VWBPE 2024: MYTHIC ORIGINS

March 14-16, 2024

Call for Proposals

VWBPE: The Virtual Conference for Practice, Creation, and Learning in Digital Spaces

The VWBPE 2024 theme is Mythic Origins. Are you ready to embark on an extraordinary journey in education and virtual environments? Join us as we delve into the theme of mythic origins, where we explore the creation of immersive and transformative educational experiences through visual storytelling and interactivity.

At this conference, we will share our research and insights into the dynamic landscape of education, especially in the context of virtual and hybrid learning practices. Together we’ll explore big ideas in education including:

  • How we can enhance our educational approaches
  • Mythic origin stories pioneering innovative practices that can inspire others
  • Changing perceptions and behaviors of students towards lifelong learning
  • Understanding the benefits and challenges of artificial intelligence in teaching and learning

Educators, innovators, and enthusiasts from all corners of the globe are invited to come together at this groundbreaking event. We understand that education is a collaborative endeavor, and we believe in the power of synergy. Whether you’re an educator, an educational technologist, a web developer, or a passionate advocate for immersive learning, you are welcome to be part of our community.

Join us at VWBPE 2024 as we explore our Mythic Origins, together.

All subject areas and virtual environments that support teaching and learning are welcome.

Presentation proposal submissions are due 15 January 2024.

Livestream Engagement

Many of the conference sessions are streamed via YouTube Live as part of the recording process. The audience for these livestream sessions has been increasing each year. Therefore, VWBPE 2024 plans to incorporate questions and comments from the livestream with the presenter(s) and participants in-world.

Proposal Details

Presentations

Submission Deadline: February 4, 2024

Presentation proposals are those which will be included as part of the conference program, during any of the three days of the conference. These will be scheduled in a particular location and be listed on the main program.

All proposals submitted here are required to submit a title, a presentation summary with 1-2 objectives, and a description of how your proposal fits the “Mythic Origins” conference theme. Each of these fields has character limits, so please compose in a document before you add it to the form. Text that exceeds the character limit will be truncated.

Click on each of the tabs above to get additional information on how to create a proposal that fits this conference.

Time zones for the lead presenter and co-presenter are requested in order to assist in scheduling your presentation.

You will also be asked to include 1-4 keywords that are applicable to your proposal, such as tags for topics, technologies used, digital skills applied and other similar tags.

An additional consideration to keep in mind is the manner in which you will make your presentation accessible in text and voice for our diverse audience. We suggest one of the following or you may indicate a different method in your proposal submission.

  • SpeakEasy HUD Tool
  • Provide your own transcriptionist
  • Provide a written script during the presentation
  • Other: (please specify)

Consider the type of community you represent:

  • Educators and Trainers
  • Language Educators
  • Artists, Designers and Builders
  • Advocacy and NonProfit
  • Support and Help Communities
  • Entertainers and Performers
  • Coders, Scripters, and System/IT Analysts
  • Business and Entrepreneurs
  • Students
  • Other (please specify)

Mythic Origins VWBPE presentations should fit one of the Digital/Virtual Tracks listed below. Proposals will be accepted based on their level of innovation, novelty and originality, revolutionary ideas, and the degree to which they break boundaries and shatter old paradigms.

