Become a Sponsor

Summary

Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education is a global grass-roots community event focusing on education in immersive virtual environments. This peer-reviewed conference is organized by educators, for educators, to provide an opportunity to showcase the learning that takes place in this community of practice. All educators are encouraged to present, attend and take part in this discussion of collaborative deeper learning and co-presence in virtual worlds and games.

This is our 8th annual conference which is only possible through generous donations from conference sponsors and the many volunteers that help put on this four day event. The conference materials are made available through our archives including the Journal of Virtual Studies (ISSN: 2155-0107), and over 100 hours of video / machinema’d materials available, for free, for educational and research purposes after each conference is over.

Each year VWBPE attracts between 2200-3500 educational professionals from around the world. Our tracks include presentations and workshops which span the entire gambit of education from K-12 all the way through to post-graduate levels.

What We Need & What You Get

What we need is simple. Cash donations. The conference costs a minimum of $5000 each year. We are in a position that we can do more with a larger budget up to $15,000 but $5,000 is the minimum amount we need to raise to make the conference successful. This is in a large part due to a few in-kind sponsors that have been dedicated to helping this conference succeed since it first started in 2007.

Funding goes completely (100%) to program related activities. No one involved with the organization of the conference receives a salary or stipend. Funds are used to help support our information systems, development of video and machinema archives, live video streaming, social activities, swag bag materials for conference attendees, buildings supplies (mesh 3D objects), and graphics designs.

VWBPE also spends a lot of time ensuring that the conference is as accessible as possible for persons with disabilities.

The VWBPE Committee is asking for your support at one of four sponsorship levels Gold ($1500), Silver ($1000), Bronze ($500) or Blue Ribbon (any amount under $500).

Gold Sponsor ($1500 x 2)

  • Premier placement on Conference Homepage on VWBPE website with hyperlink
  • Premier placement on Sponsor Page on VWBPE website with hyperlink
  • Premier placement on Sponsor Boards throughout the venues
  • Sponsor Booth in the Poster Area (see poster guidelines on the VWBPE website)
  • Full Page ad on the Conference proceedings (inside front or inside back page – 22 x 18 cm) to be provided by the sponsor
  • 15-30 second ad spot on VWBPE live streaming of conference main channel (to be provided by the sponsor)
  • Your choice of any three swag items from VWBPE’s Cafepress storefront

Silver Sponsor ($1000 x 4)

  • Premier placement on Conference Homepage on VWBPE website with hyperlink
  • Premier placement on Sponsor Page on VWBPE website with hyperlink
  • Premier placement on Sponsor Boards throughout the venues
  • Sponsor Booth in the Poster Area (see poster guidelines on the VWBPE website)
  • 1/2 Page ad in the Conference proceedings (back pages 10.5 x 18 cm) to be provided by the sponsor
  • 5-10 second ad spot on VWBPE live streaming of conference main channel (will be created by VWBPE film and stage crew)
  • Your choice of any two swag items from VWBPE’s Cafepress storefront.

Bronze Sponsor ($500 x 16)

  • Preferred placement on Sponsor Page on VWBPE website with hyperlink
  • Preferred placement on Sponsor Boards throughout the venues
  • Sponsor Booth in the Poster Area (see poster guidelines on the VWBPE website)
  • 1/4 Page ad in the Conference proceedings (back pages 10.5 x 8.5 cm) to be provided by the sponsor
  • Your choice of any swag item from VWBPE’s Cafepress storefront

Blue Ribbon Community (varying amounts over $50 and under $500)

  • Honorable mention placement on Sponsor Page on VWBPE website with hyperlink
  • General placement on Blue Ribbon Community Board in Second Life
  • LD Video Sponsor mention at least once throughout the 4 days

NOTE: All graphics, logos, ads, and artwork need to be print ready and submitted to VWBPE no later than February 29, 2015.

The Impact

Your contribution makes a huge difference. Depending on how much we raise we can introduce new program elements into the conference such as live streaming of the conference on multiple video streams, full transcription of all video presentations, mobile accessibility, and more. How much we can do depends on you.

As the 8th annual conference this event is well attended, well respected, and is at the forefront of where technology and educational practices are headed. The fact that the conference is free makes this event unique. No other educational conference in the world has this large of an attendance, this broad of a spectrum, this inclusiveness of community, and this accessible of any conference ANYWHERE. We are the vanguard and with your help we intend to continue to be so for many more years to come.

Other Ways You Can Help

If you are interested in helping but cannot contribute as a conference sponsor there are many other ways that you can help.

Submit a proposal: If you are an educator using Second Life, OpenSim, or other gaming or simulation environment and have something to contribute there will be one more opportunity to submit a proposal in early January.

Attend the conference. Its free. Come out and meet hundreds of people from around the world interested in gaming and simulation and how best to apply those techniques in the classroom.

Volunteer. This conference runs primarily off the volunteers that are dedicated to making education better. We need people who are familiar with video streaming (within a gaming environment) and editing, voice to text transcription, mentoring within Second Life or OpenSim, and other roles.

Share with Others. Let your network know about this conference. Our primary marketing is through word of mouth. So please let people know.

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