Your essential guide to MoodleMoot Global 2024

Join hosts Sandra Matz and Flor Vergara  (MoodleHQ) as they dive into the exciting details of MoodleMoot Global 2024, happening from October 22-24 in the vibrant city of Mérida, Mexico. 

In this episode, they explore the unique cultural backdrop of Mérida, preview an impressive lineup of keynote speakers including Moodle's CEO Scott Anderberg and founder Martin Dougiamas, and discuss can't-miss sessions and networking opportunities. 

From travel tips to party themes, this episode is your essential guide to making the most of this year's conference. Whether you're an educator, developer, or just passionate about learning, tune in to discover why MoodleMoot Global 2024 is an event you won’t want to miss!

Visit Moodle at Moodle.com

Transcript

Hello and welcome to the Moodle podcast.

Hello and welcome. My name is Sandra Matz and I am the educational events coordinator in the Moodle community team and I'm here with Flor Vergara, the Moodlemoot Global event manager. Today we will be talking about the main highlights of Moodlemooth Global 2024.

Hi everyone, happy to be here today.

So let's talk about this upcoming event. Model Global will be taking place from the 22nd to the 24 October and this year the conference is heading to Merida in Mexico. What do you think floor that makes Merida an exciting and unique location for our global model community to gather?

There are many reasons that make Merida a special place. The city is more than 500 years old, was founded by the Spanish Francisco de Montejo in 1542, very close to a Mayan village. That's why you find there a fusion of cultures. You can see historic buildings all around the city center, old casonas and haciendas, the famous Paseo de Montejo which is one of the biggest avenues there, and also amazing mayan constructions very nearby like Chichen Itza, Ekbalam, or Uxmal.

In general, you get the feeling of being in a very Mexican environment. Streets full of life, colorful markets, traditional dances and shows, cultural activities, delicious and spicy food, music concerts here and there, etcetera. Merida is a very lively and attractive city. For more information you can also check the moodlemoot.org website with lots of suggestions about what to see and do there.

Sounds lovely. A great scenario indeed for a very exciting program with an incredible lineup of keynote speakers this year.

Indeed. Can you give us a sneak peek into who will be speaking and what kind of insights our attendees can look forward to?

We are excited to open the conference on day one with a keynote presentation from Moodle CEO Scott Anderberg, who will discuss the profound global impact that Moodle has had over the past 25 years and how Moodle has empowered educators and transformed learning experiences for so many people worldwide. On day two, we will welcome Martin Dougiamas, founder of Moodle and head of the Moodle Research Lab, who will deliver a keynote presentation on what will education feel like in 2034.

He will probe the future of education, offering insights into the trends that could shape learning experiences over the next decade. The final day of the conference, we will have the pleasure to hear from a local keynote speaker, Fernando Valenzuela, who is a global leader in educational technology. In his keynote, Fernando will explore how the rise of artificial intelligence presents a unique opportunity to enhance human capabilities.

So we are looking forward to welcoming these three keynotes, and we are really excited to be welcoming muddlers from all over the world and also members of the local community.

Exactly. We are so happy to be part of this international community and also thrilled to be collaborating with the Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan, UM, the most relevant university in Merida. And we really thank them for their support.

And now let's talk about how we can plan our trip to Merida. For those planning their trip, where are the best ways to reach the city? Are there any travel tips or recommendations for making the journey smoother?

Yeah, there are, um, different ways to arrive in Merida. It really depends on where you're coming from. For example, if you're based in Mexico, United States, or any other latin country, you might find good direct flights to Merida, which has an international airport for attendees flying from overseas.

You can fly to Merida directly if you find good flights, or to cancun, and then take a bus to Merida. You can visit the venue and accommodation page from the event website for more informational details at moodlemoot.org 2024 venue. And there we have included some accommodation recommendations with a special prize for our attendees.

So book soon if you want to stay within the conference area, which is right by the city center for now. Sandra Moodle Mood Global always promises memorable experiences. What are some of the key events or sessions that attendees, um, should be particularly excited about this year?

The event will be opening in today with a keynote presentation as we've highlighted previously, and on day one, our global Head of Product, Maria Achour will be delivering the model product vision presentation that you can't miss. In addition to this, we will have very interesting and inspiring presentations, posters and workshops delivered by our community of experts, model hq and partners.

And of course, this year we have included our jams and also focus groups, which are a fantastic opportunity to dive deeper, into the Moodle community, exchange ideas and learn from others. So we invite you to visit the program to find out more and if you are registered to attend the event, you will be able to save your favorite sessions to help you plan your conferences.

Experience attendees can also expect some other surprises during the event that we don't yet want to reveal, and there will be plenty of opportunities to connect with other members of the community. The social aspect of Moodle mood is just as important as the sessions. Can you tell us about the party and other networking opportunities for attendees to connect and relax?

Floor?

Sure. First of all, the party is included in the ticket price and attendees can bring one party guest for an additional fee. There will be a cocktail, dinner, drinks, entertainment and lots of fun. The venue is also very special. It's full of history and it's located within walking distance from the conference center.

And um, the theme of this year is the color fiesta. Get the costume ready, be creative. There will be a competition for the best costume and the winner will be announced during the closing session.

Do you have your costume ready for the party floor?

Almost ready, but it's going to be a secret until then.

Looking forward to it. And are there any other social activities planned during the event?

Yeah, sure. We will have some networking sessions at the end of each day where attendees will be able to connect with each other, meet new people, grab a drink and enjoy.

Lots to look forward to. For those still on the fence about attending, what would you say are the main reasons they shouldn't miss Moodlemooth Global 2024?

Well, this is the first global event in LAtAm and represents a unique opportunity to get closer to the region, their experts in education, their universities, besides all the international content we will have.

That's really exciting indeed. We welcome our international community to join us one more year for this unique event.

It will be a great opportunity to connect with a global community of learning, designers, educators, developers, administrators and thought leaders.

And also to ignite your passion for learning, educating and training through insightful presentations, interactive sessions and hands on workshops.

And to transform your educational practices with the latest insights, technologies and strategies shared by the best in the field.

So thank you so much for listening. We hope you enjoyed the discussion. If you haven't registered yet from Moodle Mode Global 2024, you can do so by visiting the moodlemode.org event website. We look forward to seeing you in Merida.

See you there.