The 7th International Conference of the Immersive Learning Research Network (iLRN 2021) will be an innovative and interactive virtual gathering for a strengthening global network of researchers and practitioners collaborating to develop the scientific, technical, and applied potential of immersive learning. It is the premier scholarly event focusing on advances in the use of virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), and other extended reality (XR) technologies to support learners across the full span of learning—from K-12 through higher education to work-based, informal, and lifelong learning contexts. 

Following the success of iLRN 2020, our first fully online and in-VR conference, this year’s conference will once again be based on the iLRN Virtual Campus, powered by VirBELA, but with a range of activities taking place on various other XR simulation, gaming, and other platforms. Scholars and professionals working from informal and formal education settings as well as those representing diverse industry sectors are invited to participate in the conference, where they may share their research findings, experiences, and insights; network and establish partnerships to envision and shape the future of XR and immersive technologies for learning; and contribute to the emerging scholarly knowledge base on how these technologies can be used to create experiences that educate, engage, and excite learners.

Last year’s iLRN conference drew over 3,600 attendees from across the globe, making the scheduling of sessions a challenge. This year’s conference activities will be spread over a four-week period so as to give attendees more opportunities to participate at times that are conducive to their local time zones.

Więcej informacji na: https://immersivelrn.org/ilrn2021/

Distance education has been changing its nature and gaining momentum in the past couple of decades, under the influence of ICT and learning sciences' developments, up to become an established part of the current education world. The engine of this growth has been the technological development of diverse, two-way communication channels apt to support interaction and joint work in different ways, effectively removing time and place constraints. Such development has contributed to change the field: not only there is currently a major focus on distance education at most institutions around the world, but also fostering students' active involvement and self-regulation has been receiving growing attention, increasingly moving courses away from traditional face-to-face approaches. Distance education is prone to further evolution and diffusion, following the changes of technology and culture. We can expect, in particular:

• More personalized and adaptive learning, allowing students to blend, at individual pace, varied resources distributed across settings and institutions; 

• Convergence of multiple technologies in a single device, creating a new level of functionality and interaction; 

• Development of more effective approaches and regulations for accreditation; 

• Attempts towards courses' automation.

ICDEL 2021 conference is closely monitoring the status of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on conference and travel. Participants safety and health is our priority. While ICDEL 2021 conference prefer to have an in-person conference to the maximum extent possible, online presentation will be acceptable this year, besides the regular onsite presentation format (oral presentation).

Więcej informacji na: http://www.icdel.org/index.html