International Conference at H M Patel

H M Patel Institute of English Training and Research
Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat
&
ELT@I
ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION OF INDIA
International Conference
on
Interactive Media in Pedagogy:
Learning English In & Beyond Classrooms
8-10 January 2010
at
H M Patel Institute of English Training and Research
Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat
Computers and technology play significant roles in our personal and professional lives today. In fact, they are playing dominant roles in the classroom and, whether we like it or not, are widely accessed by teachers and learners for varied purposes. The ubiquity of technology is something that can no more be denied, and therefore, needs to be addressed from a pedagogic platform. The aim of this conference is to explore, investigate, examine, evaluate and of course, critically probe the possibilities and limits of technology in the teaching of literature, language and education in general.
However, delving deeper, the conference also wishes to explore the tenuous, and yet, deeply enmeshed relationship between language and literature. That the two cannot be separated, and yet have been, is often seen as contentious and deeply ideological in nature. The questions then are: can technology play a role in bridging the gap that has been created? Could it be fruitful to teach the language to enrich literary experience and vice versa? Can technology, again, act as a buffer zone?
The conference, thus, would look into (re)defining literature, language and education vis-à-vis technological developments and how the three can be brought together into a meaningful relationship.
CALL FOR PROPOSALS
ELT@I and H M Patel Institute of English Training and Research, Vallabh Vidyanagar invites papers, workshop proposals and poster proposals from teachers of English from schools, colleges, universities and government academic departments, teacher trainers, research scholars, and interested professionals on the theme of the conference:
‘Interactive Media in Pedagogy: Learning English in & Beyond Classrooms’
The sub-themes of the conference are:
· Developing Critical Thinking through Technology
· Managing Mixed Ability Groups & Scope for Individualization: The Role of Interactive Media
· Using Technology for Distance Learning
· Role of Technology in English Teacher Education
· Using Multimedia for Self Instruction Materials in the English Classroom
· Using Web Resources for English Language & Literature Teaching
· Technology-based Teacher Produced Materials
· Implications of Technology for Second Language Contexts
· Teaching Literary Genres through Technology
· Creative Writing and Multimedia
· Technology, Testing and Assessment
· Evaluation of Multimedia Materials

Both abstracts and completed papers are to be typed as Microsoft Word documents in Times New Roman font of 12 points and 1.5 line spacing.
Each presentation would be of 25 minutes. The word limit for abstracts is 200 words and that of full articles is 2500 words. Selected papers would be published in a special volume of the ELT Quarterly (ISSN 0975-0258), a journal published by the Institute on a quarterly basis. Submission: One soft copy (either in a CD or as an e-mail attachment) and one hard copy
Submission
Deadline
Abstract
October 30, 2009
Paper
December 14, 2009
As the Conference can only accommodate a limited number of presentations, we recommend early registration.

Conference Fees
The Conference fees include conference pack, food (breakfast, lunch, dinner and tea/ coffee) and local sightseeing.
Registration deadline :
Registration Fees : For Indian delegates : Rs 1000/-
For foreign delegates : 50 US $
For Indian research students: Rs 500/- (Please attach a letter with the registration form from your institution stating that you are a full-time research student)

Payment:

Cheques or Bank Drafts may be sent in favour of ‘The Director, H M Patel Institute of English Training and Research, Vallabh Vidyanagar’ payable at Vallabh Vidyanagar. Please use at par cheques.
How to get to the venue:
Anand is situated on the main rail line between Ahmedabad and Vadodara.
By air
The nearest airport is Vadodara (35 kms approx). However, there are more regular flights from Ahmedabad (65 kms) to all the major cities of India. If you are travelling from outside India, then Mumbai would be a good option since there are connecting flights from Mumbai to Ahmedabad at frequent intervals.
From Vadodara or Ahmedabad hired taxis are available to travel to Vallabh Vidyanagar. The journey time is approximately 1 hour from Vadodara and 2 hours from Ahmedabad.
By rail
The nearest railway station is Anand. Auto-rickshaws are available from Anand Railway Station to Vallabh Vidyanagar on a regular basis. You can take a shared auto or a specially reserved one to Nana Bazaar in Vallabh Vidyanagar.
By road

From Ahmedabad (65 kms) and Vadodara (35 kms), you could travel by a state transport bus to Anand. There are also private buses that ply frequently on this route.




Accommodation for Indian Delegates:
Limited accommodation is available at the venue, so delegates are requested to make early bookings. The accommodation would be simple, modest and on a twin-sharing basis. An additional amount of Rs 700/- needs to be sent as accommodation charges.

Accommodation for Foreign Delegates:
The organisers have arranged accommodation at nearby hotels in Vidyanagar. The price band ranges from INR 1600 to 2000 (plus taxes) from which delegates can choose. In order to reserve accommodation at your preferred hotel, it is strongly recommended that you book your accommodation as early as possible. The accommodation charges would be over and above the registration fees.
To book accommodation, you can request an accommodation booking form by emailing sunilshah76@gmail.com and returning the form directly by e-mail to him. If you do not receive confirmation one week after sending your booking form, you are advised to contact him at the above email address or by telephoning +91 2692 230193 (between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Mon – Sat) or on +91 9924246069.
Weather and Local Attractions
January is a pleasant month in Gujarat and the temperatures are around 20 degrees Celsius. Heavy woolen clothes are not needed. However, delegates from warm places could carry a light sweater for early mornings and late evenings.
The 14th of January is celebrated in Gujarat as Uttarayan and the Government of Gujarat every year organises an International Kite Festival on the Sabarmati Riverfront. The festival starts about three days before the actual celebrations on the 14th. Delegates who wish to stay back during the festival may indicate so via e-mail. Special arrangements could be made for them to visit the Kite festival. The delegates would have to pay an extra charge for accommodation, food and transportation if they wish to stay back. For more details, contact sunilshah76@gmail.com

In addition to plenary sessions, paper presentations and workshops, delegates willhave opportunities for networking on an informal level at the venue. It is hoped theinteraction will offer delegates a chance to make new contacts, catch up withexisting teaching practices, share information and gather new insights and ideas to implement in their own contexts.

For more details, please contact the Coordinators at the followingaddresses:
1) Atanu Bhattacharya
+91 2692-230193, +91 9227160619
Email: atanu1071@gmail.com

2) Kiran Chauhan
+91 2692-230193, +91 9724342778
Email: kiran.elthmp@gmail.com
3) Dharmendra Sheth
+91 9825442418
Email: shethdharmendra@gmail.com; shethdharmendra@hotmail.com



Please visit our website for the latest information on the conference:
www.hmpenglish.edu.in