  1. Analytic Thinking and Complex Problem Solving
    Proposals to this track should engage participants with innovative examples, projects, or best practices on how analytic thinking is applied and used for solving meaningful, real life problems with applications to society, practice, creation, and learning, including the development of proof of concept or experimentation.
  2. Creativity and Innovation in Design, Practice, and Learning
    Proposals to this track should engage participants with innovative examples, projects, or best practices of creative and innovative work, by featuring ways to demonstrate originality, artistic and practical expression in practice, creation, or learning.
  3. Essential Accessibility in Digital and Virtual Spaces
    Proposals to this track should engage participants with innovative examples, projects, or best practices on using technology to make practice, creation, or learning accessible to multiple populations with varied abilities and engagement styles.
  4. Collaboration and Distance Connections
    Proposals to this track should engage participants with innovative examples, projects, or best practices on how virtual and digital technologies make connections and collaborations possible across distances in unexpected ways in practice, creation, or learning.
  5. Multimedia Communication and Multifaceted Interactions
    Proposals to this track should engage participants with innovative examples, projects, or best practices on the use of multimedia communications made possible through multiple technologies, insofar as interactions are redefined and go beyond text and spoken word in practice, creation, or learning.
  6. Ethics, Responsibility, and Tolerance
    Proposals to this track should engage participants with innovative examples, projects, or best practices on how to engage digitally in responsible ways, demonstrate tolerance of differences and multiple viewpoints, and/or models ethical behavior in practice, creation, or learning.
  7. VWBPE Redux
    Proposals to this track should engage participants with previously presented subjects from past VWBPE conferences with updated content. Redux sessions will be generally be 30 minutes long, unless submitted as a Micro Burst Cluster format presentation (15 minutes).

Please be prepared to describe specifically and clearly how your proposal fits the track you have selected.

The main VWBPE conference program will include six formats scheduled during any of the conference dates. Please review the descriptions before you make your choice. Presentation submissions undergo a double-blind peer review process for inclusion in the program.

Presenters accepted for inclusion in the program will be issued venue presentation tools and trained on their use, including a SpeakEasy HUD for making content accessible.

  1. Spotlight Presentations (50 minutes)
    Proposals using this format are like traditional lectures with slides of information on ideas, projects or research in any of the tracks listed previously. Consider submitting a paper or video for inclusion in the conference proceedings – encouraged but not required.
  2. Hands on Technology Workshops (80 minutes)
    Workshops should be hands on and allow participants to interact with the environment or the technology featured through multiple digital skills. Participants should not be passive listeners but be able to do what is demonstrated in the environment. Those who propose workshops will be able to build and/or set up their interactive area five hours before the session is to be scheduled. Prim counts are limited.
  3. Compass Points Roundtable Discussions (50 minutes)
    Roundtable discussions are not lecture presentations, nor are they hands on engagement. Presentation materials are kept to a minimum, and the focus is on the topic under discussion, which will be addressed from four compass point questions: What is exciting? What is worrisome? What is the current stance or opinion? What else do we need to know? A roundtable discussion should include at least 3, and no more than 5, discussants, with some audience discussion possible, as appropriate.
  4. Micro Burst Clusters Presentations (15 minutes)
    Proposals using this format will be ‘clustered’ together by topic / track. Presentations are to be 15 minutes, with 5 minutes for questions / discussion. A session moderator will guide the discussion between presentations. Topic Clusters may be 60 – 80 minutes in total, depending upon the number of topic submissions. Accept the challenge of sharing a quick burst of ideas.

    Conference Sponsors are encouraged to submit a Micro Burst presentation for a Sponsors Cluster. Refer to the Sponsorship information for more details.

  5. Tool Talk Demonstrations (20 minutes)
    There are many ‘tricks of the trade’ in education. The big ideas are shared frequently at conferences, but what about those little things we do that might slip under the radar. Is there a tool, technique, or technology that you cannot do without? Have you developed or found a practice or tool that supports learning? Now is your chance to share with your colleagues across the metaverse. Prepare a short demonstration presentation that engages the audience showing why this idea is not to be missed. Rezzed examples and handouts are encouraged.
  6. Poster Presentations
    Let’s share a Poster! This will be similar to more traditional physical conference Posters, allowing time for both asynchronous exploration and synchronous scheduled presentation times during the conference. In addition to their poster, presenters are encouraged to provide a short video overview of their work to be shown at their poster booth venue. Handouts are encouraged.

    Students are strongly encouraged to share their current work with a poster presentation.

    Information about poster formats, video requirements, and poster booth limitations will be provided upon acceptance, along with submission details for posters and videos.

