5th
Annual Conference:
Creating
Cultural Bridges
CALL FOR PROPOSALS
November 19-21, 2004
Indiana Memorial Union Conference Center,
Bloomington, Indiana
SIETAR-USA (Society for Intercultural Education, Training and Research) invites
you to submit proposals to present at its Fifth Annual International Conference in
Bloomington, Indiana.
SIETAR-USA (www.sietarusa.org) is a non-profit, membership organization for
educators, researchers and trainers from a wide range of practical and academic
disciplines who share a common concern for intercultural relations.
SIETAR-USA is a part of a network of SIETAR organizations around the world.
Through a broad range of activities SIETAR-USA provides a unique opportunity to
learn from and share with colleagues in the intercultural arena and advance the
body of knowledge and practice in the field.
This year's conference will be held at the Indiana Memorial Union Conference
Center (http://www.imu.indiana.edu/hotel_conference_center/index.html).
Situated on the beautiful Indiana University campus (http://www.iub.edu/), the
conference center is conveniently located next to IU attractions and within
walking distance to over 20 restaurants, and the downtown shopping and
business area.
Bloomington, Indiana is known to many interculturalists as the home of Sivasailam
Thiagarajan (Thiagi), creator of numerous simulation games and interactive
training methodologies widely used in intercultural education and training
(www.thiagi.com) and a host of the SIETAR-2004 Conference.
The theme of this year’s conference is Creating
Cultural Bridges.
Intercultural work is devoted to creating bridges between different cultures.
These bridges may help people come together in ways that enhance relationships
and effectiveness in the workplace and social situations, or to accomplish mutual
goals in a satisfactory manner. They may help create new understandings of
cultural realities or break down old stereotypes and animosities, offering avenues
to greater inter- group harmony. The work may involve identifying bridges that
already exist, helping people see and use them constructively.
At other times interculturalists get busy repairing these bridges and trying to
make them safe. There are moments in professional or personal life when
interculturalists serve as a bridge between cultures and groups and many are very
aware of how difficult this task can be.
There is art in bridging cultures. This process calls for creativity, and intuition,
and unconventional vision and wisdom. There is "science" that supports the
process: researching, finding answers, and creating theoretical models.
There is a learning process that calls for different forms of education not only for
those who are discovering the ideas and concepts that are part of the
intercultural field, but for those who are continually exploring new applications
and worldviews.
As the intercultural field is growing, it also faces a need to build bridges between
different parts of its own territory. SIETAR- USA welcomes educators, trainers,
researchers, professionals working with refugees and immigrants, diversity
specialists, relocation consultants, international student advisors, business people
and anybody else who is interested in a dialogue on Creating Cultural Bridges.
This broad theme allows presenters the greatest freedom in designing sessions
that consider how the intercultural field responds to the challenges that arise in
today’s world, both globally and locally. The Conference Committee
invites
proposals that address the research and the application of concepts related to
the theme of Creating Cultural Bridges.
PROPOSAL GUIDELINES
The following guidelines will assist you in completing and submitting a proposal to
conduct a session at the conference. Proposals for concurrent sessions must
include all ten elements described below to be considered by the conference
committee:
I. Title of Presentation
II. Presenter(s) Contact Information
III. Session Length
IV. Session Format
V. Session Description
VI. Target Audience
VII. Presenter(s) Biography
VIII. Brief Session/Bio Write- ups for the Program
IX. Equipment List
X. Room Set-up Requirements.
Please submit your proposal via email to:
Tatyana Fertelmeyster, Conference Chair
Please make sure that a subject line on your message states clearly that you are
sending a proposal for the SIETAR-USA Conference
If you are absolutely unable to submit your proposal via email, please mail four
copies to:
Tatyana Fertelmeyster, Conference Chair
SIETAR-USA
354 Hazelwood Terrace,
Buffalo Grove, IL 60089
The deadline for priority consideration of received proposals is April 30, 2004. Final
deadline is June 1, 2004. SIETAR-USA Conference Committee is a group of SIETAR
members who are volunteering their efforts to organize the conference. The
quality of their work in reading and choosing proposals depends upon having a
sufficient amount of time. Sending your proposal in earlier rather than later will
help us to make our important and highly demanding task more efficient and less
stressful.
After submitting the proposal, you will receive an initial acknowledgement of
receipt. Three different people will rate each proposal according to clearly
established, objective criteria. You will be notified of acceptance in time to pre-
register for the conference. Notification of decisions on proposals will be sent as
soon as possible.
Presenters are kindly requested to pre-register for the conference by September
1, 2004, which will allow you to take advantage of the early-bird registration and
will signify your commitment to present at the conference.
Please follow the format outlined below for your proposal:
PROPOSAL FORMAT
I. TITLE OF PRESENTATION:
Choose a title that accurately reflects the content of the proposed session.
Clever or catchy titles are acceptable, but make sure that they are not
misleading.
