 2013 at the National Football Museum in Manchester, UK, is an exhibition by the internationally renowned photographer Brigitte Lacombe and documentary maker Marian Lacombe. The title of the exhibition, Hey’Ya is Arabic for Let’s Go, reflecting the athletes’ energy and enthusiasm.

The exhibition features a series of large-scale photographs of Arab sportswomen, from beginners to Olympians, from 20 different Arab countries, shown alongside videos by Marian Lacombe.

The exhibition was conceived by Qatar Museums Authority to encourage more Arab girls to participate in sports and comes to Manchester as part of the Qatar UK 2013 Year of Culture celebrations.

The Year is a programme of cultural exchanges and events in Qatar and the UK coordinated by the British Council and Qatar Museums Authority which aims to forge new and support existing partnerships between the two countries in the arts, education, sport and science, while promoting an awareness and appreciation of each country’s culture, achievements and heritage.

The project was shot over a period of seven month starting in December 2011 when the Arab Games were held in Doha. With the support of the Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, Brigitte and Marian Lacombe were able to set up their own outdoor studio, working side by side, capturing the athletes practicing different sports ranging from Tae Kwon Do to swimming and equestrian.

Amongst them were a number of Qatari girls, one of them Nada Mohamed Wafa, the first Qatari female swimmer to compete in the Olympic Games. Nada said “I am proud to be featured in this amazing exhibition. I enjoyed learning about UK culture last year when I competed in the London 2012 Olympic Games. I am excited that the exhibition is travelling to Manchester as part of Qatar UK 2013 Year of Culture; I hope people of the UK enjoy learning about my country’s culture as much as I did learning about theirs.”

Kevin Moore, Director of the National Football Museum, said: “We wanted to bring something different to Manchester, a truly global sports city.

“The National Football Museum is committed to raising awareness of the key role that women play in developing football and other sports, both now and historically and is committed to breaking down cultural and gender stereotypes.

“This exhibition is part of a programme to display the works of the world’s best photographers and artists and is a continuation of the NFM’s collaborations with cultural institutions, such as the Qatar Museum Authority, from all round the world.”

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Shariyah Review Bureau Validates Islamic Finance Qualification Workbook

To coordinate the push towards new Islamic markets, Islamic Finance Qualification (IFQ) Arabic Edition 5 will be released soon. Shariyah Review Bureau, the world's leading independent Shari’a Advisory firm was assigned to review and validate the Arabic Workbook’s content in light of AAOIFI Shari’a standards. “As a Shari’a Certification body, majorly serving the financial sectors at all levels of the Islamic industry we manage Shari’a compliance of the highest caliber financial institutes on a day-to-day basis. And while working with institutes and individuals we have practically seen the importance of qualified individuals with relevant Islamic financial knowledge. And the IFQ program instills the knowledge of practical applications and the governing rules of Shari’a prevalent in the Islamic market practices which we believe will bring the Islamic industry countless opportunities and long-term success.”

ESA Business School and Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments (CISI) have a global aim to help Islamic Industry professionals around the world equip themselves with a practical understanding of Islamic finance principles and products and its key distinguishing market factors. Commenting on the release Dr. Abdel Maoula Chaar, Head of Research and Development at ESA, said “The financial world is having a sweet moment in terms of the growth of Shari’a complaint products. The increase in Islamic assets, which has been gaining more and more momentum over the few years, is driving the once considered niche market towards internationalization and global reach, and changing some of the dynamics that have been established in the conventional financial markets. It is here that IFQ will help prepare the next generation of seasoned professionals by giving them insight into Shari’a compliant modalities, their distinguishing traits and modern market Islamic financial practices.”

About Shariyah Review Bureau

Shariyah Review Bureau (SRB) is the Corporate World’s leading Shari’a Advisor with scholarly presence in more than 7 countries from Middle East, North Africa and Asia. The breadth of geographical reach crossing national boundaries makes it one of few Shari’a consultancy bodies that can meet clients’ true international business requirements.

Licensed by the Central Bank of Bahrain and with offices in KSA, USA*, Egypt*, Kazakhstan*, Oman* and Kingdom of Bahrain, SRB serves asset managers, insurance and Banking institutes including, Tricon (Canada), U.B.A.F (France), Al Safa investment (Switzerland) United Arab Bank (Dubai), Tadhmon Capital (Bahrain), International Investment Bank (Bahrain), Al Khabeer International (Bahrain), OP Calypso (Hong Kong), and Al Wasatah Capital (KSA). SRB provides direct access to Shari’a experts while furnishing all substantial scholarly support resources with swift turnarounds in Shari’a Certifications (Fatawa) and speedy product structuring solutions to meet its clients’ strategic business needs. (*representative office)

About ESA Business School

Established in 1996 following an intergovernmental agreement between France and Lebanon, the ESA is a Business Management School dedicated to education of executives and managers in Lebanon and the Middle East. It is managed by the Paris Ile-de-France Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIR).

The ESA has become a beacon of academic excellence within Lebanon, and a platform for interactions and meetings between Europe, the Middle East and Lebanon.

Its mission is to form the elite of Lebanon and the region into the leaders of tomorrow.

Paying keen attention to businesses and their needs, the ESA assists them in developing their visions, and helps them to better achieve their objectives by training and coaching their executives and managers.

