Theme

'Instructional Design for Complex Learning'

A necessary competency for instructional designers is the creation of learning experiences that promote the acquisition of complex skills and knowledge for transfer to real-world settings. Differences exist, however, regarding the most effective strategies to facilitate complex learning.

To explore differing perspectives on this issue, the focus of the 2008 AECT Research Symposium will center on instructional design for complex learning. Papers addressing types of complexity, the assessment of complex task performance, whole-task versus part-task approaches, and other related topics are welcome. Please submit a 1500 word abstract by February 15, 2008. Accepted papers will be completed prior to the Symposium and distributed to registered attendees for discussion within sessions. We look forward to this opportunity for interaction and engagement with the AECT research community.

Overview

The Research Symposium is a bi-annual event designed to draw the best minds together for an intensive intellectual exchange of ideas on a focused topic that would culminate in the publication of a Symposium Proceedings. The goal of the symposium is to bring a small group of scholars together in a format that encourages in-depth dialogue and different perspectives on predefined topics and problems.

The second research symposium will be held June 18 to the June 21 at Hilton Garden Inn Hotel and at Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana. The registration fee for the symposium is $285.00 which includes 3 dinners, 2 lunches, and 3 continental breakfasts. Registration will be live by March 15, 2008. All presenters must register and are expected to attend.

Format

Proposals/presentation abstracts will be accepted, through electronic submission via the AECT website, until February 15, 2008. Notification of acceptance/rejection will occur by March 15, 2008.

All accepted and final papers must be submitted electronically (to be shared with all the participants) by May 16, 2008. Each paper author(s) will facilitate a session that would last approximately sixty minutes. These sessions are intended to be in a discussion format, with the key paper authors serving as facilitator and discussion leader as opposed to a formal presentation. There would also be only two sessions concurrently held, allowing the participants greater opportunity to engage in dialog with fellow scholars.

Evening meals and ensuing discussions would be by a selected speaker who is meant to incite, stimulate, or provoke further discussion addressing issues raised in earlier discussions. The framework for the symposium would follow a four-day structure, commencing with Wednesday evening dinner and seminar, with full-day Thursday and Friday sessions, and a half-day Saturday. Saturday morning would be reserved for summation, forming conclusions and key points for the white paper.

Review Process/Criteria

A total of 20 sessions (est.) will be scheduled. This selection process will be designed to ensure a mix of active participants that is satisfactory towards addressing the topic to be discussed at the symposium. The advisory committee will review and select proposals.

1. Relevance to topic
2. Research foundation
3. Innovativeness
4. Broad based ideas (interdisciplinary)
5. Mentoring (Inclusion of Junior faculty or Doctoral Candidates in significant role)*
6. Strength of Argument
7. Unique perspective
8. Discussion Ideas/Questions

Additional information will be distributed through TechTrends, and ETR&D and available on the AECT website.

* Junior Faculty is up to 3 years since receiving doctorate.

Advisory Committee:

• Barbara Lockee
• J. Michael Spector
• Lisa Yamagata-Lynch

For further information email Barbara Lockee at lockeebb@vt.edu.
 

Association for Educational Communications and Technology

1800 N. Stonelake Dr. Suite 2
Bloomington, IN • 47404

877-677-AECT
812-335-7675

aect@aect.org