National Society for Experiential Education 43rd Annual Conference

National Society for Experiential Education (NSEE)  43rd Annual Conference September 29 - October 1, 2014 Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Baltimore Hotel  Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America www.nsee.org nsee@talley.com Conference Theme: Civic Engagement and Global Learning for the 21st Century Call for Proposals: The deadline to submit applications is Friday, January 31, 2014. Visit www.nsee.org to apply today! Experiential education in the 21st century faces a dual challenge: the necessity of staying connected locally while becoming engaged globally. As such, the traditional connotation of civic engagement once rooted mainly in community service, national citizenship and local careers must today embrace the expanded agenda of global learning capable of producing world-conscious graduates and globally informed citizens capable of broad and effective civic engagement at multiple levels.  Through the tectonic forces of globalization, the objectives of traditional civic engagement - social welfare, local activism, problem solving, integration, civil rights, stewardship, and business development - take on a new and urgent importance when applied to global issues - international justice, global citizenship, conflict resolution, cultural diversity, human rights, environmental protection, and sustainable development. Learning to bridge the global and the local is what civic engagement and global learning in the 21st century is now all about.  In a fast-changing interconnected world, NSEE believes that experiential education is a powerful pedagogy for helping students learn to think globally and act locally. Indeed, when NSEE principles of good practice in experiential education are applied, institutions of higher education serve as potential incubators of transformative teaching and learning processes, both in civic engagement and global learning. Similarly, whether engaged in internships, service learning, co-ops, problem-based projects or volunteer organizations - at home or abroad - students today encounter people, customs, and systems for which intercultural knowledge, skills and competencies have become requirements for navigating the local-global reality; for effecting impactful civic engagement; and for which professional success and personal achievement depend. Employing the high-impact practice of experiential teaching and learning helps us attain and assess these valuable outcomes.  To this end, NSEE has chosen to align the theme of this year's conference to one of the four essential learning outcomes AAC and U has articulated in its LEAP initiative and 2013 Strategic Plan - personal and social responsibility, which in the language of AAC and U includes the following key learning goals:  - Civic knowledge and engagementâ€"local and global - Intercultural knowledge and competence - Ethical reasoning and action - Foundations and skills for lifelong learning. Noteworthy in these learning outcomes is the importance of anchoring them through "active involvement with diverse communities and real-world challenges." This, of course, is the credo of the National Society for Experiential Education - learning through experience, critical reflection and action.  In short, when experiential programs in civic engagement break down walls of difference, foster global learning outcomes, develop non-profit and corporate partnerships, and engage in community development and sustainability - students emerge better able to experience, reflect upon, conceptualize, and experiment with the interaction of local and global forces that now characterize our 21st century. Working within, learning from, and engaging with a diversity of communities and cultures now defines both the challenge of global learning and the agenda of civic engagement.  Topical Areas of Interest for the 43rd NSEE Annual Conference include: - How NSEE's Eight Principles inform program design in civic engagement and social responsibility - Innovative learning strategies, courses or programs promoting civic engagement and global learning - Types of experiential education particularly impactful for fostering global and civic engagement(e.g., service learning, co-ops, volunteering, problem-based projects, undergraduate research, etc.) - Promoting student engagement with diversity and cultural difference - experientially - The role of faculty in helping students become civically engaged and globally aware - Using technology and social media for promoting civic engagement and global learning - Good practice in building local and global partnerships for civic engagement - Complementarities between NSEE Eight Principles and AAC and U Essential Learning Outcomes - Linkages between civic engagement and research, advocacy, and sustainability - Assessment of civic engagement and global learning through experiential learning NSEE's 43rd Annual Conference addresses these and related issues by exploring how experiential education in a globalized world makes the teaching, learning and assessing of civic engagement more impactful. NSEE therefore welcomes session and poster proposals from faculty, administrators and students using principles of good practice in experiential education for promoting civic engagement and global learning. Proposal Submission