(Dear colleagues, please note that the website and associated e-mail addresses are not yet ready.)
DRAFT OF CALL FOR PAPERS
e/merge 2006
10th - 21st July 2006
http://emerge2006.net
Call for Papers
e/merge 2006 - Learning Landscapes in Southern Africa is the second virtual conference on educational technology in the SADC region and builds on the e/merge 2004. e/merge 2006 will take place online from 10th - 21st July 2006 and will include associated face to face events in a number of cities.
This conference focuses on online collaborative learning in our regional context of unequal access to technology and to education. This could involve both online and face to face interaction We will prioritise high quality papers and presentations which demonstrate responsiveness to the context of learning in Southern African tertiary education including issues of digital divide, differential access to education, and diversity. We would envisage papers in the following areas:
Research Methodologies
Access to Learning Technologies
Theories and models of computer supported collaborative learning
Learning Communities
Staff Development
Learning Environments
We are also interested in receiving proposals for technology demonstrations and online workshops focused on the regional context.
All abstracts will be peer reviewed to ensure that an appropriate range of high quality presentations will be selected. There will be a maximum of 32 presentations in the formal programme. Presentations will be accepted in forms such as full text papers, slide-show presentations, web pages and narrated slide-show presentations. Presenters are encouraged to explore innovative technologies and methods of online presentation.
Each paper will be discussed online over a period of 3-4 days. Papers on similar themes may be grouped for discussion. Conference papers in the peer reviewed publication track may also be submitted for a peer reviewed special issue of The International Journal of Education and Development using Information and Communication Technology (IJEDICT).
e/merge 2006 will incorporate several tracks including:
1) Peer Reviewed Publication Track
2) Peer Reviewed Proposal
3) Invited presentations and workshops
4) Panel Discussions
Authors will retain copyright to submitted papers, while granting permission to the Centre for Educational Technology and the e/merge 2006 conference to publish the papers online and in print. The conference website and proceedings will become a publicly accessible online resource for the broader community after the conference. Conference delegates will receive a CD of the conference and proceedings.
Proposals of up to 500 words should be submitted by email to proposals@emerge2006.net by 10th January 2005. Early submissions will be greatly appreciated as this will facilitate the review process.
Deadlines:
Proposals of up to 500 words: Tuesday 10 January 2006
Notification of acceptance: Friday 10 February 2006
Peer reviewed papers submitted for review: Friday 14 April 2006
Acceptance of Final Peer Reviewed Papers: Thursday June 1 2006
Conference dates: Monday 10 July - Friday 21 July 2006
Review panel:
(to be included within the next few days)
(Dear colleagues, please note that the website and associated e-mail addresses are not yet ready.)
DRAFT OF CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT
e/merge 2006
10th - 21st July 2006
http://emerge2006.net
Conference Announcement
e/merge 2006 - Learning Landscapes in Southern Africa is the second virtual conference on educational technology in the SADC region and builds on the e/merge 2004. e/merge 2006 will take place online from 10th - 21st July 2006 and may include associated face to face events in a number of cities.
This conference focuses on online collaborative learning in our regional context of unequal access to technology and to education. This could involve both online and face to face interaction
The conference is primarily designed to share good practice and knowledge about educational technology innovation within the further and higher education sectors in the region, as well as to strengthen communities of researchers and practitioners.
Proposals for presentations must be submitted by Tuesday 10th January 2006. For the full call for papers, please visit http://emerge2006.net.
Who is the conference for?
e/merge 2006 is primarily for educational technology researchers and practitioners based in Southern Africa. We will forge relationships to attract participants from other English speaking African countries. Participants from other regions who have an interest in the use of educational technology in Southern Africa will also be warmly welcomed.
Who is organising the conference?
e/merge 2006 is organised by the Centre for Educational Technology at University of Cape Town. We are open to collaborating with other organisations and networks in the region and beyond to ensure a high quality, dynamic conference.
What is an online conference ?
In a conventional conference everyone travels to one physical location to debate conference papers and to network. In an online conference we use a website as the conference venue. We can view selected presentations, read conference papers, share useful resources, take part in debate, share best practices and network informally.
Mostly these online meetings are spread over a few days to allow us the flexibility to take part when we choose. There will also be some live meetings online which enhance the sense of shared presence and energise the conference. Overall, an online conference creates opportunities for rich conversations which grow knowledge in a community involving experts and practitioners.
How much time will it take?
That's entirely up to you. You can choose to focus on a few discussions that interest you if you have very limited time available for participation. Most participants in e/merge 2004 spent up to 10 hours online over a two week period.
What do I need to take part?
A reliable dialup or network Internet connection will allow for a full experience of the conference. However you can participate even if you only have reliable e-mail access and limited access to the Internet.
How much does the conference cost?
The conference fees have been set to encourage participation:
Participants based in Africa - R200
Participants from other regions - $100
There will be a small number of sponsored places
How do I sign up?
Please fill in your details online, or email us at info@emerge2006.net.
Formal registration will open in February 2006.