Technology Enhanced Learning: A Medical Student Conference, Belfast, 3rd October 2014

Abstract submissions are open for the Technology Enhanced Learning: A Medical Student Conference being held on Friday 3^rd October in Riddel Hall, Queen’s University, Stranmillis, Belfast. The team welcome abstracts reporting on innovations in technology enhanced learning within medical education. This could include the development of electronic materials as well as medical education research. Further details on abstract submissions including the categories and the types of presentation opportunities can be found on the QUB website.

Deadline for receipt of abstract submissions: Wednesday 17^th September.

Bookings are also open for this event through the Higher Education Academy’s website for students and educators to join the team in Belfast for a celebration of student engagement in the area of technology enhanced learning within medical education. The day will showcase student presentation poster presentations and demonstrations. In addition there will be a keynote from Jane Hart from the Centre for Learning & Performance Technologies and a group discussion on the future of technology enhanced learning in medical education. Prizes will be awarded for best poster and best presentation.

For further information about the event please go to the QUB event page or contact Karen Murphy from the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences.

Social Science Research Questions & Methodological Challenges in the 21st Century

ICOSS, University of Sheffield
219 Portobello, Sheffield, S1 4DP

www.shef.ac.uk/icoss

This seminar series will explore some of the key methodological challenges that the social sciences face in addressing research priorities in the 21st Century. Some of these areas involve continuity in topic and approach, whereas others involve new characteristics and aspects of social life.

The seminars will involve researchers discussing the kinds of research questions they are beginning to ask and looking at the methodological approaches and challenges that these questions pose. We will explore this in four seminars that relate to contemporary social issues, covering:

• Wellbeing and disadvantage
• Diversity and community
• Vulnerabilities and risks
• The relationship between social and digital worlds.

Following these four seminars, there will be a roundtable event, where there will be broad discussion about the methodological challenges and how the research community might address these.


Read more about the seminars.

Seminar dates:
• Tuesday 20 May 2014
• Monday 30 June 2014
• Wednesday 16 July 2014
• Wednesday 15 October 2014

Final roundtable event:
• Wednesday 26 November 2014

How to participate:
There are a number of ways in which you can participate in the series and join the conversation:
* All submissions will be subject to peer review.

1. Submit an abstract to present a 20-minute paper at one of the four seminars
We welcome abstracts for papers related to one of the 4 seminar themes. Based on ESRC priority areas, these themes are purposefully broad and papers may be based on work in progress, methodological or empirical issues you are currently grappling with as well as thoughts on future research potential and papers relating to completed projects. We welcome paper presentations from researchers of all career stages.

If you would like to present a paper please submit a title and abstract of no more than 250 words by completing the online abstract submission form(link)/by emailing your abstract to http://methodologicalchallenges.group.shef.ac.uk/ (please indicate which seminar you would like to present at and state whether you will be presenting in person or via weblink) three abstracts will be selected for each seminar.
The deadline for abstracts is 14^th April 2014.

2. Submit a written ‘think piece’ for dissemination on the seminar series’ website
We invite 400 word peer reviewed ‘think pieces’ for dissemination on the website. These could include (but are not limited to): reflections upon a particular research issue, experience or dilemma; thoughts or opinions on a particular issue affecting today’s research community; an annotated extract from your data or field diary. Think pieces may or may not relate to the themes of the seminars. Think pieces can be emailed to http://methodologicalchallenges.group.shef.ac.uk/ for peer review from 14^th April. Think pieces will be accepted throughout the duration of the series.

3. Submit a poster to be displayed on the accompanying website
We invite posters for dissemination on the website. Posters should be in PDF format… and could be based on a particular project, method, idea or experience. Posters may or may not relate to the themes of the 4 seminars. If you would like to submit a poster please submit an expression of interest using the abstract submission form http://methodologicalchallenges.group.shef.ac.uk/. Posters will be accepted throughout the duration of the series.

