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Presenter Information - Call For Session Proposals

Proposals are now being accepted for the 29th Annual Educational Technology Conference sponsored by the Tennessee Department of Education, Office of Instructional Leadership.  We invite you to participate in this conference by submitting a proposal that will focus on the theme of the conference (Education 4g for the 21st Century Student) and will target one or more of the conference strands (Math-Numeracy, Reading, Graduation Rate, College Go-To Rate, and Common Core Curriculum).  We value dynamic presenters who provide inspirational, practical, and research-based sessions that support learning with a 21st century focus.   The proposal should clearly describe how the focus area chosen supports the FTTT goals for lagging indicators.

Please read the following information carefully before submitting a proposal.

Submit Your Proposal Online

Deadlines:

Deadline for Lab proposals: September 30, 2011

***Presenters will not be notified until mid-October.***

Who Should Present:

  • K-12 Classroom Teachers
  • Technology Coordinators/Directors
  • Higher Education Professionals
  • K-12 School & District Administrators
  • Technicians and Network Administrators
  • Computer Lab Teachers
  • K-12 Library Media Specialists
  • Professional Development Trainers
  • Educational Consultants
  • Technology Coaches
  • State Department Personnel
  • Vendors (Must purchase booth and have a co-presenter from a school/district.)

Conference Theme/Strands

The 2011 Theme is "Education 4g for the 21st Century Student."  Session presentations should reflect the theme and directly support integration of one or more of the following strands: Math-Numeracy, Reading, Gradutation Rate, College Go-To Rate, and Common Core Curriculum.

Focus Areas

Submissions should clearly relate to one of the conference focus areas and/or sub focus areas:

  • First to the Top
    • Technology Use in 21st Century School Design
    • Funding/Grants
    • One-to-One Initiatives
    • Student Assessment and Data Analysis
    • Innovation Successes
  • Infrastructure
    • Technology-based Testing
    • Emerging Technologies
    • Open Source
    • Safety and Security
    • Computer Networking Systems (including support and maintenance)
    • Web Development
  • 21st Century Instruction and Knowledge Aquisition through the New Academic Standards
    • Differentiated Instruction (including RTI)
    • Language Learning (ESL, bilingual, etc)
    • STEM Initiatives/Resources
    • English/Language Arts
    • Social Studies
    • Music/Art/Physical Education
    • Project-based Learning
    • Assistive Technologies
    • Video Conferencing
    • Web 2.0
    • ISTE Standards (Student, Teacher, Administrator)
  • Internet Ethics, Equity, and Safety
    • Identity Theft
    • Predators
    • Ethics
    • Cyber Bullying
    • Access Issues
  • E-Learning
    • Developing/Locating Digital Content
    • Evaluating Online Courses
    • Distance Learning
    • Best Practices
    • Student Engagement
    • Virtual Learning Technologies

Types of Sessions

Lecture:
One or more presenters; Content should focus on implementation and integration of tools/idea(s)/projects/methods (hardware, software, website, etc.) rather than on mechanics, history of projects, etc.  This should NOT be a sales pitch.  In instances of vendor-related sessions, vendors must present with school district personnel, wherein the district would contribute at least 80% of the presentation, while the vendor presentation is at most 20%.  Handouts, CDs, or other "take homes" are highly encouraged.
Panel:
The main presenter will act as a moderator for his/her panel guests.  Please choose content that lends itself to a variety of perspectives or knowledge bases but still focuses on being cohesive in nature.  Please allow time for audience participation/feedback.  Handouts, CDs, or other "take homes" are encouraged.
BYOL (Bring Your Own Laptop):
A hands-on experience for participants via their own laptops.  Please plan your session to be interactive, hands-on similar to labs and a reasonable amount of content to cover in the one-hour time frame.  (Please specify in session description on the proposal form if participants need to download a specific program or software before attending your session; also speficy the platform.)
Labs:
Hands-on environment for teaching, learning, and practicing new concepts, strategies, devices, or software.  Please indicate on the proposal form any software that should be downloaded onto computers for use in the lesson.  Do not wait to download immediately prior to or during lab session.  If licensed software is to be installed, please mail CD(s) to the conference organizers with proof of licensure for 25 computers.  CD(s) should be received no later than November 4, 2011.  Vendor demonstrations must be identified as such.  Handouts, CDs, or other "take homes" are encouraged.  Please specify platform.
iPad Lab:
***New This Year: The Verizon Thinkfinity iPad Lab***
Hands-on environment for teaching, learning, and practicing new concepts, strategies, or software using the Apple iPad.  Please send information for any apps that need to be downloaded and installed on the iPads to Trent B. Weaver and Barbara Denson. All apps installed must be free, or the presenter must provide TETC with a volume license that allows for the download and use of the app prior to and during the conference. Information regarding apps to be used must be received no later than November 4, 2011. Vendor demonstrations must be identified as such.  Handouts or other "take homes" are encouraged.
 
