Invitation To Present

Ongoing developments in learning and instruction as well as in scholarship and research require creativity and flexibility in meeting the challenges posed by emerging technologies, changes in learning and working situations, and new demands placed on education and training. Our professional community exists in an exciting and dynamic world that requires us to do more than merely maintain our knowledge and skills – we must engage in ongoing professional renewal, growth, and transformation.

The AECT International Convention supports our efforts to improve ourselves by bringing together participants from across this diverse nation and from around the world who offer practical applications, high quality research, hands-on workshops, and demonstrations of innovative approaches and developments in learning, instructional and performance technologies. You are invited to present at the 2009 AECT International Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. Share your expertise and knowledge with your peers, with those new to the field, and with professional practitioners and researchers representing multiple disciplines.

This year's convention theme is Integrative Approaches: Meeting Challenges. Given developments in research, technology, and society, professional practice in the various disciplines that comprise the AECT community continue to change and evolve. To meet the challenges posed by ongoing changes, we need serious and sustained efforts to (a) actively incorporate findings from multiple disciplines; (b) involve key stakeholders at multiple levels to transform education and training; (c) integrate technologies seamlessly into learning, instruction, and performance; (d) dynamically interweave research, practice, and theory development; and (e) demonstrate what works when and why with regard to improving learning, instruction, and performance. Meeting these challenges is an ambitious undertaking. The most one can do in a short period of time is to take a few steps. One of those steps can be participation in the AECT 2009 International Convention in Louisville.

In keeping with the convention theme, proposals may be submitted that include the use of advanced information and communications technologies as well as more traditional proposals that present findings and discuss important developments in research and practice. This convention will introduce two innovative kinds of sessions: Integrative Panels and Present@Distance. The former is aimed at involving presenters from multiple disciplines and perspectives to discuss a central and focused issue. The latter is aimed at promoting the use of those very technologies that are changing our lives as designers, developers, media specialists, researchers teachers, and trainers. There are six sub-themes around which this year’s presentations will be organized:

1. Transforming Learning and Instruction
2. Linking Design and Development with Learning and Performance
3. Establishing the Benefits of Integrative and Interdisciplinary Approaches
4. Exploring New Media in Learning, Instruction and Performance
5. Assessing and Evaluating Educational Technology Applications
6. Integrating Social Networking and Distributed Media into Learning and Instruction

How to Submit a Proposal Electronically

To be considered, a complete proposal must be submitted electronically no earlier than December 3, 2008 and no later than February 16, 2009. A complete online proposal submission consists of:
   1. Presentation title
   2. A short (fewer than 75 words) description
   3. A 750-1000 word abstract that does not identify the presenter/s by name or content.
   4. Equipment request
   5. List of presenters
Procedure:
   1. Go to www.aect.org for guidelines and the online submission form.
   2. Read the guidelines for electronic submissions.
   3. Complete the requested information in the online proposal form.
   4. Complete the requested information in the online equipment request form (if you are requesting equipment).
   5. Complete the 750-1000 word anonymous abstract, following the directions provided. Remember, it’s best to write your narrative off-line to facilitate editing and ensure accuracy.

After you submit your proposal, you will receive electronic notification that it has been received. The peer review process begins shortly after the submission deadline. This process is discussed in the next section.


Proposal review process:
You will receive electronic notification that your proposal has been received and, within two months of the last date for submissions (February 14, 2009). whether it has been accepted or rejected for the convention.

Proposals are reviewed through a blind, peer-reviewed process, using the following criteria:
    • Clarity of the proposal and quality of writing.
    • Quality of proposed session’s content, organization, and format.
    • Relevance, timeliness, and general interest level of the topic.
    • Match to the convention theme(s) and other demands of the program.
    • Suitability for division/affiliate or organization mission and membership.
    • Length and session type including appropriateness for needs of the
      convention program.

