Stretch your fingers, speed up your word-processor and get typing for the extended deadline: 26 January 2011 to submit a paper/poster/panel... for the IADIS mobile learning conference that will take place on 10 - 12 March 2011.The IADIS Mobile Learning 2011 International Conference seeks to provide a forum for the discussion and presentation of mobile learning research. In particular, but not exclusively, we aim to explore the theme of mobile learning under the following:
Topics
• Pedagogical approaches and theories for mobile lifelong learning. For instance, situated, contextual and authentic mobile lifelong learning
• Social software for mobile learning
• Gaming, simulations and augmented reality for mobile learning
• Mobile learning in formal educational institutions
• Mobile learning in informal setting
• Tools, technologies, and platforms for mobile learning
• User studies of mobile learning
• Research methodologies and evaluation of mobile learning
• Ethical issues regarding mobile learning
Conference special theme: Mobile Lifelong Learning (mL3)
Lifelong learning (L3) has been defined as “All learning activity undertaken throughout life, with the aim of improving knowledge, skills and competencies within a personal, civic, social and/or employment-related perspective” (European Commission, 2002 p. 7). L3 qualifies a society as a context in which there are learning possibilities for those who want to learn (Fischer, 2001) and implies a shift from “provider-driven ‘education’ toward individualised learning” UNESCO (1999). Lifelong learning is: often self-directed, interest and needs driven; it occurs predominantly in informal and too-rich environments; and frequently implies a collaborative activity (Fischer & Sugimoto 2006) among learners transiting through learning events in life.
Early research in the design of mobile technologies for lifelong learning (Sharples, 2000) pointed to highly portable, individual, unobtrusive, available anywhere, adaptable to the learner's development, persistent, useful for everyday needs, and intuitive personal tools. Technological advancements have delivered mobile devices and applications which meet and surpassed early requirements and which have position mobile technologies as an essential part of the new ecology for lifelong learning.
References:
European Commission (2002). European Report on Quality Indicators of Lifelong Learning. Brussels: European Commission.
Fischer, G. (2001) Lifelong Learning and its support with new media. International Encyclopedia of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Discipline “Cognitive Psychology and Cognitive Science”, Section Editor: W. Kintsch, Contribution No 41.
Fischer G. & Sugimoto M. (2006) Supporting self-directed learners and learning communities with sociotechnical environments. International Journal of Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning (RPTEL) 1, 31–64.
Sharples, M. (2000) The design of personal mobile technologies for lifelong learning. Computers & Education 34, 177 – 193.
UNESCO Institute for Education (1999) Glossary of Adult Learning in Europe. UNESCO
The Conference will be composed of several types of contributions:
- Full Papers – These include mainly accomplished research results and have 8 pages at the maximum (5,000 words).
- Short Papers – These are mostly composed of work in progress reports or fresh developments and have 4 pages at maximum (2,500 words).
- Reflection Papers – These might review recent research literature pertaining to a particular problem or approach, indicate what the findings suggest, and/or provide a suggestion - with rationale and justification - for a different approach or perspective on that problem. Reflection papers might also analyze general trends or discuss important issues in topics related to Mobile Learning. These have 4 pages at maximum (2,500 words).
- Posters / Demonstrations – These have one page at the maximum (625 words) besides the poster itself (or demonstration) that will be exposed at the conference.
- Tutorials – Tutorials can be proposed by scholars or company representatives. A proposal of maximum 250 words is expected.
- Panels – Discussions on selected topics will be held. A proposal of maximum 250 words is expected.
- Invited Talks – These will be made of contributions from well-known scholars and company representatives. An abstract will be included in the conference proceedings.
- Doctoral Consortium - The Doctoral Consortium will discuss on going work of PhD students in an informal and formative atmosphere. Contributions to the consortium should take the form of either: a critical literature review of the research topic providing the rationale for the relevance and interest of the research topic; or a short paper discussing the research question(s), research objectives, research methodology and work done so far. Doctoral Consortium Contributions should have a maximum 2,500 words (4 pages).
- Corporate Showcases & Exhibitions – The former enables companies to present recent developments and applications, inform a large and qualified audience of your future directions and showcase company’s noteworthy products and services. There will be a time slot for companies to make their presentation in a room. The latter enables companies the opportunity to display its latest offerings of hardware, software, tools, services and books, through an exhibit booth.
For further details please contact the publicity chair - secretariat@mlearning-conf.org.
This is a blind peer-reviewed conference.
