The dates and call for abstracts for Researching Learning in Immersive Virtual Environments 2011: Creative Solutions for New Futures (ReLIVE11) have now been released. Running at the Open University in Milton Keynes on 21 and 22 September, the conference will explore issues around innovation in teaching and learning through immersive virtual worlds, building on the outcomes of and lessons learned since the previous ReLIVE conference in 2008.
The call for abstracts is now open, with submissions due to be submitted by 21 May 2011. Proposals will be considered within three core themes:
- Concepts: conceptual and explanatory frameworks for research processes and outcomes;
- Methods: opportunities and challenges around researching learning in immersive environments;
- Implementations: the technical aspects and challenges in the implementation of VWs in learning, teaching and research.
The Implementations theme is being run in conjunction with us here at JISC CETIS, with Paul Hollins and myself leading our input to it. We’d love to see papers or workshops addressing issues such as the challenges of the integration of VEs with other institutional systems, the interoperability of content and avatars across different VWs, open v proprietary platforms and content, and the use of technical standards within VWs. This isn’t an exhaustive list, and any relevant proposals are welcome!
Registration for the conference opens on 21 June and it’s likely to be a popular and well-attended event. An inworld Virtual Festival on 20 September will similarly feature a range of workshops, symposia, poster sessions and other events. ReLIVE11 is also linked to the Virtual World Conference taking place in Second Life on 14 September.