Embracing Mobile Learning Conference

Last week, the UAEU held its first "Embracing Mobile Learning" Conference in Al Ain. The air was thick with excitement - excitement for the potential of mobile learning.

The conference organizers set out to provide a forum for modeling best practices and showing how mobile technology can be integrated effectively into teaching and learning. In addition, they wanted to provide professional development for educators and share relevant research on the assessment and effectiveness of mobile strategies and their influence on student engagement and improved learning.

And judging from the conversations we had with many of the attendees, the conference delivered on those aspirations!

The 250-or-so attendees, mostly coming from different parts of the Gulf region, could choose from over 50 sessions, with topics ranging from mobile learning methods, over community building to tips for effectively using mobile apps. The session where students of the UAEU shared their experience with learning with iPads was particularly well received and reaffirmed that mobile learning is the way of the future.

The BookWidgets team had a booth in the exhibition area of the venue, giving live demos of our growing library of interactive widgets for iBooks Author and handing out free iPad styluses to the crowd. We were very happy to meet many satisfied customers who were eager to show us the books they created using iBooks Author & BookWidgets. Your enthusiasm is so inspiring - thank you all!

Special thanks also to Dr. Jörg Waltje and the organizing committee, for their hospitality and warm welcome. We felt right at home and would love to come back next year!