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The 23rd EUROCALL conference was held in Cyprus from the 24th to the 27th of August 2016. The theme of the conference this year was "CALL Communities and Culture." It offered a unique opportunity to hear from real-world CALL practitioners on how they practice CALL in their communities, and how the CALL culture has developed in local and global contexts. Short papers from the conference are presented in this volume: (1) The impact of EFL teachers' mediation in wiki-mediated collaborative writing activities on student-student collaboration (Maha Alghasab); (2) Towards the development of a comprehensive pedagogical framework for pronunciation training based on adaptive automatic speech recognition systems (Saandia Ali); (3) Digital literacy and sustainability--a field study in EFL teacher development (Christopher Allen and Jan Berggren); (4) Self-evaluation using iPads in EFL teaching practice (Christopher Allen, Stella K. Hadjistassou, and David Richardson); (5) Amateur online interculturalism in foreign language education (Antonie Alm); (6) Teaching Turkish in low tech contexts: opportunities and challenges (Katerina Antoniou, Evelyn Mbah, and Antigoni Parmaxi); (7) Learning Icelandic language and culture in virtual Reykjavic: starting to talk (Branislav Bédi, Birna Arnbjörnsdóttir, Hannes Högni Vilhjálmsson, Hafdís Erla Helgadóttir, Stefán Ólafsson, and Elías Björgvinsson); (8) Investigating student choices in performing higher-level comprehension tasks using TED (Francesca Bianchi and Ivana Marenzi); (9) An evaluation of text-to-speech synthesizers in the foreign language classroom: learners' perceptions (Tiago Bione, Jennica Grimshaw, and Walcir Cardoso); (10) Quantifying CALL: significance, effect size and variation (Alex Boulton; (11) The contribution of CALL to advanced-level foreign/second language instruction (Jack Burston and Kelly Arispe); (12) Using instructional technology to integrate CEFR "can do" performance objectives into an advanced-level language course (Jack Burston, Androulla Athanasiou, and Maro Neophytou-Yiokari); (13) Exploiting behaviorist and communicative action-based methodologies in CALL applications for the teaching of pronunciation in French as a foreign language (Jack Burston, Olga Georgiadou, and Monique Monville-Burston); (14) Mobile assisted language learning of less commonly taught languages: learning in an incidental and situated way through an app (Cristiana Cervini, Olga Solovova, Annukka Jakkula, and Karolina Ruta); (15) Using object-based activities and an online inquiry platform to support learners' engagement with their heritage language and culture (Koula Charitonos, Marina Charalampidi, and Eileen Scanlon); (16) Urban explorations for language learning: a gamified approach to teaching Italian in a university context (Koula Charitonos, Luca Morini, Sylvester Arnab, Tiziana Cervi-Wilson, and Billy Brick); (17) Communicate to learn, learn to communicate: a study of engineering students' communication strategies in a mobile-based learning environment (Li Cheng and Zhihong Lu); (18) Using a dialogue system based on dialogue maps for computer assisted second language learning (Sung-Kwon Choi, Oh-Woog Kwon, Young-Kil Kim, and Yunkeun Lee); (19) Students' attitudes and motivation towards technology in a Turkish language classroom (Pelekani Chryso); (20) Vlogging: a new channel for language learning and intercultural exchanges (Christelle Combe and Tatiana Codreanu); (21) Japanese university students' self-assessment and digital literacy test results (Travis Cote and Brett Milliner); (22) Digital story (re)telling using graded readers and smartphones (Kazumichi Enokida); (23) HR4EU--a web portal for e-learning of Croatian (Matea Filko, Daša Farkaš, and Diana Hriberski); (24) Synchronous tandem language learning in a MOOC context: a study on task design and learner performance (Marta Fondo Garcia and Christine Appel); (25) What students think and what they actually do in a mobile assisted language learning context: new