Situated in the center of Beirut, and the heart of the Middle East, the ESA thus asserts its reach as an important international school, which combines the talents of high-level learners and professors who rank among the world’s preeminent specialists.

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The Traditional Ramadan at Hotel Al Khozama

` The tradition of Ramadan runs very deep at Hotel Al Khozama, A Rosewood Hotel, which holds a distinguished position as one of the first hotels to open in the city. For more than 34 years guests have enjoyed the world-class cuisine and warm welcoming service provided by Hotel Al Khozama.

This year, with Ramadan taking place during the hot months of summer, guests at Hotel Al Khozama are assured of cool, convenient comfort at all three of the spectacular Ramadan venues in the hotel.
The renowned Arabic restaurant, Al Nakheel, with its panoramic views of Riyadh from its terrace, features a sumptuous buffet of Arabian traditional specialties for Iftar at SAR 160 and Sohour at SAR 135 including Ramadan beverages. Children up to 7 years are free and from 07 to 12 years 50% off.

Riyadh’s best known outdoor garden restaurant, the mist cooled Garden Barbeque, comfortable even during the hottest summer evenings, serves a wonderful variety of Barbeque and Arabic specialties. Guests who prefer an air-conditioned environment will find The Windrose Restaurant, the perfect place to enjoy iftar. . at SAR 195 including Ramadan beverages. Children up to 7 years are free and from 07 to 12 years SAR 97.50

With dedicated prayer areas and children’s entertainment on offer, Hotel Al Khozama ensures comfort and convenience in a real family-friendly environment

Hotel Al Khozama has partnered for the holy month of Ramadan with the renowned Al Jomaih automotive company this year.

So, during the holy month of Ramadan, we look forward to welcoming the city’s residents and visitors to Riyadh to our signature Ramadan offerings at Al Khozama Hotel.

To make a booking for Iftar or Suhoor, telephone +966.11.273.2222 or email: alkhozama@rosewoodhotels.com.

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UAE Ministry of Education unveils enhanced Microsoft-powered Call Center

Link Development integrates Advanced Automated Voice & Call Center Services to improve communication lines with students, parents & employees

The UAE Ministry of Education has launched an enhanced version of its dedicated Call Center featuring key Microsoft technologies that will further enhance communications with students, parents and employees.

Ever since the allocation of AED 9.9 billion or 22 per cent of the 2013 UAE federal budget for the education sector, the Ministry has been intensifying efforts to undertake major projects aimed at optimizing its services to students and parents. The Ministry’s focus on nurturing a highly modern educational system for the Emirates – as embodied by a technology-fortified Call Center – complements government-wide efforts to deliver the best and most developed services to citizens and residents.

LINK Development, a leading provider of integrated technology solutions across the Middle East, Africa and the Gulf, and the implementer of the Call Center solutions, explains that its Call Center solution comprises two parts, Automated Voice Services and Call Center Services.

The new Automated Voice Services is built on the powerful LYNC Server 2012 unified communications architecture. Through the platform students will be able to register online and access services such as academic performance updates. Students and parents will also be able to get important details such as school location, phone numbers and contacts, enrollment programs and Ministry information. The Automated Voice Services will be integrated with the Ministry’s systems to offer Call Center services via Interactive Voice Response (IVR) in both English and Arabic on a 24/7 basis.

The Call Center Services, on the other hand, will provide Call Center Agents with an efficient Customer Management Relationship solution based on Microsoft Dynamics CRM and a Voice solution powered by LYNC Server 2013. Through fully integrating the LYNC server with Dynamics CRM the solution will enable Call Center Agents to work seamlessly between LYNC and CRM solutions, cutting down on the time it takes to find the correct information and respond to incoming requests and inquiries hence maximizing their efficiency, productivity and improving customer satisfaction. In addition, Call Center Supervisors will be able to track all activities through monitoring screens and Call Recordings to ensure the services are constantly delivered according to the high level of quality the Ministry is always seeking to offer to its clients.

“The service enhancements we are delivering for the UAE Ministry of Education’s Call Center are part of an ongoing partnership aimed at establishing optimal communication lines between the Ministry and the public. Using leading Microsoft technologies and our integration capabilities we have equipped the Call Center with elements vital to clear, secure and timely interaction with students, parents and employees,” said Mohamed Abd El-Aziz, UAE Sales Manager, LINK Development.

While the 1st phase of the project is focused on offering services to the students and their parents, the 2nd phase of the project will enable the ministry employees to use the voice services to issue any needed papers like HR Letters, Pay slips…etc.

As Microsoft Gold Certified Partner – the highest level of partner certification from Microsoft – LINK Development is a trusted provider of Microsoft-enabled technology solutions across its global markets. LINK Development is headquartered in Egypt and has been operating in the UAE for more than 10 years. Its service portfolio covers internet & intranet portals, e-services automation, e-commerce, enterprise integration, Microsoft Dynamics CRM & ERP, mobile-based solutions, and infrastructure solutions.

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Editorial calendar 2011 for Mobile Marketer

December 15, 2010

Mobile muscles for share

Editorial calendar for 2011

Listed below are the events hosted, moderated or covered by Mobile Marketer and its sibling publication, Mobile Commerce Daily.

