Proposal Deadlines:
Phase One - February 1, 2004
Phase Two - March 15, 2004

This year you are encouraged to submit early for potential acceptance in Phase 1 (due February 1.) Proposals not selected in Phase 1 may be rolled over to Phase 2 for a second consideration by the primary division or referred to another division which you recommend or which is recommended by the convention chair. Proposals received by the Phase 2 deadline (March 15) will also be reviewed by the primary division; accepted if slots are available; or referred to another division, depending on availability of session slots.

Invitation To Present
You are invited to present at the 2004 AECT International Convention in Chicago, Illinois and to share your expertise and knowledge with your peers and those new to the field. AECT is the only international professional organization dedicated to the improvement of learning through the use of a full range of media and instructional technology. Its purpose is to enhance the professional skills of its members and to assist them in dealing effectively with advances in educational technology.

General Information
A presentation proposal must be submitted to one primary AECT division, council or affiliated organization for consideration. The proposal may be recommended for referral to a secondary division, council or affiliated organization that might also find the proposal suitable.

The President-Elect or other designee of each division/affiliate/council serves as its representative Convention Planner, and you are encouraged to contact that person if you are unsure of the suitability of your proposal to a particular division or affiliated organization. The list of Convention Planners can be found on the AECT web site at www.aect.org.

Multiple proposal submissions are allowed; however, no more than two session presentations with the same key presenter can be accepted for the conference. Presenters are expected to follow the AECT Code of Ethics found in the AECT Membership Directory and available from the AECT national office.

To be considered, a complete proposal must be submitted electronically no earlier than November 1, 2003, and no later than February 1, 2004, for Phase One and March 15, 2004 for Phase Two. A complete online proposal submission consists of:

1. Presentation title
2. a short (fewer than 75 words) description
3. a 750-1000 word anonymous abstract
4. equipment request
5. list of presenters

A panel of peer reviewers will read proposals. To prepare an excellent proposal, be sure to use concise language. Identify your target audience - those attendees who will find your presentation relevant and timely. Pay attention to the way you format your proposal on the electronic page. Use paragraph breaks, refrain from using only capital letters, and be accurate: proofread your narrative, for correct spelling and typographical errors. Poorly presented proposals often do not find their way to the convention program.

Proposals will be reviewed using the following criteria:

* Clarity of proposal: how well it is written.
* Relevance, timeliness, and general interest level of topic.
* Suitability for division/organization mission and membership.
* Quality of proposed session's content, organization and format.
* Length and session type including appropriateness for needs of the overall convention program.

Notification of results of review process:
You will receive notification from the division/affiliate convention planner whether your proposal has been accepted or rejected after March 1 for Phase One and April 15, 2004 for Phase Two. If accepted, you will be required to acknowledge receipt of an acceptance letter and verify your commitment to make the presentation at AECT 2004, Chicago. If you submitted your proposal in Phase One and the primary division declined your proposal, your proposal will automatically become available for the secondary division to review.
NOTE: It is possible to receive a message from the Division Planner requesting you to edit your abstract providing more detail.

It is the responsibility of the key presenter to notify all individuals involved in the presentation as to the status of the proposal. It is also the responsibility of the key presenter to send confirmation and convention information to nonmembers participating in a session. If selected, the presentation must follow the original proposed topic and content accepted by the National Convention Program Planning Committee. All presenters must obtain written permission to use copyrighted photos, music, etc., in their sessions. All presenters participating at convention must register in order to present and pre-register by 30 days prior to convention to be listed in the program.

Funding
Presenters are required to assume responsibility for all costs associated with the presentation, including handout materials, convention registration, housing costs, etc.

How to Submit a Proposal Electronically:
 
      1. Read the guidelines for electronic submissions.
      2. Complete the requested information in the online proposal form.
      3. Complete the requested information in the online equipment request form.
      4. Enter the 750-1,000 word anonymous abstract, following the directions provided.

Types of Sessions
The variety of session formats to be offered in 2003 differs somewhat from that provided in previous years. Please read the descriptions carefully and select the format that best suits your topic.

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 symposia). In addition, concurrent presentations may be "bundled" with others of related content to form one 60-minute session.

Roundtables
Roundtables are designed for small-group discussion of specialized topics, with the presenter leading the discussion. This format allows for a highly interactive presentation lasting 60 minutes Typically, several roundtable discussions are scheduled simultaneously in one large room, with minimal equipment use.

Poster Presentation
A Poster Presentation includes a 3x4' or smaller tabletop display board with mounted materials, handouts, physical artifacts, and/or a laptop computer for electronic objects and materials. Poster sessions allow conference attendees the opportunity to browse a number of displays and interact with selected researchers, developers and presenters who find the more casual venue suitable for their purpose.

Fee-Based Workshops
As half- or full-day sessions, workshops are intended to provide intense professional development opportunities that result in participants' acquiring new skills. Workshops are targeted to specific interest groups and delivered the day before the convention. Persons interested in submitting a workshop proposal must included a Budget and Expenses in the abstract. No fee-based workshop proposal will be considered unless this is included.

AECT Divisions:
      * Design & Development
      * Distance Learning
      * Division on Systemic Change
      * International
      * Management
      * Multi-Media Development
      * Research & Theory
      * School Media & Technology (K-12)
      * Teacher Education
      * Training & Performance

AECT Affiliates
      * Association for Media and Technology in Education in Canada (AMTEC)
      * Community College Association for Instruction and Technology (CCAIT)
      * International Student Media Festival (ISMF)
      * International Visual Literacy Association (IVLA)
      * Korean Society for Educational Technology (KSET)
      * Minorities in Media (MIM)
      * National Instructional Television Fixed Service (NITFS)
      * New England Educational Media Association (NEEMA)
      * Special Interest Group in Health Sciences Communication (SIG-HE)