Call for Papers League of Worlds October 2008 Hong Kong

The International Conference on Exploring Virtuality

5^th Annual Colloquium on Online Simulations, Role-playing, and Virtual Worlds

October 13-17, 2008

Hong Kong University

Hong Kong

Future worlds: Virtual worlds today and tomorrow

Call for Papers

About the League of Worlds
The League of Worlds (LoW) annual colloquium brings together people engaged in the creation of virtual worlds and real-time simulations for educational and training purposes. Our mission is (1) to stimulate and disseminate research and analysis regarding the theoretical, technical, and curricular developments in; and (2) to contribute towards the development of coherent frameworks for the advancement, application and assessment of educational and social uses of role-playing, simulations, and virtual worlds. Our primary areas of interest include:

• Theoretical analysis
• The development of practical applications
• The documentation of framework projects and case studies.

LoW5 Theme

"Future worlds: Virtual worlds today and tomorrow."

Hundreds of virtual worlds exist to serve youth, educational, and corporate markets, yet few offer anything more than a glimpse of how technological innovations such as virtual worlds may lead to new forms, methods, and modes of communication, collaboration, and creation. We are experiencing unprecedented growth in the funding and development of virtual worlds, but toward what purpose?

This year, we will consider the opportunities and challenges the proliferation of virtual worlds offer today, and contemplate what they hold for tomorrow. In many ways, the future of virtual worlds depends on how early adopters decide to use them to advance and to extend their organizational mission. But what factors will influence which platforms and worlds survive and which ones do not?

About the colloquium
The League of Worlds colloquium is not an ordinary conference.

The League of Worlds brings together creators of virtual worlds and real-time simulations for educational, artistic, and creative purposes. Participants share a passionate interest in advancing theory and praxis in creative, educational, and cultural contexts. The League of Worlds is committed to exploring complex, networked social spaces, such as Second Life, Croquet, Metaverse, Fablusi, Active Worlds and other simulation and/or role-playing platforms, as they relate to questions of virtuality vs. reality, identity construction in new media technologies, and other key questions. In particular, we invite research into framework projects and case studies and strongly encourage exploration with pedagogical or other practical applications. Both creative and technical studies are welcome.

Participants are expected to challenge one another to take a fresh look at the questions
that arise when people meet in virtual territories to play, to learn, and to share.  Participation is purposely
limited and there will be no concurrent sessions.  Instead, participants will engage in an ongoing dialogue about
virtual environments, integrating their own perspectives and expertise into the
conversation.
Proposal categories
The League of Worlds colloquium is designed to support sharing and meaningful
reflection.  Participants should allow one another the opportunity to share experiences,
to demonstrate technologies, and to think critically. To facilitate these activities, the
colloquium review committee is interested in submissions on the following topics:
Technologies used to create and manage
virtual environments (tools, hardware, software)
Vision for what virtual environments
could be (architecture, metaphors)
Teaching and Learning in virtual
environments
Role playing and simulations
Social constructivism
Communication and collaboration
Serendipitous interactions and
learning
Community formation in virtual
environments (interaction, presentation of self, presence)
Culture (development of, artefacts)
Administrative/technical support issues in virtual environments
Change (Advocacy for, dissemination and
sharing of research, how change takes place)
Resources (to create and/or support any
of the above themes)
Research (on virtual environments in
general or in support of any of the above themes)

Paper submissions
The colloquium review committee requests that paper submissions address the following:
Summary of what you are doing with
virtual environments and how it relates to one of the above themes (including
description of practice and relevant research)
Explanation of how this summary can
contribute to the dialogue theme planned for the colloquium.

Paper submissions are double blind peer-reviewed.  All accepted papers, the colloquium
program, and a list of attendees will be published on the colloquium website.
Papers should be between 2500-5000 words (4-8 pages).
Important Dates
  
   
   
Paper   submission - summary and explanation
   
   
   
July   20, 2008
   
  
  
   
   
Notification   of Acceptance
   
   
   
July   29, 2008
   
  
  
   
   
1st   Draft Due
   
   
   
August   20, 2008
   
  
  
   
   
Registration   Deadline
   
   
   
September   5, 2008
   
  
  
   
   
Final   Draft Due
   
   
   
September   5, 2008
   
  
  
   
   
Colloquium
   
   
   
October   13-17, 2008
   
  
 
Accepted presentations will be required to submit the following by September 5, 2008:
Registration for the colloquium
An indication of any special
requirements related to diets, equipment, or other pertinent needs
Participant information, including:
Names of submission author and
co-authors, if applicable
Contact information for each
Affiliated institution(s)
Job title(s)
Brief description of experience with
virtual worlds, simulations, and/or role playing technology

Submit all proposals in Word, RTF, PDF or HTML format to:
Dr. Stephen Bronack at bronacksc@appstate.edu

Please refer to the League of Worlds website for information regarding fees,
facilities, and accommodations: http://www.leagueofworlds.com