Our theme for the 2017 Computers and Writing conference is Techne: Creating Spaces of Wonder. With this theme, we ask you to draw on the multiple conceptualizations and articulations of techne through exploration of practices that inform craft, art, and disciplinary trends - both in pedagogy and scholarship. In particular, we invite proposals that emphasize the interplay of multimodal spaces (physical and digital) and how composing in these environments creates opportunities for wondering (potential, curiosity, and reflection) and wonder (awe, interest, and marvel). Proposals may also consider ways that physical and digital multimodality may limit or misappropriate the role of wonder(ing) in composing.

Proposals may engage the following potential topics - although the list should not be considered exhaustive by any means:

Access (across economic, physical, geographic, etc. boundaries) through the creation of wondering/wonderful composing environments

  • Usability processes and structures developed through physical and digital multimodal spaces
  • How the development of literacies inside and outside of classrooms create spaces of wonder
  • How spaces of wonder are created and/or co-opted (issues of digital surveillance, big data, privacy, etc.)
  • How to avoid the "bells and whistles" trap when using computers and writing pedagogy
  • How games create wonder (or the wonderful aspects of gaming)
  • Creating wonder in the first year composition curriculum through multimodal assignments
  • Collaborations with museums, libraries, and other wonderful spaces on campus and in communities
  • Intersection(s) between digital humanities and computers and writing
  • And any you would like to focus on….

Session types/Instructions

Presenters are limited to two (2) speaking roles (marked by asterisks below) but may participate in as many other participant roles as desired.

*Roundtable/lightning talks - 5 or more presenters, 150-200-word abstract, 600-word proposal

*Individual presentations - 75-100-word abstract, 250-word proposal

*Panel presentations - 3 to 4 presenters, 150-200-word abstract, 600-word proposal

Poster presentation - Individual or collaborative presenters (1 poster per submission), 150-200-word abstract (Presenters will be required to be present during set poster session times, posters will be displayed throughout duration of conference)

Mini-workshop - 150-200-word abstract, 300-word proposal AND outline of proposed activities Within the confines of the 75 minute concurrent sessions, presenters will instruct attendees on a new tool, technological procedure, and/or teaching technique. Mac and PC computer labs are available.

Half-day/Full-day Workshops - 150-200-word abstract, 600-word proposal AND outline of proposed activities. Pre-conference workshops are intended to involve participants in a technology or issue set that rewards intensive work, giving them opportunities to learn new applications, assessment, and integration of emergent technologies for writing, learning, and collaboration. Workshops should be participatory, and proposals should articulate how attendees will interact with each other, the presenters, and/or technologies involved. If you submit a workshop proposal, please include a document that outlines the proposed timeline of workshop activities. Mac and PC computer labs are available.

In connection with this year’s theme UF will offer Wonder Workshops and a Creative Connection space as well. (Hosted by University of Findlay and Findlay Community Members)

Wonder Workshops are two-hour sessions to be held at spaces around UF’s campus and the city of Findlay as scheduled. These two-hour sessions will allow participants to explore unique spaces where physical and digital compositions connect.

The Creative Connection space will be accessible any time the registration desk is open and provides access to physical and digital supplies participants can compose with throughout the weekend. The goal will be to represent participant experiences at the conference in some way. The final product will be displayed online and captured to be retained with other C&W archival material.

Submission opens: September 26 | Submission for peer review closes: Oct 22 | Submission closes: December 10 | Acceptance notification: January 15