Two hundred delegates from all corners of the world, many accompanied by partners and family members, met last June in Edinburgh, Scotland to participate in WACRA® '97. The annual, international, interactive, intercultural, interdisciplinary conference «Interactive Teaching and Learning» was hosted by Napier University. Academics and professionals discussed developments, exchanged experiences and ideas on interactive, interdisciplinary, intercultural and international teaching and learning. They reported on case method research (on-going and completed), case writing, simulations and new innovative uses of multi media and interactive teaching methods and applications and brought down the house, literally. As requested by participants at previous conferences, WACRA® increased the number of demonstration and interactive, hands-on sessions conducted by experienced, renowned speakers and presenters. These sessions and workshops included a City Planning Case Study - An Active Learning Immersion, Case-based Instruction for Resident and Distance Learners Using a Mix of Technologies, the Sixth Annual Case Writers' Colloquium, Case Writing and Teaching Workshops, Facing Reality - Instructional Design and Multi-media, Surviving the Multimedia Blitz: How to Find Your Path Through the Maze, Around the World in One Semester, How to Increase Cultural Awareness - The Case of the Culturally Blind, Case Studies on Gender Issues in the Work Place, Let's Talk About Teaching Abroad - Fourth Cross National Teaching Forum and Third Cross National Training Forum.
The meeting began with a joint planning session of the WACRA® Executive and Advisory Boards. Corinne Elbaum, Directeur CESEM Mediterranee Groupe ESCMP, Marseille-Provence, presented detailed plans for WACRA® '98 at Marseille. Dr. Jacques Hermant (ESC Nantes Atlantique) and Suzanne Rey, Directeur, Central de Cas Paris have joined the conference planning committee to prepare for WACRA® '98 from July 9 - 13, 1998 in Provence, one of the most spectacular regions in world. As an added attraction (if you are a soccer fan), in 1998, France will host the quadrennial World Soccer Championship. One of the semi-final games will be played in Marseille on July 6, 1998 (the day before WACRA® '98 begins). Plan to arrive early and stay an extra day to celebrate "Quatorze Juillet - 14th of July" with the local hosts. The Vice Rector of the University of Extremadura at Cáceres, Spain, Dr. Ricardo Hernández Mogollon confirmed plans for WACRA® '99 at the University of Extremadura. For the year 2000 tentative plans have been made to begin the pre-conference in Munich, Germany and travel by train via Vienna (Austria), Budapest (Hungary), Belgrade (Yugoslavia), Sofia (Bulgaria) to Istanbul, retracing the famous Orient Express. The main conference will take place at the University of the Bosporus.
"Interactive Teaching and Emerging Technologies," volume X of the Selected Papers on Case Method Research & Application (papers presented in Edinburgh and selected for publication through a double blind peer review) is now available. If you attended this year's conference, you will receive your copy shortly. Mail us your membership renewal check before December 31, 1997 and we send you one complimentary copy of the available volume, including the volume from Edinburgh. You can help publicize your contributions to the interactive teaching literature by bringing WACRA® publications (volumes IV-X are available) to the attention of your co-authors, colleagues and library acquisition departments. The annual WACRA® publication of Selected Papers has become widely recognized for the timely and comprehensive contribution it makes to the case method and interactive teaching literature (refer to further details below).
During the closing session, conference participants were unanimous in thanking David Stevenson and his colleagues a stimulating conference.
Plans for the 98 are well under way. The conference is scheduled to take place from July 9-13, 1998 at Groupe ESC Marseille-Provence. The conference will present itself as an international, intercultural, interdisciplinary, interactive and...interesting 'life case' of building networks and exchanging ideas and experiences. Colleagues at Groupe ESC are preparing for a memorable academic and social experience in Provence and Marseille.
WACRA® '98 will
The conference language for WACRA® '98 is English. WACRA® will continue the tradition begun in Montreal and will again include a French language track.
We invite you to submit a paper, proposal, workshop, simulation, panel etc. (in English or French) to address the conference theme: "Interactive Teaching and the Multimedia Revolution." Manuscript preparation guidelines can be found at the end of each volume of selected papers, or alternatively, write to us or visit our website: http://www.agecon.uga.edu/~wacra/wacra.htm. Submission deadline is Jan. 15, 1998. Join colleagues from around the world in Marseille for another éxperience stimulante et enrichissante.
From January 5-7, 1998 WACRA® is cooperating with A C T - the Academy for Creative Teaching in a conference where the emphases are on "Teaching and Learning" through interactive workshops and by sharing of research and teaching/training application. Refer to details and registration information on the following pages.
Hans E. Klein
