ON COURSE: Call for Proposals

Call for Proposals

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Innovative educators are invited to SUBMIT A PROPOSAL to present at the 2011 On Course National Conference (April 1-2, 2011 in Long Beach, CA). Be part of the excitement of this professional development festival for learner-centered educators! QUESTIONS? Click here to send an email

Submit your proposal directly from this web page. Simply fill in the form (below) and click the "submit" button.

Click HERE to read all session descriptions from last year's program

The Proposals Committee seeks session proposals of the following three types:

1) Strategies Sessions: One or more facilitators leading an active learning strategy. (The majority of conference sessions will be of this type.)

In Strategies Sessions, facilitators will lead participants through a learner-centered experience designed to empower students to become active, responsible learners. (Session leaders will not be reading papers or presenting a lecture.) Activities might be creative adaptations of On Course strategies or strategies designed by the presenter to actively engage students in their learning. Sessions may be either 60 or 90 minutes in length (your choice).

Example Titles from Previous Conferences:

	Cooperative Learning in the College Classroom
	Promoting Students' Emotional Effectiveness
	From Seabiscuit to Dr. Suess: Strategies for At-Risk Students
	Spreading Creator Talk with Parables
	STEM Program: Helping Students Achieve Success in Math and Science
	Student Learning Outcomes for College Success
	How to Write an Effective Case Study
	Taking your Course Online
	The Personal Responsibility Game: Changing Victims into Creators
	Journaling for Academic Success
	Overcoming Math Anxiety
	Teaching Success with Hollywood Movies

Click HERE to read all session descriptions from last year's program!

2) Program Sessions: One presenter, as part of a panel, describing an innovative student success program or initiative.

In these informational sessions, presenters will be allotted 15 minutes to share the experiences and outcomes of an On Course or other learner-centered program or course that has evidence (e.g., data, student testimonials, etc.) of improved student outcomes (e.g., retention, academic success, shift in student attitudes and/or effort, etc.). The Proposal Committee will combine each presenter with one or two others to form a panel. Two-person panels will present in a 60-minute session, with 30 minutes for discussion and Q&A (facilitated by an On Course Ambassador). Three-person panels will present in a 75-minute session, with 30 minutes for discussion and Q&A (facilitated by an On Course Ambassador). Panelists should provide sufficient information that attendees can replicate the program at their campus. Remember to include a learner-centered activity.

Example Titles:

	On Course with TRIO students
	First Year Success at Compass College
	On Course & Learning Communities
	Getting Students Off Probation and On Course to Graduation
	Developmental Students: Increasing Retention with On Course
	Adult Trait Hope Scale: How On Course Affects Students' Hope
	Incorporating Service Learning in Your Course or College

Click HERE to read all session descriptions from last year's program

3) Special Sessions: One or more facilitators exploring...?

If you have an idea for a special session that doesn't fit the criteria for a Strategies or Program Session, here’s your opportunity to be creative. Special Sessions may be either 60 or 75 minutes in length (your choice).

Important dates:

	October 15, 2010: Final Day for submitting Proposals
	November 12, 2010: Notification of proposal acceptance
	December 5, 2010: Presenters must complete their registration for the Conference
	April 1-2, 2011: The Conference (with a hosted celebration dinner for presenters on April 1)

Proposal Submission Form

IMPORTANT: A few people have reported difficulties submitting proposals through this web page. Write your proposal as a Word document; then paste your proposal into the form below and submit it directly from this web page. If you receive a confirmation page, the submission is complete. Some browsers receive an Error message; if that happens to you, email your proposal as a Word document directly to oncourseconference@comcast.net (and accept our apologies for the extra step). We will send a confirmation when we receive your proposal.

Fill in the spaces below and click the "Submit" button at the bottom.

***IMPORTANT*** For Boxes 1-12, please use your TAB key or MOUSE to move to next box. (Pressing Enter will submit your incomplete form.)

1. Presenter #1:

2. Position/Subject:

3. College/University:

4. Address:

5. City, State ZIP/Postal Code:

6. Day Phone:

7. Email (please type carefully!):

8. Presenter #2 & Position/Subject:

9. Presenter #3 & Position/Subject:

10. Presenter #4 & Position/Subject:

11. Presenter #5 & Position/Subject:

12. Title of proposal (10 Word Maximum)

Type of Session:

Summary: If your proposal is accepted, this summary will appear in the conference program (60 Word Maximum):

Summary:

Click HERE to read all session summary descriptions from last year's program!

Abstract: Here's where you show the Proposal Committee that your session is a must for the On Course Conference. Remember, we're gathering to exchange best practices that empower students to become active, responsible learners and, ideally, these practices lead to demonstrable improvements in academic success and retention. Whatever else you may offer, please identify as many of the following as possible: 1) the educational issue or problem you're addressing, 2) the educators (e.g., student success instructors, retention specialists, English instructors, etc.) who will want to attend your session, 3) the positive experiences and outcomes your participants will enjoy, and 4) any evidence (data, anecdotes, video interviews, etc.) you will offer to give credence to your strategy and/or program. (400-word maximum)

Abstract:

Outline of Your Design: The Presentation Committee wants to feature Learner-Centered designs with minimal lecture, especially in the Strategies and Special Sessions. Thus, we request that you identify the steps of your design, indicating the approximate time you anticipate for each. Presenters are encouraged to address a variety of preferred learning styles in their design. By way of illustration, for a 60-minute Strategies Session titled "Teaching Success with Hollywood Films," your outline might look like this:

1. Brief Lecture: Why I use Hollywood films to teach college success. (5 min)

2. Video clip: Show scene from the film “The Edge” in which two characters (played by Anthony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin) are stranded in a remote wilderness and are stalked by a bear. Effectively dramatized is how differently the characters take or do not take responsibility for responding effectively to their difficult situation. The Baldwin character responds to the adversity as a passive Victim, while the Hopkins character responds as a pro-active Creator. (10 min)

3. Guided Pair Conversation: Participants pair up and discuss prepared questions designed to draw out the different ways the two characters respond to the adversity (i.e., Victims or Creators). (10 min)

4. Whole-Group Discussion: Draw out the two ways of responding to life’s challenges that are depicted in the film. (15 min)

5. Brief Lecture: Provide examples of student journal entries written after viewing and discussing scenes from “The Edge.” Journal entries show how students applied the "lesson" of the film to their own adversities in college and in life. (10 min)

6. Whole-Group Brainstorm: Ask participants for their examples of other films that could be used to teach college success. (10 min)

Note that the above design is predominately learner-centered, containing only 25% lecture.

Outline of Design: (INDICATE TIME ALLOCATED FOR EACH SEGMENT)

Audio/Visual Needs: Check the items you will need. NOTE: A/V is very expensive to provide. Please request only a/v equipment that is essential to your presentation. All sessions will have Internet access provided if requested (presenter and attendees wifi). PowerPoint presentations will require the Presenter to bring a laptop computer.

Flip Chart & Markers Overhead Projector & Screen TV/VCR LCD Projector Internet Access (presenter and attendees)

Commitment: I understand that the Proposal Committee has a goal to create an extraordinarily valuable learning experience for all participants and that my proposal submission represents a commitment on my part to present at the conference if my proposal is accepted and to participate in the entire conference.

I Agree I Do Not Agree