II. PRESENTER(S) INFORMATION:
Please provide the following information for every presenter. If there is more than
one presenter, please start with the one who is designated as a contact person
for the group. All proposal- related communication will be between the conference
committee and this one person.
III. SESSION LENGTH:
Specify a 60-, 75-, or 120-minute session, regardless of session format.
IV. SESSION FORMAT:
Specify the format of your session, according to the following descriptions.
Regardless of format, interactive sessions are encouraged. FOR ALL FORMATS,
PRESENTERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL MATERIALS INCLUDING PHOTOCOPYING
OF HANDOUTS.
a) Workshop: A workshop features a combination
of presentation/lecture and
interaction with the audience. It should have a well-defined structure and include
handouts and visual aids. Workshops tend to require 75 and 120 minutes. Within
this format a simulation or set of exercises may be conducted to teach
participants how this methodologies can be used in training and education.
b) Panel: A panel presentation consists
of three or more panelists offering
multiple perspectives and insights on a common topic or theme. The presentation
should be structured to allow time for questions. Attendees should receive
session materials (e.g., outline of the session, bibliography, handouts, brief
biographies of panel members, and contact information for follow up).
One of the panelists should serve as session chair and contact person with
SIETAR USA. Panel presentations should be no longer than 75 minutes.
c) Facilitated Discussion: The presenter
will lead participants in a discussion of
a proposed topic. While this format permits considerable audience participation,
the presenter should propose and follow an outline to permit as thorough and in-
depth an examination of all aspects of the topic as permitted in the time allowed.
Topical discussions tend to fit best into a 60 or 75-minute session.
d) Formal Paper/Research Presentation: This
more formal, academic format
consists of the presenter describing the results of a research project and
discussing the study. Attendees can expect a question and answer period during
this session. Presenters are encouraged to provide copies of their paper.
Formal presentation sessions tend to be suited for 60- minute sessions.
e) Artistic Expression/Performance:
This format invites presentations other
than the traditional style, which places a primary emphasis on the spoken word.
Presentations in this format may rely more on music, visual arts, theatre or
physical movement to deliver their messages. These sessions are best scheduled
for 60 to 75 minutes.
f) Film/Video Sessions: The presentation
and debriefing of a video or film/film
segment should include the following: an introduction which prepares participants
to see how the film increases one’s knowledge of another culture, a cultural
concept, or some other dimension of the intercultural experience and a debrief
that will enhance their ability to convey such knowledge to others. Please specify
the length of film/video. (Please note that we are already planning a film event
during the conference but these plans are still being put together).
g) Interactive Poster Sessions: Papers/projects
presented within a poster
session have clearly readable posters with data (and/or charts, illustrations, etc.)
mounted on a poster board for the length of the session. Copies of the complete
paper—or at least a summary—should be available for distribution.
Presenters should be on hand to explain/discuss the visually presented data or
research findings during specially scheduled periods (listed in the program). This
kind of session is ideal for someone with less experience in presenting at a
conference.
V. SESSION DESCRIPTION:
Present a concise description of the presentation (maximum 600 words) following
the format below:
-
Session title
- Main points or key content
- The learning goals for the participants
(what they can expect to learn)
- Methodologies used (e.g.: lecture
40%, exercise 30%, discussion 30%)
- Why this content is important.
VI. TARGET AUDIENCE:
Please describe who will most benefit from attending your session.
Level of experience:
Areas of professional interest:
-
Education
- Higher Education
- K-12
- Training
- Research
- Simulations
- Business/Corporate
- Non-profit/NGO
- Domestic Diversity
- Global Diversity
- Cultural Transitions
- Culture/Country Specific
- Peace and Conflict Resolution
- Communication/Dialogue
- Intrapersonal Dimensions
- Other (specify):
- All
VII. PRESENTER(S)
BIOGRAPHY(IES):
Provide a biographical summary of 400 words or less (experience, education,
expertise in the topic being proposed) for every presenter
VIII. BRIEF SESSION/BIO
WRITE-UP FOR THE PROGRAM BULLETIN:
These are the descriptions of you and your session that will appear in the
program and will be the only information available to participants about you and
your session ahead of time. Space limitations permit a maximum of 50 words for
each bio and up to 200 words for the session.
IX. EQUIPMENT:
Please specify what equipment you will need for your presentation. The following
will be provided if requested with the proposal:
-
Overhead projector
- Flip chart
- TV/VCR
- Screen
- PowerPoint LCD projector (limited
availability)
- Other (please, let us know NOW what
you have in mind and we will tell you if
it is possible)
X. ROOM SIZE and
SET-UP
Please specify the following:
Number of participants for your session:
Your preferred room set-up:
-
Chairs in theater style
- Chairs with tables
- Other (specify):
The conference committee is looking forward to receiving your proposal in a timely
fashion and enjoying your presentation and your company at the SIETAR- USA
Fifth Annual International Conference in Bloomington, Indiana in November of 2004.
If you have any questions or need any clarifications, please contact Tatyana
Fertelmeyster at
tatyanaf@corecomm.net
