Interactive Events
Interactive events are intended to enable participants to experiment with new interactive devices and environments for teaching and learning, explore designs for collaborative activities, or to try out and compare methods for research and practice. Events should preferably cohere with the conference theme "Exploring the material conditions of learning: Opportunities and challenges for CSCL".
We encourage interactive events that make use of recently developed technologies as well as existing interactive technologies that support an innovative pedagogical model of collaborative learning. Interactive events are scheduled during the main conference, and may take place in a particular time slot, or extend synchronously or asynchronously over several days. Possible formats are limited only by proposers' imaginations, but should include a significant measure of participation by attendees. Here are some examples of possible formats:
Demonstrations, especially those that include hands-on use. These may be scheduled for a specific time or "left running".
CSCL tools used by conference participants, e.g., to discuss the conference or an issue of common interest to the CSCL community. These may be on devices distributed throughout the conference site or downloadable to personal computing devices.
- "Deep dives" in which participants spend several hours trying out a CSCL technology and/or scenario, discussing the design motivations, and providing constructive critiques towards design improvements.
- Virtual extensions of the conference that bring together a tool that enables remote participation and a community geographically elsewhere that would like to participate.
- Other experiences with tools of particular significance to CSCL. This significance and the opportunities for intellectual engagement by participants should be made clear: Proposals that appear to be merely opportunities to promote a tool will be viewed unfavourably:
These are only a few examples to convey the range of possibilities, and are not meant to be exhaustive. The best proposals will engage participants in exploring issues related to the technology or a learning scenario being addressed. You are welcome to contact Dan Suthers and Kris Lund in advance of your final proposal to discuss your ideas.
Submission Instructions
- Proposals for full or half-day events should be written in English.
- The deadline for submissions has passed.
Proposals for Interactive Events consist of two parts:
1. Proposal for interactive events chairs
A description for the interactive events committee to evaluate both the content of the event and the process through which it will be put together. Proposals should be written with the interactive events chairs as the intended audience, telling us about practical issues we need to know to evaluate the proposal. Proposals should not exceed 4 pages, and should include:- Title of interactive event.
- Organizers' names, affiliation and addresses, email, telephone, fax, and URL (if appropriate).
- If there is more than one organizer, identify the point of contact and the roles of other organizers.
- Short (200 word) abstract describing the event in a manner suitable for use in conference promotional materials and programs.
- Objective of the event from the participants' standpoint: what will participants (possibly including the organizers) learn?
- Description of the event itself. Give a narrative of the flow of events, including roles of organizers and participants. Include examples of materials, hardware, software and other technologies used as appropriate.
- Summary of scheduling needs. ("One-shot" event in a room? If so, how long? Asynchronous or face to face events distributed over the conference? etc.)
- Number of participants you can accommodate (if there is a limit).
- Summary of technology needs. (We expect to be able to provide standard computer and presentation equipment. Proposers of events requiring other equipment should begin discussions with conference organizers as soon as possible and consider ways to fund the equipment rental.)
- Identify any related paper, poster, panel or workshop submissions.
2. Description for the proceedings
A paper in the conference proceedings format not to exceed 4 (four) pages and should follow the current version of the ISLS author guidelines (there is also an MS Word Template). This paper should be written with the reader of the conference proceedings in mind, who may be reading the description after the event has taken place. The format is flexible, but it is suggested that the proceedings description describe the concept, motivations, and significance for the field of the topic and/or technology considered during the event.
Please submit the proposal via the conference submission site.
The call for CSCL 2015 Interactive Events can be downloaded as a pdf.