Also listed are?Classic Guides that Mobile Marketer and Mobile Commerce Daily produce annually, as well as the sponsored webinars that Mobile Marketer will?organize and?host in 2011. All events highlighted in bold are organized by Mobile Marketer and Mobile Commerce Daily.?

JANUARY

Jan. 9-12: National Retail Federation?s Annual Convention & Expo, Jacob Javits Convention Center, New York

Jan. 12: Mobile Marketer?s Classic Guide: Mobile Outlook 2011?publishes

Jan. 27: Sponsored Webinar, 2 p.m. ET to 3 p.m. ET: "Mobile Apps: Consumer Usage, Loyalty and Advertiser Impact." Sponsor: The Weather Channel

FEBRUARY

Feb. 2: Mobile Marketer?s Classic Guide to Mobile Creative

Feb. 14-17: GSM Association?s Mobile World Congress, Barcelona, Spain

Feb. 16: Nonprofits Mobile Day: Winter 2011, a joint presentation of Mobile Commerce Daily and the Direct Marketing Association, Venable (auditorium), 575 7th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004

Feb. 22: 3rd Mobile Marketing Day, a joint presentation of Mobile Marketer and the Direct Marketing Association, DMA Seminar Center, 1120 Avenue of the Americas, 13th floor, New York, NY 10036

Feb. 24: Sponsored Webinar, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET: "Holiday Mobile Marketing: Lessons Learned for Future Holiday Efforts." Sponsor: Hipcricket

MARCH

March 21-24: International CTIA Wireless 2011, Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL

March 30: Sponsored Webinar, 2 p.m. ? 3 p.m. ET:?"State of Mobile Advertising: What's Working,?What's Not and What Should." Sponsor: Millennial Media?

APRIL

April 4-6: 2011 Publishing Business Conference & Expo?s Mobile Strategy Summit, New York Marriott Marquis, Times Square, New York

April 11-13: ad:tech San Francisco, Moscone Center West, San Francisco

April 20: Mobile Marketer?s Classic Guide to Mobile Commerce

April 27: Sponsored Webinar, 2 p.m. ? 3 p.m. ET: Sponsor: Netbiscuits

April 27-29: Mobile Shopping Spring, Westin, San Francisco

MAY

May 11: Mobile Commerce Daily?s Mobile?s Night Out party, New York

May 12: Mcommerce Summit New York, a Mobile Commerce Daily presentation, National Museum of the American Indian, 1 Bowling Green, New York, NY 10004

May 24-25: Luxury Interactive Global Conference, Millennium Hotel London Mayfair, London

May 25: Sponsored Webinar, 2 p.m. ? 3 p.m. ET

JUNE

June 8: 2nd Mobile Marketing and Media Conference, a joint presentation of Mobile Marketer and the Direct Marketing Association, DMA Seminar Center, 1120 Avenue of the Americas, 13th floor, New York, NY 10036

June 16-17: Mobile Marketing Forum, New York

June 22: Sponsored Webinar, 2 p.m. ? 3 p.m. ET

June 28-29:?Luxury Interactive, New York

JULY

July 18: Mobile: IAB Marketplace, New York

July 27: Sponsored Webinar, 2 p.m. ? 3 p.m. ET: Sponsor: 5th Finger

AUGUST

Aug. TBD: 2011 New York Nonprofit Conference, New York

Aug. 24: Sponsored Webinar, 2 p.m. ? 3 p.m.

SEPTEMBER

Sept. 5-9: Mobile Marketing Week, a global celebration of mobile advertising, marketing and media: A Mobile Marketer-supported series of events

Sept. 8: Mobile Marketing Summit New York: Holiday Strategies 2011, a Mobile Marketer presentation

Sept. 12-14: Shop.org 2011 Annual Summit, Boston

Sept. 22: Sponsored Webinar, 2 p.m. ? 3p.m.: Holiday Mobile Marketing: How to Satisfy Demanding Consumers in this Economy: Neustar sponsors

OCTOBER

Oct. 1-6: DMA:2011 Conference & Exhibition, Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, Boston

Oct. 10-13: CTIA Enterprise & Applications, San Diego Convention Center, San Diego

Oct. 25-28: Mobile Shopping Summit, New York

Oct. 26: Sponsored Webinar, 2 p.m. ? 3 p.m.

Oct. 31: Mobile Marketer?s Classic Guide to Mobile Advertising

NOVEMBER

Nov. 7: Mobile Marketer?s Mobile Women to Watch 2012

Nov. 7: Mobile Marketer?s Mobile?s Night Out party

Nov. 8-10: ad:tech New York, Jacob Javits Convention Center, New York

Nov. 16-17: MMA Forum, SLS Hotel, Beverly Hills, CA

Nov. 29-30: MEF Americas 2011 Conference, Fontainebleau Hotel, Miami

DECEMBER

Dec. 7: Sponsored Webinar, 2 p.m. ? 3 p.m.: Mobile Outlook 2012

Dec. 14: Mobile Marketer?s Classic Guide: Mobile Outlook 2012

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Editorial calendar 2013 for Mobile Marketer

September 26, 2012

Editorial calendar

Editorial calendar for 2013

Listed below are the events hosted, moderated or covered by Mobile Marketer and its sibling publication, Mobile Commerce Daily.