4. Attend a seminar and/or the roundtable event either in person or virtually
You are very welcome to attend the seminars and round table event and join in the discussion. You can do this in person by coming along to an event here in Sheffield or by joining us via web link. However you wish to attend, please register first by contacting Jayne Parkin, j.e.parkin AT sheffield.ac.uk.

If you wish to attend the seminar series in person, you can find directions to ICOSS here. If you would prefer to participate virtually, join us here at http://methodologicalchallenges.group.shef.ac.uk/ and submit your questions via Twitter, using the hashtag: #socmethods. You can also follow us at: @SocMethods

* This seminar series is funded by The Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Sheffield, with additional support and guidance from NatCen Learning.
* Seminar series organiser: Dr Bridgette Wessels.

Best wishes,

Jenny Smith
Marketing Officer
Department of Politics / Department of Sociological Studies
The University of Sheffield
Elmfield, Northumberland Road
Sheffield, S10 2TU.

ForAge International Conference, Budapest 30 Sept - 1 Oct 2013

The Future of Learning for Older People in Europe

Learning from Experience    

30 September – 1 October 2013

Budapest, Hungary

http://www.foragenetwork.eu/en/database/item/140-forage-2nd-international-conference/

To coincide with the United Nations International Day of Older People on 1 October, the ForAge Grundtvig Multilateral Network is holding a Pan-European Conference to examine trends and developments in learning in later-life and what can be learned from the experience of European initiatives in this field. The programme includes the following topics:

• The context for later-life learning in 21st Century Europe and the role of ForAge
• Improving the quality of training of those trying to reach potential older learners
• The benefits of later-life learning and the supporting evidence
• Experiences of other European networks as information sources and influencers as well as providing expert opinion about future actions
• Perspectives from international adult education organisations
• Emerging issues and the further development of later-life learning
• Older learners’ perspectives
• Oral and poster presentations of European Projects on later-life learning

Keynote speakers include:

• Hungarian Ministry of Human Resources, Department of Social Affairs 
• Professor Dr László Iván, President of the Hungarian Academy of Elder People
• Dr Alan Tuckett OBE, President of the International Council for Adult Education (ICAE)
• Dr Michael Sommer, Infonet coordinator, Akademie Klausenhof, Germany
• Professor Franz Kolland, University of Vienna, Austria

More details.

2011 highlights ...

The highlight of the year was the trip to Colombia in February with a presentation, workshop and meeting with quite a few students and their Professor. Lovely people, a warm, very well organised welcome and assistance c/o Luz Stella Saray, Prof. Wilson Canon, Andrea Ramirez and Fred Manrique / UPTC and many others. Colombia is an amazing country even on a brief visit:

http://hodges-model.blogspot.com/search/label/Colombia

It appears the conference link may have changed:
http://www.uptc.edu.co/eventos/2011/cong_enfermeria/index.html

There were two poster presentations: Health Literacy, Manchester in June and the CARDI conference last month in Dublin. The latest poster was a great improvement on June's effort thanks to Prof. Kernohan; and there's a paper to follow.

September brought The Difference that Makes a Difference held at the Open University, Milton Keynes, UK 7-9 Sept 2011. It was a great experience being able to contribute to an event outside of health and social care. Quite a change also to be on the panel and able to respond to a question or two. I find information a fascinating subject. I wish there had been time to respond to the call for papers (and another on health literacy) but there was not enough time. There's more besides posted here on W2tQ, Drupalcon London in August.

I wonder what 2012 will bring...? I've nine days leave left up to the end of March so will be packing the laptop to focus on Drupal up in the Lake District.

Sue and I have tickets for Leonardo at the National Gallery. I can't wait for this after last years visit to The British Museum exhibition Fra Angelico to Leonardo: Italian Renaissance drawings

http://hodges-model.blogspot.com/2010/05/nursing-art-and-science-fra-angelico-to.html

Next month it looks like I may be moving from Nursing Home Liaison to the Intermediate Support Team.

Thanks for your visit and interest.
Whatever else happens in 2012 I hope the wishes and dreams of individuals and Nations in search of peace and freedom come true. Remember+ChangeHappens2.
Best wishes to all!
PJ