As a champion of lifelong learning, The Learning Resources Network (LERN) aims to be at the forefront of educational innovation. The association is fulfilling its mission with a strong emphasis on new media techniques at its annual conference, which will be held November 21-23 in Orlando, Florida. The event will highlight the many ways social media has become central to continuing education, from enriching storytelling to reaching audiences more effectively.

Among the presentations are a Social Media 101 session about the basics of marketing through web 2.0 platforms and an e-tools session about how media-rich and interactive content helps develop and improve online learning. Attendees can also learn about making websites accessible for mobile audiences, using mobile- and web-based productivity apps, and incorporating multimedia material into virtual courses.

Even though the trend may be all things digital, LERN stresses the need for unifying print and new media, even at this social-media-heavy event.

As the association says on its website, “One of the biggest trends in both the new awards for 2015 and the best promotion ideas of the year is the merging of old-school print-based marketing techniques with new-school media. It’s not either-or, it’s not even both-and. It’s the merging of them.”

The Week Ahead

November 28-29: Australia’s Pride History Group will present an in-depth timeline of LGBTIQ discrimination, legislation, and culture during its Australia’s Homosexual Histories Conference in Sydney. The event will cover a wide range of past and present issues of LGBTIQ life in Australia. This year’s conference marks the 30th anniversary of the passage of Australia’s Sex Discrimination Act, which prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and more.

Down the line

November 30-December 5: The lively presentations at the 2014 Fall Meeting and Exhibit of the Materials Research Society are more evocative of an interactive science fair than a formal industry event. Attendees at the Boston conference can watch demonstrations of energy-related concepts, explore the future of computing with quantum materials at a family-friendly session, or even see a physics juggling show.

November 30-December 5: The Radiological Society of North America is celebrating its 100th annual meeting, being held in Chicago, by recognizing historic developments in radiology and embracing the latest advancements in the field. In addition to offering sessions on contemporary medical imaging practices, RSNA is giving attendees the opportunity to learn about 100 years of radiology through a special website and multimedia showcase in honor of the milestone.

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