ESERA 2009 CONFERENCE
Istanbul, Turkey
August 31st - September 4th 2009

Proposal submissions will start on Monday December 22, 2008 and will continue until January 16, 2009 (Midnight - GMT)

STRANDS

1. Learning Science
Theories, strategies, and models of learning; meaningful learning, conceptual development, conceptual change, developing understandings, developing skills. Cognitive, affective, and social factors in learning science.

2. Teaching Science
Instructional methods, perspectives and innovations, laboratory-based practices, use of ICT in science education, and use of drama in science education

3. The Nature of Scientific Content
Structure and essence of scientific content, how scientific content differs from other contents; visualization, metaphors, models, modelling, analogies, simulations, and animations in science and their use in science education

4. History, Philosophy and Sociology of Science
Historical, philosophical and social issues of science, nature of science, and epistemology of science as they are related to science education

5. Discourse and Argumentation in Science Education
Understanding, supporting and promoting argumentation discourse in science education, discourse analysis, the talk of science classrooms, and meaning making in science classrooms

6. Scientific Literacy
Teaching about scientific literacy, decision-making about socio-scientific issues, and public engagement of science

7. Informal-Outdoor Science Education
Developing and evaluating the impact of programs and experiences outside the classroom by institutions and organizations other than schools (i.e. museums, science and technology centers, zoos and botanical gardens, scientific research laboratories, and outreach centers) and learning experiences through mass media (in print, film, broadcast, electronic, etc.)

8. Environmental Education
Ecological education, experiential education, education for sustainable development, indigenous science, and attitudes and interests towards environmental issues

9. Science Curriculum and Evaluation
Curriculum development, reform, implementation, dissemination and evaluation, and international comparison studies such as TIMSS, PISA, ROSE; evaluation of schools and institutions

10. Assessment of Student Learning and Development
Development, validation and use of standardized test, achievement tests, high stakes tests, and instruments for measuring attitudes, interests, beliefs, self-efficacy, science process skills, conceptual understandings, etc; authentic assessment, formative assessment, summative assessment; approaches to assessment.

11. Educational Policy
Policy and Practice issues: local, regional, national, or international issues of policy related to science education

12. Cultural, Social, and Gender Issues
Equity and diversity issues: Sociocultural, multicultural, bilingual, racial/ethnic, gender equity studies and science education for the special needs

13. Pre-service Science Teacher Education
Pre-service professional development of teachers, pre-service teacher education programs and policy, field experience, and issues related to pre-service teacher education reform

14. Professional Development
In-service science teacher education, teachers as lifelong learners; methods, innovation and reform in professional development; evaluation of professional development practices, reflective practice, teachers as researchers, and action research