TLCONF

Windsor-Oakland Teaching and Learning Conference
Towards a Culture That Values Teaching
May 2-4, 2017
University of Windsor and Oakland University
Submission deadline: Extended to February 21, 2017 (now closed)

The purpose of the eleventh annual University of Windsor-Oakland University Teaching and Learning Conference is to explore and celebrate the many ways we can contribute to the enhancement of a culture that values teaching.

A post-secondary institution’s culture consists of its embedded patterns, networks, behaviours, shared values, beliefs, and ideologies (Cox et al., 2011; Kustra et al., 2014; Mårtensson & Roxå, 2016). Whether, and how, an institution values teaching can impact critical outcomes such as student learning, student engagement, and student retention as well as faculty motivation and behaviours (Berger & Braxton, 1998; Cox et al., 2011; Feldman & Paulsen, 1999; Grayson & Grayson, 2003).

We invite proposals that address how instructors, departments, students, and staff work to enhance cultures that value teaching, and how culture impacts these initiatives.  Proposals may particularly address one of the three following streams:

Teaching Evaluation

• Fair and effective practices in teaching evaluation
• Multiple ways to evaluate teaching (e.g., peer evaluation, teaching dossiers, mid-way feedback)
• Frameworks, models, and case studies for effective teaching evaluation
• Data analysis, reporting, and visualizations tools
• Ethical use of teaching evaluation data
• Effecting change in teaching evaluation
• Policies and procedures in effective teaching evaluation

Educational Leadership

• Building or enhancing networks or communities of practice
• Supporting change and innovation
• Advocating for, modeling, expanding and implementing scholarly teaching
• Building capacity and resilience in others
• Leading cross-disciplinary development efforts
• Creating new initiatives, learning communities, communities of practice
• Successful leadership models in post-secondary institutions

Teaching Methods

• High-Impact Educational Practices
• Effective teaching and assessment strategies
• Engaging students as partners in teaching and learning
• New teaching and learning approaches, methodologies, or technologies
• Community outreach projects to create pathways for students into higher education, and into the workforce
• Strategic course, curriculum, and/or program development and refinement

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

Types of Conference Proposals

You may submit proposals for 90-minute workshops, 40-minute concurrent sessions, and poster presentations.

Workshops (90 minutes)
Workshops engage participants fully in active learning to develop ideas, and relate research results and innovative practices to their own contexts. 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. Indicate whether each presenter is attending the conference.
2. Workshop title.
3. Workshop abstract (not to exceed 200 words) outlining the objectives, content, and format for the session. Word your abstract with the needs of the participants in mind. This abstract will appear in the conference program.
4. A descriptive outline – seen only by reviewers – of what you will cover in your session including:
1. two to four goals that you hope your session will accomplish;
2. how your session will encourage participant engagement and interaction (discussion, video, group activities, etc.);
3. relevant research and scholarship that you will draw upon in your session;
4. how your session relates to the conference theme; and
5. how your session relates to the intended audience (i.e., faculty, sessional instructors, graduate and teaching assistants, administrators, and staff who support teaching and learning).
5. Audiovisual requirements.

Concurrent Sessions (40 minutes)
Concurrent sessions explore innovative practices and programs or discuss applied research findings. 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. Indicate whether each presenter is attending the conference.
2. Session title.
3. Session abstract (not to exceed 200 words) outlining the objectives, content, and format for the session. Word your abstract with the needs of the participants in mind. This abstract will appear in the conference program.
4. A descriptive outline – seen only by reviewers – of what you will cover in your session including:
1. two to four goals that you hope your session will accomplish;
2. how your session will encourage participant engagement and interaction (discussion, video, group activities, etc.);
3. relevant research and scholarship that you will draw upon in your session;
4. how your session relates to the conference theme; and
5. how your session relates to the intended audience (i.e., faculty, sessional instructors, graduate and teaching assistants, administrators, and staff who support teaching and learning).
5. Audiovisual requirements.

Interactive Poster Session
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, a prestigious international award will be presented for the best poster. 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 strongly encourage interactive, creative, and innovative approaches to poster presentations.  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. Indicate whether each presenter is attending the conference.
2. Poster title.
3. Poster abstract (not to exceed 200 words) outlining the objectives, content, and format for the poster. This abstract will appear in the conference program.
4. A descriptive outline – seen only by reviewers – of what you will cover in your poster including:
1. two to four goals that you hope your poster will accomplish;
2. how your session will encourage participant engagement;
3. relevant research and scholarship that your poster draws upon; and
4. how your poster relates to the conference theme; and
5. how your poster relates to the intended audience (i.e., faculty, sessional instructors, graduate and teaching assistants, administrators, and staff who support teaching and learning).

Submission of Proposals

Submission Deadline: Extended to February 21, 2017

View the review criteria, or sign up to be a reviewer.

The peer review process will include feedback and, possibly, specific suggestions for each submission. Submitters will be notified by March 2017 of the selection of sessions. You may be asked to take such feedback into account, and to revise and resubmit your proposal before a final decision is made. If you are not available in March to participate in this integral part of the selection process, please let us know in advance.

Registration for Oakland University and University Windsor students, faculty and staff is waived by each University's provosts.

If you have questions regarding the proposal process, please contact us at tlconf@uwindsor.ca