insights for self-directed language learning in higher education (Gustavo Garcia Botero and Frederik Questier); (26) An Audio-Lexicon Spanish-Nahuatl: using technology to promote and disseminate a native Mexican language (Rafael García-Mencía, Aurelio López-López, and Angélica Muñoz Meléndez; (27) The use of interactive whiteboards: enhancing the nature of teaching young language learners (Christina Nicole Giannikas); (28) A pre-mobility eTandem project for incoming international students at the University of Padua (Lisa Griggio and Edit Rózsavölgyi); (29) Can a "shouting" digital game help learners develop oral fluency in a second language? (Jennica Grimshaw, Walcir Cardoso, and David Waddington); (30) Feedback visualization in a grammar-based e-learning system for German: a preliminary user evaluation with the COMPASS system (Karin Harbusch and Annette Hausdörfer); (31) The multimodality of lexical explanation sequences during videoconferenced pedagogical interaction (Benjamin Holt); (32) Automatic dialogue scoring for a second language learning system (Jin-Xia Huang, Kyung-Soon Lee, Oh-Woog Kwon, and Young-Kil Kim); (33) Effects of task-based videoconferencing on speaking performance and overall proficiency (Atsushi Iino, Yukiko Yabuta, and Yoichi Nakamura); (34) Tellecollaborative games for youngsters: impact on motivation (Kristi Jauregi); (35) The Exercise: an Exercise generator tool for the SOURCe project (Kryni Kakoyianni-Doa, Eleni Tziafa, and Athanasios Naskos); (36) Students' perceptions of online apprenticeship projects at a university (Hisayo Kikuchi); (37) The effects of multimodality through storytelling using various movie clips (SoHee Kim); (38) Collaboration through blogging: the development of writing and speaking skills in ESP courses (Angela Kleanthous and Walcir Cardoso); (39) Cultivating a community of learners in a distance learning postgraduate course for language professionals (Angelos Konstantinidis and Cecilia Goria); (40) Task-oriented spoken dialog system for second-language learning (Oh-Woog Kwon, Young-Kil Kim, and Yunkeun Lee); (41) Promoting multilingual communicative competence through multimodal academic learning situations (Anna Kyppö and Teija Natri); (42) Teacher professional learning: developing with the aid of technology (Marianna Kyprianou and Eleni Nikiforou); (43) Quizlet: what the students think--a qualitative data analysis (Bruce Lander); (44) "Just facebook me": a study on the integration of Facebook into a German language curriculum (Vera Leier and Una Cunningham); (45) A survey on Chinese students' online English language learning experience through synchronous web conferencing classrooms (Chenxi Li); (46) Identifying and activating receptive vocabulary by an online vocabulary survey and an online writing task (Ivy Chuhui Lin and Goh Kawai); (47) Exploring learners' perceptions of the use of digital letter games for language learning: the case of Magic Word (Mathieu Loiseau, Cristiana Cervini, Andrea Ceccherelli, Monica Masperi, Paola Salomoni, Marco Roccetti, Antonella Valva, and Francesca Bianco); (48) Game of Words: prototype of a digital game focusing on oral production (and comprehension) through asynchronous interaction (Mathieu Loiseau, Racha Hallal, Pauline Ballot, and Ada Gazidedja); (49) PETALL in action: latest developments and future directions of the EU-funded Pan-European Task Activities for Language Learning (António Lopes); (50) Exploring EFL learners' lexical application in AWE-based writing (Zhihong Lu and Zhenxiao Li); (51) Mobile-assisted language learning and language learner autonomy (Paul A. Lyddon); (52) YELL/TELL: online community platform for teacher professional development (Ivana Marenzi, Maria Bortoluzzi, and Rishita Kalyani); (53) Leveraging automatic speech recognition errors to detect challenging speech segments in TED talks (Maryam Sadat Mirzaei, Kourosh Meshgi, and Tatsuya Kawahara); (54) Investigating the affective learning in a 3D virtual learning environment: the case study of the Chatterdale mystery (Judith Molka-Danielsen, Stella