Also listed are Classic Guides that Mobile Marketer and Mobile Commerce Daily produce annually, as well as the sponsored webinars that Mobile Marketer will organize and host in 2013. All events highlighted in bold are organized by Mobile Marketer and Mobile Commerce Daily.

JANUARY
Jan. 13-16: National Retail Federation?s Annual Convention & Expo, Jacob Javits Convention Center, New York

Jan. 16: Luxury Daily's first annual Luxury FirstLook: Outlook 2013 conference, National Museum of the American Indian, 1 Bowling Green, New York, NY 10004

Jan. 17: Second annual Mobile FirstLook: Outlook 2013 conference, a Mobile Marketer presentation, National Museum of the American Indian, 1 Bowling Green, New York, NY 10004

Jan. 24: Sponsored Webinar, 2 p.m. ? 3 p.m. ET.: Mobile?holiday?recap: What worked and what didn't.?Sponsor:

Jan. 29-30: MMA Forum, San Francisco

FEBRUARY
Feb. 4: Mobile Marketer's Classic Guide to Mobile Creative

Feb. 21: Sponsored Webinar, 2 p.m. ? 3 p.m. ET. Sponsor:?

Feb. 25-28: ETail West, JW Marriott Desert Springs, Palm Desert, CA

Feb. 25-28: GSM Association?s Mobile World Congress, Barcelona, Spain

MARCH

March 27: Mobile Marketer's Classic Guide: State of Mobile Advertising 2013: What's Working, What's Not and What Should

March 28: Sponsored Webinar, 2 p.m. ? 3 p.m. ET. Sponsor:

APRIL
April 9-10: ad:tech San Francisco, Moscone Center West, San Francisco

April 18: Second annual Mobile Marketing Day, Chicago, a joint presentation of Mobile Marketer and the Chicago Association of Direct Marketing

April 25: Sponsored Webinar, 2 p.m. ? 3 p.m. ET. Sponsor:?

April 29: Mobile Marketer's Classic Guide to Mobile Commerce

MAY

May 2: Third annual Mcommerce Summit: State of Mobile Commerce 2013, a Mobile Commerce Daily presentation, National Museum of the American Indian, 1 Bowling Green, New York, NY 10004

May 8-10: MMA Forum, New York

May 21-23: International CTIA Wireless 2013, Sands Expo Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV?

May 23: Sponsored Webinar, 2 p.m. ? 3 p.m. ET. Sponsor:?

JUNE
June 4-7: IRCE 2013, McCormick Place West, Chicago

June 27: Sponsored Webinar, 2 p.m. ? 3 p.m. ET. Sponsor:?

JULY
July TBD: Mobile: IAB Marketplace, New York

July 16: Fourth annual Nonprofits Mobile Day, a joint presentation of Mobile Commerce Daily and the Direct Marketing Association

July 25: Sponsored Webinar, 2 p.m. ? 3 p.m. ET. Sponsor:?

AUGUST
Aug. 15: Mobile Marketer's Classic Guide to Mobile Advertising

Aug. 12-15: ETail East Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, Philadelphia

Aug. 29: Sponsored Webinar, 2 p.m. ? 3 p.m. ET. Sponsor:

SEPTEMBER
Sept. 9-13: Mobile Marketing Week, a global celebration of mobile advertising, marketing and media: A Mobile Marketer-supported series of events

Sept. 12:?Fourth annual Mobile Marketing Summit: Holiday Focus 2013, a Mobile Marketer presentation, National Museum of the American Indian, 1 Bowling Green, New York, NY 10004

Sept. TBD: Shop.org 2013 Annual Summit?

Sept. 26: Sponsored Webinar, 2 p.m. ? 3 p.m. ET. Sponsor:

OCTOBER
Oct. 1-3: MobileCON, a CTIA event, San Diego Convention Center, San Diego

Oct. TBD: SM2: Smarter Mobile Marketing, New York, a Mobile Marketing?Association event

Oct. TBD: MMCF 2013

Oct. TBD: DMA2013 Conference & Exhibition

Oct. TBD: Mobile Shopping Fall

Oct. 24: Sponsored Webinar, 2 p.m. ? 3 p.m. ET. Sponsor:

NOVEMBER
Nov. 4: Mobile Marketer's Mobile's Night Out party

Nov. 4: Mobile Marketer?s Mobile Women to Watch 2014

Nov. 5-7: ad:tech New York, Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York

DECEMBER
Dec. 5: Sponsored Webinar, 2 p.m. ? 3 p.m. ET. Sponsor:

Dec. 11: Mobile Marketer's Classic Guide: Mobile Outlook 2014

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Editorial Calendar 2010 for Mobile Marketer and Mobile Commerce Daily

December 1, 2009

Mobile muscles for share

Editorial calendar for 2010

Listed below are the events hosted or covered by Mobile Marketer and its sibling publication Mobile Commerce Daily.

All events highlighted in bold are organized by Mobile Marketer and Mobile Commerce Daily.

