What is Confer? A Basic Definition

Confer \Con*fer"\, v. i.
   To have discourse; to consult; to compare views; to
   deliberate.
   [1913 Webster]

         Festus, when he had conferred with the council,
         answered.                                --Acts xxv.
                                                  12.
   [1913 Webster]

         You shall hear us confer of this.        --Shak.

   Syn: To counsel; advise; discourse; converse.
        [1913 Webster]

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Off-site Confer Links, User Submitted

The following links have been collected through user bookmark submission in the Confer category. Please note, because these resources are off-site we cannot guarantee the accuracy or quality of any information.

Thu Jan 1

• The new Scranton Vintage Theater

Sat Dec 27

• Computer-based educational communications at the University of Michigan: A series of studies at the University of Michigan has explored information systems as a basis for learning environments (Zinn, 1974). Currently staff at the Center for Research on Learning and Teaching (CRLT) is looking at educational uses of computer-based conferencing, for example, computer-based seminars and computer-assis ted curriculum development. Departments trying other uses, for example, computer-based committee work and computer-aided proposal preparation, find the basic software developed at CRLT to be applicable. However, some of the procedures described here are modified for the various purposes. A paper now in preparation by the same authors reports the history of computer-based conferencing at the University of Michigan. In brief, the activity did not become practical until the spring of 1975 when the CONFER I program (in Fortran) was completed by Robert Parnes.
• Karl Zinn - IAE-Pedia: One of the first places to start exploring computer conferencing systems was the Center for Research on Learning and Teaching (CRLT) at the University of Michigan. In 1971 Karl Zinn received funding from the National Science Foundation and the Exxon Education Foundation to study methods of using computers in education. He started experimenting with existing computer conferencing systems in 1972, but found them expensive and restrictive to use. In response to this, Robert Parnes developed Confer in 1975 as a dissertation project. Confer ran on the University 9;s immense MTS mainframe system (see also here) and its use was initially limited to those few students and faculty that had computer accounts in those days.
• Bentley Historical Library Finding Aids: Karl L. Zinn, a specialist in computer-assis ted instruction, joined the University of Michigan faculty in 1963 as a research associate with the Center for Research on Learning and Teaching. Promoted to research scientist in 1969, Zinn was instrumental in establishing the MERIT computer network and developing CONFER, the first computer-based conferencing systems on campus. Papers document the development and utilization of CONFER and contain extensive examples of print-outs of conferences, particularly those relating to the use of computers in instruction. Topical files chronicle various technological issues, including the development of MERIT and early uses of computers in the classroom.

Thu Dec 4

• Raj Patel | Website of writer, activist and academic, Raj Patel

Wed Nov 19

• Buy Nothing Day 2008 | Adbusters Culturejammer Headquarters: Buy Nothing Day is an informal day of protest against consumerism observed by social activists. Typically celebrated the Friday after Thanksgiving in North America and the next day internationall y, in 2008 the dates will be November 28 and 29 respectively. It was founded by Vancouver artist Ted Dave and subsequently promoted by the Canadian Adbusters magazine.

Sun Sep 14

• Description: Info on k12 online conference 2008

Wed Aug 6

• Akadem - Le campus numérique juif - Conférences

Thu Jul 17

• TypeCon2008: Punkt

Thu Jun 26

• Eventbrite - Media Futures Conference 2008

Tue Jun 24

• FreeConference .com - Free Telephone Conference Call Service: conference calls, for free

Mon Jun 2

• Streaming Media Europe 2008

Wed Apr 30

• HCIL - Symposium

Tue Apr 22

• Rent A Coder - Online meeting site clone
• Rent A Coder - website needed

Off-site Confer Research Links

If you still need additional information on Confer then we suggest the following off-site resources. Please note, because these resources are off-site we cannot guarantee the accuracy or quality of any information.