Hadjistassou, and Gerhilde Messl-Egghart); (55) Are commercial "personal robots" ready for language learning? Focus on second language speech (Souheila Moussalli and Walcir Cardoso); (56) The Digichaint interactive game as a virtual learning environment for Irish (Neasa Ni Chiaráin and Ailbhe Ní Chasaide); (57) Mingling students' cognitive abilities and learning strategies to transform CALL (Efi Nisiforou and Antigoni Parmaxi); (58) Taking English outside of the classroom through social networking: reflections on a two-year project (Louise Ohashi); (59) Does the usage of an online EFL workbook conform to Benford's law? (Mikolaj Olszewski, Kacper Lodzikowski, Jan Zwolinski, Rasil Warnakulasooriya, and Adam Black); (60) Implications on pedagogy as a result of adopted CALL practices (James W. Pagel and Stephen G. Lambacher); (61) Exploring the benefits and disadvantages of introducing synchronous to asynchronous online technologies to facilitate flexibility in learning (Salomi Papadima-Sophocleous and Fernando Loizides); (62) A CALL for evolving teacher education through 3D microteaching (Giouli Pappa and Salomi Papadima-Sophocleous); (63) Physicality and language learning (Jaeuk Park, Paul Seedhouse, Rob Comber, and Jieun Kiaer); (64) Designing strategies for an efficient language MOOC (Maria Perifanou); (65) Worldwide state of language MOOCs (Maria Perifanou); (66) A Spanish-Finnish telecollaboration: extending intercultural competence via videoconferencing (Pasi Puranen and Ruby Vurdien); (67) Developing oral interaction skills with a digital information gap activity game (Avery Rueb, Walcir Cardoso, and Jennica Grimshaw); (68) Using WebQuests as idea banks for fostering autonomy in online language courses (Shirin Sadaghian and S. Susan Marandi); (69) Integrating mobile technologies into very young second language learners' curriculum (Gulnara Sadykova, Gulnara Gimaletdinova, Liliia Khalitova, and Albina Kayumova); (70) Investigating commercially available technology for language learners in higher education within the high functioning disability spectrum (Georgia Savvidou and Fernando Loizides); (71) Learning languages in 3D worlds with Machinima (Christel Schneider); (72) What are more effective in English classrooms: textbooks or podcasts? (Jaime Selwood, Joe Lauer, and Kazumichi Enokida); (73) Mind the gap: task design and technology in novice language teachers' practice (Tom F. H. Smits, Margret Oberhofer, and Jozef Colpaert); (74) Language immersion in the self-study mode e-course (Olga Sobolev); (75) Aligning out-of-class material with curriculum: tagging grammar in a mobile music application (Ross Sundberg and Walcir Cardoso); (76) Meeting the technology standards for language teachers (Cornelia Tschichold); (77) Mobile-assisted language learning community and culture in French-speaking Belgium: the teachers' perspective (Julie Van de Vyver); (78) Classification of Swedish learner essays by CEFR levels (Elena Volodina, Ildikó Pilán, and David Alfter); (79) Mobile assisted language learning and mnemonic mapping--the loci method revisited (Ikumi Waragai, Marco Raindl, Tatsuya Ohta, and Kosuke Miyasaka); (80) CALL and less commonly taught languages--still a way to go (Monica Ward); (81) Demystifying pronunciation with animation (Monica Ward); (82) The effects of utilizing corpus resources to correct collocation errors in L2 writing--Students' performance, corpus use and perceptions (Yi-ju Wu); (83) A social constructionist approach to teaching and learning vocabulary for Italian for academic purposes (Eftychia Xerou, Salomi Papadima-Sophocleous, and Antigoni Parmaxi); (84) Flip-J: development of the system for flipped jigsaw supported language learning (Masanori Yamada, Yoshiko Goda, Kojiro Hata, Hideya Matsukawa, and Seisuke Yasunami); and (85) "Check your Smile", prototype of a collaborative LSP website for technical vocabulary (Nadia Yassine-Diab, Charlotte Alazard-Guiu, Mathieu Loiseau, Laurent Sorin, and Charlotte Orliac). An author index is included. (Individual papers contain references.)

