{"id":6999,"date":"2026-10-23T14:58:22","date_gmt":"2026-10-23T12:58:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/weblearning.co.za\/blog\/?p=6999"},"modified":"2026-10-25T11:32:28","modified_gmt":"2026-10-25T09:32:28","slug":"fode-symposium","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/weblearning.co.za\/blog\/fode-symposium\/","title":{"rendered":"Fode Symposium (2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I participated in the FODE Symposium<\/a> (22 \u2013 23 October 2026). Disrupting Online Learning Futures: Human-Centred Innovation in the Age of Intelligent Education<\/a>. The opening keynote clashed with my daughter\u2019s 18th birthday breakfast. We went to De Babab Eatery<\/a>, so I was not completely present. I did however use the conference videos<\/a> to catch up. You too should be able to watch what I (and other presenters) said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My presentation was sub optimal (dark zoom, WiFi was patchy), but the materials and thoughts seemed good (article about the keynote speaker, interactive map of all participants, summary of the conference series). I’m kinda pleased about that. The reification of the lecture (and content) through ZOOM, Teams etc has let to Big Tech’s failures. It leads to “verschlimmbesserung”, or “en…fication” (thanks Cory<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There were academics, learning designers, instructional designers, e-learning specialists online facilitators and educational technologists at the event. I was the only Wikipedian there. Perhaps that’s why my computer decided to update itself at a most inopportune time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Presentation (I would have like to give)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Here is my brief presentation script, which might (or might not) have worked if I was in a better zone! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Slide 1<\/strong> – A map of our territory
I love the way that our keynote speaker (Katheryn<\/a>) started the presentation off with a map. It allowed me to locate her. The pictures that she used to represent herself were remote ones, a few family scenes. She drew on relations, children, futures and tech. It is in remote places where fully online distance education (FODE) makes total sense and knowledge is developed in relation to others. I drew a map back (of all participants).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Action: Look at the FODES Wikipedia Map<\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Slide 2<\/strong> – A platform for knowledge
I dislike the way that higher education has reified the lecture and made content the king. I question the assumption that there is one authority who provides all information. Zoom magnifies this assumption. We arrive, quietly listen and then leave. Those who do this remotely, do this for many years. Can we do better?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Action: Go to Wikipedia and create an account<\/a><\/strong> to edit Wikipedia<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Slide 3<\/strong> A gap in understanding<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Action<\/strong>: This quote is from a MIT report (see below). Think about this conference. Think about the quote. Has this conference allowed you to form an identity, exercise your judgment about AI? THINK! don’t google. THINK!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Report<\/a><\/blockquote>