Improving Student Learning Theory and Practice - 10 years on

10th International Improving Student Learning Symposium
Improving Student Learning: Theory and Practice - 10 years on
4 - 6 September 2002, Sheraton Hotel, Brussels, Belgium

The theme for this tenth anniversary symposium, Theory and Practice, is deliberately a return to the theme of the first, and an invitation to take stock of what we as a community have learnt over the past decade. What are the implications of current theory for good practice, and what possible implications may practical experience have for the need to revise or question previously held theories? Papers which address these questions are invited under the following headings/themes:

• Curricula and programme design
• Learning and teaching methods
• Assessment
• Skills development and lifelong learning
• Use of C&IT
• Learning environments
• Supporting learners
• Meeting the challenge of diversity
• Implementing and managing change and innovation

All submissions will be reviewed by three independent international referees. Decisions will be relayed to authors in March 2002. The decision of the Symposium Committee will be final. Submissions are now invited in the following formats:

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Session Types:
Research Papers (60 minutes)
Papers should present new research findings, new analyses of issues or innovative conceptions of areas, and should be used where there is substantive new content to present. They should involve research evidence and/or use of theory to interpret learning phenomena. They should not be used for descriptive accounts of practice, and evidence should involve more than untheorised evaluation feedback. No more than 40 minutes should be used for presentation, allowing the rest of the time for questions and discussion. Papers should be written before the symposium and made available for participants at the session at which the paper is presented. Papers may be re-drafted after presentation at the conference and will be published in the proceedings. The final form will be a maximum of 5,000 words including appendices and references.

Research Seminars (60 minutes)
Seminars should be used where there are new and possibly preliminary findings or analyses of issues, where the interpretation is open or new and would benefit from extensive discussion and also where interpretation may be controversial. No more than 20 minutes should be used for presentation, allowing the majority of time for questions and discussion which should be planned to involve all participants.

Conceptual Papers (60 minutes)
These papers will take a more philosophical theoretical perspective. They may present an argument or attempt to reconceptualise an issue, possibly be attempting to answer a specific question (eg Do different disciplines require different pedagogies?). Rather than being based on primary research data they will be based on existing literature. No more than 30 minutes should be used for presentation, allowing the rest of the time for discussion and debate, which should be planned to involve all participants. Papers should be written before the symposium and made available for participants at the session at which the paper is presented. Papers may be re-drafted after presentation at the conference and will be published in the proceedings. The final form will be a maximum of 5,000 words including appendices and references.

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Symposia (90 minutes)
Symposia will involve three related papers presented together in an extended session lasting 90 minutes with a panel consisting of a Convenor and the authors of the three papers. Submissions should be made by the proposed Convenor, and must include an overview of the relationship between the papers as well as abstracts for each paper. Papers will each be refereed on their own merits as research papers (see above). Papers may be re-drafted after presentation at the conference and will be published in the proceedings, accompanied by a 500 word overview written by the Convenor.

Posters
There will also be a poster session (both paper and electronic). Details will be included in the conference booking form.

Criteria:
The following criteria will be used in accepting papers and seminars:

Research papers

• new evidence/findings
• new analysis/interpretation
• use of research tools
• awareness/use of theory
• focus on theme

Conceptual papers

• new analysis/interpretation
• clarity of argument
• awareness/use of theory
• focus on theme

Seminars

• topic interesting for discussion
• use of evidence and theory
• focus on theme

Every submitted contribution is expected to show awareness of existing literature, research tools, theories and interpretations, and to actively build on this literature. All sessions should attempt to maximise the possible interaction of participants. ISL attracts a wide international audience, and English may not be some participants first or even second language, therefore acronyms, jargon, and localised terminology are not acceptable.

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Submission format:
Please submit your abstract using the following format:

Deadline for submissions:
The deadline for submissions is 25th January 2002.
Please send your 500 word abstract in the above format preferably by email in Word format to ocsld@brookes.ac.uk or by mail to: The Improving Student Learning Co-ordinator, OCSLD, Oxford Brookes University, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP
tel: +44 (0)1865 485910
fax: +44 (0) 1865 485937

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