DEC26 brings educators, researchers, industry, funding agencies and policymakers together to share and discover innovative uses of technology in an ever-changing teaching and learning ecosystem.

Building on the previous three conferences, DEC23, DEC24 and DEC25 our 4th conference continues as an in-person event that encourages listening, sharing and learning, creating new knowledge and networks to enhance your professional self.

The conference will take place over two days, Day One provides attendees with a Keynote panel, our traditional GASTA quickfire-rounds, insights into student experiences of Digital Education, and paper presentations and workshops in. Day Two focuses on paper presentations to stimulate active dialogue around all things Digital Education, ethics of AI and Immersive Learning opportunities, challenges and the potential long-term implications of disruptive technology for education, research and industry. Our keynote and sponsor talks will ignite the urge for more collaborative engagement and networking to find solutions to todays digital education challenges.

Note: this year we are continuing last year’s enhanced the scope of DEC26 to include a Day Zero 8th December- we are offering a doctoral colloquium 9am- 5pm, and we are hosting our DigiTeachNet 4:30pm-7:30pm with our partners across primary and secondary schools. We invite you to get involved and don't hesitate to contact us:

Zeta.Dooly@setu.ie, Gina.Noonan@setu.ie, Paul.OLeary@setu.ie

Submission Guidelines

All papers must be original and not simultaneously submitted to another journal or conference. The following paper categories are welcome:

Each abstract is required to address one or more of the conference sub themes.

The following paper categories are welcome in the abstract submission:

DEC25 invites interested parties to submit a 300-word abstract (word or PDF Format)

Please indicate type of abstract when submitting:

• Research Paper: Presentation of original findings and how they offer, inform or link to existing research.
• Practice Paper: Details of new and innovative digital educational case studies, programmes or activities.
• Poster: Presentation of ongoing research or practice in Digital Education. Poster abstracts should be submitted on EasyChair, clearly note in the abstract that your submission is a research poster. File uploads are not necessary at the submission stage, the authors of accepted posters will be contacted with further instructions for poster printing and display. Both poster abstracts and final research posters should include: Introduction, Methods, Results, Conclusion/Discussion.
• GASTA: Presentations to be included in the GASTA (5-minute lightening talks) should be submitted directly to the co-chairs email address.

Each abstract should address the following:

• Title
• Background
• Rationale
• Design (optional)
• Conclusion

All submitted abstracts will go through a peer-review process.

While EasyChair permits the uploading of a Full Paper, this is NOT a requirement of DEC26.

List of Topics

Topics of Interest for Submission include but are not limited to:

1. Smart Education & Digital Foundations

Digital education design, models, methods, engagement, content, and assessment, featuring:

- XR, VR, AR Environments: Immersive, gamified and spatial learning architectures designed to enhance student engagement and experiential learning.

- Generative AI in Education: Practical applications, methodologies and critical impacts of GenAI in teaching, learning, curriculum design and assessment.

- Policies, ethics and Global Frameworks: Navigating academic integrity, data privacy, and governance through alignment with international standards (e.g., UNESCO AI Competences, EU AI Act, OECD AI Guidelines, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals/SDGs).

- Inclusivity and Human-Centric AI: Ensuring equitable access, universal design principles, and human-centric approaches to digital and AI-driven educational tools.

2. The Great Educational Pivot

Exploring macro-level digital tools, institutional shifts, and educational transformations, with an emphasis on:

- Digital Storytelling: Harnessing multimedia narratives, student-led digital media, and interactive platforms to deepen conceptual understanding and bridge academic theory with real-world impact.

- Smart Classrooms for Digital and GenAI Literacy: Transforming physical and virtual learning spaces into hubs that actively foster technical fluency, critical data evaluation, and responsible GenAI interaction among learners.

3. Reflections on Assessment Integrity

Re-evaluating evaluation metrics, authentic assessment design, and institutional trust in a technology-saturated world. Submissions in this area may explore:

- Redesigning traditional grading structures to withstand or adapt to ubiquitous AI.

- Balancing automated feedback mechanisms with authentic human academic evaluation.

- Preserving academic rigour and student voice in digital assessment environments.

4. Technology and Education for Resilience

Preparing students to thrive in complex, rapidly shifting socio-technical landscapes, focusing on:

- Developing Critically Thinking Digital Graduates: Pedagogical strategies, frameworks, and interventions that equip learners to critically question algorithmic outputs, navigate digital disinformation, and act as autonomous, reflective thinkers.

- Building cognitive and institutional resilience through adaptive educational technology models.