Rethinking Educational Ethnography.

Introduction

This second edition of Rethinking Educational Ethnography: Researching on-line communities and interactions is organised by the Centre for the Study of Change in Culture and Education (CECACE) and the Department of Educational Management, at the University of Barcelona, Spain, in collaboration with ECER Network 19. This conference forms part of a long-term discussion that began in Helsinki at ECER 2010, when participating researchers discussed emerging concerns about virtual ethnography and discovered a shared interest. In 2011 this debate gave rise to the first annual Rethinking Educational Ethnography conference, held at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Porto, and to a second gathering within the ECER Network 19 in Berlin. Our aim for the 2012 encounter is to build on the knowledge generated in previous meetings, with the aim of sharing and debating emergent practices in the field of virtual educational ethnography.

This conference seeks to encourage discussion on epistemological, methodological and theoretical perspectives. The event will benefit from the contributions of researchers from different countries and will host leading scholars on the subject.

The main objectives of this conference are:

• to allow conference participants to share their research and discuss current challenges, doubts and findings;
• to enhance our critical understanding of the term ‘virtual ethnography’, by exploring both the epistemological issues and methodological or ethical concerns that emerge when designing and undertaking educational ethnographies that intersect with new technologies;
• to identify publication opportunities for current research in this area;
• to discuss the possibilities of developing international collaborative research projects.

Call for papers

In order to transfer knowledge and generate new perspectives in the field, this conference encourages both scholars and PhD students to submit their research, and welcomes submissions that discuss completed studies, field work, or work in progress.

We specifically invite contributions which address one or several of the following issues:

• The expanded notion of “the field”; On-line / Off-line boundaries.
• Challenges and issues of studying virtual settings and/or communities, in particular those that relate to fieldwork or authorship, among others.
• The role of the ethnographer in online settings; new or shifting relationships between the ethnographer and research subject.
• Doing research collaboratively; advantages and limits of using 'with' as a methodological stance.

Submissions

Abstracts should not exceed 400 words and should be submitted in English. They may be sent to: info@cecace.org, together with contact details for the author(s) and a brief mention of the author's affiliation.

Once approved, a short paper with a minimum of 2000 words must be submitted. These papers will be shared with all delegates prior to the conference, in order to facilitate spending less time on presentations and more time engaging in debate and discussion during the meeting.

Abstract

The abstract should clearly communicate the key points and conclusions of the paper, indicating the methodological framework and the relationship to the call. (400 words max.)

Keywords

A short list of keywords should be provided with the abstract (no more than five).

Language

The general language of the conference is English. Abstracts, as well as the full paper, should be submitted in English.

Important dates

The deadline for the Call for Papers has been extended until the 15^th of January, 2012.

Decisions on acceptance of the abstracts submitted by the 15^th of December will be announced by the 30^th of December, 2011.

Decisions on acceptance of abstracts submitted by the 15^th of January will be announced by the 30^th of January, 2012.

Abstract submission deadline January 15^th, 2012

Authors notified of acceptance January 30^th, 2012

Registration February 28^th – May 25^th, 2012

Submission of full papers April 30^th, 2012

Fees

The cost of participation is: 115€

This fee includes: keynote speakers’ fees, administrative expenses, conference rooms and local support, lunch and coffee breaks both conference days, and a guided visit to the historic building of the University of Barcelona.

A conference dinner will be organised but not included (initially) in the general fee.

Registration

You can complete your registration following this link and clicking on “Registration”.

Accomodation

Barcelona receives a lot of tourists in the summertime and we recommend booking your hotel as soon as possible. The Residencia d'Investigadors in particular tends to fill up very quickly, so please plan ahead.

Residencia d'Investigadors

http://www.residencia-investigadors.es
+34 93 443 86 10
C/ Hospital, 64 - 08001 Barcelona
30min metro ride to conference.

Alimara Hotel

http://www.alimarahotel.com/html/ang/index.html
+34 93 427 00 00
C/ Berruguete,126 - 08035 Barcelona
5min walk to conference.

Hotel Curious

http://www.hotelcurious.com/
+34 93 301 44 84
C/ Carme 25 - 08001 Barcelona
30min metro ride to conference.

Getting to the conference

Please refer to the REEE 2012: Logistics Google Map for detailed information on all conference locations.