Notification of results of review process:
If your proposal is accepted, you will be required to complete an Acceptance/Verification Form acknowledging receipt of an acceptance letter and verifying your commitment to make the presentation at AECT 2009, Louisville. Recognizing that all convention attendees are part of a shared community of research, practice, and professional growth and that convention registrations enable us to provide a strong convention, accepted proposers who do not register will not be scheduled for presentation (and thus will not appear in any printed program or other document).

It is the responsibility of the key presenter to notify all individuals involved in the presentation as to the status of the proposal. All presenters participating at convention must register by September 5, 2009 in order to present. Only those who are present at the convention may submit papers that will be considered for publication in the convention proceedings.

Should your presentation be accepted for the 2009 convention, you will be asked to give permission to record your session for future AECT podcasting.

Funding
Presenters are required to assume responsibility for all costs associated with the presentation, including handout materials, convention registration, travel, lodging, meals, and related expenses.

Types of Sessions

Concurrent Sessions
These 30- or 60-minute sessions are primarily in presentation format and have comprised the majority of convention sessions in past years. The focus of these sessions is on sharing information such as best practices and research results. Proposals for 60-minute sessions may include more than one presentation (as in a symposium or panel discussion). In addition, two 30-minute concurrent presentations of related content may be bundled together to form one 60-minute session.

Roundtables
Roundtables are designed for small group discussion of specialized topics with the presenter leading the discussion. This participatory format allows for a highly interactive 60-minute presentation. Typically, several roundtable discussions are scheduled simultaneously in one large room, with minimal audiovisual use. Handouts containing key ideas and related information are strongly encouraged for roundtable sessions.

Reflection Paper Sessions
Reflection paper sessions are designed to showcase a project, program, process, activity, or the like in an informal setting, similar to former poster sessions. A small table is provided to support a display board, laptop, handouts, and the like. Presenters will directly interact with participants by providing an elaboration of the product (project, program, process, activity, etc.); feedback and insights of colleagues on these innovative developments are especially welcome.

Integrative Panel
Integrative panels are a new feature of the 2009 AECT convention and are designed to specifically support the convention theme of integration across disciplines, perspectives, contexts, technologies and processes (e.g., design, development, implementation, and evaluation). Integrative panels may be project- or issue-focused and should address a critical problem area of general interest to a significant portion of the AECT community. Integrative panels that are sponsored by more than one division or affiliate are especially encouraged; proposal abstracts should include identification of the divisions/affiliates which would be interested in the panel topic. For example, a project-focused panel on promoting school reform through innovative teacher use of specific technologies might involve a teacher, a library-media specialist, a principal, and an educational researcher; such a panel could be jointly sponsored by several divisions.

Present@Distance
The 2009 AECT convention will sponsor a limited number of sessions in which presentations can be made by persons participating from a distance. All of the Present@Distance sessions will be scheduled consecutively on Thursday, October 29. Presenters and participants who register for Present@Distance will be required to register at the one-day, remote participation fee. These sessions will require presenters and remote participants to have access to a broadband Internet connection and IP-based video-conferencing equipment that supports the H.323 protocol. Present@Distance sessions will be open to all convention attendees and will have a local session monitor in Louisville.

Workshops
Half- or full-day workshops provide intense professional development opportunities that result in participants’ acquiring new skills and in-depth knowledge. Workshops involve focused topics and methods targeted at specific interest groups. Workshops will only be accepted if there appears to be sufficient interest to attract at least 10 attendees. Workshops will be held in Louisville on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday (October 27, 28, and 31).

Presidential Sessions
Presidential sessions are selected by the AECT President-Elect, Mike Spector. These limited sessions will be selected based on their strong alignment with the six convention sub-themes, their importance to the work and interests of the AECT membership, and their likelihood to draw participation from multiple constituencies within AECT. Presidential session proposals will be submitted directly to the President-Elect or recommended to the President-Elect by division/affiliate leaders; proposals should contain all of the elements expected in concurrent session proposals. Presidential sessions may be 60- or 90-minutes long.