MINUTES OF PLANNING MEETING

VIRTUAL AND LIVE CONFERENCES

12-30-08

 

Note action items appear at the end of this page!

The meeting took place at Manuel’s restaurant at 1123 W. Broadway, Tempe.  Alex called the meeting to order at 12:50 PM.  Those present were Tim Dosenmagen, Michele Smith, Cindy Saint, Brad Boute’, Paul and Alisa Phillips, Alex Devereux, Bob Rosenberg, Bill Perry,Ted Christensen, Kameron Hawkins and Bobbie Kraver. 

 

We began with a review of the audio meeting of the CEO breakfast committee that same morning at 9:00 AM.  At that meeting we discussed the definition of eLearning and a perspective of how we use it in various ways.  Linda will structure the agenda with input from Michele, Cindy, Alex, Ted and Bobbie.  Michele and Bobbie will make phone calls to leaders who received invitations and did not reply.  We will also try to find two more people to make phone calls.

 

The Conference meeting had input from everyone who attended.  Alex wants to get the word out that the way for the country to recover from this economic downturn is through eLearning.  Kameron who offices at 5835 N. 16^th Street also had much input. He is partnering with 11 Chambers of Commerce around the valley and suggested that Michele could speak to all of these about membership in GAZeL.  Because Arizona is so vast the sprawl makes us ripe for eLearning and virtual conferences. 

 

We all agreed that we still want to have face to face networking events and a live conference, but we must not try to hurry.  We have to think about not only Arizona but across the state and international borders with our virtual conferences.  eLearning is more cost effective if we go virtual, but we must be quality. 

 

Cindy Saint is putting together the steps and outcomes we must have for our website to support a directory of topics and an inventory of what is on our website.  It must be designed so that people who want workshops of simple things can find it and workshops must designed to have directions for people to know what and how to do learning through on line methods.  We must design pictures that give uncomplicated choices.  We also agreed that we are not a www.ted website.  We must limit the choices or people will get confused.  There are digital immigrants and natives of digital.  We must decide if we are targeting interns in eLearning.  We are a green technology and at this point in time green is profitable.  Therefore our clients must incorporate disruptive innovation to understand that they don’t have and should not just do the same old things. 

GAZeL just focus on need.  We know from companies who have done varies incentives that if we give them one free virtual conference and it is dynamite good they will be willing to come back and pay a fee for more, but we must decide that we are delivering that fits the needs of these digital immigrant who are basically older that the youngest generation.

 

We discussed the following steps:

1. Cindy will get the requirements to Alisa and Paul.
2. Alisa and Paul will do some test on various platforms to find out what the expenses and strength of these platforms are.
3. We will get the need at the CEO breakfast, our networking events and by asking questions.  What do you need to know to feel comfortable in eLearning?
4. We must provide a library of terms and definitions.
5. We must bring people who are doing the teaching in our schools, community colleges, Universities, on line teaching, job training etc. up to speed in using eLearning
6. Decide if we want to go after quick revenue or long term growing.
7. We must share information and educate people to use it.
8. It is important at this time to recruit clients that want to stay in business.
9. At all times we must stress that we are a non-profit. 

 

We then tried to clarify if this is going to start with a live on site conference, or if we should put out a series of virtual conferences and then have a live conference.  We want the virtual conferences available 24-7.  We want to build a community for k-12, higher ed, business, military simulation, and lifelong learning.  At this time we are thinking big but may be too broad.  We would also like to become a certifying organization and must create the criteria for certification. 

 

We need a launch date.  Perhaps have a panel discussion to decide these things.

 

The next meeting of this group will take place (audio only) on Tuesday, January 20^th, 2009 at 5:00 PM.  The number to dial is 1-888-6i78-1020  1237256108#  Tim will be the moderator.

 

THE BUDGET:  Tim will do a revenue stream  and a list of subject matter.

Bobbie will investigate a ground conference, place, date, cost

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~ Action Items from 12/30/08 Meeting ~

 

Last Updated by Dr. Tim Dosemagen, 1/2/2009

 

 

Virtual Conference Profitability Model

 

Throughout 2009, posting videotaped presentations at a rate of 2 per month, for a total of 24 vignettes on Gazel’s web presence by 12/31/2009. By 2010, estimated 75 users per month, paying $10 per use / download, income: $9,000.

 

Virtual Conference Presentation Subjects

 

Distance Education and:

 

n     

Increased savings by reducing travel, time and expenses

n     

Greater access to quality, lasting education for all learners

n     

Green learning, through the use of e-texts and online materials

n     

Today’s workforce – The Millennials, Generation Y and Generation X

n     

How to best use online learning for schools, businesses, government and human service agencies

n     

The opportunity for learners to self-direct studies at their own pace

n     

The use of co-learners’ input to enrich one’s own learning processes

n     

The less pressure-filled learning atmosphere

n     

24/7/365 access to students, faculty, administration and education any time, any place

n     

Access for learners with non-standard work schedules

n     

Engagement of all learners, with accountability for learning 

n     

Growing voice activated, text-to-voice technological applications

n     

Broader interactivity of online learning, versus face-to-face instruction

n     

Greater personalization of educational methodologies to the characteristics and needs of the learners

n     

Competition to improve quality in organizations

n     

Postures Students e-Business

n     

Offers Extended School Year

n     

Cost effective learning models

n     

Collapsed / expanded conference calendars

n     

Improved educational quality

 

Virtual Conference Presentation Parameters

 

Videotaped presentations, from 30 minutes to one hour’s duration, using appropriate visual media to enrich the learning experience, on topics related to E-Learning and Distance Education.  

 

2009 Ground Conference Target Featured Speakers

 

2008 Obama For President Online Campaign Chairman

Google Founders

MySpace Founders

FaceBook Founders

YouTube Founders

Wikipedia Founders

Online educational pioneers and pioneering institutions