Germany calling...

Berlin beckons again next week - it's the end of the year, and it's time for OEB! Online Educa Berlin is without doubt the largest e-learning industry conference in Europe, and some would argue, the most influential. For many, OEB is the uber-conference for e-learning. For me it holds many memories of speaking to large and appreciative audiences, the remains of the Berlin Wall, the Checkpoint Charlie museum, Christmas markets, Unter den Linden, Alexanderplatz, Ka De We, and the Brandenburg Gate. The first time I attended OEB was in 1997 when it was still quite small at around 1000 delegates. The city (and in particular, Potsdamerplatz) was still under construction after unification, and the whole place was one big builkding site. 'Ich liebe Berlin', I gabbled excitedly in fluent German to the taxi driver. In response he said 'It will be nice when it's finished...' I will be there again next Wednesday for another dose of sardonic German wit.


Here are some of the OEB 2008 organising committee's aspirations for delegates:

• Prepare yourself for Generation Y. Debate and discuss the impact and needs of a generation who grew up with the Internet.


• Have a closer look at the value and importance of open educational resources. Get in touch with innovative thinkers and promising initiatives.


• Change your mind about content creation.


• Learn more about virtual worlds and user-generated content in education.


• Join the debate on Web 2.0 and social networking.


• Experience new possibilities with sophisticated learning management systems.


• Move on with mobile learning and check out pioneering tools and applications.


• Explore new ways of storytelling and videos in learning.


• Get serious with game-based learning.

OEB is always staged in the crisp, urbane and cosmopolitan surroundings of the Hotel Intercontinental, next to the famous zoological gardens, deep in the Tiergarten area of Germany's glittering, burgeoning capital city. Just down the road around Kurfurstendammstrasse, are the Christmas markets, and of course the cafes, bars, boutiques and theatres. I love going there for the conference (2008 will be my sixth visit) not necessarily for the papers or workshops, although some of these can be attention grabbers. Nor for the keynotes, although some of those I have witnessed have been among the most inspirational speeches I have ever heard (I will not miss Michael Wesch at this year's event - here's his latest YouTube video). All the corporate types will be there - you can tell them by the expensive suits they sport - to peddle their wares and convince you that their VLE package or software solution is the best on the market. But it's not them I am there to see either, even though I will shamelessly grab some freebies.

No - I go because of the opportunities for networking... there are so many smart and creative people to meet and discuss ideas with, and so many wonderful, atmospheric venues in which to meet. The Marlene Bar last year was an excellent place to just sit, chill (yep, it's Berlin just before Christmas, and that's cold by any standards) and chew over some new ideas whilst excellent live music is played and the iconic image of Marlene Dietrich glowers smokily over the proceedings. OEB is over in a flash each year - but during the intense two days, many contacts are made, new friendships and valuable partnerships forged.

If you are in Berlin and attending OEB next week, and we bump into each other, will you do me a small favour? Please explain to me why a face to face conference is called 'Online...?'