4TH Annual Conference on Online, Digital and Distance Education

Introduction

The Department of Educational and Distance Studies, Faculty of Education, University of Nairobi, Kenya, is a leader in online, digital and distance education. The Department has been using distance and blended learning modes for the last over 40 years to offer courses at different levels to various clients in Kenya and beyond. To share expertise and allow for knowledge exchange, the department will hold a Two-day online conference on Online, Digital and Distance Education during the University of Nairobi Research week in October, 2023.

In this complex and challenging time of trying to prepare for online, digital distance, blended, or socially-distanced classrooms, the education sector has faced challenges. This challenges needed various approaches and methodologies to ensure quality, access and continuity of Education. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that everyone has the right to education. The type of education offered should ensure the development of the learner’s personality, talents and mental and physical abilities to their fullest potential. It is a cornerstone of our society, enshrined in the UN Convention for the Rights of the Child. Online, Digital and Distance Education ensures that learners get the necessary opportunity to learn wherever and whenever they are.

The Conference focus is on the theme ‘Understanding Online, Blended and Distance Learning ecosystem in changing times’

Conference Objectives

1.  To provide a forum for Educators to meet and deliberate on aspects of Online, Blended and distance Learning approaches for changing times.
2. To bring together leading academic scientists, researchers and research scholars to exchange and share their experiences and research results on all aspects of Online, Digital, Blended and Distance learning.
3. To share ideas and experiences on Learning Strategies and Online Learning.
4. To provide a premier interdisciplinary platform for researchers, practitioners and educators to present and discuss the most recent innovations, trends, and concerns on Online, Digital, Blended and Distance learning.
5. To share mitigation strategies on practical challenges encountered in adaption and adoption of Online, Digital, Blended and Distance learning.
6. To create a network of scholars from various universities, institutions and other related organizations that will spearhead the process and utilization of Online, Digital, Blended and Distance learning.

MAIN THEME:   ‘HARNESSING RESEARCH FOR RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY OF COMMUNITIES’

Conference Theme: ‘Understanding Online, Blended and Distance Learning Ecosystem in Changing Times’

Conference Sub-Themes (23^rd – 24^TH OCTOBER 2023)

1. Professional Development, curriculum, Teacher Education, critical Pedagogy
2. Innovative Learning Designs, blended learning, courseware development,
3. Teacher Education, critical Pedagogy, equitable education, Lifelong Learning, inclusion
4. Mobile learning, Synchronous and asynchronous learning, Virtual Environment
5. Partnerships and collaborations in Online, Digital and Distance education
6. Technology, Digital wellness, mental and Psychological wellbeing
7. Digital Assessment and new test theories, Quality Assurance, Policy and Governance 
8. Virtual labs, virtual classrooms and virtual spaces for future learning
9. Digital libraries, OERS, MOOCs, Online Learning Communities
10. Emerging issues: Digitization, e-learning, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Micro credentials

Call for Papers

The conference welcomes original researches, case studies, poster presentations, workshops and dialogues papers in the field of Online, Digital, and Distance Learning and other related fields.

We will accept abstracts between 250-400 words.

Full original paper submissions under 12,000 words, will be submitted as per the guidelines which will be provided after acceptance of abstract

Abstract Submission Guidelines

Original papers are or ongoing researches are welcome.

Collaboration among multiple authors, colleagues and other scholars is highly encouraged.

Co-authored papers will be accepted with consent from both authors. It is the responsibility of the Lead Presenter to obtain the consent of fellow authors.

All presentations must adhere to intellectual property rights legislation. University of Nairobi will not be responsible for infringements of intellectual property or plagiarism in any of the conference presentations.

Abstracts for paper presentations must include a description of each of the following:

1. The research focus or problem
2. The conceptual framework informing the research
3. Research methods, including ethics
4. Key insights or findings, and implications.

Conference papers submission email:3rdannual@uonbi.ac.ke

Conference papers will be presented using power-point

Presentation Formats

1. Paper presentations: 2 days (20 minutes per paper)

 Important Dates:

Call for papers to be out	July 5, 2023
Abstract submission	August 25, 2023
Abstract acceptance	August 31, 2023
Abstracts and acceptance	August 31, 2023
Full paper submission	September 30, 2023
Registration for conference starts	September1, 2023
Close of Registration	October 13, 2023
Conference dates	October 23rd -24th 2023

CONFERENCE TYPE: VIRTUAL

Conference link  ( To be provided )

PARTICIPATION FEE

UoN Students	Ksh.1000 USD. $10.
University of Nairobi Staff	Ksh. 2,000 USD. $20.
Other participants	Ksh. 3,000 USD . $30

Host: Hosting Unit – Department of Educational and Distance Studies,

Faculty of Education,

University of Nairobi, Kenya

For any further information about the conference, contact:

Department of Educational and Distance Studies

Email: dept-edustudies@uonbi.ac.ke 

Tel. 0722 661299.