iLRN2018

Call for Papers

Strand 1: High Quality Immersive Learning Research

• Call for Papers (General Track)

The Immersive Learning Research Network (iLRN) invites original, heretofore unpublished research papers for submission to be presented and published at iLRN 2018 in Missoula, Montana, U.S.A.. The iLRN General Track is open for any theme, topic, or research problem related to immersive learning, although research submissions related to the conference research theme of Environmental Sciences and Cultural Heritage will be preferentially considered. All contributing papers must undergo a rigorous double-blind peer review process. Accepted papers will be included in the online conference proceedings volume, depending on the overall quality and track chair’s decision, either as long paper (10 – 12 pages) or as a short paper (6 – 8 pages). High quality contributions will be included as full papers (14 pages) in Springer’s Communications in Computer and Information Science (CCIS) conference proceedings series volume.

Special Call for immersive learning research in the realms of Environmental Sciences & Cultural Heritage: The network’s research agenda to identify and share key evidence for “what works” in immersive learning has highlighted two specific academic areas for development at iLRN 2018. Deep understanding of content within either the Environmental Sciences or Cultural Heritage is best achieved through ecological contexts and thus, we assume, may be specially advanced through immersive learning. Further, these disciplines are inextricably intertwined, as the land and its people are intimately connected. Solutions to complex ecological problems and understanding of cultural contexts require not only scientific expertise, but also understanding of the situated experiences in which they occur. Cross-cultural competence thus becomes an important component of functioning effectively in the global scientific community. This is also particularly true in the environmental disciplines, where science and culture intersect with the potential of immersive technologies to enhance learning through presence, multiple perspectives, and learning transfer from one experience to another. iLRN 2018’s setting in western Montana is an optimal context to showcase our growing interdisciplinary knowledge base on how to use immersive learning for advanced human conduct.

Topics of interest in the context of immersive environments for the 2018 Special Call include:

• Immersive learning in zoology, ecology, environmental health, biology, or related sciences;
• Providing people with unique cultural perspectives and knowledge through immersive experiences;
• Exploring human health in relationship to various environments within which we’re active
• Experiencing historical events and the passage of time within immersive environments;
• The use of immersive technologies to expand or augment museums and collections;
• Citizen science activities that provide situated understanding of abstract, complex, and/or asynchronous relationships found in nature better understood through immersive learning affordances;
• Educational strategies for bridging between western scientific and indigenous approaches in environmental disciplines using immersive technologies;
• Interdisciplinary immersive research which incorporates the intellectual traditions of both western and native science approaches;
• Research collaborations between tribal and other environmental professionals on areas of shared interest including ecological restoration, wildlife conservation, air and water quality, environmental justice and land stewardship;
• Partnerships with primary and secondary educational institutions which serve indigenous communities to foster interest, awareness and preparation for pursuit of higher education in environmental disciplines;
• The development of research agendas and practices that seek to understand the sustainability of traditional resource management practices employing immersive learning tools and techniques;
• The use of immersive technologies to promote issues of Human Rights and Ethics;
• Learning languages within cultural contexts;
• Intellectual Property Rights and ethics of immersive learning;

More information at: https://immersivelrn.org/ilrn2018/cfp/

• Special Tracks

Special Tracks are specialized, self-organized groups of immersive learning researchers gathering within the iLRN Conference venue to share and create a forum for quality scientific research. Proposals representing all specialized areas are welcome, but a priority will be given to those that emphasize some aspect of the conference special call/theme. All contributing papers must undergo a rigorous double-blind peer review process. Accepted papers will be included in the online conference proceedings, depending on the overall quality and track chair’s decision, either as long paper (10 – 12 pages) or as a short paper (6 – 8 pages). High quality contributions will be included as full papers (14 pages) in Springer’s Communications in Computer and Information Science (CCIS) conference proceedings series volume. More information at: https://immersivelrn.org/ilrn2018/special_tracks/

• Research Posters

The Immersive Learning Research Network (iLRN) invites Research Poster presentations to present new ideas, first preliminary findings and work-in-progress to receive feedback from the community. All contributing posters must undergo a rigorous double-blind peer review process. Accepted research posters will be presented in special poster sessions. Additionally, an extended abstract (2 pages) will be published in iLRN’s online proceedings volume. More information at: https://immersivelrn.org/ilrn2018/posters/

