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BERA Conference 2020

19 May 2020 to 10 September 2020University of Liverpool

Abstract submission now closed

View your submitted abstract

PLEASE READ ALL THE INFORMATION BELOW BEFORE SUBMITTING AN ABSTRACT

Type of submission Maximum number of words (Additional 250 words for references)
Symposia 750 words
Alternative Format Session 750 words
Poster 750 words
Individual Papers – option to specify Student, New Researcher, Post-doctoral Researcher, Teacher/Practitioner Researcher Papers 750 words

Important points for submitting an abstract:

  • There is no specific theme for the conference. When submitting an abstract you will need to select a topic (which align to the Special Interest Groups). You can now select up to 2 SIGs to align your abstract to.
  • Once you have signed in, you will be redirected to the abstract submissions page.
  • Currently you will not need to submit a full paper for the Conference.
  • You should receive an email confirmation with a copy of your abstract once your submission has been completed.

Symposium

750 word abstract of the symposium, and must include the title and a paragraph about each paper in the symposium. There is an additional 250 words for references. The symposium as a whole must have a clear focus and each paper therein must be clearly related to the overall focus/theme of the symposium but also offer distinct perspectives.

You can also contact your Special Interest Group who may be putting together symposia. Visit www.bera.ac.uk/communities for a list of all the SIGs and contact details.

If your abstract does not include a paragraph under the title of each paper, this may be reviewed as an individual abstract. 

Please also ensure your symposium is anonymous. Your abstract may be edited to anonymise for the reviewing process and if successful can then edited to include presenters for each paper. Symposiums are 90 mins long and consist of more than one paper on a related theme. There is no limit to the number of papers in a symposium, but you are restricted by time.

Reviewing criteria:

  • Clarity of the focus of the research
  • Originality of the symposium proposal
  • Rigour and coherence of the symposium and its individual papers
  • Significance of the research for education practice, policy or theory

Example of structure for Symposium

Alternative Format Session

750 word abstract with an additional 250 words for references.

We are open to all new ways of presenting and demonstrating a non traditional approach to an academic presentation of research. Options include:

  • Panel discussion (60 mins)
  • Workshop (90 mins)
  • Activity (90 mins)
  • Offsite + plenary (60 mins)
  • Video workshop (60 mins)

Reviewing criteria:

  • Clarity of the focus of the research
  • Suitability of the session format
  • Rigour of the research
  • Significance of the proposal for practice, policy or theory

Poster Session

750 word abstract with an additional 250 words for references.

Posters will be displayed during the duration of the conference in the main area where catering and exhibition is held. There will be a prize for the best poster. 

Reviewing criteria:

  • Clarity of the focus of the research
  • Suitability of the format
  • Rigour of the research
  • Significance of the proposal for practice, policy or theory

Individual Papers

750 word abstract with an additional 250 words for references.

Option to specify Student, New Researcher, Post-doctoral Researcher, Teacher/Practitioner Researcher Papers.

Individual Papers will be grouped into coherent symposia of two/three papers in a 60/90 minute slot. These sessions will have the discussion after each paper, rather than a session at the end.

Reviewing criteria:

  • Clarity of the focus of the research
  • Originality of the research
  • Rigour of the research
  • Significance of the research for education practice, policy or theory

BERA aims to celebrate and promote the work of our Students. The top ten scoring Student abstracts will be automatically shortlisted for the BERA Student Presentation Award.

Bursaries

There are various bursaries available to assist with attendance at the conference. Please visit the bursary information page for further details on the opportunities available.

Apply for a bursary

Awards

There are various awards for presentations at the conference.

BERA Student Presentation Award

The top ten scoring student individual papers will automatically be shortlisted for this award.

Prize:

  • 1st prize – £300 + Complimentary attendance at the BERA Annual Conference 2021

Poster Presentation Award

All posters will be judged for this award.

Prize:

  • MAXQDA License and an official MAXQDA certificate and complimentary attendance at the BERA Annual Conference 2021.

SIG Best Paper Award

Some of the SIG convenors attended all the sessions for their SIG and judge each paper. This will be to award the ‘BERA Annual Conference 2020 – SIG Best Paper’.

Prize:

  • Certificate

BJET Best EdTech Paper Award

This award is to recognise the best presentation on the topic of (or a topic directly relevant to) educational technology, delivered during the BERA Conference. You will be automatically shortlisted if you have selected the Education Technology SIG as a first or second category for submission.

Prize:

  • £150 in book vouchers from Wiley
  • Invitation to submit an article to BJET (standard peer-review process still applies)
  • Invitation to contribute to BERA Blog and/or RI;

Abstract review process

Each abstract is reviewed blindly by two reviewers drawn from members of the relevant SIG (Special Interest Groups), or one of the BERA Committees.

All BERA members will have the opportunity to peer review the abstracts submitted. If you would like to be added to the database please click here.

If the same abstract is submitted under different SIGs only one SIG will review this abstract and you will only receive one set of results.

Apply to be a reviewer

Results

There is limited space on the programme and sessions available at the conference. Each year we are mindful that presenters do not want more sessions as the rooms will not be as full. Therefore there will always be a percentage of papers rejected. In the last few years this is around 30% of papers are rejected. The Conference & Events Committee continually review the processes to ensure these are fair and transparent.

Authors will be notified of the date and time of the presentation if accepted after the early bird deadline, when all presenters need to register. This is to ensure once the programme is grouped, this consists of confirmed presenters only.

> For individual and poster submissions

  • Only the one abstract will be accepted per main presenting author, which will be the highest scoring paper. You can still submit more than one paper.
  • Only one presentation style will be accepted for the same abstract
  • This does not apply if you are a presenting co-author on other papers
  • Similarly this does not apply if you have also been accepted for a symposia or alternative format session

BERA reserves the right to reassign your abstract to a different SIG than submitted if more relevant for grouping purposes.

Special Interest Groups (SIGs)

BERA SIGs vary in character, function and level of activities and participation in them is one of the benefits of being a member of BERA. All submissions should indicate the SIG which closely relates to the topic when submitting. If your abstract is accepted the convenors who group the individual papers, can check other similar papers and may change the SIG at the programming stage. If your paper abstract does not fall within the remits of the listed SIGs, please email conference@bera.ac.uk and you will be given instructions how to submit. For more information on SIGs visit: https://www.bera.ac.uk/communities/special-interest-groups.

In addition to the 33 SIGs you can now also select these additional topics: 

  • Climate and Sustainability Education
  • Medical Education
  • Migrant Education
  • Prison Education
  • Sociology