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IERG’s Conference, July 2006
We were delighted to see more than 300 delegates from Canada and around the world attend our fourth annual conference, held in beautiful Vancouver. We were especially pleased to see both so many new faces and so many returning colleagues. The responses we received at the end of the conference seemed generally to agree that the quality and variety of papers, and the opportunities for networking, were significantly higher than the high standards our earlier conferences had set. Needless to say, the organizers were very happy with this feedback.
Opening Doors to Imaginative Education: connecting theory to practice
Dr. Howard Gardner, our keynote speaker, delivered a predictably insightful and original set of observations about the imagination and its role in education, exploring how the stimulation of creative processes that use the imagination mobilize the intelligences in new and expansive ways. As well, he pondered the intricate connections between cultural modes, the developmental possibilities of imagination, and imagination and creativity. His ideas sparked much discussion and many references during other talks and workshops. Our other invited speakers included Dr. Vera John-Steiner, Dr. Concettina Manna, Dr. Guiseppe Cardone, Dr. Kieran Egan, Dr. Mark Fettes, and Mr. Alan Haskvitz. Each gave stimulating talks that led to much discussion during the conference.
Further, in addition to conference sessions spanning a wide array of areas in the arts, sciences, and mathematics, delegates had the opportunity to engage in a number of activities, including a dinner on Thursday night, at the top floor of the hotel looking out over the sea and mountains and further enhanced by the singing of Dr. Kristin Lems. Most delegates also enjoyed the fabulous boat cruise and dinner on Friday evening, going up the Indian Arm fjord and pausing almost literally under the glittering Silver Falls waterfall.
A new feature of the conference this year, a Symposium, provided for the in depth exploration of educational themes through grouped presentations and inspiring conversations. Stimulating sessions in both the conference and the Symposium and plenty of opportunities for socializing led to the international cross pollination of ideas, in an environment that was vibrant, enjoyable and memorable.
We hope you will consider joining us at our Fifth International Conference to be held July 18th to July 21st, 2007. Our conference theme is “Imaginative Education: Provoking Excellence Across the Curriculum.” Click on the following link to read more about the conference and our invited speakers: http://www.ierg.net/confs/index.php?cf=2
To read or download the Call for Proposals which has a deadline of February 19, 2007, please click here.
For those interested in submitting a 5000 word (maximum) paper to our fully referred, 2nd Annual Research Symposium on Imagination and Education, go to: www.ierg.net/confs/index.php?cf=4