------------------------------------------------------------

Strand 2: Capacity Building and Immersive Learning Showcase

• Workshops

Workshops provide a venue for hands-on exploring and discussing emerging research directions, immersive learning applications, and particular foci within the immersive learning community – with more active participation and less formality than other tracks. The topics of the proposed workshops should be aligned with those set forth in the Call for Papers of the main conference, however, format and content of each workshop is to be determined by its organizers. Preference will be given to workshops whose format includes high quality interaction with the audience. Examples include tutorials, learning to develop in a particular immersive technology software package, Q&As, scenario building, trend analyses, debates, panels, or even a competition or a challenge around an interesting and realistically sized dataset (possibly released by the workshop organizers for that purpose). All proposed workshops must undergo a rigorous double-blind peer review process. If accepted, an extended abstract (2 pages) will be published in iLRN’s online proceedings volume. More information at: https://immersivelrn.org/ilrn2018/workshops/

• Breakout Panel Sessions 

Conference Breakout Panels organize expert opinions on a topic in a short amount of time. Breakout Panels usually consist of between 3 – 5 experts discussing a specific topic or challenge and moderated by a session chair. These sessions are intended to engage the audience and are, thus, more open and interactive than traditional presentations by design.  Because panelists often take different perspectives and offer different solutions to problems, these sessions are great for public conversations on issues that are common to many audience members. All proposed breakout panels must undergo a rigorous double-blind peer review process. If accepted, an extended abstract (2 pages) will be published in iLRN’s online proceedings volume. More information at: https://immersivelrn.org/ilrn2018/panels/

• Demos & Hands-on Opportunities

Demos and Hands-on opportunities give attendees at iLRN 2018 the chance to try immersive learning experiences first-hand! iLRN Demos & Hands-on opportunities are semi-structured, informal events for you to engage with conference goers, showing them the particulars of your research, product, or gear. These sessions are intended to engage the audience and are, thus, more open and interactive than any other iLRN presentations, by design.

iLRN is interested in giving attendees a substantive, meaningful experience with a variety and breadth of immersive learning platforms. Please note that preference for these sessions will be given to: (a) authors of accepted papers and invited Featured Speakers; and (b) the Demos & Hands-on opportunity proposals determined to be the most compelling and interactive by the iLRN Conference Committee. More information at: https://immersivelrn.org/ilrn2018/demos/

• Product Showcase

What’s your Immersive Learning product or ware? iLRN is the preeminent place bringing researchers, artists, programmers, developers, teachers, and designers together to focus on immersive learning. This year in Montana, you have the unique opportunity to engage with members of this specialized expert “immersive learning” community and showcase your products. iLRN 2018 is also a way for researchers of the biological and cultural sciences to explore the use of technology in situ.

All accepted Product Showcase applications will receive a highly visible, accessible location outfitted with a table and outlet for the duration of the conference. Note that all members of each Product Showcase team must pay a full conference registration in addition to the showcase fee (depending on requirements). Please email info@immersivelrn.org for more details.

• Roundtable Discussions

Invite ILRN Conference attendees to sit down and discuss research trends, challenges, key findings and ideas in the emergent field of immersive learning. Suggest a topic of discussion, and set the guidelines for interaction in this engaging and interactive context. This year’s roundtable discussions will be located at specific locations in western Montana to enhance the immersive experience. Some potential topics include:

• Brainstorm or gain perspective on your emerging immersive learning research project
• The explosion of immersive technologies and how to categorize/catalog everything
• History of immersive learning and cultural heritage and where to go next
• History of immersive learning and environmental sciences and where to go next
• History and evolution of programs, degrees, and curricula involving immersive learning
• Curricula for graduate and undergraduate immersive learning programs
• Foundations, roots, and genealogies of the field
• New and evolving instructional and learning theories in immersive learning
• Publishing processes, genres, and venues
• Core competencies, skills, and responsibilities of immersive learning professionals
• Early and mid-career advice and entering the job market
• The culture of the immersive learning professoriate
• The Work/life balance

More information at: https://immersivelrn.org/ilrn2018/roundtable/

• Immersive local conference experiences

Western Montana has a lot to offer as host for iLRN 2018! iLRN seeks to situate conference attendees within various immersive experiences that naturally fit the geographic area as a means to showcase and explore the various dimensions of immersive learning broadly and specifically within the iLRN Special Call: Environmental Sciences and Cultural Heritage.