This document contains 35 papers from the program development section of an international conference on vocational education and training (VET) for lifelong learning in the information era. The following are among the papers included: "Using Quality Indicators to Create World-Class Curricula: From Concept to Application" (Curtis Finch, Timo Luopajarvi, Paivi Sutinen); "What Is Missing from ISO 9000 International Quality Standards Training in the United States?" (Paul Krueger); "West Virginia Instructional Technology Program Design for Economic Development" (Michael M. Murphy); "A Perception of the Software Process Model" (Albert H.S. Scott); "Design of Internet-Related Courses for IT (Information Technology) Professionals" (Y.K. Choi); "A TQM (Total Quality Management) Study of Faculty and Trainees' Perceptions of Public Vocational Training Institutions in Taiwan" (Li-Mei Huang); "Curriculum Development in Vocational Education: Achieving Balance and Coherence" (Christopher Parkin); "Providing Competency-Based Education for Industry and Its Effect on Classroom Education" (Chin-Yen Lin, Tsung-Juang Wang); "Competency Based Training: An Evaluation of a Post-secondary Teacher Education Program" (Dale E. Thompson, Cecelia Thompson, Betsy Orr); "Perceptions of Participants in a Multi-site Distance Learning Bachelor of Science Degree Program" (Betsy Orr, Dale Thompson, Cecelia Thompson); "A Study of Relation between Assessment Dimension and Management Outcomes--A Sample of Sinyi Real-Estate Company" (Stanley Tsan-Ying Lin); "Exploring a New Pattern of Vocational Education and Training" (Haicheng Yang, Tingrui Wang); "Transforming Educational Practice for a Transformed Employment Environment" (Jeanne Dawson); "Pre- and Post-Assessment in Occupational Courses" (Teresa Yohon); "Transforming Young School Leavers and Mature Unemployed into Skilled IT Workers--The IT Assistant Training in Hong Kong" (Yat-chen Li); "Discussion and Design of High Vocational Education" (Wenyi Qin, Yanchun Guo); "Teaching Statistical Problem Solving in Vocational Education" (Ken W. Li); "Structure and Cultivation of the Knowledge and Abilities of Students of Higher Vocational Technical Education" (Jiyao Zhou, Kaiyu Zhen, Weihua Liu); "Telling Stories in the Use of Portfolio Assessment in Higher Education: Some Implementation Issues" (Annie Y.W. Nicholson, Sharon Bryant); and "The Effects of the Whole Educational Experience on Graduate Employability and Further Study" (Kwok Hung Lai, Michael Hohn Pomfret). Most papers contain substantial bibliographies. (MN)

This document contains 18 papers from the partnership for vocational education and training (VET) section of an international conference on VET for lifelong learning in the information era. The following are papers are included: "School, TAFE (Technical and Further Education), and University Links, in Pursuit of a Seamless Pathway" (Robert Player); "Work-Based Training: Experiences of Student Interns" (Marcelle Hardy, Carmen Parent, Johanne Forget); "A New Model for Workforce Development: University of Nevada Las Vegas Educator Externship Program" (Sterling Saddler, Gina M. Toth, Lisa M. Bybee); "Workplace Learning as an Investment in Human Capital" (Johanna Lasonen, Reijo Parikka); "Supporting Lifelong Learning; The New Integrated Scottish Qualifications System" (Maida Grant);"Key Policy Issues in the Promotion of Information Technology in Vocational Education: Some Lessons from the Five-Year Strategy in Hong Kong" (Kathleen S.K. Ng); " Vocational Education and Training for Operators of Modern Enterprises" (Qinxiang Gao, Meichi Huang, Heping Yu); "The Condition and Competency of Multi-Entrances for Personnel Training of Industrial Design Engineer in Taiwan" (Jui-che Tu); "Establishment of the Advanced Printing Technology Centre at Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (Kwun Tong)" (Lawrence W. Chan); "Profile of SME (Small and Medium Enterprise) Support in Hong Kong and the Setting Up of the Business Start-up Centre" (Robin Wong); "Attach Strategic Importance to High