Sixth Annual Conference on Teaching and Learning
Oakland University, Rochester, MI
May 9-10, 2012

Excellence in Teaching and Learning:  How do we know it?  How do we make it happen?  What are the implications?

Excellence in teaching and learning has been a subject of much discussion within colleges and universities across the globe.  Attempting to quantify and qualify what constitutes excellence in teaching and learning has received much attention from scholars in the past decade.  While evidence of excellent teaching practices continues to emerge, there is still a great deal to uncover and discuss regarding what excellence in teaching and learning looks like in the classroom, how we can make it happen, and what the varied effects of such practices are.

This year’s joint conference between Oakland University and the University of Windsor will explore how excellence in teaching and learning is defined in theory and practice at the post-secondary level. Conference themes under the broad rubric of excellence in teaching and learning include the following:

• Assessing Teaching Practices

• Faculty Development

• Student Engagement

• Assessing Student Learning

• Student Persistence and Retention

This conference will be held May 9-10th at Oakland University in Rochester, MI, USA. It is designed for faculty, sessional instructors, academic administrators, staff, and students from post-secondary institutions.

While this annual conference is an initiative of Oakland University and the University of Windsor, we welcome the participation of individuals from other post-secondary institutions. We particularly encourage joint applications from individuals at different universities.

Conference registration will be open March 9th 2012.

Types of Proposals

You may submit proposals for 45-minute concurrent sessions, 90-minute workshops, and interactive poster presentations.

Proposals should address at least one of the conference themes and feature at least one of the following attributes:

• Research on teaching and learning

• Innovative teaching and learning programs and practices

• Administrative, organizational, or institutional initiatives in teaching and learning

• Innovative use of new educational technologies

• Development of original professional development resources for faculty and/or graduate students

The peer review process will include feedback and, possibly, specific suggestions for each submission. You may be asked to take feedback into account this input into the revision of your proposal and resubmit before a final decision is made. Participants and presenters at previous conferences have indicated that this collegial and constructive process resulted in improved sessions.

Presenters will have the option of saving drafts of proposals.

Concurrent sessions (45 minutes)

Concurrent sessions explore and demonstrate innovative practices and programs or applied research findings related to experiential learning. Concurrent sessions will be offered in 45-minute blocks. Interaction and participant engagement are key elements of these conference sessions, though there may be elements of more traditional presentations as well. Proposals should be submitted using our online system and include:

1. Names, positions, institutional affiliations, and contact information for the presenter(s). The person who submits the proposal will be the key contact.
2. Session title

1. Session abstract (not to exceed 150 words) outlining the objectives, content, and format for the session. What is a key goal of the session? What will participants leave the session knowing or being able to do? Word your abstract with the needs of the participants in mind. This abstract will appear in the conference program
2. Audiovisual requirements at the time of proposal submission. There will be follow-up communication to allow presenters to request specific equipment when they register

Workshops (90 minutes)

Workshops engage participants fully in active learning to develop ideas, relate research results and innovative practices to their own contexts, and work on products together. Workshops will be offered in 90-minute blocks. Interaction and participant engagement are especially essential to a workshop, so elements of a traditional presentation should be kept to an absolute minimum. Proposals should be submitted using our online system and include:

1. Names, positions, institutional affiliations, and contact information for the presenter(s). The person who submits the proposal will be the key contact.
2. Session title.
3. Session abstract (not to exceed 150 words) outlining the objectives, content, and format for the session. What is a key goal of the session? What will participants leave the session knowing or being able to do? Word your abstract with the needs of the participants in mind. This abstract will appear in the conference program.
4. For workshops, a description of the activities planned is essential.
5. Audiovisual requirements at the time of proposal submission. There will be follow-up communication to allow presenters to request specific equipment when they register.

Interactive Poster Presentation

Posters are a vibrant way to showcase research findings, innovative practices, and programs. To emphasize the value and importance of posters as a way to disseminate information, network with others interested in similar topics, and access rich feedback, the poster session will take place in conjunction with a reception. Although posters should be self-explanatory, presenters must be in attendance during the time allocated to the poster presentation. We encourage interactive, creative, and innovative approaches to poster presentations. A prestigious international award will be presented for the best poster.

Proposals should include:

1. Name, positions, institutional affiliations, and contact information for the presenter(s). The person who submits the proposal will be the key contact.
2. Poster title.
3. Poster abstract (not to exceed 150 words) outlining the objectives and content of the poster. What is a key goal of the poster? How will your poster foster interaction and active learning? Word your abstract with the needs of the participants in mind. This abstract will appear in the conference program.

Submission of Proposals

Deadline for submission: February 27, 2012

Submitters will be notified in mid-March of the selection of sessions for the May 2012 Conference. At that point, some submitters will be invited to take reviewers' feedback into consideration and to resubmit their proposals within 7 to 10 days. If you are not available during the last two weeks of March to participate in this integral part of the selection process, please let us know in advance.

We look forward to receiving your submission. If you have questions regarding the proposal process, please contact:

Scott L. Crabill, Ph.D.
Chair, Sixth Annual International Conference on Teaching and Learning
Undergraduate Education
Oakland University
cetl@oakland.edu