Deadline: January 31, 2014 at 11:59 pm Proposal Guidelines: When preparing your proposal, we encourage you to structure your ideas around the areas of interest as represented by NSEE's Special Interest Groups (SIGs) and within the context of one of the following conference tracks:  1. Scholarship: Empirical, Applied, and Pedagogical Research 2. Best Practices - Case Studies - Technology (e.g., e-portfolios) - Tools and Techniques 3. Partnerships - Conversations across campus between student affairs and academic affairs - Attracting external partners, funding and relationships - Engaging in national conversations (e.g., how has your institution worked with other national organizations such as AAC and U, AAEEBL, NCHC to promote experiential education) 4. Evaluation and Assessment - Accreditation (e.g., QEP) - Tools and Techniques 5. Student Poster Forum (with commendations to be awarded!) - Research experiences and reflection - Education Abroad experiences and reflection - Service-Learning experiences and reflection - Internship experiences and reflection The deadline to submit applications to speak at the conference is Friday, January 31, 2014. You can find more information, such as the call-for-proposal and application, at www.nsee.org. Email your application to nsee@talley.com Accommodations: Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Baltimore Hotel This year's conference will be on the Baltimore Inn Harbor at the Royal Sonesta Harbor Court. The hotel offers an elegant hotel in a beautiful location on Baltimore's scenic Inner Harbor. Overlooking the picturesque waterfront, this Inner Harbor hotel is within walking distance of the business district and many popular Baltimore attractions in "Charm City."  For years, this property has been considered one of the most revered and authentic Inner Harbor hotels in Baltimore, and Sonesta's commitment to the area has elevate the property to a new standard.  Visit www.nsee.org for more information on making hotel reservations. Experiential Education Academy (EEA): A key component of NSEE's mission is to enhance the professional development of its members. Another component of the mission is to be the national leader in advancing experiential education as a field and a profession. To accomplish both aspects of this mission, NSEE created the Experiential Education Academy, Often referred to as the EEA or the Academy. The EEA supports and contributes to both the day-to-day work effectiveness and the long-term development of NSEE members through a series of professional workshops leading to a Certificate of Knowledge. The program is designed for all practitioners, regardless of specific experiential application. The set of workshops creates a common base of knowledge and competence for the field of experiential education and allows participants the flexibility to increase their expertise in their own particular interest areas. The Goals of the Academy: - To provide to NSEE members with a foundation in theory and practice of experiential education - To support members so that their programs meet the principles of effective practices identified by NSEE - To facilitate new member access to the expertise and knowledge of accomplished members - To create opportunities for members to develop the knowledge, skills, and competence that will strengthen experiential education within their institutions For newcomers to the field, the Academy provides the opportunity to become well grounded in the foundations of experiential theory, principles, and practices. For the mid-career to more accomplished practitioners, workshops are offered that probe 'beyond the basics' and delve into special topics. Issues of universal appeal such as legal issues in experiential education and assessment of learning, are also integral parts of the Academy. Members recognized for their leadership and expertise in the content areas facilitate the workshops. EEA workshops are offered as pre-cons to the NSEE annual conference and in regional institutes throughout the year.  All experiential education professionals are invited to explore the possibilities afforded by the Academy. For more information contact NSEE directly at 856-423-3427, or by email at NSEE@talley.com.  About NSEE: National Society for Experiential Education (NSEE) is a nonprofit membership association of educators, businesses, and community leaders. Founded in 1971, NSEE also serves as a national resource center for the development and improvement of experiential education programs nationwide. NSEE is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors representing diverse K-12 and higher education settings, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies. Candidates for elected positions are nominated by the membership. NSEE Staff coordinates the activities of the organization from the national office in Mt. Royal, New Jersey. NSEE members volunteer to serve on a variety of committees and there are opportunities for leadership development, service to the membership, and community building among members through NSEE's Special Interest Groups (SIGs) and Networks. Contact Us: NSEE  19 Mantua Road  Mt. Royal, NJ 08061  Phone: 856.423.3427 Fax: 856.423.3420 www.nsee.org NSEE@talley.com Enquiries: nseemtg@talley.com Web address: http://www.nsee.org/ Sponsored by: National Society for Experiential Education (NSEE)