Dr. Birgit Gaiser, Institut für Wissensmedien, Tübingen (GER), attended the event and assessed it as recommendable. She observed that the conference offered a broad spectrum and addressed the essential questions that are currently connected with eLearning. For example, topics like the possibilities to embed eLearning in organizations and curricula came up for discussion, as did didactical and technical factors. A particular focal point concerned methodical questions of eLearning research. Qualitative methods were given particular attention.

The conference afforded interesting insights, with the two keynotes having been chosen after great deliberation. Gráinne Conole from the Open University spoke about the implications of the dynamic technical development in general - and of Web 2.0 specifically - on eLearning methods and practices. George Siemens from the University of Manitoba (Canada) turned his attention to innovative ideas for visualisation and to the question of personalization.

However Dr. Gaiser subtracted points from IADIS because of organizational deficiencies. The conference schedule wasn't published in advance and only became available - even for the speakers - at the commencement of the gathering. This led to cancellations, very spontaneous lectures, and contributed to a rather low turnout in general. Some of the speakers simply arrived too late, and many participants had already planned their journey home for the last day of the event.

Back on a positive note, the conference distinguished itself through the high quality of the presentations. This was guaranteed by the selection committee's setting extremely high standards: 80% of the proposed contributions were rejected!

Next year, the IADIS eLearning conference will take place in Amsterdam, and interested parties are strongly encouraged to take a glance at the Call for Papers.