Quality Vocational and Technical Education" (Shengyun Yang); "Cross Disciplinary Continuing Professional Development" (Sai Hong Ko); "Attitudes of University Faculty Members toward Students with Disabilities" (Marie F. Kraska); "Mobility, Flexibility and Accessibility of Postsecondary Education in Hong Kong" (Shui-Kin Chan); "Vocational Education in Engineering in the Information Age" (C.W. Woo, Alan S.T. Tang, S.T. Poposka); "The Engineering Graduate Training Scheme and New Technology Training Scheme in Hong Kong" (T.L. Ng, Gary M.Y. Wong); "Developing a Competitive Program to Cope with the 3C (Change, Competitive, Complex) Trend in Industry" (S.T. Tsai, Shu-Hsiao Tsen); and "How Effective Are Our Teaching Methods for Vocational Education" (Yik-lung Wong). Most papers contain substantial bibliographies. (MN)

A newly developed course on education in contemporary China is described. Objectives, curriculum materials, teaching strategies, learning activities, and evaluation are briefly outlined. The three-credit, college-level course explores educational policy and practice in the People's Republic of China since 1949, with emphasis on the interrelationship between political ideology and the educational system. The course outline provides an idea of the historical periods and educational topics to be covered and describes the course components, consisting of lectures, readings, research papers, student seminars, and a glossary project. Directions are given for preparation of the research papers, seminar presentations, and the glossary project. Two bibliographhies are provided. One lists periodicals available in English or Chinese from Taiwan and the People's Republic of China, as well as monitored broadcasts, journals, and special bibliographic sources. The other is a list of books published since 1965 on topics, such as periods in Chinese history, medicine, women and childcare, education of minorities, and other aspects of education. (AV)

"Proceedings of International Conference on Humanities, Social and Education Sciences" includes full papers presented at the International Conference on Humanities, Social and Education Sciences (iHSES), which took place on April 22-25, 2021, in New York, New York. The aim of the conference is to offer opportunities to share ideas, to discuss theoretical and practical issues, and to connect with the leaders in the fields of "humanities," "education," and "social sciences." The conference is organized annually by the International Society for Technology, Education, and Science (ISTES). The iHSES invites submissions which address the theory, research, or applications in all disciplines of humanities, education, and social sciences. The iHSES is organized for: (1) faculty members in all disciplines of humanities, education, and social sciences; (2) graduate students; (3) K-12 administrators; (4) teachers; (5) principals; and (6) all interested in education and social sciences. [Individual papers are indexed in ERIC.]

"Proceedings of International Conference on Humanities, Social and Education Sciences" includes full papers presented at the International Conference on Humanities, Social and Education Sciences (iHSES) which took place on April 22-25, 2021 in New York, USA-www.ihses.net. The aim of the conference is to offer opportunities to share ideas, to discuss theoretical and practical issues and to connect with the leaders in the fields of humanities, education and social sciences. The conference is organized annually by the International Society for Technology, Education, and Science (ISTES)-www.istes.org. The iHSES invites submissions which address the theory, research or applications in all disciplines of humanities, education and social sciences. The iHSES is organized for: faculty members in all disciplines of humanities, education and social sciences, graduate students, K-12 administrators, teachers, principals and all interested in humanities, education and social sciences. After peer-reviewing process, all full papers are published in the Conference Proceedings.

