Call for Presentations and Papers

DIVERSITY: exchanging ways of being

Call for presentations extended to 30 September

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Application  ▶ This is the theme which will be explored in Perth in April 2016 when two professional organisations with local, national and international affiliations combine to pursue their common interests in teaching and learning. All too often in the past, diversity among learners, and between learners and teachers, has been regarded as an obstacle to learning, leading to one-way approaches to education which fail to take into proper account the relevance of prior learning and experience on the part of learners.

This ground-breaking conference proposes to explore the concept of language, literacy and numeracy education as a process of exchanging ways of being. It is concerned with how the learning experience can enable students and teachers of diverse backgrounds to learn from one another, and, in the process, develop effective competencies in a common language. Australia has accurately been described as a meeting place of languages and cultures. There has been a longstanding commitment to meeting the English language needs of immigrants and refugees.

Australia has also increasingly recognised the diverse linguistic inheritance of its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population and the need for specialised educational programs to cater to their needs. This Conference provides a significant platform for making known the achievements – as well as the enduring struggles – in meeting the language, literacy and numeracy needs of all Australians.

Specifically, the Conference will be structured around the following themes, featuring local, interstate and international presentations, workshops and symposia.

• Exchanging ways of being in classroom practice in the adult and/or school sectors
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander additional language and/or dialect learning and literacy
• Migrant and refugee language and literacy for learning and settlement
• Numeracy and the language and literacy of mathematics
• Language and learning of Indigenous learners from other countries
• Transitions in life, work and education
• Inclusive approaches to pedagogy and assessment
• Language and literacy planning for social justice and equity.

While the predominant focus of the Conference will be the application and extension of the professional skills of members of the research and teaching communities engaged with language and literacy education, there will also be room for addressing questions of language policy, social justice and human rights, and how inequity and disadvantage can be most effectively addressed in the political arena

THE CONFERENCE PROGRAM April 7-10 2016

The Conference program will extend over 4 days, with symposia, site visits and extended workshop opportunities pre and post the 2 day core program which will feature 6 keynote presentations and a variety of session types.

WORKSHOP PRESENTATIONS
55 Minute Sessions

Workshop presentations may be structured as a formal presentation followed by a general discussion or a structured group activity. Topics of such presentations may include descriptions of teaching strategies or techniques, explanation of an innovative program, or critique of particular approaches or policies. Presenters are asked to nominate an upper limit of numbers for their workshop. Presenters are encouraged to include 21st century mobile technologies.

INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS
2 Hour Sessions

Interactive workshops must be designed to provide participants with hands-on learning activities. Topics and activities may include an introduction to particular teaching or assessment strategies, techniques or tools. Presenters are asked to nominate an upper limit of numbers for their workshop. Presenters are encouraged to include 21st century mobile technologies.

ACADEMIC PAPERS
25 minute sessions

Academic papers presented may summarise research outcomes or report on work in progress. Two papers will be scheduled for a 55 minute timeslot.

SUBMISSION OF ABSTRACTS

Applicants whose submissions are accepted will be entitled to a discounted registration cost but are expected to register for the Conference either as a day registration or for the full Conference program. Applications need to address the following requirements and be submitted by close of business, Western Standard Time (GMT+8), August 31, 2015. Submissions are required to:

• be restricted to 150-200 words in length
• include 3 keywords
• clarify which program theme the session is most aligned with
• include a 50–100 word biography

Applicants submitting a successful Academic Paper may be requested to submit the full paper for discretionary use by the Conference Management Committee by 31 March, 2016. Full papers may, at the discretion of the Conference Management Committee, be referred to ACTA and/or ACAL for refereeing and potential inclusion in national journals.

The Conference Management Committee reserves the right to accept or refuse any abstract. Audio visual presentation equipment will be provided at the Conference. Presenters will be offered discounted registration opportunities for the Conference but are expected to register for either full or day registration.

2016 ACAL - ACTA Conference 'DIVERSITY: exchanging ways of being' 
presented by the Australian Council for Adult Literacy and the Australian Council of TESOL Associations,
in association with local Western Australian hosts, the Western Australian Adult Literacy Council and Westralian Association for Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages.