2nd IMCL Student International Competition for Mobile Learning Apps

Overview

IMCL 2016 will host the 2nd IMCL Student International Competition for Mobile Learning Apps. The aims of the competition are:

• To provide an opportunity for students to participate in the conference and demonstrate their mobile learning apps design and development skills under an International competition process;
• To provide an opportunity for students who are mobile learning apps developers to peer-assess and peer-evaluate their games;
• To provide IMCL attendees with engaging and fresh mobile learning apps, that should demonstrate their functionality and impact in the apps scene.

Mobile learning apps submitted for the competition are expected to accomplish an educational/learning goal. Mobile learning apps developers should be students (at undergraduate or postgraduate level). They should be prepared to justify their design and evaluation process, demonstrate why it is innovative (the mobile learning app itself or its educational setting) and indicate how they achieved (will achieve) the impact they seek.

Competition and judgement process

The competition process involves two rounds.

• 1st round: Online Submission, selection to the second round. Competitors should complete the online abstract submission form. Submissions can be made on-line through IMCL2016 submission system (https://www.conftool.net/imcl-conference/) selecting “Special Session: Student International Competition for Mobile Learning Apps”. The mobile learning app description part of the form can be up to 500 words and should include:
• A description of the mobile learning app itself including the design and development process;
• The positioning of the mobile learning app in terms of related work, including references and an outline of the app’s unique educational contribution;
• A mobile learning app video link (optional but recommended);
• A download link together with any other supporting documentation required (optional but recommended).

Expert reviewers will evaluate the submissions and choose the submissions which will go through to the second round and be invited to showcase their mobile learning apps at the IMCL conference. During this evaluation round, mobile learning apps will be classified into thematic categories, which will be determined by the contributions received. Those selected will be informed as to the category they will be judged in. Although mobile learning apps can be in any language, all submissions must be in English and must include title and author information, including author affiliations. Judging will be in English and competitors will have to be able to present the app in English.

• 2nd round: Registration, judgement at IMCL conference and awards. Competitors who go through to the second round will be required to attend the conference in order to demonstrate the app and to take part in the judging session and award ceremony. The registration fee will be available in time; register under the category “Students” . At least one member of the team must register paying the registration fee in order for their app to be considered for judging and demonstration. No additional registration fee is required for a presenting author already registered in the main conference.
• Closed judging session: Judging and evaluation of mobile learning apps at the conference will initially be in a closed judging session where competitors will present to a team of judges. Mobile learning apps will be judged on the following aspects: learning, assessment, usability, socio-cultural aspects, administration tools as well as aspects specific to the type of app submitted. According to these aspects the criteria will be quality of app, significance, originality and level of innovativeness, thematic relevance, and quality of presentation.
• Demonstration: Competitors will demonstrate their apps to the conference participants, during the coffee breaks and poster sessions of both conference days.
• Awards: The winners of the competition will be announced, the second day of the conference just after the keynote speech.

Important Dates

20 May 2016	Special Session proposals
23 May 2016	Notification of acceptance/announcement of Special Sessions proposals
10 Jun 2016	Submission of structured abstracts for the main conference
20 Jun 2016	Notification of acceptance for abstracts for the main conference
20 Jul 2016	Submission of complete papers for Main Conference, Doctoral Consortium, Competition, Special Sessions
20 Aug 2016	Notification of acceptance for all submission types
12 Sep 2016	Camera-ready due, early bird registration deadline, author registration
17 Oct 2016	Conference Opening