This document contains the following papers on international issues from the SITE (Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education) 2001 conference: (1) "Attitudes of Malaysian Vocational Trainee Teachers towards the Integration of Computer in Teaching" (Ab. Rahim Bakar and Shamsiah Mohamed); (2) "Views from an Asian Bridge: How International Students See Us and Still Survive" (Richard Cornell and others); (3) "Creating Virtual Learning Communities in Africa: Issues and Challenges" (Osei K. Darkwa); (4) "ICTs for Learning: An International Perspective on the Irish Initiative" (Eileen Freeman and others); (5) "An In-Service Program in Applied Linguistics for Language Teachers" (Diana Jenkins and others); (6) "Virtual Exchange Program: Coming to a Computer Near You?" (Chris Junghans); (7) "An Overview of Information Technology on K-12 Education in Taiwan" (Greg Lee and Cheng-Chih Wu); (8) "Findings from the Project for the Longitudinal Assessment of New Information Technologies (PLANIT): 2000-2001" (Cesar Morales and others); (9) "Evaluation of the Girls Research Opportunities in Computing (Girls R.O.C.)" (A. Dale Mangoun and Charlotte H. Owens); (10) "Teacher and Student Attitudes toward Computers, 1999-2000: Findings from a Suburban Texas School District" (Gerald Knezek and Rhonda Christensen); (11) "Teachers and Students' Attitudes toward Computers in Mexico: Results of Phase 2000" (Cesareo Morales); (12) "Preservice Teachers' Attitudes toward Information Technology in Brunei" (Mint Swe Khine); (13) "Findings from Thailand for the Longitudinal Assessment of New Information Technologies" (Nanta Palitawanont); (14) "Multimedia in Chinese Elementary Schools" (John Ronghua Ouyang and James E. Yao); (15) "An Instrument To Measure Malaysian Teachers' IT Preparedness" (Wong Su Luan and others); (16) "An In-Service Program for Ecuadorian Teachers. The Innovation of Elementary Education in the Santa Elena Peninsula Project" (Martin Valcke and Katherine M. Chiluiza); and (17) "Critical Kiwi Chronicles: Technology and Teacher Education in New Zealand" (Cameron White). An abstract of the following paper is also included: "An Introductory Internet Skills Program for Teacher Education: Or from Practice to Theory: A Case Study" (Cameron Richards and Mita Bhattacharya). Most papers contain references. (MES)

This book contains a compilation of papers presented at the International Conference on Education and New Developments (END 2017), organized by the World Institute for Advanced Research and Science (W.I.A.R.S.). Education, in our contemporary world, is a right since we are born. Every experience has a formative effect on the constitution of the human being, in the way one thinks, feels and acts. One of the most important contributions resides in what and how we learn through the improvement of educational processes, both in formal and informal settings. The International Conference seeks to provide some answers and explore the processes, actions, challenges and outcomes of learning, teaching and human development. The goal is to offer a worldwide connection between teachers, students, researchers and lecturers, from a wide range of academic fields, interested in exploring and giving their contribution in educational issues. We take pride in having been able to connect and bring together academics, scholars, practitioners and others interested in a field that is fertile in new perspectives, ideas and knowledge. We counted on an extensive variety of contributors and presenters, which can supplement our view of the human essence and behavior, showing the impact of their different personal, academic and cultural experiences. This is, certainly, one of the reasons we have many nationalities and cultures represented, inspiring multi-disciplinary collaborative links, fomenting intellectual encounter and development. END 2017 received 581 submissions, from 55 different countries, reviewed by a double-blind process. Submissions were prepared to take form of Oral Presentations, Posters, Virtual Presentations and Workshops. The conference accepted for presentation 176 submissions (30% acceptance rate). The conference also includes a keynote presentation from an internationally distinguished researcher, Professor Lizbeth Goodman, Chair of Creative Technology Innovation and Professor of Inclusive Design for Learning at University College Dublin; Founder/Director of SMARTlab, Director of the Inclusive Design Research Centre of Ireland, Founder of The MAGIC Multimedia and Games Innovation Centre, Ireland, to whom we express our most gratitude. This conference addressed different categories inside the Education area and papers are expected to fit broadly into one of the named themes and sub-themes. To develop the conference program we have chosen four main broad-ranging categories, which also covers different interest areas: (1) In TEACHERS AND STUDENTS: Teachers and Staff training and education; Educational quality