2nd International Symposium on Networked Learner Support

[Sarah J. Ashton]

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          ***** CALL FOR PAPERS *****
2nd International Symposium on Networked Learner Support

New services, roles and partnerships for the on-line learning
environment

23rd-24th June 1997
Sheffield, England

Organised by:
Networked Learning and Work Research Group
Department of Information Studies,
University of Sheffield

Background

Supporting the use of networked information resources in the
electronic learning environment involves the development of new
services, roles and partnerships in higher education.  As teaching,
learning and research move into this environment, there is a growing
need for information support - reference/enquiry help, information
skills training, user instruction - to be provided electronically.
Current initiatives in the use of networked technologies to deliver
information support include the development of Web-based resource
guides and information skills training modules, email access to
reference and enquiry help, participation by information professionals
in course-based computer-conferences, and experiments with synchronous
communication technologies to offer remote support for information
queries in real-time.

Institutions and courses which aim to enable learners to take full
advantage of the networked information environment need to draw on new
forms of professional expertise and new partnerships between support
and teaching staff.  There are far-reaching implications here for the
organisation and development of support services and for the people
working within them.  Networked learner support (NLS) demands a blend
of information, technology and on-line teaching/communication
expertise which crosses traditional boundaries between library and IT
roles, and includes facilitation of on-line learning via provision of
electronic materials and person-to-person interaction.  Ensuring an
integrated role for information support in the curriculum is also a
vital part of the challenge to develop effective networked learning
initiatives, and success is likely to be largely dependent on the
development of new collaborative relationships between teaching,
information, IT and other support staff, as well as on the capacity of
individuals to develop new skills.

Symposium themes

The 2nd International Symposium on Networked Learner Support focuses
on the potential of computer-mediated communications (CMC) and the Web
in the provision of information support, and on the organisational and
professional development issues associated with the NLS role.  It aims
to offer an opportunity for those involved in creating networked
learning resources and developing on-line information support
strategies to share experience and ideas, and to contribute to
developing good practice in this new area of activity.

Proposals for papers are invited on any aspect of NLS in higher
education, and especially on the following areas:

1. Design, implementation and evaluation of NLS strategies/materials.
End-user training/support needs; innovative applications of
information and communications technologies; integration of
information support into the networked curriculum; pedagogic models,
techniques, issues; evaluation of new practice.

2. Professional development/training for NLS.  Training needs and
approaches.  Local and national initiatives.  NLS and professional
education.

3. Organisational and strategic issues.  New professional roles,
convergence between library and IT services for NLS,
cross-disciplinary collaboration/partnerships, strategic and
management considerations.

On-line conference

An on-line conference will be held as an introduction to the
Symposium and to extend the discussion beyond the event itself. 
Symposium papers will be made available on the Web.

Audience

We anticipate that the Symposium will be of interest not only to
library and information staff involved in learner support (eg. user
education, information skills training or enquiry/reference work) but
to those with involvement in NLS from other points of view, such as
teaching/learning support, computer services, academic departments,
distance learning services, research and development projects, staff
development/training.

Format

The Symposium aims to provide an opportunity for people to meet in an
informal atmosphere in which the emphasis is on interaction. Workshop
sessions will be organised by theme, and contributors will be asked to
present a shortened (20 minute) version of their papers as a lead-in
to discussion.  Full papers will, nevertheless, be required from
contributors.

Publication

Selected papers from the Symposium will be published.  Papers from the
1st International Symposium (1996) are to be published shortly in a
special issue of the international peer-reviewed journal Education for
Information, and journal publication for the 1997 Symposium is being
sought.

Submission of proposed papers

Extended abstracts of proposed papers (of between 1,000 and 1,500
words) should be submitted in English by February 21st, 1997.
Abstracts will be peer-reviewed by a panel chaired by Professor Tom
Wilson.  Please attach a brief biography of the author(s), along with
a covering letter stating the paper's title and author(s) mail
address, telephone and fax number, and email address.  Full versions
of selected papers (approximately 4,000 words) should be submitted by
23rd May, 1997.  Proposed papers should not be submitted
simultaneously elsewhere, and should not have been published
previously.

Important dates

Last date for receipt of extended abstract:  21st February, 1997
Notification of acceptance:  21st March, 1997
Full paper:  23rd May, 1997

Please submit all abstracts to:

Philippa Levy
2nd International Symposium on Networked Learner Support
Department of Information Studies
University of Sheffield
SHEFFIELD S10 2TN
Tel.  (0114) 22 22 638
Fax. (0114) 278 0300
Email: p.levy at sheffield.ac.uk

Further details

The Symposium will be held at Halifax Hall, a University of
Sheffield hall of residence offering excellent conference facilities
at reasonable costs.  Halifax Hall is centred around a Sheffield steel
baron's house dating back to 1830 and is set in very pleasant,
extensive gardens with tennis courts and a croquet lawn.  The Hall is
situated on the west side of Sheffield in a leafy residential area two
miles from both the city centre and the Peak National Park.

Further details on the Symposium will follow shortly.  In the
meantime, please direct any general enquries to:

Nick Bowskill
2nd International Symposium on Networked Learner Support
Department of Information Studies
University of Sheffield
SHEFFIELD S10 2TN
Tel.  (0114) 22 22 653
Fax. (0114) 278 0300
Email:  n.bowskill at sheffield.ac.uk

NetLinkS

The Symposium is organised in association with the eLib training and
awareness project, NetLinkS (collaborative professional development
for networked learner support).  For further information on the
project, see its Web site at: http://www.shef.ac.uk/uni/projects/np



"Two purple-fingered hands grasped the edge of the desk,
and the Librarian's face rose slowly into view like an 
early-morning coconut. 'Ook,' he said." Terry Pratchett.
=====================================================
Sarah Ashton
NetLinkS Research Associate and Information Officer
Dept of Information Studies, University of Sheffield
Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN
S.J.Ashton at sheffield.ac.uk
Tel.(0114) 222 2657, Fax.(0114) 278 0300
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