re:Vision is not just a concept,
but a passion of those who seek to revise old ideas
or innovate new ones into our modern extended reality.
Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education is a global grassroots 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.
The VWBPE conference is now in its twelfth year, which has been made possible only through generous donations from conference sponsors and the time and talents of many volunteers contributing to this event. Conference materials are made available through our archives including the Journal of Virtual Studies (ISSN: 2155-0107), and over 100 hours of video / machinima materials made available, for free, for educational and research purposes after each conference.
Each year VWBPE attracts 1100-3500 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 is Simple
Cash contributions are our most appreciated form of support. The conference costs at minimum $5000 each year in order to have a successful conference. This is in a large part due to several in-kind sponsors who have been dedicated to helping this conference succeed since it first started in 2007.
Other contributions that are also appreciated include:
- access to technology – both hardware and software, as appropriate;
- opportunities to network directly with your senior management and product designers; and
- items that can be distributed to conference attendees.
One hundred percent (100%) of contributions received go 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 machinima archives, live video streaming, social activities, swag bag materials for conference attendees, buildings supplies (mesh 3D objects), and graphic designs.
What Sponsors Get
As a sponsor, you gain competitive advantages:
- High Visibility with leaders in the field of extended reality, virtualization and collaboration.
- Brand Awareness globally during and after the conference.
- Promotion Opportunities by exhibiting or presenting about your products/services.
- Outreach to a broad spectrum of teachers, administrators and business leaders.
In addition, you will get placement on the VWBPE website, sponsor boards in the conference venues, a sponsor booth in the poster area, a print ad in the conference proceedings and video ad spots on VWBPE’s live streaming channels.
There are four sponsorship levels: Platinum ($3000), Gold ($1000), Silver ($500), Bronze ($250). Full details about the sponsorship levels and benefits are given in the VWBPE 2019 Sponsorship Opportunities package (PDF).
Many individuals and small groups contribute at the Community Sponsor level (under $250), which is also described in the VWBPE 2019 Sponsorship Opportunities package (PDF).
The Impact of Sponsorship
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.
Not only do you contribute to the success of our annual conference, but you also enable us to do the following things beyond the conference:
- Build Community. We help expose educators and educational technologists to best practices and enable them to apply those ideas and techniques in the learning environment.
- Provide Networking Opportunities. Educators and the communities that help support education can meet and exchange ideas for collaboration in projects.
- Host a Showcase. We provide a venue to show what is new and unique in virtual and augmented reality.
Other Ways You Can Help
The VWBPE annual conference 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 ANYWHERE sees such high attendance numbers while offering a broad spectrum of content that is as accessible, and with as inclusive a community as VWBPE. We are the vanguard. With your help, we intend to continue to be so for many more years to come.
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. It’s 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 with the help of volunteers who 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. Share about this conference in your networks. Our primary marketing is through word of mouth– please let people know.
UPCOMING EVENTS
14 January 2019: Call for Presentation Proposals CLOSES
17 January 2019: Networking Event: Social Fundraiser
11 February 2019: Call for Exhibit and Immersive Experience Proposals CLOSES
21 February 2019: Networking Event: Social Fundraiser
4-6 April 2019: VWBPE Conference!