January

Jan. 10-13: National Retail Federation?s Annual Convention & Expo, Jacob Javits Convention Center, New York

Jan. 17: Mobile Marketer?s Mobile Outlook 2010 Classic Guide publishes

Jan. 27: Sponsored Webinar, 2 p.m. ET to 3 p.m. ET: Happy Holidays or Not: Mobile Lessons Learned (a holiday recap 2009 and first look 2010)

February

Feb. 15-19: GSMA?s Mobile World Congress, Barcelona, Spain

Feb. 22-25: eTail West, JW Marriott Desert Springs, Palm Desert, CA

March

March 2: Mobile Boot Camp, a joint presentation of Mobile Commerce Daily and the National Retail Federation, JW Marriott, San Francisco. To register, please click here

March 4: 2nd Mobile Marketing Day, a joint presentation of Mobile Marketer and the Direct Marketing Association, 1120 Avenue of the Americas, 13 floor, New York, NY 10036. To register, please click here: http://www.the-dma.org/councilevents/mobileday/

March 21: iMedia's Mobile Boot Camp, Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Reserve & Spa, Bonita Springs, FL

March 22-25: CTIA Wireless 2010, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV

April

April 19-21: ad:tech San Francisco, Moscone Center, San Francisco

May

May 26: Mobile Commerce Daily?s Mobile?s Night Out party, New York

May 27: Mcommerce Summit New York, a Mobile Commerce Daily presentation

June

June 14-16: Digital Marketing Days New York, Hilton, New York

June 15-16: Mobile Marketing Forum, Grand Hyatt, New York

June 28-29: Luxury Interactive 2010 ? New York, Sentry Centers, New York
Receive 25 percent off for registering with booking code 11536XA352EN?

July

July 19: Mobile: IAB Marketplace, Roosevelt Hotel, New York

August

September

Sept. 1: Mobile Marketer's Mobile's Night Out party, New York

Sept. 2: Mobile Marketing Summit New York: Holiday 2010, a Mobile Marketer presentation

Sept. 27-28: IAB Mixx Conference & Expo, Crown Plaza Hotel, Times Square, New York

Sept. 27-29: Shop.org 2010 Annual Summit, Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center, Dallas, TX

October

Oct. 6-8: CTIA Wireless I.T. & Entertainment, Moscone West, San Francisco

Oct. 9-14: DMA:2010 Conference & Exhibition, Moscone Convention Center, San Francisco

November

Nov. 2: Mobile Marketer?s Mobile?s Night Out party

Nov. 3-5: ad:tech New York, Jacob Javits Convention Center, New York

Nov. 15: Mobile Marketer?s Mobile?s Night Out party at The Standard Hotel?s Rooftop Bar, Los Angeles

Nov. 16: Mobile Marketing Forum, Los Angeles

December

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Editorial calendar 2012 for Mobile Marketer

September 28, 2011

Mobile Marketer's editorial calendar for 2012

Editorial calendar for 2012

Listed below are the events hosted, moderated or covered by Mobile Marketer and its sibling publication, Mobile Commerce Daily.

Also listed are Classic Guides that Mobile Marketer and Mobile Commerce Daily produce annually, as well as the sponsored webinars that Mobile Marketer will organize and host in 2012. All events highlighted in bold are organized by Mobile Marketer and Mobile Commerce Daily.

JANUARY
Jan. 15-18: National Retail Federation?s Annual Convention & Expo, Jacob Javits Convention Center, New York?

Jan. 19: Mobile Marketer?s first annual Mobile FirstLook: Outlook 2012 conference, National Museum of the American Indian, 1 Bowling Green, New York, NY 10004

Jan. 26: Sponsored Webinar, 2 p.m.?? 3 p.m. ET. Sponsor: Appcelerator

Jan 26: Luxury Daily Summit: Outlook 2012, a Luxury Daily presentation

FEBRUARY
Feb. 2: Mobile Marketer?s Classic Guide to Mobile Creative

Feb. 23: Sponsored Webinar, 2 p.m. ? 3 p.m. ET. Sponsor: Kony Solutions

Feb. 27-March 1: GSM Association?s Mobile World Congress, Barcelona, Spain

Feb. 29:?Third annual Nonprofits Mobile Day: Winter 2011, a joint presentation of Mobile Commerce Daily and the Direct Marketing Association

MARCH
March 22:?Fourth annual Mobile Marketing Day, a joint presentation of Mobile Marketer and the Direct Marketing Association, DMA Seminar Center, 1120 Avenue of the Americas, 13th floor, New York, NY 10036?

March 27: Mobile Marketer Classic Guide: State of Mobile Advertising 2012: What's Working, What's Not and What Should

March 29: Sponsored Webinar, 2 p.m. ? 3 p.m. ET

APRIL
April 2-4: ad:tech San Francisco, Moscone Center West, San Francisco

April 23-25:?Mobile Shopping Spring, The Westin, San?Diego

April 25: Sponsored Webinar, 2 p.m. ? 3 p.m. ET

April 26: Mobile Marketer?s Classic Guide to Mobile Commerce

MAY

May 3: Mcommerce Summit New York, a Mobile Commerce Daily presentation, National Museum of the American Indian, 1 Bowling Green, New York, NY 10004

May 8-12: International CTIA Wireless 2012, Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans

May 24: Sponsored Webinar, 2 p.m. ? 3 p.m. ET

JUNE
June 11-13: Mobile Marketing Forum, New York?

June 26-27: Luxury Interactive, Bridgewaters, South Street Seaport, New York, NY

June 28: Sponsored Webinar, 2 p.m. ? 3 p.m. ET

JULY
July 16: Mobile: IAB Marketplace, New York?

