Call for papers: "Multiliteracies: The Contact Zone" (2003 International AILA Conference) - DEADLINE FOR ABSTRACTS 28 MARCH

[McGinnis, Scott]

MULTILITERACIES: THE CONTACT ZONE
2003 International AILA Conference on Literacy

Location: Ghent, Belgium
Date: 22-27 September 2003
Call Deadline: 28 March, 2003
Contact Persons: Ronald Soetaert - Bart Bonamie
Contact Email: literacy at memling.rug.ac.be
Website: http://memling.rug.ac.be/aila

Official language: English

MEETING DESCRIPTION:

The concept of Literacy invokes multiple and complex
interpretations. The concept is also approached from a varying number
of perspectives: both as a problem and a solution to a problem. The
theoretical and empirical base can be approached from a large number
of perspectives (see themes). More than anything else, literacy is
seen as a kind of social practice. As a consequence the focus shifts
towards multiliteracies with special attention to kinds of literacy
(high and low culture, multi-cultural interpretations) and to the role
of media in relation to literacy. Our conference as 'contact zone' - a
space which brings into contact people from many different cultures
and disciplines (de/re-)constructing, talking & thinking about the
future of literacy and the literacies of the future.

THEME & SUBTHEMES:

The overall theme of the conference is Multiliteracies.

(Sub)themes on this conference will include, but not be limited to:

- Literacies and Development (Globalisation, social development, third
world development etc)
- Literacies and Languages (Reading, Writing, Minority Languages, etc)
- Literacies and Identity
- Literacies and Education (Special needs)
- Specific Literacies (Digital, Media, Environmental, Youth, Family,
Gender, Scientific, Numeracy, Emergent, etc)
- Institutional Literacies (Academia, Schools, Museum...)
- Cultural Literacies (Literacies & Cultural Studies)
- Literacies & Research Issues
- Literacies and Education (Academic, Special needs, etc)

OBJECTIVES:

- bring together a group of established and emerging scholars from
around the world,
- focus on the changing literacy practices of contemporary times,
- have an interdisciplinary focus,
- focus on cutting-edge work in the distinct and emerging fields of
language and literacy research that make up literacy studies, as well
as numeracy studies.

GUIDELINES:

Individual paper presentation and poster proposals should be no more
than 250 words. Panels will generally include three or four papers or
presentations. For panel proposals, the session organizer should
submit a 150-250 word statement describing the panel topic, including
abstracts of up to 250 words for each paper or presentation in the
panel.

- Paper presentations (time allotted 30 min)
- Posters (space allotted 180x90 cm)

Submit abstracts by email in an attachment to
literacy at memling.rug.ac.be.

Remember to give the name(s) of the author(s), affiliation,  e-mail
address, phone number, fax number and 50 word biodate.

All proposals will be reviewed by the Academic Advisory Committee on
their quality and relevance to the themes of the conference.


CONFIRMED KEYNOTES:
- Shirley Brice Heath
- James Gee
- Brian Street
- Catherine Beavis
- Eddie Williams
- Donna Alvermann
- David Barton
- Ilana Snyder

IMPORTANT DATES:

Deadline for submission of abstracts: 28 March, 2003.
Notification of acceptance: 31 April, 2003.
Program available: 15 August, 2003.
Early bird registration: before 28 March, 2003

Details regarding the program, registration and hotel accommodation
will be sent out in February 2003. If you submit an abstract, you
will automatically receive this information. If you do not submit
an  abstract, send us an e-mail in order to receive our next
newsletter.