The purpose of the conference is to be a venue for members of The Ohio State University community to share innovative and interesting, evidence-based ideas for the improvement of teaching effectiveness and student learning outcomes. Last year, we were pleased to host 150 attendees from a variety of departments.
Topics and Categories for Proposals
We invite proposals for presentations on any topics related to enhancing the quality and effectiveness of university teaching and student learning. Proposals may be interdisciplinary or specific to one or a group of disciplines.
Presentation Formats for Sessions
You will be assigned one of two formats for your presentation:
- A 50-minute individual session, in which you engage the participants in an interactive discussion about your topic. We expect that session presenters will also exemplify excellent teaching through the instructional methods used during the session.
- The all-conference interactive (poster) session, in which you will display your poster in a large room with other presenters. During this session, conference participants can discuss your ideas and results with you.
Proposal Submission
All proposals must be submitted online. Please read proposal guidelines and submission information carefully in order to avoid delays and to give proposals the best opportunity for acceptance.
All proposals will go through a blind, peer-reviewed process by the Academy of Teaching Executive Council. Preference will be given to proposals that include evidence rather than simply discuss a teaching idea or practice, and to those that involve students in the inquiry and/or the presentation.
Proposal Guidelines
The format for the proposal is as follows. This is all delineated in the online submission form.
- Presentation Title
- Presenters: names, academic units, and email addresses
- Learning objectives for the session or poster
- Abstract: The abstract will summarize the purpose/value and content of your session as well as any evidence (scholarship, assessments) to support your claims. It should be worded as though this were the description being presented to participants in order to help them determine whether to attend a session or engage with a poster. Limit: 200 words.
- (Sessions only): Identify at least one teaching method you will demonstrate during your session.
- (Sessions only): Describe the format of your session. Including an approximate timeline is encouraged.
Important Dates and Deadlines
| 12/1/2016 | Submission of proposals period opens |
| 1/20/2017 | Submission of proposals period ends |
| 2/8/2017 | Proposal decision notifications sent out (approximate) |
| 3/7/2017 | Deadline for presenters to confirm participation and submit finalized abstracts for the conference program and Academy of Teaching website |
| 5/4/2017 | Conference takes place |
Evaluation of Proposals
Each proposal will be reviewed by a minimum of two reviewers who will recommend one of three options:
1) acceptance of the proposal,
2) revision of the proposal, or
3) rejection of the proposal.
The reviewers will also provide comments for improvement, suggestions for recommended revisions, or why proposals might not be accepted. These comments will be given to the submitters of the proposals.
Proposals in any academic discipline or field are welcome.
The reviewers will examine and evaluate proposals in these areas:
- Clear connection between the title of the session and its content (titles should be less than 10 words, compelling to attract an interdisciplinary audience, and align with session content)
- Significance and relevance of the topic for this conference and one of the four categories above
- Clarity and value of the objectives for the session
- Means of engaging the audience in the session
- Expressed learning outcomes for attendees
Acceptance of Proposals
Decisions on the acceptance status of a proposal for presentation at the Academy of Teaching Conference on Excellence in Teaching will be communicated to the primary presenter via e-mail on or around 2/8/2017.
If your proposal is accepted, the presentation format you have been assigned will be communicated at that time.
NOTE: We will make every effort to assign you the presentation format you indicate on the submission form. Because of time and space constraints, however, it may be necessary to assign you a different format.
Presenters of accepted proposals must confirm their attendance to the conference organizer by 3/7/2017.
Presenters are asked to fully participate in the entire conference and attend sessions and events as much as their schedules allow.
Important Reminders
If your proposal does not meet the submission requirements stated above, we cannot accept it. Please follow the instructions carefully!
- Your proposal submission is due no later than January 20.
- Design your session to encourage dialogue and audience engagement.
- Presenters will have the opportunity to submit their session handout(s) to be uploaded to the website before the conference.
- If accepted, your abstract will be posted on the Academy of Teaching website. You should keep in mind that the participants at your session may have read it.
- Presenters are encouraged to join in the conference spirit by interacting with other presenters and attendees during the entire conference.