and standards; Curriculum and Pedagogy; Vocational education and Counseling; Ubiquitous and lifelong learning; Training programs and professional guidance; Teaching and learning relationship; Student affairs (learning, experiences and diversity; Extra-curricular activities; Assessment and measurements in Education. (2) In PROJECTS AND TRENDS: Pedagogic innovations; Challenges and transformations in Education; Technology in teaching and learning; Distance Education and eLearning; Global and sustainable developments for Education; New learning and teaching models; Multicultural and (inter)cultural communications; Inclusive and Special Education; Rural and indigenous Education; Educational projects. (3) In TEACHING AND LEARNING: Educational foundations; Research and development methodologies; Early childhood and Primary Education; Secondary Education; Higher Education; Science and technology Education; Literacy, languages and Linguistics (TESL/TEFL); Health Education; Religious Education; Sports Education. (4) In ORGANIZATIONAL ISSUES: Educational policy and leadership; Human Resources development; Educational environment; Business, Administration, and Management in Education; Economics in Education; Institutional accreditations and rankings; International Education and Exchange programs; Equity, social justice and social change; Ethics and values; Organizational learning and change, Corporate Education. This book contains the results of the research and developments conducted by authors who focused on what they are passionate about: to promote growth in research methods intimately related to teaching, learning and applications in Education nowadays. It includes an extensive variety of contributors and presenters, who will extend our view in exploring and giving their contribution in educational issues, by sharing with us their different personal, academic and cultural experiences. We would like to express thanks to all the authors and participants, the members of the academic scientific committee, and of course, to our organizing and administration team for making and putting this conference together. [This document contains the proceedings of END 2017: International Conference on Education and New Developments (Lisbon, Portugal, June 24-26, 2017).]

We are delighted to welcome you to the International Psychological Applications Conference and Trends (InPACT) 2017, taking place in Budapest, Hungary, from 29 of April to 1 of May, 2017. Modern psychology offers a large range of scientific fields where it can be applied. The goal of understanding individuals and groups (mental functions and behavioral standpoints), from this academic and practical scientific discipline, aims ultimately to benefit society. This International Conference seeks to provide some answers and explore the several areas within the Psychology field, new developments in studies and proposals for future scientific projects. The goal is to offer a worldwide connection between psychologists, researchers and lecturers, from a wide range of academic fields, interested in exploring and giving their contribution in psychological issues. The conference is a forum that connects and brings together academics, scholars, practitioners and others interested in a field that is fertile in new perspectives, ideas and knowledge. There is an extensive variety of contributors and presenters, which can supplement the view of the human essence and behavior, showing the impact of their different personal, academic and cultural experiences. This is, certainly, one of the reasons there are nationalities and cultures represented, inspiring multi-disciplinary collaborative links, fomenting intellectual encounter and development. InPACT 2017 received 243 submissions, from 35 different countries from all over the world, reviewed by a double-blind process. Submissions were prepared to take form of Oral Presentations, Posters, Virtual Presentations and Workshops. It was accepted for presentation in the conference 128 submissions (29% acceptance rate). The conference also includes: (1) Two keynote presentations by Prof. Dr. Leslie G. Walker (Professor of Cancer Rehabilitation at the University of Hull, United Kingdom) and by Prof. Dr. Howard S. Schwartz (Professor of Organizational Behavior in the School of Business Administration, Oakland University, USA); and (2) Two Special Talks one by Prof. Dr. Michael Wang (Professor of Clinical Psychology, University of Leicester, United Kingdom), and the other by Dr. António Alvim (Portuguese Association of Psychoanalysis and Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, Portugal). We would like to express our gratitude to all our invitees. This volume is composed by the papers of the International Psychological Applications Conference and Trends (InPACT 2017), organized by the World Institute for Advanced Research and Science (W.I.A.R.S.). The Conference addresses different categories inside Applied Psychology area and papers