www.JTELSummerSchool.eu

We are pleased to announce the 7th Joint European Summer School on Technology Enhanced Learning, to take place from Monday, May 30th to Friday June 3rd, 2011. Pre-summer school activities are organized all day on Sunday, May 29th.

The summer school aims to encourage participants to adopt a critical stance in thinking about the role of technologies in providing opportunities for learners and the potential of these opportunities in terms of learning.

The summer school provides a learning environment where participants get opportunities to: develop their research skills; increase their knowledge base; collaborate with others in their own and complementary research areas; engage in debate; have access to experts in the field; and discuss their own work.

The programme will include lectures from a broad range of domains which contribute to advancing the field of Technology Enhanced Learning. TEL research projects are encouraged to provide students with a perspective of the state-of-the-art research under study in their working groups. The programme will also include practical and methodological workshops and opportunities for doctoral candidates to develop their personal research. Students will have opportunities to present and discuss their doctoral work.

Applications should be submitted online before Friday, March 18, 2011. The online application form will be available from Friday, January 28, 2011 at www.JTELSummerSchool.eu.

Applicants will be required to submit:
- a CV outlining their educational background and work experience (maximum one page);
- a letter of motivation, explaining why they want to participate in the Summer School (maximum one page);
- a statement explaining how they think they might contribute to the Summer School and in particular how they can contribute to developing STELLAR Grand Challenges (maximum one page);
- a letter of support from their PhD advisor, which should include a statement of the level of support the institution is able to supply.

Applicants requiring financial support for participation or travel should explicitly mention it in their motivation letter, briefly explaining their circumstances. It is expected that applicants working on research projects which are able to fund them will not apply for financial support. To ensure a high ratio between tutors and students the school will be limited to 60 PhD students.

In order to increase social contacts among the summer school participants, the programme includes several social events. A variety of sport activities will also be offered to the summer school participants.

Cultural excursions are organised on the Sunday preceding the summer school and the Saturday which closes the summer school.

Support
This year the JTEL Summer School will benefit from special funding from the STELLAR Network of Excellence in Technology Enhanced Learning and the European Association of Technology Enhanced Learning.

Venue Description
The Summer School will take place in Plataniás, Crete. The village of Plataniás has successfully retained its individual charm and hospitality whilst developed into a popular, cosmopolitan holiday destination with a wide range of taverns, shops, bars and restaurants, a bustling centre full of activity and entertainment. The centre of Hania with its enchanting Venetian harbour is 9km away from Plataniás.

Accommodation and social events
Accommodation and summer school facilities will be made available at Porto Plataniás Beach Resort, (http://www.portoplatanias.gr/) situated in a quiet, idyllic area of Plataniás, next to one of the cleanest beaches of the island. Within walking distance from the Resort you have the chance to explore the exceptionally picturesque village of Plataniás up on the hill, as well as the surrounding area.

PhD students are asked to share double rooms, triple or quadruple bungalows with other PhD students.

Cost of Summer School
The cost for PhD students is Euro 550 (including accommodation - 7 nights in double room, meals, excursions, local transportation to and from the airport). JTEL has secured funding to provide funding for about 40 PhD student grants to cover summer school accommodation, catering, and events. Please indicate if you are applying for a scholarship in your application. Some selected students with grants may be able to benefit from funding to cover travel expenses to Plataniás as well.

Calendar
March 18, 2011: Deadline for submitting applications to the Summer School
April 15, 2011:  Notification of acceptance
April 29, 2011: Pre-Summer School videoconferences begin
May 29, 2011:  Summer School begins

Awareness for future events
To receive other calls for doctoral events in TEL or just to keep in touch with your peers in the field, feel free to subscribe to the new Mailing list for PhD candidates in TEL (http://lists.teleurope.eu/listinfo.cgi/phd-candidates-teleurope.eu). You will also be able to post moderated messages.