More information at: http://www.visitmt.com/

----------------------------------------------------------

Publications

1. Selected high quality papers from the main track and from the special tracks will be selected to be published as full papers in Springer’s Communications in Computer and Information Science (CCIS) conference proceedings series (see also http://www.springer.com/series/7899); the acceptance rate for the Springer proceedings will be approximately 35 % of the submitted papers.

2. The remaining accepted contributions will be published in iLRN’s online proceedings volume with individually linked DOIs and an overall ISBN number. Please note that this proceedings volume is published by the publishing house of the Graz University of Technology (Austria) and is not yet indexed by SCOPUS. Previous years’ proceedings are available online at: http://proceedings.immersivelrn.org.

3. Further, a select number of manuscripts published in either of the proceedings volumes will be invited to submit an extended version of their conference papers for publication in a special issue of the Journal of Educational Computing Research (Social Sciences Citation Index. Journal Citation Reports impact factor 2016: 0.678). A special issue for extended versions of conference papers centering on Technology & Computer Science has also been proposed to a JCR-indexed journal.

------------------------------------------------------------------

• General Chair – Michael Gardner, University of Essex, UK
• Scientific Chair – Christian Gütl, Graz University of Technology, Austria
• Engagement Chair – Jonathon Richter, Salish Kootenai College, USA
• Program Co­-Chair – Colin Allison, University of St Andrews, UK
• Program Co­-Chair – Leonel Caseiro Morgado, Universidade Aberta & INESC TEC, Portugal
• Special Tracks Co­-Chair – Johanna Pirker, Graz University of Technology, Austria
• Special Tracks Co­-Chair – Allan Fowler, Kennesaw State University, USA
• Workshops Co­-Chair – Foaad Khosmood, California Polytechnic State University, USA
• Workshops Co­-Chair – Daphne Economou, University of Westminster, UK
• Poster and Demo Track Co-Chair – Markos Mentzelopoulos, , University of Westminster, UK
• Industry Track Co-Chair – David Burden, Daden Limited, UK
• Industry Track Co-Chair – Daphne Economou, , University of Westminster, UK
• Publications Director – Dennis Beck, University of Arkansas, USA
• Publications Co-Chair –  Anasol Peña Rios,  University of Essex, UK
• Publications Co-Chair –  Krista Terry,  Appalachian State University, USA
• Finance Director – Patrick O’Shea, Appalachian State University, USA
• Publicity & Public Relations Director – Samah Felemban, University of Essex, UK
• Submission Systems Director – Johanna Pirker, Graz University of Technology, Austria
• Website Director – Anasol Peña­-Rios, University of Essex, UK
• IEEE Education Liaison – Russ Meier, Milwaukee School of Engineering and IEEE EdSoc, USA

• North America Co-Chair – Chris Dede, Harverd, USA
• North America Co-Chair – Minjuan Wang, San Diego State University, USA
• North America Co-Chair – Kurt squire, UC-Irvine, USA
• Latin America Co-Chair – Victor Manuel Zamudio Rodríguez, Instituto Tecnológico de León, Mexico
• Latin America Co-Chair – Marina Vicario Solórzano, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico
• South America Co-Chair – Andreas Pester, Carinthia University of Applied Sciences, Austria
• South America Co-Chair – Roger Tavares, UFRN, Brazil
• South America Co-Chair – Eliane Schlemmer, UNISINOS, Brazil
• South America Co-Chair – Luís Carlos Petry, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo, Brazil
• Asia Pacific Co-Chair – Yiyu Cai, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
• Asia Pacific Co-Chair – Henry Been-Lirn Duh, University of Tasmania, Australia
• Asia Pacific Co-Chair – Erik Champion, Curtin University, Australia
• Europe Co-Chair – Ralf Klamma, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
• Europe Co-Chair – Fotis Liarokapis, Masaryk University, Czech Republic
• Middle East Co-Chair – Mohammad Al-Smadi, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
• Middle East Co-Chair – Samir Abou El-Seoud, The British University in Egypt (BUE), Egypt
• Middle East Co-Chair – Hanan Gazit, Juloot Interactive Gamification and Tel-Aviv University, Israel