The European Conference on Educational Research (ECER) starts next Tuesday in Cadiz in Spain. Some 2000 delegates will take part, organised through 28 networks covering different areas and themes in education.

Not able to attend yourself? Pontydysgu are working with EERA, who run the conference, to provide alive stream of the four keynote speeches. We will be also broadcasting three live half hour internet radio programmes from the conference. The details are below (all times are Central European summer Time).

The live video can be accessed through the conference web site (full details will be on the site in the next 48 hours).

The radio programmes can be accessed at http://uk2.internet-radio.com:31022/live.m3u. Click on the link and the stream will open in your MP3 player of choice (e.g. iTunes).

Wednesday 19 September
14:00 – 15:00 Keynote 1 – What is ‘the Human’ about the Humanities today?  – Rosi Braidotti
14:00 – 15:00 Keynote 2  – Two different realms. Politics and Educational Knowledge in European history – Marcelo Caruso

Thursday 20 September

10:30 – 11:00 Conference radio programme 1
14:00 – 15:00 Keynote 3 – What is Wrong with the What-Went-Right Approach in Educational Policy? – Gita Steiner-Khamsi
14:00 – 15:00 Keynote 4 – Constitution, Education and Research – Fuensanta Hernandez Pina

Friday 21 September
10:30 – 11:00 Conference radio programme 2
15:00 – 15:30 Conference radio programme 3

My promised post on the European Conference on Education Research, held earlier this month at the Freie Universitat, Berlin.

The conference attracted some 2200 delegates with hundreds of presentations spanning the different networks which comprise the European Educational Research association. the Pontydysgu team were supporting ECER in amplifying the conference through the use of different social media and through producing a series of video interviews with network conveners. On the one hand this meant my attendance at conference sessions was very limited, on the other hand the interviews with eleven different network conveners gave us perhaps a unique overview of where European educational research is heading.

A number of common themes emerged.

First was that the networks themselves seem to be evolving into quite strong communities of practice, embracing not just conference attendees but with extended networks sometimes involving hundreds of members. And although some networks are stronger n one or another country, these networks tend to suggest a European community is emerging within educational research. Indeed, this may be seen as the major outcome of European funding and programmes for education. A number of network conveners suggested that the search to develop common meaning between different educational and cultural traditions was itself a driving force in developing innovation and new ideas.

Secondly, many of the networks were particularly focused on the development of research methodologies. One of the main issues here appeared to be the development of cross domain research and how such research could be nurtured and sustained. This also applied to those considering submitting proposals to future conferences (next year’s conference is in Seville) with many of the conveners emphasizing they were keen to encourage submissions from researchers from different areas and domains and emphasizing the importance of describing both the research methodology and the outcomes of the research in abstract submissions.

There was also an awareness of the need to bring research and practice closer together, with a seeming move towards more practitioner researchers in education.

The question of the relation between research and po9licy was more complex. Despite a formal commitment by many educational authorities to research driven policy, some network conveners felt the reverse was true in reality, especially given the financial crisis, with researchers being forced to ‘follow the money’ and thus tailor their research to follow policy agendas. This was compromising the independence of research institutions and practice.

I asked each of the interviewees to briefly outline what they considered were the major trends in educational research. A surprising number pointed to a contradictory development. On the one hand policy makers are increasingly obsessed by targets and by quantitative outcomes, be it numbers of students, qualification levels or cost per student. The Pisa exercise is one example of such a development.Whilst no-one was opposed to collecting such data, there was a general scepticism of its value, on its own, in developing education policy. Such policies were also seen as part of a trend towards centralising education policy making

On the other hand, network conveners pointed to a growing bottom up backlash against this reductionist approach with researchers, parents and students concerned that educatio0n is not merely a economic function and that quality cannot be measured by targets and number crunching alone. This movement is being expressed in different ways with small scale local movements looking at alternative forms of learning, a movement also facilitated by the use of new technologies for teaching and learning.

Last week the Pontydysgu crew were at the Freie Universitat, Berlin for the European Conference on Educational Research. As last year we were working with ECER on amplifying the conference. This included video streaming the three keynote sessions, filming interviews with 11 of the ECER network conveners and broadcasting three live radio shows. The radio hows are already online on this site and will soon be available on the ECER web pages. We will also be updating the programme information to provide more transparent access to the contents! The videos will take a little longer for editing and post processing.

