We are delighted to invite submissions to the Constructionism Conference 2025, which will take place from June 24 to June 27 in Zurich at ETH Zurich and Zurich University of Teacher Education (PHZH).

Engage with a global community to discuss new ideas and insights on Constructionism, fostering collaboration and innovation to enhance educational strategies and classroom experiences. We invite submissions of research papers, best practice papers, symposia, work-in-progress, posters, and workshops.

All contributions should stress the importance to the constructionist community and be related to this year's theme “Building communities, bridging ideas.”

Research papers

• Full papers (8 to 10 pages) should report on original research that has not been previously published. Papers must identify published work relevant to their respective topic, explain how the work builds on previous contributions, and indicate where and why novel approaches have been adopted. They should include a thorough methods section, report results, and discuss research findings and possible limitations in light of the existing literature.
• Short papers (4 to 6 pages) are encouraged to demonstrate work in progress and late-breaking research results that show recent innovative ideas. We invite presentation of ongoing work and preliminary results, by experienced academics as well as young researchers. Short papers are not expected to include as thorough a literature review as full papers, but should include some details on methods and analysis as well as initial results and limitations.
• Posters (2 pages) provide an engaging platform for researchers to present their work visually and interactively. This format allows authors to discuss and receive feedback on their research in a dynamic setting, facilitating deeper understanding and networking opportunities. Each poster should concisely summarize the research question, relevant literature, methodology, results, impact, and limitations. Posters should be designed to clearly present complex data and theoretical insights, utilizing visuals like graphs, flowcharts, and images to aid in storytelling and highlight key findings.

Special Tracks

Full and short papers can (but do not have to) be assigned to one of the year’s four special tracks.

1. Evolution of Constructionism: Past, Present, and Future. This track explores the development of Constructionism over time and examines its historical roots, current applications, and future potential. The aim is to find out how constructionist theories have changed educational practice and pedagogical strategies. By analyzing changes and continuities in this educational philosophy, the course stimulates a discourse on how Constructionism can evolve and adapt to new and today’s educational needs.
2. Sustainable Practices in Constructionist Education. This track focuses on the integration of sustainability into constructionist educational frameworks. It will highlight innovative approaches that promote environmental awareness while supporting learning through making and doing. Discussions will revolve around the implementation of sustainable practices in education, the challenges involved, and the outcomes achieved. The aim is to present effective models and strategies that not only teach, but also integrate sustainability into the learning process.
3. Innovative Assessment and Evaluation Methods. The focus of this strand is on novel approaches to assessment and evaluation in constructionist learning environments. It explores how traditional assessment methods can be redesigned to better align with constructionist principles that emphasize creativity, problem solving, and hands-on engagement. This track aims to introduce new tools and techniques that capture the dynamic and interactive nature of learning in these environments, and provide insights into the effective assessment of complex student performance.
4. Making and Innovation in Constructionist Learning. This track delves into the role of making and creativity within the framework of Constructionism, emphasizing how hands-on, creative activities can enhance learning and understanding. It explores the integration of making into constructionist practices, highlighting the ways in which this approach not only fosters innovation and problem-solving but also deepens student engagement and comprehension. Participants will examine case studies and methodologies that demonstrate the efficacy of making as a transformative educational tool, providing insights into how these practices can be implemented across various educational contexts to nurture a generation of creative thinkers and makers.

Key information

Accepted papers will be included in the conference proceedings.

• Language: English
• Format: Use the conference template
• Page limits (including references)
  • Full papers 8-10 pages
  • Short papers 4-6 pages
  • Posters 2 pages
• Presentation format
  • Full and short papers: Oral presentation during the research sessions
  • Posters will be presented during the poster session
• Submissions must be submitted completely anonymized

Workshops (2 pages)

Workshops should provide hands-on activities for participants to engage with and can follow a variety of formats. For example, workshops may be a pedagogic activity, involve exploring a new tool, roundtable discussion, etc. Workshop sessions will be 90 minutes long. While adherence to the conference theme is not mandatory, it is highly recommended: if applicable, please include an explanation of how your submission fits in with the conference theme.

Workshop abstracts should include the following:

• Outline what the activity will involve
• Clearly identify the key ideas which underpin the activity
• Explanation of how the activity will be beneficial to participants

Following the abstract, include a section outlining the following

• The target audience
• The maximum number of attendees
• Any equipment that will be required (including who you expect to supply it)
• Whether there are any requirements regarding the physical space

Submission Guidelines

• Accepted workshops will be included in the conference proceedings (abstract only).
• Presentation: 90-minute workshop during the conference.
• Page limit: 2 pages. Please include pictures! You may include links to videos.
• Language: English.
• Format: Use the conference template
• Content: Every workshop submission should include: (1) Title and abstract; (2) short bios of the instructors; (3) description of the scope of the workshop, expected level of experience of participants, main topics covered, and outcomes; (4) explanation of the importance of your submission to the digital fabrication/makers/hands-on/CS learning communities; (5) maximum number of participants and technology/space/material/logistics needs.
• Workshops will be selected considering a combination of factors, including: originality, experience of the teaching team, quality of the submission (level of detail, clarity).
• We encourage workshops submissions to try new combinations of techniques, ideas, and materials.

Symposia (8 pages)

Symposia provide opportunities for a group of researchers and/or practitioners to engage their audience with a common topic. They are chaired discussions, and the role of the chair is to ask questions and ensure that everyone engages in the discussion, avoiding dominance from a single voice, and ensuring multiple perspectives are heard. They will also chair engagement with the audience. There should be an opportunity for participants to get involved and the benefits for participants should be made clear.

Submission Guidelines

• Accepted symposia will be included in the conference proceedings (abstract only)
• Language: English
• Format: Use the conference template
• Page limit: No more than 8 pages
• Presentation: 60 min
• The submission overview should indicate the topic of the symposium, explain the significance of the topic, engage with the relevant literature, and describe the expected structure of the symposium. An abstract representing each presenter on the symposia should also be included.
• As the expertise of the participants in a symposium are important to the review process, these submissions should not be blinded.

Barcamp

Conferences are often frontal presentations. Not so at Barcamp. This modern form of interactive conference relies on attendee participation. Contributions, called sessions, are made by attendees themselves at the beginning of the event. This creates an inspiring peer learning experience where everyone can learn from each other's experiences.

In Barcamps, organizers give participants complete control over the content of the sessions. They can suggest sessions in advance or at the special planning session at the beginning of the Barcamp. Sessions always last 45 minutes and are formally very open. This allows for discussion with or without input on a topic. A small workshop can be held or a question can be raised and discussed in the group. At the beginning of the conference, all session proposals are collected and briefly presented to gauge interest. Room sizes are assigned according to interest in the sessions. The participatory and interest-driven nature of Barcamp invites people to learn from each other and engage in conversations about topics.

There will be two rounds of sessions. A digital board will be announced where people can write down ideas prior to the planning session. However, the final planning will take place in the planning session on Thursday morning.