fit broadly into one of the named themes and sub-themes. The conference program includes six main broad-ranging categories that cover diversified interest areas: (1) Clinical Psychology: Emotions and related psychological processes; Assessment; Psychotherapy and counseling; Addictive behaviors; Eating disorders; Personality disorders; Quality of life and mental health; Communication within relationships; Services of mental health; and Psychopathology. (2) Educational Psychology: Language and cognitive processes; School environment and childhood disorders; Parenting and parenting related processes; Learning and technology; Psychology in schools; Intelligence and creativity; Motivation in classroom; Perspectives on teaching; Assessment and evaluation; and Individual differences in learning. (3) Social Psychology: Cross-cultural dimensions of mental disorders; Employment issues and training; Organizational psychology; Psychology in politics and international issues; Social factors in adolescence and its development; Social anxiety and self-esteem; Immigration and social policy; Self-efficacy and identity development; Parenting and social support; Addiction and stigmatization; and Psychological and social impact of virtual networks. (4) Legal Psychology: Violence and trauma; Mass-media and aggression; Intra-familial violence; Juvenile delinquency; Aggressive behavior in childhood; Internet offending; Working with crime perpetrators; Forensic psychology; Violent risk assessment; and Law enforcement and stress. (5) Cognitive and Experimental Psychology: Perception, memory and attention; Decision making and problem-solving; Concept formation, reasoning and judgment; Language processing; Learning skills and education; Cognitive Neuroscience; Computer analogies and information processing (Artificial Intelligence and computer simulations); Social and cultural factors in the cognitive approach; Experimental methods, research and statistics; and Biopsychology. (6) Psychoanalysis and Psychoanalytical Psychotherapy: Psychoanalysis and psychology; The unconscious; The Oedipus complex; Psychoanalysis of children; Pathological mourning; Addictive personalities; Borderline organizations; Narcissistic personalities; Anxiety and phobias; Psychosis; Neuropsychoanalysis. This volume contains the papers and results of the different researches conducted by authors who focused on what they are passionate about: to study and develop research in areas related to Psychology and its applications. It includes an extensive variety of contributors and presenters that are hereby sharing with us their different personal, academic and cultural experiences. We would like to express thanks to all the authors and participants, the members of the academic scientific committee, and of course, to the organizing and administration team for making and putting this conference together. [Abstract modified to meet ERIC guidelines. For the 2016 proceedings, see ED580800.]

The five commissioned papers in this anthology provided part of the research base for the national report, "National Excellence: A Case for Developing America's Talent." In the first paper, "The Performance of High Ability Students in the United States on National and International Tests," Carolyn Callahan describes discouraging national and international academic achievement data which indicate that America's top students continue to lag behind top students in other comparable nations. In the second paper, "Education of Gifted and Talented Students in China, Taiwan, and Japan," Harold W. Stevenson et al. report on studies of children's academic achievement in East Asia over the past 11 years and analyze those Asian nations' policies and practices for educating high-ability students. In the third paper, "State Policy Issues in the Education of Gifted and Talented Students," Patricia Bruce Mitchell examines current state policies, regulations, and legislation concerning education programs for gifted and talented students. She also discusses state policies which influence the nature and scope of gifted programming and considers implications of recent school restructuring efforts. James Gallagher, in "Current and Historical Thinking on Education for Gifted and Talented Students," describes how early cultures addressed or failed to address the needs of gifted children and contends that our society has traditionally had ambivalent feelings toward gifted children. He offers several definitions of giftedness and evaluates various educational methods with this population. In the final paper, "American Culture and the Gifted," Daniel P. Resnick and Madeline Goodman examine the role that the American culture and political beliefs have played in shaping the educational system. They suggest that forces outside the classroom (such as anti-intellectual attitudes) may account for more of the success or failure of programs for the gifted than previously thought. Each paper contains references. (DB)