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Embracing Quantum Imaginaries at the 2026 LRA Conference

The Literacy Research Association (LRA) has revealed an innovative theme for its upcoming 76th Annual Conference, set to take place from December 2 to 5, 2026, in the enchanting city of Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. This year's theme, "Manifesting Quantum Imaginaries: Researching Literacies as a Transcontextual Enterprise," reflects a significant shift in how literacy is conceptualized and investigated.

A Transformative Exploration of Literacy

Patriann Smith, the Conference Chair and President-Elect of LRA, emphasizes the transformative potential of this year's theme. The conference invites educators, researchers, and practitioners to shift their paradigms regarding literacy. By adopting a quantum perspective, attendees will explore how literacy practices are not fixed but complex and multifaceted, much like the quantum states described in physics.

In her words, "This milestone conference is designed to profoundly expand our understandings of literacies in motion". The LRA aims to showcase cutting-edge research, highlighting the global implications of literacy education.

The Quantum Lens: A Metaphorical Re-examination

The conference's approach encourages participants to view literacies through a "quantum lens," moving beyond traditional frameworks of linear time and space. This methodology considers literacies as dynamic entities, full of potential meanings and interpretations. Just as quantum particles can occupy multiple states, literacy events can produce various outcomes depending on their context and trajectory.

The organizers aim to address how movements—physical, digital, or contextual—affect literacy practices. The conference proposes that understanding these dynamics is essential for developing new, effective pedagogical strategies.

Focusing on Literacies in Motion

The theme encapsulates the concept of "literacies in motion," where diverse forms of literacy manifest as individuals navigate different contexts. Whether online or offline, students constantly engage with transformative literacy practices.

By acknowledging this mobility, the conference aligns with Indigenous and diasporic philosophies that recognize the interconnectedness of human experiences. The exploration of how literacies develop across varied environments aims to provide insights into shaping identity and establishing a sense of belonging in today's complex world.

A Contemporary Call to Action

As the year 2025 is designated as the "Year of Quantum" by UNESCO, the LRA conference exists within a broader context of embracing contemporary educational advancements. With the rise of artificial intelligence and quantum computing, researchers are encouraged to submit proposals that delve into these interdisciplinary intersections.

Potential topics might include:

• - The impacts of mobility on literacy practices among students
• - How teachers can support emergent literacies aiding student engagement
• - Engaging with multiple literacies across various learning scenarios
• - Considering time and space within minute literacy interactions

Conclusion: Radical Re-evaluation of Literacy

Through the lens of quantum imaginaries, the LRA 2026 conference aims to stimulate a fundamental re-examination of what it means to understand and teach literacy in our societies. By challenging conventional notions of learning and teaching, the meeting aspires to provide educators and researchers with the frameworks needed to enrich literacy education and foster an understanding of literacy's transformative capabilities in every context.

Patriann Smith remarked, "Moving beyond static, linear models of thought to embrace a more expansive understanding of literacies as transcontextual... will empower students and educators to navigate and define their literacies dynamically." This conference, therefore, embodies a crucial movement toward integrating innovative ideas into literacy research and education. Join LRA in this valuable dialogue in beautiful Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, where the possibilities of literacy truly become limitless.