Call for Participation (long message)

[Nicholas.Bowskill]

Dear All,
Re:  International Symposium on Networked Learner Support
Please find below the call for participation together with the 
booking form at the end of the message. Apologies for cross-postings
and please feel free to circulate/forward this message to other 
interested parties.

Many thanks,
Nicholas Bowskill
Symposium Adminstrator                         


                        CALL FOR PARTICIPATION FOR:


                                 1st International Symposium 
                                                     on
                                  Networked Learner Support 

                                       17th-18th June 1996
                                         Sheffield, England

                                          Organised by the
                 Networked Learning and Work Research Group
                                 The University of Sheffield

 

Symposium Theme

Electronic communication/information networks create both the need and the 
potential to take new approaches to end-user training and help in the use of 
networked information resources.  Networked learner support (NLS) is emerging 
as a new professional practice in higher education, in response to the challenge to 
provide effective support for teaching, learning and research in the networked 
environment.

Increasingly, those involved in NLS (whether based in the library or in other 
campus services) are exploring the use of networked strategies to deliver end-user 
training.  For instance, much current activity exploits World Wide Web (WWW) 
facilities and electronic mail for learner support across the campus and beyond.  
The new professional role of NLS also entails:

*	working increasingly in a teaching/facilitator capacity;

*                 working in increasingly converged learner support settings;

*	contributing significantly to institutional culture change, in terms of 
                   exploitation of the networked environment.


The need to establish NLS as a new role within higher education, and to develop 
effective NLS strategies, provides the focus for the Symposium.  The aim is to 
bring together those with involvement in NLS to share experience and ideas, to 
raise issues, and to begin to define good practice.  A key feature of the 
Symposium is its recognition of NLS as a collaborative activity within and 
between institutions, cutting across departments such as library and computing 
services, teaching/learning support, staff development and academic departments.

 

Papers include:

*	The use of videoconferencing to support student learning and the 
                   implications for the library and information profession..


*	Networked learning in the distributed university


*	Role changes for the academic librarian to support effectively the 
                   networked learner: implications of the IMPEL Project.


*	Support issues for case based learning in an undergraduate 
                   human factors class.


*	Collaborative efforts between a university library and the office of 
                   information services: efforts directed toward a cultural paradigm shift.


*	"Oh no, not more Internet software."  Directions for the future.


*	EDUCATE  The design and development of a networked end-user 
                   education program.


*	Towards a strategy for supporting distance-learning students through 
                   networked access to information: issues and challenges in preparing to 
                   support the Doctorate in Education.


*	"Bck2skol ": A networked learning model classroom.


The organisers reserve the right to substitute or amend the programme 
and speakers as necessary.

 
Who Should Attend?
It is anticipated that the Symposium will be of interest not only to subject 
librarians and other library-based professionals, but to those with 
involvement in NLS from other positions and perspectives, such as 
teaching/learning support services, computer services, academic 
departments, distance learning units, research and development projects, 
and others.


Attendance Fees (all prices inclusive of VAT)
Basic Registration Fee : includes admission, Symposium pack, coffee, 
lunch, tea and biscuits, and Symposium dinner on Monday evening. 
Tuesday includes coffee, lunch and afternoon tea: £65.00

Registration Fee (University Accommodation): includes admission, 
Symposium pack, en-suite single room, breakfast, coffee, lunch, tea and 
symposium dinner on Monday evening. Tuesday includes coffee, lunch 
and afternoon tea: £95.00


Places available in University accommodation are limited in number.  
Delegates are therefore encouraged to register early in order to ensure their 
accommodation requirements are satisfied.

Delegates wishing to stay in local hotel accommodation are welcome to 
contact the organisers for information.

Registration fees may be cancelled, provided written notification is 
received by the organisers.  A £30 handling charge will be levied on all 
cancellations, but substitutions can be made.

 
The Location
The Symposium will be held at the Stephenson Hall of Residence, 
University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.  Sheffield is situated on the borders 
of Yorkshire and Derbyshire, amid some of the most spectacular scenery 
in Britain.  Stephenson Hall is built around an original Victorian house 
standing in several acres of landscaped grounds and the organisors have 
reserved en-suite accommodation for those wishing to stay overnight.

Online Conference
As a means of preparing the ground for the Symposium and extending the debate, 
an on-line conference will be hosted for two weeks before, and one week after, the 
event itself.  Symposium papers will be made available on the WWW, as 
background resources for on-line discussion activities.


Further Information
Nick Bowskill,
Networked Learning and Work Research Group,
Department of Information Studies
University of Sheffield
Western Bank
Sheffield
S10  2TN

Fax:  (0)114-278-0300
E-mail:  n.bowskill at sheffield.ac.uk


Symposium Organisation
The Symposium is being organised by the Networked Learning and Research 
Group of the Department of Information Studies, University of Sheffield, in 
connection with the NetLinkS project which is described overleaf.

Ms. P. Levy: Networked Learning and Work Research Group
Dr. S. Fowell, Networked Learning and Work Research Group
Mr. N. Bowskill, Symposium Administrator
Ms. E. J. Worsfold, Symposium Administrator
 


Collaborative Professional Development for 
Networked Learner Support

The NetLinkS project is funded by the Joint Information Systems 
Committee (HEFCE) under the Electronic Libraries Programme.  The 
project aims to respond to the growing need throughout the higher education 
community to provide effective end-user support for the use of networked 
information resources in research, teaching and learning.  It is recognised 
that there is a substantial educational role for librarians and other support 
staff in familiarising learners with the networked learning environment.  The 
project uses the term networked learner support (NLS) to refer to the 
emergent practice involved in exploiting information and communications 
networks to deliver end-user training and support.  The project aims to 
support the development of NLS by co-ordinating a networked programme 
of collaborative professional development.

In the first stage of the project, the main objective is to gain a clear 
understanding of the extent and nature of NLS activity in the UK and 
internationally, and to identify the technologies, knowledge and skills 
requirements for developing the practice further.  In order to gain this 
understanding, the project is currently collaborating with an initial group of 
twenty five higher education institutions which represent a broad range of 
establishments at varying stages in their development of NLS.  Further 
details of the full NetLinkS project and related activities are available at the 
NetLinkS Web site.

NetLinkS URL:   http://www.shef.ac.uk/~np/

E-Lib URL:        http://ukoln.bath.ac.uk/elib/
 
Booking Form

1st International Symposium
on
Networked Learner Support

17th-18th June 1996, Sheffield, England

Please complete the following details and return this form (photocopies are 
acceptable) along with the appropriate registration fee to: 

Nick Bowskill, Department of Information Studies, University of Sheffield, 
Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK.


Title.................. 

First Name.........................................................

Last Name..........................................................

Affiliation.......................................................

Address...............................................................................

.............................................................................................

...............................................................................

Telephone.............................................................................................

Fax.............................................................................................

Email Address.............................................................................................

Special Dietary Requirements...................................................................



I would like to book a place at the NLS Symposium (please indicate as 
appropriate)

Basic Registration Rate of £65.00

Registration & Accommodation Rate (ensuite B&B) OF £95

Please make all cheques payable to "The University of Sheffield".