July 26: Sponsored Webinar, 2 p.m. ? 3 p.m. ET

AUGUST
Aug. 15: Mobile Marketer?s Classic Guide to Mobile Advertising

Aug. 30: Sponsored Webinar, 2 p.m. ? 3 p.m. ET

SEPTEMBER
Sept. 3-7: Mobile Marketing Week, a global celebration of mobile advertising, marketing and media: A Mobile Marketer-supported series of events?

Sept. 10-12: Shop.org 2012 Annual Summit, Colorado Convention Center, Denver, CO?

Sept. 12: Mobile Marketer?s Mobile?s Night Out party, New York

Sept. 13: Mobile Marketing Summit New York: Holiday Focus 2012, a Mobile Marketer presentation, National Museum of the American Indian, 1 Bowling Green, New York, NY 10004

Sept. 27: Sponsored Webinar, 2 p.m. ? 3 p.m. ET

OCTOBER
Oct. 2-3: SM2: Smarter Mobile Marketing, New York, a Mobile Marketing Association event

Oct. 13-18: DMA:2012 Conference & Exhibition, Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas

Oct. 8-11: CTIA Enterprise & Applications, San Diego

Oct. 22-24: Mobile Shopping Fall, Austin, TX?

Oct. 25: Sponsored Webinar, 2 p.m. ? 3 p.m. ET

NOVEMBER
Nov. 7: Mobile Marketer?s Mobile Women to Watch 2013

Nov. 7: Mobile Marketer?s Mobile?s Night Out party

Nov. 7-8: ad:tech New York, Jacob Javits Convention Center, New York

DECEMBER
Dec. 6: Sponsored Webinar, 2 p.m. ? 3 p.m. ET

Dec. 13: Mobile Marketer?s Classic Guide: Mobile Outlook 2013

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Buckle up. EDUCAUSE is upon us.

Canvas is the modern, open learning platform designed to help you transform learning. Instructure is the company who builds it. This is the blog where we hold it to a standard of openness, usability and reliability—and give you a glimpse of the fun we have doing it.

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Walkers And Biters And Sociologists, Oh My!

Canvas is the modern, open learning platform designed to help you transform learning. Instructure is the company who builds it. This is the blog where we hold it to a standard of openness, usability and reliability—and give you a glimpse of the fun we have doing it.

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Bucking the pumpkin status quo

Halloween has always been a big deal at our house. Growing up, pumpkin carving was second only to trick-or-treating on the Halloween activity spectrum. With three siblings running around wielding knives, we did our best to strike a careful balance between carving pumpkin Picassos and keeping all of our fingers. The finished products weren’t much to look at, but they were always worthy of display on the front porch. But that was then.

Nowadays, the Jack-o’-Lantern game has been elevated considerably. Pumpkins we thought were awesome a few years ago look like mangled gourds today. With all the patterns, stencils, tools, and kits available, just about anyone can become a pumpkin Da Vinci.

So, how’d we get here? When was it that someone said, “Hey, can we move Jack-o’-Lanterns beyond the triangle eyes already?” Well, kudos to them. I’d dare say the world is a more creative place because of that question.

Here at Instructure, we’re never satisfied with the status quo. We like to challenge established practices as often as we can. The area I focus most on is Customer Success. Here are a few things we’re doing for our customers to “think outside the triangle eye.”

Tier One Support - a new approach
Most industry tier 1 support options are on a per-incident basis. The more bugs or problems they put into the software, the more they get paid to support it, but that just didn’t feel right to us. Our tier one support offering is one fixed price and we’ll answer every phone call, email, chat, or ticket you throw at us. We’re willing to bear the risk so you can focus on teaching and learning, something we’re passionate about.

And in case you’re wondering what the quality is like, in a recent survey our end users gave us a 94% support satisfaction rating. While we’d love to have 100%, we hope you agree that 94% is incredible and shows that we put our users first.

When the unthinkable happens
Recently a Canvas customer created hundreds of courses and had students submit assignments within those courses. When the institution determined they had the wrong content in the courses and had created and enrolled the students in all new courses, we had to find a way to quickly move all the assignment submissions over. The old model would take many weeks and involve a costly project. Instead, we concentrated our staff resources to help move assignment submissions to the new courses before students got confused about what happened.

Customer Success Managers - a new breed
That’s kind of a silly name, but the name describes exactly what they do. They’re here to make Canvas institutions more successful. Tell them your goals and they’ll help you make them a reality.

Ultimately we want everyone to have the best possible experience with Canvas. We think that means constantly upping our game and getting better. Now please excuse me while I get back to carving my pumpkin replica of the Taj Mahal.

Keep learning,
Mitch

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So Close We Can Almost Taste the 80s

InstructureCon 2013: Build Your Own Awesome is less than a week away. If you’re attending, we hope you’re as excited as we are. We can hardly stand the anticipation. This year’s conference is going to blow the others out of the water.

80s night will be totally bodacious.

As you prepare/pack/plan for the trip, here are a few details and tips that we thought might be helpful. 

KICKOFF + KEYNOTE

You won't want to miss our official conference kickoff on Tuesday, June 18 at 4:30 p.m. Plan on joining us outdoors at the Pavilion to hear a keynote by Instructure CEO Josh Coates. Then join us for dinner and a very special reception. And by "very special" we mean "you'll kick yourself for missing it." Trust us.