Conference Address

Campus Mundet
Passeig de la Vall d'Hebron 171.
Barcelona, CP 08193
Room 240, Edifici Llevant.
Conference location will be signed.

Getting to the conference room

Metro

Rachel will meet conference participants at 9:00 am on June 7^th, outside of the Mundet metro stop (see map). We can then proceed to the conference on foot.

Please exit the metro via the right exit (with your back to the turnstiles); don’t remain in the tunel below.

Taxi

If you take a taxi directly to the conference, please note that some cab drivers are not familiar with Mundet campus. The conference room is in “Edifici Llevant”, which is on the high part of the campus. Once the taxi enters the security gate to go inside the campus, the road will wind upwards. Have the cab stop at the small round-about you come to, where there is a bus top and a large set of blue gates. Edifici Llevant is the building on the far side of the plaza. The name of the building is on a plaque near the door.

Alternatively, you can leave the cab at the round-about just before going through the security gate, and take the campus shuttle up the hill (or go on foot).

From the airport to Barcelona Center (Residencia d’Investidagors, Hotel Curios, etc.)

A taxi costs approximately 35€ (the extra charge at the end because you have a suitcase is normal) and takes about 35 minutes, depending on traffic.

The Aerobus is an express bus service that makes 3 stops in the city and leaves the airport every 5 min. Plan on approx. 35min of travel time. Cost, 5.65€ / 9.75€ return. There is an electronic ticket machine at the bus stop (which is well-signed in the airport) to buy tickets with a Credit or Debit Card (cash also accepted).

For participants staying at the Residencia d’Investidagors or another place in the center, disembark at Plaça Catalunya (last stop). You may either walk down Les Rambles to the hotel (10 - 15 min becauseof the crowds, its not that far), or hop on the metro in Plaça Catalunya — Green Line L3 — and go one stop to Liceu (see map).

There is a train that leaves from the T2 airport terminal that takes you to Passeig de Gràcia. It leaves every half hour, at 8' and 38' past the hour. It costs approx 3.50€ for a single ticket, electronic ticket machines allow you to pay in cash or with a card. There is an airport shuttle that takes you from T1 to the train station in T2.

If you take the train, disembark at Passeig de Gràcia — 25min travel time — and do not be alarmed when 90% of travelers get off one stop earlier, at Sants Estació. Stay on until Passeig de Gràcia. The metro stop is one block away, you may have to transfer above ground. Either way; it will be signed. Once in the metro, take the Green Line L3 to Liceu (two stops).

The train is only a time-saver if you fly into at T2, and/or it’s rush hour, from 18:00 - 20:00 approx. Keep the train schedule in mind when deciding between taking the train or bus, you may end up waiting a half hour to catch the train.

From the airport to Hotel Alimara

A taxi costs approximately 35€ (the extra charge at the end because you have a suitcase is normal) and takes about 30 minutes, depending on traffic. Tell the cab driver you are going to Mundet Campus if s/he needs some direction beyond the name or address of the hotel.

The Aerobus is an express bus service that makes 3 stops in the city and leaves the airport every 5min. Plan on approx. 35min of travel time. Cost, 5.65€ / 9.75€ return. There is an electronic ticket machine at the bus stop (which is well-signed in the airport) to buy tickets with a Credit or Debit Card (cash also accepted).

To get to Alimara, disembark at Plaça Catalunya (last stop). Then enter the metro in Plaça Catalunya and take the Green Line L3 to Mundet.  As you leave the metro, take the LEFT exit, with your back to the turnstiles. (see map)

There is a train that leaves from the T2 airport terminal that takes you to Passeig de Gràcia. It leaves every half hour, at 8' and 38' past the hour. It costs approx 3.50€ for a single ticket, electronic ticket machines allow you to pay in cash or with a card.

There is an airport shuttle that takes you from T1 to the train station in T2. If you take the train, disembark at Passeig de Gràcia — 25min travel time — and do not be alarmed when 90% of travelers get off one stop earlier, at Sants Estació. Stay on until Passeig de Gràcia. The metro stop is one block away, you may have to transfer above ground. Either way, it will be signed.

Once in the metro, take the Green Line L3 to Mundet. As you leave the metro, take the right exit, with your back to the turnstiles. (see map)

The train is only a time-saver if you fly into at T2, and/or it’s rush hour, from 18:00 - 20:00. Keep the train schedule in mind when deciding between taking the train or bus, you may end up waiting a half hour to catch the train.