31ST Annual Conference              Northern Virginia Community College, Loudoun CampusSterling, Virginia 20164April 1-2, 2005
“Advancing the Social Sciences in the Information Age: Change, Innovation & Research”

Northern Virginia Community College, Loudoun Campus1000 Harry Flood Byrd HighwaySterling, Virginia 20164-8699

This conference promises to be one of the best yet, as conference presenters andparticipants dialogue about the impact of information and communications technologies on the world andtheir effect on teaching and higher education. ECCSSA’s 2005 conference on theLoudoun campus of Northern Virginia Community College should be an excellent attractionfor many professionals as it draws on the many resources of the Washington Metropolitan Area.The theme of this year’s conference is particularly important in terms of the many ways in which our society and the world have been affected by the “information age.”

Conference Overview
The 1990s heralded in rapid advances in information and communication technology.  The Internet and the World Wide Web provided the public with vast quantities of information worldwide. It is indicated that this new information era will have profound and greater impacts on society and the world than the industrial revolution. This new period has been characterized with such terms as the “information age,”  “new economy,”  “information society,” and “knowledge economy.”
From the printing press to the development of computer networks, digital technology and ubiquitous devices, the information age is dictating changes in the disciplines of the social sciences, and in teaching in the community college classroom. While the dialogue has been plentiful on the subject, there has been little formal discussion specifically about what social scientists and the disciplines as a professional entity should be thinking about in terms of the critical role our professions can play in transforming teaching and learning, and educational, social and public policy.
The 31st Annual Conference of ECCSSA will be devoted to an exploration of this subject to gain a better understanding about our role in this transformation, how information is used and its impact; as well as the cultural contexts and differences in use and need. More specifically, ECCSSA will investigate the transformations necessary in the social sciences in teaching and learning, and in community college education. We are especially interested in research and innovative uses and models in teaching and learning. ECCSSA invites professionals interested in the topic to join us in dialogue and exploration.
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Call for Papers and Proposals
ECCSSA is soliciting papers and proposals from all disciplines in the social sciences and related fields, including psychology, sociology, anthropology, education, history, economics, political science, geography, criminal justice, as well as related fields in information and communication technologies. A listing of possible themes and suggestions for discussion and presentation are provided below. Continue to check the ECCSSA web site for updates on  the conference program.
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SUGGESTED THEMES AND TOPICS FOR PAPERS AND PRESENTATIONS

Digital Technology
-The Digital  Divide: The Issue of Information Equity-Creating or Identifying New Learning Devices-Building Virtual Communities-Assessing the Impact of Information and Technology on Conventional Instruction-Historical Perspectives on the Information Age-Creating Digital Learning Communities-Effects of New Technologies on the Community College Classroom-Effects of Technology on Human Development-The Internet as a Teaching/Learning Tool-Partnerships between Print Media and Internet-Intellectual Property in the Information Age: A Classroom Guide to Copyright-Technology Assessment
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Media  (Print, Commercial, Multimedia)-Role and Influences of the Media-Role and Uses of the Media-Impact of the Media-Role of Social Sciences in Influencing the News Media-Collaborative Partnerships Between the Social Sciences and the Media-History of Media-The Media and Human Development-Transformations in Print Media-New Perspectives for Print Media-Use of Film and Documentaries-Use of Multimedia (animation, digital video, games, web, photography & more)_____
Research and Policy-Research Foresight & Implications-Supporting Research in the Social Sciences-New Roles for Libraries & Librarians-Redefining Educational, Social and Public policy-Assessing Impact and Influences on Policy-Social Science Role in Raising Public Understanding of Scientific and Technological Innovations
Human Factors-Character Building in the Information Age-The Information Age and How It is Shaping Human History-Interpretations of Information in an Age of Terrorism-Information Overload-Ethical Issues and Concerns_____
Innovations in Teaching, Classroom Strategies, and Student Learning-Virtual environments for teaching and learning in the social sciences.-Designing interactive lessons for local and distance use.-Innovative uses of information technology in the classroom.-The Internet as a Teaching/Learning Tool-Problem-Based Learning-Applying Constructivist Theories and Models-Developing and Teaching Thinking Skills-Developing Writing Skills-The Information Age and Self-Directed Learning-Multimedia Classrooms-Transforming the Role of Students and Teachers_____Professional Development-Building Virtual Communities for Professional Development-Issues and Needs for In-service Training and Professional Development-New Generation of Information Professionals
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 CALL FOR STUDENT PRESENTATIONS, PROJECTS, PORTFOLIOS, & POSTERS
The 2005 ECCSSA conference will host student papers, presentations and other projects, including poster presentations, paper and digital portfolios, web sites, and other special projects developed by students on the attached suggested conference themes and topics.  These student projects may be developed independently, in conjunction with a class assignment or under instructor supervision.
Student projects will be on display in a special exhibition area of the conference for the entire conference.  Projects should be up for exhibit no later than 11 am on the morning of the opening conference (April 1, 2005); and disassembled by 11 am the following day (April 2, 2005).
Students developing web sites or needing other equipment for the display of projects should make requests on the application under “equipment needed.” Conference staff will make every attempt to work with student presenters.  Students should also make arrangements with their College or professors to bring projectors, laptops, etc., to support their presentation needs.
For students interested in participating in or exhibiting at the conference, ECCSSA will forward specifications for all project submissions, once we receive the initial application.  We strongly recommend that ECCSSA members and teaching faculty encourage student participation in the conference.  All students submitting a project for the Conference will have an opportunity during an assigned time to dialogue with conference participants about their project. The best student exhibits will be recognized.
If you have questions about student submissions, please feel free to contact the conference chair, Dr. Rosalyn M. King at:  roking@nvcc.edu or (703) 450-2629.

