Mathematics Education Researchers (MER) community
June 15-19, 2026 | Irvine, California, USA
Dear Learning Sciences Community,
The 2026 ISLS Annual Meeting once again brings together the Learning Sciences community as a whole by combining two conference programs: the International Conference of the Learning Sciences (ICLS) and Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL). In celebration of the community’s expertise in design-based research and real-world impact, this year’s meeting theme is “Partnering with Purpose.”
The ICLS 2026 program invites submissions that explore learning across diverse contexts and through a range of cross-sector collaborative approaches, encouraging research that expands conventional disciplinary boundaries and addresses urgent challenges in the learning sciences.
The CSCL 2026 program continues its multi-disciplinary tradition, fostering productive exchange between computer science, education, psychology, sociology, and related fields while actively engaging with neighboring disciplines.
Submission Formats and DeadlinesResearch Papers: Deadline for submission: October 5, 2025
Long Papers (8 pages + 1-2 reference pages)
Short Papers (4 pages + 1 reference page)
Posters (2 pages + 1 reference page)
Practice-Oriented Papers – ICLS only (4 pages + 1 reference page)
Symposia or Structured Poster Symposia (10 pages + 1-2 reference pages)
Hybrid Symposia or Hybrid Structured Poster Symposia (10 pages + 1-2 reference pages + 1 page hybrid facilitation plan to be published)
Pre-Conference Events: Deadline for submission: November 15, 2025
Workshops & Tutorials
Interactive Tools & Demos
Doctoral Consortium
Alt-Academic Workshop (new!)
Early Career & Mid-Career Workshops
Gallery Submissions (new!)
Research papers welcome four types of contributions:
Empirical contributions that present studies emphasizing the major issue(s) addressed, the theoretical and methodological approach(es) pursued, major findings, conclusions, and (conceptual, empirical, practical) implications.
Conceptual contributions presenting theoretical elaborations or reviews of the literature.
Methodological contributions that develop and/or validate a research method, preferably providing empirical illustrations.
Technological contributions (CSCL) that develop novel technological designs and implementations for collaborative learning, or Design contributions (ICLS) that foreground innovative and iterative designs facilitating learning in all its forms.
The following five submission formats are possible for each type of contribution:
Long Papers (8 pages + references): Long papers are for mature work, requiring lengthy explanations of the conceptual background, methodology, and data analysis. Long paper submissions should include: (a) the major issue(s) addressed; (b) potential significance of the work; (c) the theoretical and methodological approach(es) pursued; (d) major findings, conclusions, implications; and (e) relevant scholarly references.
Short Papers (4 pages + references): Short papers are for work that makes significant contributions but that is still in progress, of smaller scale, or that can be reported briefly. Otherwise, the same criteria apply as those listed for long papers above.
Posters (2 pages + references): Research posters present work in early stages and for novel and promising ideas. The two-page paper should also identify the aspect of the work that will likely lead to productive discussions with annual meeting participants in a poster session, including figures exemplifying the visual support to be provided for these discussions in the actual poster.
Practice-Oriented Papers – ICLS only (4 pages + references): This type of paper should have a significant contribution from community partners, practitioners, educators, etc., who should serve as the lead author(s). These papers focus on implementation and demonstrate effective principles of design and partnership.
Symposia or Structured Poster Symposia (10 pages + references): Symposia comprise a set of completed research efforts grouped together to convey larger ideas or results about a specific theme or issue. Symposium proposals will be evaluated on their capacity to address significant issues of interest to the ICLS or CSCL community and align with the theme of the annual meeting. Symposia will last 90 minutes and include a discussant and chair. Both traditional presentation formats and structured poster formats are welcome.
Hybrid Symposia or Structured Poster Symposia (10 pages + references + hybrid facilitation plan): Continuing investments in this submission format, ISLS 2026 solicits hybrid symposia designed to move beyond basic access to create innovative, value-added arrangements offering new ways of engaging with ideas. These “designed hybrid” sessions will be held in rooms with good internet, two-way sound, and camera equipment, scheduled for optimal global participation. These move beyond mere access to innovative arrangements for sensemaking and dissemination.
Note on Hybrid Access: All concurrent sessions will continue to feature Hybrid Ambassadors and Zoom-in-the-room capabilities established in 2025, allowing paper author teams to host virtual co-authors, co-researchers, and participants. Please indicate any plan to include virtual team members in your methods section.
Important DatesJuly 15, 2025: Call for submissions opens
October 5, 2025: Research paper submissions due
November 15, 2025: Pre-Conference Workshops & Tutorials; Interactive Tools & Demos; Doctoral Consortium, Alt-Academic (new!), Early Career & Mid-Career Workshops; and Gallery Submissions (new!) submissions due
February 3, 2026: Acceptances announced
March 3, 2026: Final submissions due
June 15-19, 2026: ISLS Annual Meeting in Irvine, CA
Submissions will be managed through EasyChair. More detailed submission instructions are forthcoming.
About the International Society of Learning Sciences (ISLS)ISLS is a professional society dedicated to the interdisciplinary empirical investigation of learning as it exists in real-world settings and how learning may be facilitated both with and without technology. ISLS sponsors the Annual Meeting and two journals: the Journal of the Learning Sciences and the International Journal of Computer Supported Collaborative Learning.
Welcome to Irvine!
Kylie Peppler, Mimi Ito, Katie Salen Tekinbaş & Maggie Dahn
On behalf of the ISLS 2026 Local Organizing Committee and Conference Program Chairs,
More: https://www.isls.org/news/isls-2026-first-call-for-papers/