Conference

Education Across the Americas

Every year, ALAS organizes a conference that brings professors, scholars, students, and activitists together to address educational issues pertaining to the Latin American and Caribbean Diaspora. Our annual conference aims to create academic, cultural, and social networks reuniting the Latin American community at Teachers College as well as individuals and scholars interested in Latin American issues.

2010 Conference

The Association of Latin American Scholars (ALAS) is pleased to host its 8th Annual Education Across the Americas Conference at Teachers College, Columbia University. We are currently soliciting proposal abstracts for presentations at the conference, scheduled for March 26 to March 27th, 2010.

Call for Proopsals

For over 8 years, ALAS' annual conference has sought to create a space for analysis, dialogue, and exchange in relation to the complex realities of education in the Americas. Throughout our history, the conference's objective has been to provide a unique opportunity for scholars who work on issues of education in Latin America to share and discuss their policy, academic, and research concerns. Latin America, however, is far from a homogenous and monolithic landscape of social, political, economic, and cultural practices. The diversity of contexts that characterizes Latin America requires educators, researchers, and policymakers alike to consider the multiplicity of experiences and perspectives when examining education as social phenomena.

Students' learning, educational development and achievement are influenced by the actions and features of several actors. Actors working at schools seem to be the most relevant ones, but there are certainly agents in other arenas that influence the learning process. The interplay of members of the school as an institution (e.g.teachers, school staff) along with parents, organizers of after school programs, NGOs, and faith-based organizations are also part of students' learning. All these actors and organizations form learning communities. The successful bridging of these communities can potentially upgrade the pool of resources that promote educational development.

This year's theme--Voices in Education: Bridging Learning Communities--aims to create a space in which members of different learning communities share their experiences and knowledge on the promotion of educational development. Moreover, we invite researchers and young scholars to discuss the relevance of specific educational agents. In sum, we aim to promote the dialogue between the voices of those who integrate learning communities.

We welcome the submission of proposals from all disciplines addressing topics within the broad realm of education in the Americas. Topics may fall within, but are not limited to, the following categories:

  • -Curriculum and Teaching
  • -Educational Policy
  • -Learning Processes
  • -Education, Leadership and Politics
  • -Comparative and International Education
  • -Language and Literacy
  • -Race and Ethnicity
  • -Education and Development
  • -Psychology and Education
  • -Economics and Education
  • -Philosophy and Education
  • -Mathematics, Science and Technology Education
  • -Art and Education
  • -Adult Education
  • -Popular and Nonformal Education
  • -Bilingual and Multicultural Education
  • -Globalization and Immigration Issues

    • Proposal Submission

    Proposals may be submitted for individual paper proposals, discussion panel or poster session. Proposals should include:

  • - Title, author(s), institutional affiliation(s), Name and e-mail address of primary contact
  • - An abstract of approximately 200 words including the purpose, problem statement, research questions and/or hypotheses.
  • - All proposals should be submitted via email to alas.tc.columbia@gmail.com
  • - Proposals are to be received no later than February 1th, 2010

    • Notes:

  • - Poster sessions will take place during lunch breaks on both conference days.
  • - Please note that if your paper proposal/panel/poster is accepted, this abstract will be included in the information distributed to conference attendees and it also will be posted on the ALAS website.
  • - Proposals should be submitted using the following format:
  • -12-point font, Times New Roman, one-inch margins, double-spaced
  • -The presentation can be in Spanish or English.
  • -An abstract of the proposal in English is required.

    • Workshops

  • - Title, author(s), institutional affiliation(s), Name and e-mail address of primary contact
  • - An abstract of approximately 200 words including the goals, target audience, maximum number of participants and material needed. Please note that if your paper/poster is accepted, this abstract will be included in the information distributed to conference attendees and it also will be posted on the ALAS website.
  • - Willingness to serve as a chair or discussant for other sessions
  • - All proposals should be submitted via email to alas.tc.columbia@gmail.com
  • - Proposals are to be received no later than February 1th, 2010

    • Notes:

  • - Please note that if your workshop is accepted, this abstract will be included in the information distributed to conference attendees and it also will be posted on the ALAS website.
  • - All workshop sessions will be 90 min long.
  • - Proposals should be submitted using the following format:
  • - 12-point font, Times New Roman, one-inch margins, double-spaced
  • - The workshop can be in Spanish or English.
  • - An abstract of the proposal in English is required.

    • Proposal Selection

    The Conference Organizing Committee will begin the selection of proposals based on ALAS standards for research validity and relevance. We will notify acceptances on or before February 20, 2010. Accepted presenters are required to submit their full presentation paper to ALAS two weeks prior to the conference.

    Participation Limits

    In order to promote broad participation, individuals may present only one paper proposal at the annual meeting. Participants may be listed as co-authors of more than one accepted paper proposal and may perform a variety of other roles at the conference, but will generally be limited to a single paper presentation.

    Conference Supporters

    ALAS' annual conference is made possible by generous support from: The President's and Provost's Student Event Fund at Columbia University; the Office of Student Activities at Teachers College, the Teachers College Student Senate, and the Office of the Vice-president's for Diversity and Community Affairs

    Past Conferences