For learners and their families, as well as for educators and their communities, 2020 has been a year defined by disruption, new forms of connection, and persistent creativity. Challenges associated with dual pandemics–the ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis, alongside uprisings for racial justice–have impacted both formal schooling and everyday learning. As members of the connected learning community, we know from our research and from our practice that diverse settings, literacies, practices, and relationships are of consequential value for those who have entrusted us to support their learning and flourishing. Despite much dissonance this year, so, too, have acts of resistance and solidarity demonstrated why connected learning is, perhaps now more so than ever, a critical framework for shaping more equitable learning futures.
Unlike the previous 2018 and 2019 Connected Learning Summits which were hosted, respectively, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of California, Irvine, our community was unable to gather together as planned during the summer of 2020. Yet as editors, we have always taken seriously our responsibility to produce and share publicly a proceedings that demonstrates timely, insightful scholarship of the highest caliber. While the many challenges of 2020 have tested our collective resolve, our editorial team’s commitment has not wavered and we are honored to present the Proceedings of the 2020 Connected Learning Summit.
This proceedings features 23 research papers that were accepted, following blind peer review, for presentation at the 2020 summit. Distance and disruption need not prevent us from recognizing the hard work and intellectual contribution showcased by these 67 authors. We are grateful that all of them worked with us over the past few months, despite the unusual circumstances, to produce this valuable record of connected learning scholarship. And as with prior proceedings, we could not have accomplished our work without guidance from the Connected Learning Lab’s Jamieson Pond, additional assistance from Karen Bleske, as well as support from Brad King and his team at Carnegie Mellon University’s ETC Press.
Finally, the 2021 Connected Learning Summit will be happening completely online July 1-31, 2021. The call for proposals for CLS2021 is open from January 11 – March 15. Learn more about the 2021 call for proposals here. Our community knows quite a bit about connection, and we look forward to reconnecting with you all soon.
On behalf of the proceedings team,
Remi Kalir and Danielle Filipiak
Co-Editors, Proceedings of the 2020 Connected Learning Summit