"Birds of a Feather" Discussions:
These sessions should be structured for the presenter(s) to act as facilitators for a topic of common interest.  The audience should be encouraged to interact and participate in the topic of discussion.  The facilitator is urged to utilize a method for "idea collection and distribution" i.e. wikis, blogs, a professional learning community (PLC), etc. for comments or future reference.

Preparing and Submitting Proposals

  • All proposals must be relevant to the conference audience.
  • All proposals should relate to the conference theme, conference strands, and conference focus areas.  For proposals that do not fit a focus area, check “Other” and clarify.
  • The session title should clearly describe exactly what the session is about.
  • The session description should be as concise and informative as possible.  Keep in mind that this description will be used in the conference program.  Phrases such as “participants will learn strategies to take back to their school” do not provide the conference committee or the conference participant with enough information.  What kind of strategies will be shared?  What exactly will the participants do?
  • If handouts are used, bring enough copies for all participants.  Access to a PowerPoint presentation on the web should be made available to participants.
  • Presentations that only promote a product, organization, or program should not be submitted.
  • Presentations by vendors require purchase of booth space and a co-presenter from a school/district who utilizes the vendor’s products.  Presentations should NOT be a sales pitch.  The district should contribute at least 80% of the presentation, while the vendor portion is at most 20%.
  • Your presentation at the conference should match the program description.
  • Copy or save your Submission Form for your records.

Review and Notification

All proposals will be reviewed by the conference committee.  Questions reviewers will ask when evaluating proposals include:

  • How well does the proposal relate to the conference theme and strands?
  • How appropriate is the session topic for TETC?
  • Does the proposal clearly describe the session?
  • Does the proposal description specify what participants might gain from the session?
  • Will the content stimulate teachers’ thinking and provide useful instructional strategies?
  • If this is a vendor presentation, is it intended to demonstrate use by a district and adhere to the time-frames listed above?

Shortly after the proposal is received, TETC will notify the primary presenter whether or not the proposal was accepted.  It is the primary presenter’s responsibility to communicate with any secondary presenters.

If you have proposal questions or have not been notified regarding your proposal by October 28, 2011, please contact Barbara.Denson@tn.gov.

Presenter Registration

Primary presenters will be automatically registered for the conference upon acceptance of their proposal.

All other presenters must register online for the conference and pay the applicable registration fee.

If a presenter's proposal is not accepted, they may register for the conference using the fee applicable at the time their proposal was submitted.  It is recommended that secondary presenters registering for the conference do so once their proposal has been submitted.

Note: The TETC Conference no longer issues refunds on conference fees received by the State.  Should a participant register and pay their fee, and then submit proposal that is accepted to present, we cannot issue a refund on the registration fee.  Instead, we will gladly credit that amount to another participant from the same school or system attending TETC 2011.


Vendor-Related Proposals

Vendors wishing to present must have an accompanying school or system to co-present the session. Sessions should not focus primarily on the product or service offered by the vendor, but moreso on the school or system and the effectiveness and results of utilizing that type of technology or program.

Sessions should NOT be a "sales pitch."

Any vendor accepted to present at the conference must also purchase a booth in the exhibit hall.


Submit Your Proposal Online

Proposal submission has closed. Please contact us for more information.

PLEASE NOTE: Your submission has NOT been received until you click "Submit" and receive a confirmation page detailing your submission.  If you have clicked submit and do not receive a confirmation page, please check your form to ensure there are no red error messages detailing a problem with your submission.  If you continue to have problems, please contact us.