Friday, April 1, 2005
8:00am-9:00am-  Registration & Continental BreakfastBook ExhibitsWaddell Building Lobby
9:00am-10:00am- Conference Opening Plenary SessionWaddell Theater
WelcomeECCSSA Board of Trustees

Dr. Beverly Blois, Dean, Communications & Humanities Making Remarks On Behalf of the Provost
Dr. Anthony Tardd, Provost, NVCC-Loudoun

Dr. Rosalyn M. King, Introducing President Templin
Welcome & Opening Remarks,Dr. Robert Templin, PresidentNorthern Virginia Community College

Dr. Robert Templin, President, NVCC
Conference Overview
10:00am-11:00am – Keynote Address, Waddell Theater“Wandering in a Strange Land: Technology, Teaching, and Knowledge in the Cyberspace Age”
Dr. Richard J. Cox, Professor, Archival Studies
Department of Library and Information SciencesSchool of Information SciencesUniversity of Pittsburgh

11:00am-12:15pm- Concurrent Sessions 1
Session1A-Bldg. LW, Room 116
“Virtual Environments for Teaching and Learning: Using the World Wide Web”Conference Moderator: Gerard Morin, ECCSSA Board

Tools for Becoming Proactive in Public Policy
Rosemarie Pelletier, Asst. Prof. Of Political ScienceNVCC-Loudoun
SCOUTing Online Information for Student Motivation
Jennifer Reynolds & Barbara Tyler, LibrariansNVCC-Loudoun
King’s Psychology Network: The Development of a Comprehensive Website in Psychology
Rosalyn M. King, Professor of Psychology & Chair, Center for Teaching ExcellenceNVCC-Loudoun
The Game of Politics Simulations: Classroom, Online and Civic Education Applications
Don Jansiewicz, ProfessorCarroll Community College-Baltimore, MD

 Session 1B-Bldg. LW, Room 118“Designing Interactive Courses for Distance Learning”
Conference Moderator: David Lipton,  ECCSSA Board
Distance Learning: Improving Student Participation and Critical Thinking Skills through Uncertainty
Anthony Walsh, Professor EmeritusState University of New York, Hudson Valley Community CollegeTroy, New York
Distance Education: The Good the Bad and the Ugly!
Michael H. Parsons, Professor of Sociology, Hagerstown Community College &George Perry, Professor of Health Sciences, West Virginia Community College of Shepard University
12:15pm-12:30pm – BREAKBook Exhibits-Waddell Building Lobby
12:30pm-1:45pm LUNCH & BUSINESS MEETINGBldg. LR, Room 144
2:00pm – 3:30pm – Concurrent Sessions 2
Session 2A- Bldg. LW, Room 116“The Role of Information in Building Global Understanding”
Conference Moderator: Elizabeth Wilcoxson, ECCSSA Board
Migrations, Myths, Memory and Megabytes
James Baer, Professor of HistoryNVCC-Alexandria

Dr. James Baer, Professor of History, NVCC-Alexandria

Exploring the Concept of Public Space for a Democratically Viable Europe **New
Vikas Sharma, Ph.D. CandidateDepartment of HistoryPunjab University, Patiala-Punjab, India
Role of the Social Sciences in Building A Global Community: An Exploration of Study Abroad Programs-A Student and Faculty Exchange
Moderators:  Jill Mckee, Adjunct Professor of Political Science, NVCC-LoudounRosalyn King, Professor of Sociology, NVCC-Loudoun
Michael Sanow, CCBC, CatonsvilleStudents: CCBC

Sanow and Students
Session 2B-Bldg. LW, Room 118“Professional Development”
Conference Moderator: Don Hayes, NVCC

Dr. Robin Hailstorks, Prince Georges Community College

Dr. Esther Hanson, Prince George’sCommunity College
Best Practices in Professional Development at the Community College: A Panel Discussion
Robin Hailstorks, Diane Finley, Esther Hanson, Swazette Young, Professors of PsychologyPrince George’s Community College, Largo MD

