9. Mar. 2010

Joint European Summer School on Technology Enhanced Learning 2010
(www.JTELSummerSchool.eu)

Ohrid, Macedonia, 7th – 11th June, 2010
First Announcement and Call for Participation

Deadline for applications: March 26, 2010

We are pleased to announce the 6th Joint European Summer School on Technology Enhanced Learning, to take place from Monday, 7th June 2010 to Friday 11th June 2010. Pre-summer school activities are organized all day on Sunday, June 6th.

The summer school aims to encourage participants to adopt a critical stance in thinking about the role of technologies in providing opportunities for learners and the potential of these opportunities in terms of learning. Work will centre on three research ‘Grand Challenges’:

· Connecting learners
· Orchestrating learning
· Contextualising learning environments.

The summer school provides a learning environment where participants get opportunities to: develop their research skills; increase their knowledge base; collaborate with others in their own and complementary research areas; engage in debate; have access to experts in the field; and discuss their own work. Participants will record ideas and develop thinking by contributing to a Grand Challenges wiki (http://www.stellarnet.eu/d/1/1/Home) where they will also find contributions from experts in the field.

The programme will include lectures from experts in the Grand Challenge areas and presentations exploring the Grand Challenges from both summer school participants and experts. Research projects within TEL are encouraged to represent their work as it relates to the Grand Challenges. The programme will also include practical and methodological workshops and opportunities for doctoral candidates to develop their own work. All participants will be expected to read and contribute to the Grand Challenges wiki. Students will have opportunities to present and discuss their doctoral work.

Applications should be submitted online before Friday 26th March. The online application form will be available from Friday 19th February at www.JTELSummerSchool.eu.

Applicants will be required to submit:
· a CV outlining their educational background and work experience (maximum one page);
· a letter of motivation, explaining why they want to participate in the Summer School (maximum one page);
· a statement explaining how they think they might contribute to the Summer School and in particular how they can contribute to developing the Grand Challenges (maximum one page);
· a letter of support from their PhD advisor, which should include a statement of the level of support the institution is able to supply.

Applicants requiring financial support for participation or travel should explicitly mention it in their motivation letter, briefly explaining their circumstances. It is expected that applicants working on research projects which are able to fund them will not apply for financial support. To ensure a high ratio between tutors and students the school will be limited to 60 PhD students.

In order to increase social contacts among the summer school participants, the programme includes several social events. A variety of sport activities will also be offered to the summer school participants.

Cultural excursions are organised on the Sunday preceding the summer school and the Saturday which closes the summer school.

Support

This year the JTEL Summer School will benefit from special funding from the STELLAR Network of Excellence in Technology Enhanced Learning, the Austrian Science and Research Liaison Office, and the European Association of Technology Enhanced Learning.

Venue Description

Magnificent and exciting, mysterious and surprising, Ohrid is one of the most ancient towns in Europe, flavoured with a taste of centuries gone by, full of Hellenistic, Roman, Slavic, Byzantine, and Turkish memories. During the classical and medieval periods Orhid was the artistic, cultural and spiritual centre of the Balkans and has been called “a notable bridge of Europeanart”. The town is proud of its rich cultural heritage and unique lake which both belong to UNESCO’s World Cultural and Natural Heritage (http://www.ohrid.com.mk/).

Accommodation and social events

Accommodation and summer school facilities will be made available at Hotel Granit (http://www.hotelgranit.com.mk/). Granit Hotel is located on the coast of Lake Ohrid in St. Stefan, 5 km from the centre of Ohrid. It is 12 km from the Ohrid airport. The Hotel has two harbours which enable access to the hotel and the beach from the lake. The wonderful woods which surround St. Stefan Monastery are located 1 km from the Granit Hotel.
PhD students are asked to share a double room with other PhD students.

Cost of Summer School

The cost for PhD students is Euro 550 (including accommodation - 7 nights in double room, meals, excursions, local transportation to and from the airport). JTEL has secured funding to provide funding for about 40 PhD student grants to cover summer school accommodation, catering, and events. Please indicate if you are applying for a scholarship in your application. Some selected students with grants may be able to benefit from funding to cover travel expenses to Ohrid as well.

Calendar

March 26, 2010: Deadline for submitting applications to the Summer School

April 16, 2010: Notification of acceptance

May 15, 2010: Pre-Summer School videoconferences begin

June 6, 2010: Summer School begins

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