INKSHED CONFERENCE XVI
Finding each other in a hall of mirrors:
negotiating goals and values in language.
May 6-9, 1999
Location: Hotel Mont Gabriel, Quebec.
(Laurentian region, one hour north of Montreal)
As usual this year's theme arises from discussions at last year's
conference, where the focus on "multiple literacies, ethics and
responsibility" led to insights and questions about the goals and
values of different educational cultures. This year we want to build
on these insights and add other perspectives that will, together,
move our understanding forward. Here, then, is our call for
proposals for Inkshed XVI.
Walking through the "hall of mirrors" of language and literacy
education, teachers constantly meet new reflections, surprising as
well as familiar views of themselves and of others. Teaching
communication (composition, language arts, literature, rhetoric and
related subjects) involves an awareness of multiple cultures and
contexts. Discussions no longer centre only on academic written
language in a North American context; instead they move among many
forms of communication: international, technological, intercultural,
visual, oral and physical.
As the 1990s draw to a close, certain questions about negotiation
among different cultures have become urgent. What misunderstandings
can arise between teachers' and students' experience of the classroom
and other educational settings? To what extent do teachers try to
impose their own goals and values, and to what extent do they accept
students' goals and values? Can educators establish a balance
between what their teaching and learning have achieved in the past
and must achieve in the future?
In line with Inkshed tradition, please call or e-mail us in advance
if you want to discuss your proposal. We hope for a rich variety of
topics, such as the goals and values of a web-based writing course,
teaching English in an unusual setting, working with an unfamiliar
student population, exploring particular cultural or community
values through literature, or providing successful communication
practices in a professional context.
As usual, the conference will avoid the "talking-head-reading-paper
format" by continuing the venerable Inkshed tradition of active
participant involvement and unconventional approaches. We welcome
poster boards and performances, work-in-progress, case studies,
collaborative presentations, workshops, and interactive
demonstrations.
All proposals should include the names, addresses, and phone numbers
of the chief proposer and any co-presenters, a title and abstract
(approx. 200 words), and a brief description of the method of
presentation. Explain how your presentation will relate to the
conference theme. Please note that you may be invited to collaborate
with another proposer. "This is not a traditional, agonistic,
competitive paper call. Your document will not be blind-reviewed by
a reader eager to find a way to turn away two-thirds of the
proposals," as Russ and Marcy memorably said. Instead we want to
combine and include as many proposals as possible.
We will continue with the tradition of built-in reading time.
Please start to think about what you would like to bring or send to
the reading table.
Deadline for proposals: December 10, 1998
Send proposals to:
Ann Beer and Jane Ledwell-Brown
Department of Educational Studies
Faculty of Education
McGill University
3700 McTavish Street
Montreal, QC
Canada
H3A 1Y2
Phone:(514) 398-6746 extensions 5135 (Ann) or 2472 (Jane)
Fax:(514) 398-4529/4679
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
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Inkshed conferences have taken place in many unusual and beautiful
places - on an island, on a ranch, in a forest, by the sea, by lakes
and rivers - but as far as we know this is the first Inkshed on top
of a mountain! Please encourage participation from long-standing
members who have not been able to come recently, as well as new
graduates and colleagues who contribute so much to the growth and
renewal of this working conference.
Inkshed XVI Organizers
c/o St.Thomas University
Fredericton, N.B., Canada
Email [log in to unmask]
