Page 1 of 1

Proposed SBL Global Education & Research Technology section

Posted: December 16th, 2012, 6:46 pm
by Jonathan Robie
The following post and the accompanying attachments are from B-Greek member Randall Tan.

The Global Education & Research Technology section (GERT) is organizing its inaugural sessions for the Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland, Nov 23-26, 2013. Approval for this proposed new section is still pending, but the inaugural steering committee is very working hard to fulfill all requirements and to stimulate abundant interest and support, in order to make sure we will be an official SBL program unit by March 2013, in time for official inclusion in the 2013 SBL Annual Meeting program.

The focus of this proposed new section is not only on the development and use of tools, simulations, and social media for global research and education in the wide-ranging disciplines in the field of biblical studies, but also the design frameworks, the development, the deployment, the assessment, and the dissemination of innovative technology for wider user groups in academia, society, and religious communities. We seek to explore how such tools may extend existing scholarship into digital domains or may introduce new methodologies, novel research questions, and new areas of inquiry. For example, we are interested not only in how to develop databases, but also about how to apply databases in such a way that it helps to stimulate methodological debate on biblical interpretation and potentially open up new or alternative avenues of research. In addition, we are interested in stimulating thinking about how theories of learning (Hebrew and Greek Language, OT and NT Literature) can be influenced and improved by technology.

We are in the process of organizing these sessions by private invitation and expect to complete the process by early January. However, we would be very happy to consider worthy paper proposals for either 2013 or 2014 (though mainly for 2014) in any area of educational or research technology, if they are submitted to us by January 6, 2013. So, please contact us at GERTSBL@gmail.com with your best paper proposal for consideration for either our 2013 or 2014 sessions. (Proposals submitted for 2013 may be offered acceptance for 2014 if they are considered worthy, but do not fit into the limited slots remaining for 2013. If we receive an abundance of worthy proposals, we may consider sponsoring an additional session.)

Besides the projected title of your paper and your personal contact information, proposals must include an abstract of between 200-300 words. If your paper proposal is accepted, expect to be allotted 20-25 minutes to present at the session, with 5-10 minutes for discussion of your paper. You need to be/become an SBL member and register for the Annual Meeting at which you will be presenting. More details are included in the attached PDFs.

Re: Proposed SBL Global Education & Research Technology sect

Posted: December 23rd, 2012, 12:02 am
by Randall Tan
2 pieces of good news for the holiday season regarding the proposed new Global Education & Research Technology section (GERT) at the Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting (SBL AM):

1. Better Paper Proposal Submission Method: go to https://cmt.research.microsoft.com/GERT ... fault.aspx & sign up as a new user;
2. Extension of the Deadline (New Deadline = January 15, 2013)

Details: The proposed new Global Education & Research Technology section (GERT) at SBL was recently approved for a Microsoft Conference Management site. So, to submit a paper proposal, please go to https://cmt.research.microsoft.com/GERT ... fault.aspx & sign up as a new user.
We expect to complete our organization of two theme sessions each for 2013 & 2014 by invitation by mid-January. However, we would be very happy to consider inclusion of worthy paper proposals for either 2013 or 2014 in any area of educational or research technology for biblical studies, if they are submitted to us by January 15, 2013 (extended from previous deadline), perhaps in a third session open to disparate topics. After you sign up as a new user at https://cmt.research.microsoft.com/GERT ... fault.aspx, please follows the prompts & submit your best paper proposal for consideration. One of the questions you will be asked in the process of paper submission is whether you are submitting your paper for consideration for 2013, 2014, or both. Papers submitted for consideration for both years would have a higher probability of acceptance as we consider how papers potentially fit into the limited slots remaining. (For SBL 2014, we would be participating in SBL’s official call for papers, likely 12/15/2013-3/1/2014. So there would be another opportunity to submit paper proposals for an open session for GERT in 2014 at that time.) (Note: I've uploaded a Q&A that has been updated with this new submission method & deadline--the rest of the information is basically the same as in the previous Q&A attachment.)

May you have a blessed Christmas-New Year holiday season!

Re: Proposed SBL Global Education & Research Technology sect

Posted: January 16th, 2013, 1:34 am
by Randall Tan
The public call for papers for the proposed new Global Education & Research Technology section (GERT) at SBL is now closed. Thanks for all the interest we received from both our private & public calls for participation. The planning & organization is almost complete & we expect smooth approval from the SBL program committee by March. Some things to look forward to (subject to SBL approval) are:

1. 3 sessions at the Nov 23-26, 2013 SBL Annual Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland.

2. At least 3 sessions at the Nov 22-25, 2014 SBL Annual Meeting in San Diego, California. (We are reserving one session, open for papers on disparate topics in education or research technology in biblical studies globally, for participation in SBL's regular Call for Papers for 2014. Those who missed out on getting in a paper proposal for GERT this time will have another chance during SBL's Call for Papers for 2014, which should be running from Dec 15, 2013-March 1, 2014.)

3. Ways to access & be involved in the cutting-edge work coming out of GERT outside of SBL sessions.

More details will be forthcoming soon when the GERT steering committee is ready to go public with our plans.

Re: Proposed SBL Global Education & Research Technology sect

Posted: January 28th, 2013, 10:36 am
by Randall Tan
The forum for GERT has been up & running for a little while. If you register at http://biblicalhumanities.org/, you'll be able to stay up-to-date & see what kind of things you might be able to get involved in. (Please be sure to register with your real name & to introduce yourself in the Introductions forum. User registrations that look like they are spam registrations will be promptly deactivated.) Announcements & discussions will be slow for the next couple months as we wait for official approval from SBL & as we set up things like our HIPHIL Novum online peer-reviewed journal http://www.hiphil.org. After that, we plan to have more announcements, discussions, & opportunities for various kinds of involvement.

Re: Proposed SBL Global Education & Research Technology sect

Posted: January 28th, 2013, 7:20 pm
by Jonathan Robie
For those who prefer email subscriptions, I have just burned two email feeds.

Re: Proposed SBL Global Education & Research Technology sect

Posted: April 18th, 2013, 3:33 am
by Randall Tan
Even though the proposed Global Education & Research Technology (GERT) section has not yet received long-term approval as a program unit at the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) Annual Meeting, GERT has been authorized to sponsor a Global Research Technology theme session & to co-sponsor a Global Education Technology theme session with the Academic Teaching & Biblical Studies section for the 2013 SBL Annual Meeting in Baltimore. Feature posts on the scheduled papers have begun to be posted on the Education track (http://biblicalhumanities.org/viewforum.php?f=9) & Research track (http://biblicalhumanities.org/viewforum.php?f=10) forums. Please see these respective forums for details.