We also experimented this year with using AudioBoo as a semi live audio stream. I have to admit this was inspired by AltC who had announced a live video station from their 2011 co0nference. i was jealous but also aware that we did not have the resources to emulate this. But AudioBoo requires little in the way of resources, other than an iPod, an internet connecti9on, some imagination and of course, great people to talk to. And we found plenty of people at ECER. There were something like 2300 participants enrolled at the conference from all over the world. And although we only managed to talk to a very few of the delegates, I think the AudiBoos work well in conveying the atmosphere and feel of the conference to a remote audience.

However where the Boos work best is where delegates are explaining their research interests, the things that they are passionate about. Listen for example to Benedicte Gendron from Montpelier University in France talking about emotional capital. In the past we have often seemed to have a split between papers and books being seen as media for serious research with audio being reserved for more popularist versions fo the same. I am not sure this divide is necessary. Indeed it could be fun to try using audio for the hard stuff, with easier electronic versions of papers being provided alongside. Video can be an intrusive media and to do it well needs some considerable resources. Audio is not in any way so intrusive and can be recorded on mobile devices. And I think in future conferences, it could be interesting just to arrange turn up at the end of a session and interview one of the presenters about their ideas.

Anyway thanks to all of our crew – to Jo, Jake, Judith, Klaus, Raymond and Dirk. many thanks also to Angelika, to Herr Goldenbaum and the ECER staff who were so helpful to us and of course to everyone who participated in our media fest.

Another blogpost coming up about content and ideas from the conference.

Here is the third and final LIVE internet radio programme from the European Conference on Educational Research 2011 at the Freie Universität in Berlin.

The show features the following interviews and guests:

• Geoff Bright from the Metropolitan University Manchester is organising a   joint seminar of between ECER Networks 7 and 19 on geography, space and education.
• Jo Turner Attwell talks with a student volunteer at the conference
• Norm Friesen (Canada Research Chair in E-Learning Practices at Thompson Rivers University, British Columbia, Canada) talks about research and practice in technology Enhanced Learning
• Rachel Beddow is from the EERA Office in Berlin and talks about her work especially in supporting the Emerging Researchers network
• Graham Attwell talks to the organisers of ECER2012 from Cadiz

The music comes from the Juanitos and their album “Best of Juanitos” and you can find it on the Jamendo website.

Interviewers: Jo Turner Attwell, Judith Seipold, Graham Attwell; Director: Klaus Rummler; Producer: Dirk Stieglitz.

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This is the second of our jam-packed LIVE internet radio programmes from the European Conference on Educational Research 2011 in Berlin. The broadcast features the following interviews and guests:

• Tjeerd Plomp from the Univerity of Twente was present at the first ever ECER conference. He talks about how the conference has evolved and grown over the years.
• Kathleen Armour from the University of Birmingham in the UK is Convener of a new network on Sports Pedagogy and talks about her hopes and ideas for the network
• Theo Hug, from the University of Innsbruck talks about research and practice in Media Studies
• Jo Turner Attwell talks to publishers Wiley Blackwell about their publications and why they come to ECER
• Yngve Nordkvelle from Lillehammer University in Norway talks about technology research in education
• Lorraine from Australia talks about her research in the use of pedagogical use of ICT in educationL what does being an expert mean?
• Prof. Johanna Lasonen (University of South Florida, Tampa and University of Jyväskylä) Dr. Marianne Teräs (University of Helsinki) and Dr. Carine Cools (University of Jyväskylä) talk about migrant womens’ access to education and work
• Benedicte Gendron, from the University of Montpelier talks about Emotional Capital
• Montree Yamkasikorn from Burapha University Thailand talks about Thai Teacher TV

Music from Dickey F and his album “CROKODILE TEARS”.

Interviewers: Jo turner Attwell, Judith Seipold and Graham Attwell; Director: Klaus Rummler; Producer: Dirk Stieglitz.

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This is the recording of the first of our three live internet radio programmes broadcast from the European Conference on Educational Research 2011 in Berlin, Germany.

The programme features:

• Harm Kuper from the Free University, Berlin and a member of the local organising committee for ECER 2011 talking about the issues on organising the ECER conference
• Marit Hoveid from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and the European Educational Research Association Secretary General Elect talks about key challenges for research in Europe and the role of a Secretary General Elect!

