XplanaZine

UNESCO and partners help teachers bring technology to the classroom
As part of its mandate to build capacity in education worldwide and enable all students to benefit from high quality teaching, UNESCO initiated, in 2006, a project aimed at providing core standards for the integration of information and communication technology (ICT) into the classroom. The Competency Standards for Teachers (CST) were launched on 8 January 2008 after two years of development, at the Moving Young Minds conference, an international seminar gathering 100 education ministers from around the world to discuss the role of technology in enhancing education. — UNESCO

Registrations, Exhibitors Reach Record Levels at FETC 2008
FETC, a division of 1105 Media and one of the largest conferences in the nation devoted entirely to educational technology, announced today that attendee pre-registration for the 2008 conference, staging Jan. 22-25 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., is up 15 percent over 2007 numbers. – T.H.E. Journal

Focus on role of technology in schools
The role of technology in the future of schools will be a dominant theme at the Global Education Forum at Madinat Jumeirah Dubai on January 22 to 24. The Global Education Forum will be held alongside the Gulf Educational Supplies Show (Gess), the region’s premier educational supplies and solutions event. — Khaleej Times

21st International VLSI Conference and 7th Embedded Systems Conference 2008 Highlights New Challenges in Nano Tech Era; Attracts 1000 Experts and 2000 Student Delegates
The 21st International VLSI Conference and the 7th International Embedded systems Conference from January 4 - 8 opened on Friday. The Conference is expected to draw more than 1000 VLSI and Embedded Systems Experts, Researchers, Scientists, Academicians, 2000 student delegates, exhibits from worlds leading product companies, a who’s who of leaders and visionaries who will help shape discussions around the industry’s hottest topic “Challenges in the new Nano Technology” Era. – TechWhack

uae’s e-learning market grows by 26 per cent to reach usd 72.6 million by 2010
Eye of Dubai, the premier comprehensive tourism and investment guidebook and online portal for Dubai residents and visitors, has announced that it is leveraging the popularity and reach of its web portal www.eyeofdubai.com to promote ‘e-Learning Excellence in the Middle East 2008’, the four-day forum being held in Dubai aimed at bringing together leaders and decision-makers to create an action agenda focused on e-Learning quality throughout the region. — Al Bawaba

Getting personal at Bett 2008
Now in its 23rd year, the British Education Training Technology (Bett) show, was as busy as ever. The four-day event, held at London Olympia from 9 to 12 January, attracted about 30,000 visitors. — VNUnet