mLearn 2006, the 5th World Conference on Mobile Learning, will fulfill the need for stimulating critical debate on and research into theories, approaches, principles and applications of mobile devices for promoting learning. mLearn 2006 will provide an opportunity for professionals from industry, as well as researchers, educators, students, technologists and practitioners, to share their knowledge, experience and research in the various areas where mLearning is applied. The conference will also serve as an opportunity to promote mLearning.

Conference Theme: mLearning – Across generations and cultures
Sponsorship

Business sponsorship is a major source of funding for many events, and more and more companies have, in the past, discovered this to be a powerful marketing tool. Building and strengthening your company brand through effective visibility is one of the key essentials in business strategy. To be effective, sponsorship of any event should serve the interest of four constituent groups:

It should –

• serve the business interest of the sponsoring company
• serve the best interests of the event and its participants
• have a positive impact upon the sponsor’s direct consumers
• benefit the consumer who uses the products or services

Brand Positioning

Sponsorship goals may include:

• Maximising brand awareness
• Increasing brand loyalty
• Introducing a new brand to the market
• Establishing new contacts with decision makers in the public and private sectors
• Introducing new products or services

Media

PRINT, RADIO and TELEVISION MEDIA. Information will be released to the press and specialised technology magazines.

Investment Required

Gold Sponsorship - $20,000 (Maximum of TWO GOLD sponsors)

This includes the following:

• Venue branding
• Promotional opportunities to build brand awareness through banners, letterheads, programmes, invitations and menus
• Branding space on the mLearn 2006 Website
• Press release of all events associated with the conference will include the phrase: ‘Sponsored by “gold” sponsor’
• One complimentary delegate ticket for all three days of the conference (including conference dinner tickets) – this could be used for your select clients
• A standard exhibition space for the duration of the conference; the exhibition will be housed in the area where registration will take place and coffee breaks will be held daily
• Presentation slot in one of the technical or vendor tracks
• Logo placement on the back cover of the proceedings (to be supplied by sponsor)
• Seat drops at the daily plenary sessions of the conference (to be supplied by sponsor)
• Access to the database of all consenting delegates

Silver Sponsorship – $10,000

• Branding space on the mLearn 2006 Website
• One free delegate place for all three days of the conference (including gala dinner tickets)
• A standard exhibition stand, as well as one free exhibitor entrance for the duration of the conference - the exhibition area where lunch and coffee will be served daily
• Presentation slot in one of the technical or vendor tracks
• Seat drops at the daily plenary sessions of the conference (to be supplied by sponsor)
• Access to the database of all consenting delegates

Bronze Sponsorship - $5,000

• A standard exhibition stand, as well as one free exhibitor entrance for the duration of the conference - the exhibition area where lunch and coffee will be served daily
• Branding space on the mLearn 2006 Website

AD HOC Sponsorship

Ad hoc sponsorship is available for certain items, for example, wine at gala dinner, speaker gifts, and so forth. Please enquire for further details.

Other Sponsorship

Other Sponsorship Packages may be discussed and adapted to suit your particular needs. It could be in the form of a workshop on a relevant topic, a sponsored international guest speaker, etc.

As with any sponsorship opportunity, as soon as you commit yourself to be a sponsor, your name will be associated with the Conference and exposure will commence. The conference marketing is well under way, with the Website up and running.

The financial terms and conditions for payments are as follows:

• All sponsorships: Gold, Silver and Bronze sponsorships require a 25% payment by July 31, 2006
• 25% by August 30, 2006
• Balance by September 30, 2006

About the Conference

The objectives for the conference have been defined

• Assist personal and professional development and the development of new skills for educators
• Encourage the study and implementation of mobile applications in teaching and learning
• Facilitate dialogue between technical experts and educators
• Facilitate networking, business and cooperative activities and partnerships
• Facilitate dialogue and sharing among different cultures with regard to the optimum use of emerging technologies
• Promote the development of mLearning, globally
• Provide opportunities for graduate students to network and collaborate with experts in the mLearning field
• Share local and international developments, experiences and lessons learned
• Stimulate critical debate on and research into theories, approaches, principles and applications of mLearning

Topics of interest are:

• Building and implementing mLearning strategies in educational institutions, corporations and government Case studies in mLearning
• Cost effective management of mLearning processes
• Creating interactive and collaborative mLearning environments
• Emerging hardware and software for mLearning
• Evaluation in mLearning
• Implementing mLearning
• Informal learning using mobile devices
• Instructional design for mLearning
• Intelligent agents for learning
• Learning objects and metadata for mLearning
• Mass personalization and socialization
• mLearning and mTraining
• mLearning in developing countries
• mLearning management systems (mLMSs)
• mLearning: the next generation
• mLearning: theory and pedagogy
• Open and distance learning (ODL) using mobile devices
• Quality in mLearning
• Social implications of mLearning
• Student support in mLearning

The conference program will make provision for:

• Keynote Speakers
• Pre-Conference Workshops
• Plenary Sessions
• Parallel Paper Presentations
• Roundtables and Debates
• Special Focus Sessions
• Poster sessions
• Practical Events including Technology and Product/Service demonstrations
• Exhibition area, where the latest trends and a series of vendor presentations will be demonstrated

Who should attend?

mLearn 2006 brings together the world’s leading researchers and practitioners in the field of mLearning. It also appeals to a wide range of educators, students and trainers, who are interested in enhancing learning by designing content and developing learning systems for mobile devices and wireless networks.

The list includes:

• Higher education institutions
• Training providers
• Educators and researchers from all sectors
• Independent research organisations
• Content developers
• Learning and skills councils
• Education authorities
• Mobile device manufacturers and service providers
• Hardware and software developers
• Government departments
• Telecom operators
• Publishers
• and all others with an interest in mobile and ambient learning

Steering Committee:

Ms. Jill Calliou (Chair)
Dr Rory McGreal
Dr. Mohamed Ally
Ms. Claire Gemmel
Ms. Marguerite Koole

Enquiries:

If you have any further questions, please contact the Conference Secretariat at:

Jill Calliou
Office of Research Services
Athabasca University
#1 University Drive
Athabasca, AB
T9S 3A3

Tel: 1-780-675-6102
Fax: 1-780-675-6722
E-mail: mlearn@athabascau.ca

or

visit the conference’s website www.mLearn2006.org