2010-2011

News Release

REF NO.: 189

SUBJECT: Memorial University technology allows world-class lecture to be delivered from Los Angeles

DATE: April 27, 2011

This replaces earlier release Ref. No 188
              A world-class lecture, postponed this winter because of bad weather, willnow go ahead live from Los Angeles via Elluminate Live – a tool optimized for teachers and learners that enables communication, collaboration and education.
            Hugh Evans, founder and director of The Global Poverty Project, was scheduled to deliver his compelling presentation, 1.4 Billion Reasons, as part of International Development Week in February.
The presentation has been rescheduled for May 2.
Elluminate Live is available for use through Memorial’s Distance Education, Learning and Teaching Support unit, DELTS.
The presentation highlights through slides, video and gripping dialogue the devastation of extreme poverty and how our words, education, purchases and donations can help end it.
Mr. Evans discusses how small actions in our lives can create big opportunities for the world’s poorest, and links audience members with leading organizations so that each and every person can take action to end extreme poverty.
By using Elluminate Live, high school students will be encouraged to engage in the presentation, as it directly addresses topics discussed in social studies, world geography, environmental science and ethics courses.
“Hugh will be speaking from L.A., but the audience can be located anywhere, really,” said Denise Carew, an instructional designer at DELTS, and an Elluminate Live facilitator. “From the participant’s point of view, they can ask questions just as they would if Hugh was in the same room as them.”
Ms. Carew added that there is no complicated equipment needed to operate the session, and it can be installed on any computer.
“Once the coordination takes place and the participants have gone through the quick tutorial, eLive allows things to happen quickly, so even though he isn’t physically in the room, we are able to simulate his presence,” she said.             “Essentially, the technology allows the message to reach far beyond the walls of just one lecture theatre on one university campus.”
The lecture is a collaborative effort between Memorial’s International Centre, DELTS, the Division of Marketing and Communications and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Centre for Distance Learning and Innovation (CDLI).
For more information on Hugh Evans and the Make Poverty History campaign, visit: http://www.globalpovertyproject.com.
This presentation will take place on May 2, 2011, at 1:30 p.m. NDT.
To RSVP, please contact Chelsea Laird, international program coordinator, Memorial University of Newfoundland, at claird@mun.ca or (709) 864-4473.

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