Please refer to the Presentation Proposal Submission Guidelines for detailed information.

The Call for Proposals for Presentations is now CLOSED.

Exhibits

Submission Deadline: February 11, 2024

Exhibits are for those who wish to showcase their creative works in virtual worlds through artistic expression in order to promote their organization or achievements.

Exhibit submissions are VWBPE committee reviewed and require an already developed product for showcasing.

There are only tracks for the exhibit category of proposals. You can review the Exhibit Guidelines for detailed information.

When preparing your exhibit proposal, consider the eight tracks below.

  • K-12 Best Practices
  • Higher Education/College Best Practices
  • Field Practices
  • Games and Simulations
  • Tools and Products
  • Advocacy
  • Support and Help Communities
  • Artists, Designers and Builders
Click Here to Submit Proposal

Immersive Experiences

Submission Deadline: February 11, 2024

The Immersive Experiences category showcases locations whose main objective is interaction, immersion, and engagement for those who enter them, whether to play a game, solve an immersive problem, or engage participants in hands-on, interactive learning.

Immersive Experiences submissions require a guide to provide basic instruction on the interface of the platform. Time should be spent mainly on having the participants play, immerse, or engage with the location, not just “touring” it. Accessibility must be considered to allow participation for all.

Submissions to the Immersive Experiences category are VWBPE committee reviewed and require already existing and ready for use locations or platforms. Because of the length of time required for these experiences, these will be hosted pre- and post-conference. If a proposal is selected for inclusion, it will be scheduled in the two weeks before or after the conference, depending on availability and timing.

Would you like to showcase your Immersive Experience through video (machinima)?
We welcome you to consider providing a short video that can be used to promote your Immersive Experience.

Please indicate your interest by checking the video engagement box on the submission form. Additional information will be provided upon acceptance.

There are seven tracks for presentation proposals. They are as follows:

  1. Analytic Thinking and Complex Problem Solving
    Proposals to this track should engage participants with innovative examples, projects, or best practices on how analytic thinking is applied and used for solving meaningful, real life problems with applications to society, practice, creation ,and learning, including the development of proof of concept or experimentation.
  2. Creativity and Innovation in Design, Practice, and Learning
    Proposals to this track should engage participants with innovative examples, projects, or best practices of creative and innovative work, by featuring ways to demonstrate originality, artistic and practical expression in practice, creation, or learning.
  3. Essential Accessibility in Digital and Virtual Spaces
    Proposals to this track should engage participants with innovative examples, projects, or best practices on using technology to make practice, creation, or learning accessible to multiple populations with varied abilities and engagement styles.
  4. Collaboration and Distance Connections
    Proposals to this track should engage participants with innovative examples, projects, or best practices on how virtual and digital technologies make connections and collaborations possible across distances in unexpected ways in practice, creation, or learning.
  5. Multimedia Communication and Multifaceted Interactions
    Proposals to this track should engage participants with innovative examples, projects, or best practices on the use of multimedia communications made possible through multiple technologies, insofar as interactions are redefined and go beyond text and spoken word in practice, creation, or learning.
  6. Ethics, Responsibility, and Tolerance
    Proposals to this track should engage participants with innovative examples, projects, or best practices on how to engage digitally in responsible ways, demonstrate tolerance of differences and multiple viewpoints, and/or models ethical behavior in practice, creation, or learning.
  7. VWBPE Redux
    Proposals to this track should engage participants with previously presented subjects from past VWBPE conferences with updated content.
In the Immersive Experiences category, your proposal may be one of the following two formats:

Virtual Worlds
or
Wanna Play?

You can read more about these formats in the VWBPE 2024 Immersive Experiences Guidelines.

The Immersive Experiences category has a wide open option for venues, but they do fall under two general venue types, as long as they can be accessed through a computer, not a specific gaming console. Specific details on access must be submitted with the proposal. These are your choices:

3D Virtual Environment
or
Gaming Platform

Click Here to Submit Proposal