ICEL 2008

Eleventh International Conference (Sydney, Australia)

In 1989 the second ICEL conference was held in Sydney In 2008 we return to Australia for the 11th International Conference on Experiential Learning hosted by the University of Technology, Sydney in partnership with ICEL.

The conference is entitled: The Identity of Experience

The dates for the conference are: 8 to 12 December 2008.
The venue is the University of Technology, Sydney in Australia.
For full details about submissions and dates for registration please consult the conference website.

The conference, 'The Identity of Experience', will focus on four challenges for experiential learning:

The challenge of integration

Increasingly experiential learning has been co-opted and integrated into other disciplines and contexts of learning, for example:

• Workplace learning
• Life and business coaching
• Uses of ICT for learning

Is there a danger that the integration of experiential learning makes it invisible, dilutes its impact and inhibits the development of the field?

The challenge of difference

Experiential learning has always attracted a broad community of practitioners and embraced a range of theoretical ideas. Some examples of this can be seen in areas as diverse as:

• The recognition of prior learning
• Outbound learning
• Simulations and games

Does this difference disperse the focus and energy of the experiential learning or strengthen its appeal as a learning approach?

The challenge of research investigation

The theoretical foundations of experiential learning are well established but the effects of its application in different settings are more problematic because:

• Practices are less well documented
• They do not always use conventional research methods
• They are dealing with learning that is difficult to quantify

How can experiential learning use research to demonstrate that its practice is sound and to reinforce its validity as a learning approach?

The challenge of application

It can be argued that there is a lack of understanding of what constitutes good practice in experiential learning. Some of the areas that challenge practitioners are:

• Establishing’ benchmarks’ of good practice
• Developing inclusive practices
• Ensuring appropriate ethical practices are employed

How can those involved in experiential learning ensure that they are engaged in high quality practice?

We invite all experiential educators to become involved in this exciting international event.

For more information: See conference website or contact:
Kate Collier or Elyssebeth Leigh.