Submission deadline: February 15, 2017
Notification of acceptance: April 1, 2017
Kappa Delta Pi is committed to being the “go to” source of information on what's new in education and the latest techniques in teaching and learning. The conference theme “Building Bridges to Quality Learning” speaks to innovative practices and critical knowledge that can help address the achievement gap and other inequalities in education. Convocation 2017 will offer a cutting-edge experience where participants of all generations and experience levels will glean ideas and information for use in their professional careers.
Kappa Delta Pi seeks presenters who will engage attendees with innovative techniques and relevant content. As in any effective learning environment, conference presentations should model successful learning that is collaborative, centered on real-world issues, and visually or technologically stimulating. Learning experiences for attendees should be designed using innovative approaches to instruction that engage participants in active learning and lead to maximum retention.
Presentations selected for the program will include a wide variety of topics in several specific formats. All proposals will be evaluated according to established criteria. Refer to the Convocation section of the KDP website at www.kdp.org/convo2017 for a Proposal Form, Guidelines for Proposals, and Selection Criteria. Following a peer review, only the highest quality presentations that best fit the framework of the Convocation will be added to the program.
Presentation Formats
To get started with your proposal, choose your presentation format.
Workshops
[May be scheduled on any day of the 3-day conference; 60 minutes]
KDP is seeking workshop presenters who will engage attendees in innovative ways, create highly interactive sessions, and provide opportunities for application and use of the information. Ideally, the format should be no more than 50% delivered information, with the rest of the session including interactive or hands-on engagement. Workshop rooms hold up to 50 attendees. They will be set in a theatre or round-table arrangement, but presenters may rearrange the room on-site. An LCD projector and screen will be available for use. Certain rooms may have Internet access. If presenters require additional equipment, they must arrange and pay for it through the hotel or bring their own.
EdTalks
[May be scheduled on any day of the 3-day conference; 15 minutes within a 60-minute session]
Individuals will have 15 minutes to share a tightly focused presentation, followed by a 15-minute block at the end for questions and discussion. KDP will select and group three topically related presentations within each session.
Story Slams
[May be scheduled on any day of the 3-day conference; 10 minutes within a 60-minute session]
Real stories are an engaging way to convey impactful messages and lessons. In this format, selected presenters must share a personal story from their own experience in a way that includes a lesson in overcoming an obstacle in a school, team, or professional setting or a teaching strategy. KDP will assign each presenter to a group so that attendees will listen to a series of five presenters, each presenter sharing a 10-minute story.
Chapter Posters
[Saturday only, 75-minute session]
Set up like a gallery, this poster session provides an informal way for chapters to share best practices and successful strategies within the Chapter Member Engagement Model. Through a poster display, a prepared 10–15-minute presentation, and handouts, posters offer new ideas for programming, leadership, and chapter management that current and future leaders can take back to their respective chapters.
Possible topics
for this poster session include service projects, officer training, member retention programs, fundraising practices, collaboration with community agencies, literacy programs, and strategies for becoming an Achieving Chapter Excellence (ACE) chapter.
Presentation Strands
After selecting a format, if you are proposing a workshop or EdTalk, choose one of the three conference strands appropriate for your topic. You do not need to indicate a strand or topic area for chapter posters and Story Slams.
Strand 1: Leadership or Policy
These presentations focus on teacher leadership and other leadership roles required in education or the legislative policies associated with a topic. Presenters share ways they network, collaborate, and lead others in creating change in education.
Strand 2: Practice or Instructional Strategy
Presentations in this strand focus on innovative and practical implementation of research-based topics in a classroom setting. Presenters share techniques that have produced successful results.
Strand 3: Research or Action Research
These presentations focus on current educational research that has been conducted on a topic. Presenters share the methodology, findings, and recommendations from a study that focuses on a topic area.
Topic Categories
For any of the three strands, select a topic area for the focus of your proposed presentation. Some suggested topics are listed here. In keeping with the conference theme, KDP particularly encourages presenters to submit proposals that focus on or incorporate multicultural education, social–emotional learning, social climate, environmental literacy, environmental justice, and place-based and community-based education. Possible audiences include undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, administrators, and P–12 practitioners.
Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment, Management
Education for sustainability
International elements in the curriculum, Global challenges in education
STEM (science, technology, engineering, math)
21st-century skills, Innovation/creativity, Problem-solving, Higher-level thinking
Standards, Common core standards
Brain-based teaching
Literacy, Content area literacy, Scientifically based elementary reading instruction
Curriculum design, Integrated curriculum
Classroom management
Technology
Digital/cyber citizenship
Digital classroom
Social media tools in the classroom
Tablets, phones, computers
Online video networks, discussion websites to improve instruction
School Setting
Equity in the learning environment
Urban classrooms
Rural classrooms
Charter schools
Today's Diverse Learners
Differentiated instruction
Children living in poverty
Special education students
Gifted students
English language learners
Teacher Professionalism
Evaluating teacher effectiveness
Improving student achievement
Professional learning communities
Mentoring
Collaboration, Co-teaching, Team teaching, Team lesson planning development strategies
Data-driven decision making
Professional/Scholarly Writing
Securing grants and scholarships
Thesis and dissertation process
Writing for publication
Beyond the Classroom
Service learning
Experiential learning
School communities
Parent involvement
Higher Education—for Faculty and Administrators
Leadership
Navigating a career in higher education
Best practices in higher education administration
Assessment
Research
Professional development