Call For Abstracts

The UWI Schools of Education Biennial Conference, 2019, proposes that we envisage education beyond conventional borders of space, time, discipline and thinking. Imagining what education can and should be, requires that we invite diverse voices and multiple perspectives to engage in dialogue. This stance acknowledges that ‘education’ is not solely the preserve of professional educators, wherever they may operate in the education system, nor is education of the individual, adequately achieved by teachers working in isolation.

Education does not only happen in formal classroom settings. At the classroom level, there is a tendency to operate in subject-discipline ‘silos’, which are artificial, institutional boxes within which content is delivered. This approach often does not result in equitable access to education and success for all learners. Contemporary education therefore requires envisaging differently configured learning spaces. Consequently this conference proposes exploring the experiences of participants (teachers/professors, students, administrators, and other professionals) who learn, teach, manage or can support a variety of meaningful educational experiences for learners.

Internationally, border-free education is becoming more commonplace. Cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural studies from diverse arenas have emerged. More so than ever before, there is the need for greater interrogation of existing borders with a focus on transcending myopic boundaries while keeping the learner at the centre. This conference therefore aims to provide a space for interrogating how we can revision education- an education that prepares all learners for global citizenship in the 21st century and beyond. We expect to better imagine and grasp possibilities for action in and for education that benefits current and future learners.

Thematic Areas

Theme: Education beyond Borders: Breaking barriers, building bridges.

Presentation Sub-Themes

Revisioning curriculum for general education
Self-sustaining educational institutions- a 21st century priority
Issues, innovations and connections in early childhood education
Building bridges across education levels
Partnerships in education (business communities, voluntary organisations, religious organizations, library services, homes, parents, schools)
Leadership in education (parents, teachers, students, administration, etc.)
Technology for improving the quality of education
Education for equity and equality
Pedagogy for a Green Curriculum (environmental sustainability, climate change)
Innovations in teacher education
Redefining learning spaces- looking beyond the classroom wall
Health and wellness in education
Gender issues in education (sexuality, sexual orientation)
Cross-disciplinary education
Culture, language, and identity in 21st century education
Assessment and evaluation
Access, equity and opportunity in Inclusive and Special Education

Abstracts of not more than 250 words and must follow APA guidelines. Submit abstracts by email to Mr. Maurice Iton, Conference Secretary at maurice.iton@sta.uwi.edu

See also Presentation Formats and Guidelines for Submissions.

Conference Presentation Formats

The following presentation formats will be available in 2019:

Individual Papers

A paper session includes research reports and theoretical papers.
Up to three papers will comprise a session.
Presenters will have no more than 20 minutes to deliver their papers.
Following the presentations, 15 minutes will be reserved for open discussion on the papers presented.
Presenters will have the option of submitting a virtual presentation in an electronic format with any universal file extensions such as mp4 and wmv or they may submit a conventional narrated powerpoint presentation on a link provided on the website.
Following the virtual presentation, 15 minutes will also be reserved for open discussion among audience participants on the paper presented.

Round Table

Round tables permit close and informal interactions among presenters and their audience. These sessions will afford researchers the opportunity to discuss working papers in a small-group setting. One presenter will be scheduled per table, with a prospective audience of 5-6 persons. Presentation time is 20 minutes, followed by 20 minutes of discussion. Presenters are also expected to provide table participants with a 1-2 page summary of their research presentation. This summary should include the presenter’s name, institutional affiliation, topic of the research, research questions, key findings, conclusions, and main references cited.

Symposium

The symposium focuses on one significant issue tied directly to the conference theme. It consists of a session chair, 3-4 presenters, and a discussant speaking to a unified theme. Sixty minutes will be allocated for each symposium, of which 15 minutes must be reserved for interaction with the audience. Symposium proposers are responsible for providing their own session chair and discussant.

Workshops

The conference invites you to host workshops that will be scheduled during sessions. Workshops may be planned for 90 minutes. The abstract for the workshop should include a title, the conference sub-theme, and what attendees will learn. Include a list of equipment you will provide and a list of what you may need (i.e., LCD projector, desktop computers for everyone, etc…) to successfully run your workshop.

Posters

Research posters should be 36”x 24”. Typically, posters provide graphical summaries of research processes and products, and are accompanied by narration and explanation from a presenter. Persons may present posters both as individual and group authors. Individual researchers/single authors are limited to presenting ONE poster; groups/multiple authors may present up to THREE posters. Posters may be presented in electronic format providing presenters supply their own media.

Guidelines for Submission and Deadlines

Persons wishing to present individual papers, round tables, workshops, and posters must submit a 250-word abstract clearly identifying:
a) title,
b) related sub-theme,
c) purpose of the research,
d) research issue,
e) research methods (where applicable), and
f) findings and conclusions (if available).

Persons wishing to present a symposium must submit a 500-word proposal clearly identifying:
a) the common theme of the papers to be presented, and the related conference sub-theme;
b) the purpose of the presentations;
c) the significance of the symposium to the educational community;
d) how it is linked to the conference theme; and
e) the tentative titles of papers, names of authors, and email addresses and institutional affiliations of symposium participants;
f) two or three keywords.

Materials for Presentation (excluding electronic posters)

Participants will be provided with the use of a multimedia projector and screen, computer, document presenter.

Opportunity for Publication of Papers

Submitted proposals/abstracts will be subject to a double-blind review process. All accepted abstracts and symposium proposals will be published in the conference programme. A short list of presented papers will be selected so that revised and extended versions of these papers may be considered for potential publication in Caribbean Curriculum. The deadline for completed versions of selected papers will be June 30th, 2019.

Key Dates to Note:

Submission of Abstracts CLOSED.
Registration Deadline: January 30, 2019.
Final Paper Submission Deadline: June 30, 2019

CONTACT US

If you need additional information or any clarification,please contact us at:

Mr. Maurice Iton
maurice.iton@sta.uwi.edu