Conference Themes for Teaching and Learning in a Global Society

The following themes have been chosen for the 2nd Pacific-Rim Conference on Education.

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM)

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education contributes to the development of knowledge and skills about student learning in these content areas. This conference strand focuses on issues and emerging/research-based practices school STEM reform efforts in the areas of:

• applications of new technologies in education,
• strategies for increasing participation by STEM students,
• professional competencies expected of STEM education professionals,
• the impact of collaborative STEM research on education,
• development and distribution of new STEM programs and methods,
• effective STEM personnel preparation practices.

Special Education and Diversity

Contemporary public education settings must meet the needs of diverse student populations. This conference strand focuses on issues and emerging/research-based practices in the areas of:

• Diverse school populations that may include the students who:
  • have disabilities,
  • exhibit social/linguistic and other cultural differences,
  • have gender differences,
  • use English as a foreign language,
  • are English language learners,
• Innovative approaches that reflect sensitivity to student differences and success in the school curriculum.

Assistive and Instructional Technology

21st century learners use and may benefit from a wide array of both instructional and assistive technologies in the schools. This conference strand focuses on issues and emerging/research-based instructional and assistive technology practices that address:

• facilitation of learning through innovative instructional approaches,
• effective strategies for remediation of student skill deficits,
• methodologies for expanding and/or supplementing content taught in the classroom,
• determining needs of diverse learners for technology applications,
• assessment of the impact of technology implementation in the classroom and across the curriculum.

Assessment, Evaluation, and Accountability

In an era of increasing emphasis on positive educational outcomes for all students, schools have increasingly been held accountable for student progress. This conference strand focuses on issues and emerging/research-based practices in the areas of:

• effective teacher outcomes assessment strategies,
• effective student outcomes assessment strategies,
• strategies for evaluating teacher training,
• strategies for evaluating educational administration programs.