WIDS hosts User Group Conference, Nov. 1-3; Explores WIDS Web-based curriculum design application

Sept. 1, 2011 - PRLog -- During its 5th annual International WIDS User Group conference, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 3, the Worldwide Instructional Design System (WIDS) unveils its new Web-harnessed, performance-based, instructional-design application – WIDS. Held at the Concourse Hotel in Madison, Wis., the conference offers an in-depth look at the new WIDS and highlights key presentations by college practitioners on early WIDS implementation and assessment.

A nonprofit organization, WIDS provides instructional design consulting services, training, and its Web-based WIDS curriculum-design application to colleges and organizations across the globe.

The User Group conference kicks off with several pre-conference workshops. The first is Tuesday, Nov. 1, “Questions and Best Practices for WIDS,” from 1:30-4:30 p.m., which is open to all users with an existing WIDS Web license. On Wednesday, Nov. 2, choose from either a “Course Development” or “Syllabus” workshop (for those with an existing site) or a “Plan for the Transition” workshop. A “Syllabus” workshop is also open to those considering WIDS adoption.

The User Group conference – which is Nov. 3 – is open to anyone interested in teaching and learning. It promises to draw instructional designers, educators and trainers from across the United States to share ideas and discuss best practices related to instructional design and learning.

Presentations this year will include, “Sharing Our Experience with the New WIDS,” by Central Community College of Grand Island, Neb.; “Moving a Mountain: Building a Culture of Assessment,” by Director of Curriculum and Assessment Cynthia Cicchelli, of Schoolcraft College in Livonia, Mich.; and a fully loaded WIDS general session offering a guided tour of the new WIDS Web-based application, including capabilities in project management and outcome assessment planning, as well as in development of syllabi, learning plans and performance assessment tasks.

To register online for the conference, or to find out more detailed information, visit www.wids.org.

A nonprofit division of the Wisconsin Technical College System Foundation Inc. (WTCSF), WIDS offers advanced tools and personal support to help clients design effective performance-based curriculum. To find out more about WIDS, and the organization’s many successes, visit www.wids.org or call 800-677-9437.