• Daniel Fischer, from Leuphana Univeristy, Luneberg, Germany, is the best paper winner 2010,  (Emerging Researchers Conference Award) and talks about the theme of his paper, consumer education
• Leif Moos from the University of Tilburg in Denmark and President of the European Educational Research Association (EERA) talks about the future development of EERA
• Venka Simovska, also from the University of Tilburg and Convener of a new network on the theme of Research on Health Education talks about her network’s ideas and activities

The music is by Freeky Cleen & Dickey F and the album “Double Feature”.

Interviewers: Jo Seipold, Eileen Luebcke and Graham Attwell; Director: Klaus Rummler; Producer: Dirk Stieglitz.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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Next week the annual European Conference on Educational Research takes place in Berlin. The theme of the conference is Urban Education. And if you are not able to make it to the conference, we will be providing video streaming of the keynote speeches plus three live internet radio bring you the best of the conference.

Keynotes

Wed. 14 September, 13:30 – 14:30 Central European Summer Time

Saskia Sassen is the Robert S. Lynd Professor of Sociology and Co-Chair of The Committee on Global Thought, Columbia University She will focus on “The City: Its Return as a Lens into Larger Economic and Technological Histories”

Live video player

Thursday, 15th Septemeber, 13:30 – 14:30 Central European Summer Time

Elisabet Öhrn, Professor at the University of Gothenburg, focuses on “Urban Education and Segregation: Responses from Young People”

Live video player

Japp Dronkers, a Professor at Maastricht University will address the effects of educational systems, school-composition, levels of curricula, parental background and immigrants’ origins on achievement of 15-years old pupils.

Live video player

Live Internet Radio

Wednesday 14 September 1430 – 1545 (CEST)

Thursday 15 September 1000 – 1030 (CEST)

Friday 16 September 1430 – 1500 (CEST)

To listen to the programmes go to http://cp2.internet-radio.org.uk/start/ravenscroft/

For more information about all these activities and guests on the radio programmes see this blog post.

The European Conference on Educational Research 2011 will take place at Freie Universität Berlin, Germany from 13 – 16 September. The theme of this year’s conference is Urban education and as the conference website notes “Not only are cities burning glasses of societal change and its educational consequences; they also provide remarkable resources to put societal and educational change on the political agenda in order to shape them proactively.”

As in previous years Pontydysgu are providing multi media and ‘amplifying’ support to the conference and if you are not able to attend the conference in person you can follow the event through our streaming of the keynote sessions and internet radio programmes.

Keynotes

Saskia Sassen is the Robert S. Lynd Professor of Sociology and Co-Chair of The Committee on Global Thought, Columbia University She will focus on “The City: Its Return as a Lens into Larger Economic and Technological Histories”
Wed. 14.09., 13:30 – 14:30 Central European Summer Time

read more

Watch this spot for full details of where to go to watch the stream.

Internet Radio

Wednesday 14 September 1430 – 1545 (Central European Summer Time)

Daniel Fischer, Leuphana Univeristy, Luneberg, Germany, Best paper winner 2010,  (Emerging Researchers Conference Award) will talk about consumer education

Harm Kuper from the Free University, Berlin is a member of the local organising committee for ECER 2011

Lejf Moos from the University of Tilburg in Denmark is President of the European Educational Research Association (EERA)

Marit Hoveid from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology is EERA Secretary General Elect

Venka Simovska, also from the University of Tilburg is Convener of a new network: Research on Health Education

Hongmei Ma, from The Chinese University of Hong Kong is an ECER Bursary winner and will give his impressions of the first ECER conference he has attended

Thursday 15 September 1000 – 1030 (Central European Summer Time)

Tjeerd Plomp from the Univerity of Twente was present at the first ever ECER conference. he will talk about how the conference has evolved and grown over the years.

Kathleen Armour from the University of Birmingham in the UK is Convener of a New network: Sports Pedagogy

Melanie Völker is from Waxman publishers who are sponsoring the conference poster prize. She will be talking with us along with the poster prize winners

More guests to be announced

Friday 16 September 1430 – 1500 (Central European Summer Time)

Guests to be announced.

Watch this slot for the address for the radio stream.

We will also update this post as more guests confirm. In the meantime if you are going to the ECER conference and would like to come on the radio programme please email us. And finally if you are at ECER and just want to watch and listen to the  broadcast, we will be situated near the registration desk. Come and meet us.