MORE KEYNOTES

Our keynote for Wednesday, June 19 will focus on the importance of APIs, co-presented by a power trio of Kin Lane (API evangelist), Audrey Watters (edtech journalist for Hack Education), and Brian Whitmer (Instructure co-founder and chief product officer). Our keynote for Thursday, June 20 will be given by Richard Culatta, acting director of the Office of Educational Technology.

INSTRUCTURECON APP

Stay on top of all the InstructureCon happenings by downloading the free conference app for conference session details.To download for iPhone, iPad, or Android, follow these simple instructions:

Go to the App Store / Play Store
Search for "Eventbase"
Download "Eventbase - the Free Event App for Everyone"
Open the app and search for "Instructure"
Tap on InstructureCon 2013

From the app, you can see the event guide, pick your favorite sessions, orient yourself using the location maps, or check out the InstructureCon course!

80S PARTY + AWESOME TO THE MAX

That's right—we're, like, totally having an 80s party on the final night, Thursday June 20. Come dressed in your best/worst 80s clothes—jelly bracelets, crimped hair, Motley Crue t-shirt, whatever's your thing. There'll be prizes for our favorite 80s-inspired costumes. So, gag yourself with a spoon or whatever it takes to get your bad 80s self ready because IT. IS. ON.

SWAG

Make sure to leave room in your suitcase because you’re going to get a bunch of swag, including a couple t-shirts and a conference jacket. Some lucky souls will take home some bigger raffle prizes.

PANDA PINS

A new feature this year is the panda lanyard pin. Come prepared to say something nice about Canvas and there's a panda pin in your future.

DRESS CODE

Casual (except for our 80s party, when the dress code will be "tubular"). Don’t forget that you'll be up in the mountains where the nights can get a little chilly.

REGISTRATION

Register at The Grand Summit Resort during these times:
Monday, June 17 // 3:00pm - 8:00pm
Tuesday, June 18 // 8:00am - 4:30pm
Wednesday, June 19 // 7:30am - 11:30am

TRANSPORTATION

Need a ride to and from InstructureCon?
Contact All Resort.

OTHER QUESTIONS

Email instructurecon@instructure.com with any other questions.

EARLY ARRIVALS

If you’re lucky enough to be coming in a bit early, or staying a little longer, here are a few things you may want to check out while in Utah:

Salt Lake City:

Park City:

Nature @ Canyons:

Gondola rides open every night, take a ride up to 8,000 feet and backRent a mountain bike from the Canyons Resort and check with their front desk for trail mapsTake a drive through Guardsman Pass and check out Big Cottonwood CanyonSee you all soon,
Sunny

P.S.  If you’re not able to make it this year, follow the action on Twitter with the official hashtag #instcon. 

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Why teach a MOOC?

C.S. Lewis said, “You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.” Some people feel the same way about online courses, hence, the MOOC was born.

Go out on a limb. Try something new.

Working on the front lines of Canvas Network, I’ve learned there are plenty of great reasons to embrace MOOCs. Sometimes I talk with people who’ve thought long and hard about the philosophy behind MOOCs, while others approach it from a carefree "I just want to try it!" perspective. Whatever your mentality, teaching a MOOC is a great experience with lots of practical value. Here are a few reasons to consider teaching a MOOC:

Academic research
Research can be a catalyst for teaching a MOOC. This is a tough area because MOOCs are so new, there are almost limitless avenues to explore. Because the MOOC world has not yet been thoroughly mapped, one road may lead to another, then another, and another, making it difficult to define the parameters of the project.

A conservative, yet reasonable approach is to make a direct comparison between a traditional for-credit course and a MOOC. Use similar (or the same) content, activities, objectives, and outcomes, then compare student engagement, success, retention, etc. For this to work, the traditional course needs to be one that can be replicated in an online environment where participants can complete activities independently. A biology lab probably isn’t going to work, but an exploration of plant species in North America might.

Professional experience
Another approach is using a MOOC as a supplement for a traditional face-to-face course. In this scenario, the instructor sets up a MOOC course web site similar to the on-campus LMS course web site. They open the MOOC site for public enrollment and for regular, for-credit students. The on-campus students then engage in discussions and debate issues presented in the course with people around the world. It extends the classroom for traditional students and opens the course to people who may not otherwise have access to course materials and guided instruction. This type of MOOC may focus more on teaching methods because the instructor may discover ways to improve their technique and increase student engagement through online activities.

Refinement over time
Some instructors want to teach a MOOC many times over with the goal of creating a super-efficient, super-effective learning experience. They find it challenging to test learning theories and instructional design ideas in an iterative and methodical way. Some prefer to start with a course that has a large quantity of materials and resources, then refine by whittling away. Others start small and then add more activities, resources, or technology functions until they’ve achieved a masterpiece. This scenario leverages factors unique to MOOCs because the global audience differs greatly from a campus-based audience, which increases the level of difficulty for the instructor, but may yield an ideal course for 21st-century global learning.

Sometimes it is better to get hands-on
experience.

