We are pleased to announce the Fourteenth Skills Conference to be held at the School of Continuing Education (SCE), the American University in Cairo, Egypt.  This year, the subject addressed is “Learning Communities:  Implications for Students, Teachers and Educational Systems.”

“At its core, a learning community (LC) is both a pedagogical tool and a curricular device designed to build connections among students, faculty, and staff who seek to attain shared goals and learning outcomes” (Magjuka, 19). Learning communities can be as small as a single class using collaborative learning strategies or can reach into the school, local, or international communities through interdisciplinary studies, service learning projects, or web-based interaction. LCs may entail teachers and students exploring questions together, different classes linking to exchange information on a given topic or common theme, or involve groups interacting with specialists to solve a problem. In these ways, learners are able to develop relationships with others, to seek information beyond confines of one academic discipline, to think creatively in order to solve complex problems and to assess and evaluate sources and outcomes.

Proposals are not limited to applications of learning communities but may include the following areas:

1. Adult Education                                   11. Learner Autonomy
2. Critical Thinking                                   12. Materials Design
3. Curriculum Development                       13. Assessment
4. Distance and Online Learning                14. Teacher Development
5. Monitoring and Evaluation                     15. Young Learners
6. Educational Leadership                        16. Civic Education
7. Global Education                                 17. Collaborative Learning
8. Technology in Education                      18. Service Learning
9. Content Area Education                       19. Teaching Math & Science in English
10. Experiential Learning

This year's conference will feature a testing colloquium, concurrent sessions, panel discussions and a book exhibition.  The two new features this year are the IT Valley and Teaching Math and Science in English.  Keynote speakers are sponsored by the United States Public Affairs Section, the British Council and various publishers.

All are invited to present and to participate.  Colleagues in ministries, schools, institutes, faculties of education, universities, adult education centers and publishers are all most welcome.  The broader the range of professional interests, the more stimulating and challenging the conference will be.

SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS AND REGISTRATION

Please complete the form online: 
or send one copy of the completed proposal form to: http://www1.aucegypt.edu/conferences/eflconf/proposalform.html
 
The Skills Conference Committee
English Studies Division/ School of Continuing Education (Mail # 209)
The American University in Cairo
P.O. Box 2511, Cairo, Egypt

For further information contact:
TEL NO: (202) 797-6871    E-MAIL: skillsconf@aucegypt.edu
FAX: (202) 795-7565 (Attention:  Skills Conference Committee, ESD)