Call for Proposals

2020 Educational Developers Caucus Annual Conference

Transforming Learning: Educational Development at the Intersections of Relationships, Evidence-based Practices, and Inclusivity

February 19-21, 2020

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Hosted by Mount Saint Vincent University and Dalhousie University

The 2020 conference theme is focused on our collective role in transforming teaching and learning on our respective campuses. In particular, we encourage exploration of three critically important elements of education development that are increasingly at the fore of our work:

  • building authentic, meaningful, and transformational relationships to benefit the teaching and learning environment
  • enhancing evidence-based practices in teaching and learning generally and in educational development specifically, including an increased understanding of how learning works
  • transforming experiences of the teaching and learning environment through an enhanced understanding of intersections of diversity and the importance of creating an inclusive community on our campuses, within educational development.

EDC 2020 will feature keynote presentations by Peter Felten (Elon University) and Michele DiPietro (Kennesaw State University), as well as a panel exploring the indigenization of curriculum and pedagogy in higher education. Plenary panel includes Naomi Metallic (Dalhousie University), Debbie Martin (Dalhousie University), and TBD (Mount St. Vincent University).

Proposals will be accepted for preconference workshops, poster presentations, roundtable discussions, interactive workshops and research presentations until September 30th, 2019.  

Note: There is a limit of two submissions per person.

Session Formats

Proposals are invited in the following formats: 

Pre-conference Workshops (3 hours): For topics that require in-depth development, applied practice, and/or extended discussion. Pre-conference workshops should involve a blend of engaging approaches to facilitate the integration of theory, reflection, and research-based evidence. Submissions require an engagement plan and literature references.

Poster presentations (60 minutes): For topics you want to ‘show and tell’. Poster presentations typically showcase research findings, innovative practices and programs, using graphics and concise text. Presenters should engage participants in informal discussions and provide hand-outs summarizing your poster. 

Roundtable discussions (20 minutes): For topics or projects that can be facilitated through a short discussion. Round table discussion facilitators should set a context and provide ideas and information to shape a rich dialogue. Concurrent roundtable discussion will occur at different tables in one room. Facilitators will host the same round table discussion with three different groups during the one-hour event. Audio-visual equipment will not be required. 

Research presentations (30 minutes): For research topics or transformational innovations that you would like to share. Research presentations typically disseminate research findings, innovative initiatives, or new partnerships and programs.  Presenters should focus on the structured dissemination of information and providing opportunity for audience questions. Submissions require literature references.

Interactive workshops (60 minutes): For topics that require more in-depth examination and active engagement from participants. Interactive workshops are typically based on issues or challenges in the practice and theory of educational development.Workshop facilitators should actively engage participants in collaborative activities and discussions Submissions require intended outcomes and literature references. 

Panel sessions (60 minutes): Connecting topics and ideas require longer engagement. Panel sessions might share a visionary idea, discuss books and articles, or present and expand theories. Submissions require three presenters (15 minutes each) and a moderator, session descriptions, and moderator comments/questions. 

Proposal Format

Submissions must be completed online through the EDC Call for Proposal form.

Proposal Title

Session Format

Author(s) and or Presenter(s)

Session Description (400 words) - Include relevance of topic to conference or pre-conference theme, importance of topic to teaching and learning, appropriate theory, research or practice, learning outcomes and methods to be used in the session. Please remove author names and institutional affiliations from the description.

Session Abstract (150 words) - To appear in the conference schedule.

Keywords - Provide up to five keywords that describe the session. 

N.B. All reviews are double blind. Please do not identify authors and/or presenters in the 'Session Description'. Reviewers adhere to the proposal evaluation rubric.

Submission Procedure

Submissions can be made by:

  1. Completing the online form: EDC Call for Proposals.  

The deadline for proposals is: September 30th 2019. Note: this deadline is final; there will be no extensions.

AV Requests

Conference

All conference rooms are equipped with a computer with USB ports and network connections, video-data projectors, and standard whiteboards. Any other equipment (such as manual flipcharts etc.) should be requested at the time of proposal submission. Wireless internet access will be available throughout the conference space. Eduroam Wireless Service is available. Guest Wi-Fi logins will be available at registration.

The organizing committee encourages presenters to use the equipment provided in the rooms.  If a presenter wishes to use their own laptop or device, they are responsible for providing their own mobile devices and adapters.

Slide clickers will not be available. Presenters are required to provide their own.