Learn by doing
A very common purpose for wanting to teach a MOOC is simply that—to teach a MOOC. Educators are inquisitive by nature and their interest in MOOCs is an extension of that curiosity. Everyone in academia is talking about MOOCs. (Seriously, have you been to a conference lately?) Many teachers are excited by the opportunity to incorporate 21st-century skills and technology into their courses, while reinforcing concepts in global learning and preparing students for the global workplace. They want to explore the use of Internet technology that is applicable (and accessible) for a variety of subjects, a variety of learner populations, and is attractive to a variety of instructors.

Leadership decision making
Not every teacher sees value in MOOCs and not every teacher wants to try it, but those at the highest levels of institutional leadership have a responsibility to explore and examine all aspects of education as it relates to their student population, their faculty, and the greater educational community. It’s in their best interest to have some familiarity and experience with online learning and with MOOCs. For these reasons, schools may make a campus-wide, collaborative effort to explore the MOOC-space, identifying faculty to develop and facilitate a few different courses at the same time. This is one way to explore the efficacy of MOOCs in different disciplines, but under similar parameters (school resources and institutional approach) and with consistent governance (project management). Schools can then assess a variety of questions, including:

Cost: what resources are required in terms of faculty time, media production, and course development?Expertise: are faculty ready for online learning and is our production ready and able to scale?Impact and outreach: what do MOOCs do for our school?Efficacy: are our online courses as good as our traditional courses?

Schools that approach MOOCs in this way gather data from project management all the way to course completion. What they learn can influence future decisions about online learning and affect faculty support and training, media production practices, and marketing programs to a global audience.

So, give it a shot
I’m sure there are even more reasons to teach a MOOC and many ways to approach the development of a MOOC project. But what we find central among those who teach MOOCs with Canvas Network is a passion for teaching and learning. This is where Canvas Network really stands out as a platform for MOOCs. We have a simple process, with little overhead, leaving you and your institution free to explore open learning. And who knows, massive open online courses just might be your ‘large cup of tea’.

Keep learning,
Carrie Saarinen

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Springtime Magic

Two weeks ago, the weatherman said Spring was here. So why did I wake up to snow in my front yard last week? Apparently, predicting the weather is hard. Or at least accurately predicting the weather is. Just ask Punxsutawney Phil.

As a former teacher, I know teaching is also hard– legitimately. It’s long hours, stacks of papers, boxes of Kleenex, and sometimes it can get pretty sticky (especially after lunch). By the time April arrives, we teachers start counting down the days to summer break with just as much enthusiasm as our students (sometimes more). Despite the challenges, what always kept me going was how many magical moments happen in classrooms in the Spring.

If you’re a teacher, you know what I mean. Students are making real connections, lightbulbs are turning on— it’s a season of breakthroughs. We see real understanding as they put together all the pieces we’ve been working on all year. Sometimes we’ll float out of school, high on all the learning that happened that day.

Every class has those moments or hours or days when teaching and learning seem effortless. We’re creating, sharing, discussing. Students are empowered, owning and controlling their own learning. Suddenly, it’s not work anymore. Our goal and hope is that Canvas makes those moments more frequent.

We recently talked with Cheryl Yeatts, a high school teacher at Rockingham school district in North Carolina. She shared some of the magic in her classroom and we can’t help but be inspired by the power of what she’s doing with and for students. It’s just some good old-fashioned, lightbulbs-turning-on, walls-breaking-down, connections-being-made Springtime magic. You know the kind.

If you have a story about how Canvas has changed your teaching, I’d love to hear it.

Keep learning,

Hilary Scharton
Product Manager

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In Search of the Edtech Promised Land

If you’ve ever played Oregon Trail, you know the journey was fraught with perils like snakes, cholera, broken limbs and a general store owner named Matt. But if you survived all that, you were rewarded with a wonderful life in a new, open land. When I played Oregon Trail back in the middle school computer lab, I didn’t know there would come a day when I’d be leading my own proverbial wagon train — on its way to the edtech promised land.

During the past year I’ve been focusing on the ‘open’ aspect of Canvas. I’ve spent a lot of time interacting with different vendors and groups who’re working to provide technology and standards in education. It seems everyone is on the hunt for the elusive edtech ecosystem, but nobody has really been able to get there.

It’s no secret that there’s way too much vendor lock-in and non-interoperability in edtech. Many startups don’t even bother to cooperate and just build their products outside the existing system. Even established non-edu companies have a hard time justifying all the one-off integrations needed to play in this space.

So, we’re setting out to change that, because it sucks — for everyone, but mostly for those on the ground actually trying to offer a good education. We’ve put together our wagon train of interoperability and we’re heading out for open land. And we’re bringing anyone along who wants to come.

The first big step came several weeks ago when we launched a repository of LTI-based tech integrations. This means any app in the repository will work in Canvas, Blackboard, Desire2Learn, Moodle, etc.

And today we announced a bounty. We wanted to show our commitment to this movement so we’re offering to pay $250 to anyone who builds a qualifying LTI integration for an existing or brand new ed-tech product. In addition, we’ve organized a selection committee who will choose several top apps based on polish, novelty, interoperability and pedagogical value. Developers of these apps will receive $1,000 and be highlighted in the edu-apps directory.

So shoe your horses, grease your axles and stock up on jerky. This wagon train of open is heading out. Our destination: edtech interoperability.  

Keep learning,
Brian

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