3:30pm-3:45pm-BREAKPublisher’s Book ExhibitsWaddell Building Lobby
3:45pm-5:15pm- Concurrent Sessions 3
Session 3A-Bldg. LW,  Room 118“Research Foresight and Implications on the Role, Use, Ethics, and Impact of Print and Other Media”
Conference Moderator: John Tamplin, ECCSSA Board
Writing the Lives of Women: Technology for Advancement of the Social Sciences
Tina Marie Johnson, former NVCC student, Graduate StudentTufts University, Medford., MA

Ms. Tina Johnson, Tufts University
Cliophobia
David Lipton, Independent ScholarHighland Park, NJ

The Production of Homophobic Sites in Print Media: An Analysis of Reports on Public Sex
Aaron Tobler, Ph.D. CandidateDepartment of AnthropologyAmerican University, Washington, DC

Mr. Aaron Tobler, Graduate Student, American University
Bridging the Digital Gap:  A Challenge to African Media *New
Samuel Oluwaseyi Oduyela, Ph.D. CandidateDepartment of CommunicationsTrinity University, Washington, DC

Session 3B- Bldg. LW, Room 113“Transforming the Role of Students and Teachers: Undergraduate Student Research & Projects”Conference Moderator: John Hutchinson,  ECCSSA Board
Cross Cultural Impacts of Using Constructivist Models of Teaching and Learning: Innovative Student Interpretations and Products
Rosalyn M. King, Professor of Psychology and StudentsCedric Tchakounte, Chris Alexander, Mariela Blanco, Maria Regalario,

Student Use of the World Wide Web to Convey Information and Promote Learning through Development of Education and Information Web Sites
Lauren Hefty, Ismail DeLorenzo, and Kate Reynolds, StudentsNVCC-Loudoun
The Snowman as a Cultural Symbol
Ashley Dawson, StudentHagerstown Community College, Hagerstown, MD
Xenogears: Fei the Uniter (Poster Presentation)
Gabriel VegaNVCC-Loudoun
Session 3C- Bldg. LW, Room 116“Transforming the Role of Students and Teachers: Undergraduate Student Research & Projects”
Conference Moderator: Michael Sanow,  ECCSSA Board
The Changing American Family
Michael BurgerHagerstown Community CollegeHagerstown, MD

Global Influence of Transpersonal Psychology in Conveying Information About Self, Human Nature, and Personality
Rosalyn M. King, Professor of Psychology & StudentsDaniela Sileo, Mari Walls, Okan Akay, James Davenport, Habeeb Alam, Stephanie Reed, and Torian Starns

5:20pm- Depart for Dinner Cruise onSpirit of Washington

Saturday, April 2, 2005
8:00am-9:00am-  Registration & Continental BreakfastWaddell Building Lobby

9:00am-10:30- Concurrent Sessions 4
Session 4A- Bldg. LW, Room 116“Innovations in Teaching, Classroom Strategies and Student Learning”Conference Moderator: Barbara Connolly,  ECCSSA Board

What is the “New Economy” and What Happened to the “Old” One? Helping Our Students Understand the Historic Change to the Information Age
Robert Hauser, Assistant Professor of HistoryPenn State University, Mckeesport, PA

Teaching By Doing: Economics for the Kinesthetic and Multimodal Learner
Laura Jean Bhadra, Adjunct Professor of EconomicsNVCC-Loudoun

Session 4B-Bldg. LW, Room 118
Conference Moderator: Michael Parsons,  ECCSSA Board
Getting More Mileage Out of Sociology
Michael Sanow, Professor of Sociology & Coordinator, Center for Service LearningJoan Hellman, Professor of Reading and EnglishCommunity College of Baltimore County, Catonsville

Dr. Michael Parsons, Hagerstown Community College
They ARE Worth Saving! A Strategy for Supporting At-Risk Community College Students
Arthur Sutton, Graduate StudentDuquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA

10:30-10:45 BREAK
10:45-12:15- Plenary SessionWaddell Theater
Panel: Bridging East and West: Promoting Global Understanding through Dialogue and Teaching on World Religions and Philosophies
Moderators:John Hutchinson, Professor of Sociology, CCBC, EssexRosalyn M. King, Professor of Psychology, NVCC-LO
Panel of Scholars:B. Jalali, Islamic School of Sufism (M.T.O. Shahmagsoudi) and American UniversityMark LaWall & Rich Wolford, Ekoji Buddhist TemplePeter Ainslie, Disciples of Christ DenominationMichael Sanow, Community College of Baltimore County, CatonsvilleZainab Alwani, NVCC-LoudounMeena Nayak, NVCC-Loudoun CampusLaura Shulman, NVCC-Loudoun Campus

12:30pm-1:30pm
Closing Remarks Boxed Lunch