Please review the track titles, descriptions, and example topics to find where your ideas, research, demonstrations, or conversations might fit best within the program! Please note that all submissions to the tracks listed below must have at least one academically-affiliated presenter listed.

• AI & Ed Tech:  This track explores the cutting-edge technologies and innovations that are shaping the future of online, blended, and classroom education. It invites educators to share novel methods, tools, and insights that can enhance student engagement, personalize instruction, and foster creative learning environments.
• Course Design & Curriculum Planning: This track invites proposals that explore cutting-edge approaches to learning design, curriculum development, and teaching in online and blended environments. This track embraces inclusivity, collaboration, engagement, and the pursuit of digital literacies. We welcome educators, designers, and facilitators dedicated to enhancing the learning experience through creativity, equity, and strategic integration.
• Community Building: This track is for proposals specific to providing student and parent support (including for English Language Learners) specifically when working with online, blended or digital learning. Topics may also focus on how we as educators support and build our community.
• Closing the Gap: A lot has happened since COVID and this track is designed to explore topics on how we continue to close the gap in learning and development since that time. We invite proposals that showcase research, innovative approaches, or other experiences that help educators support their students.

Session Types and Descriptions

• Session Type #1: Conversation, Not Presentation (45 minutes)
  Attendees should expect to be actively involved in discussions and activities during Conversations, Not Presentations. This means participating in question and answer sessions, potential group work, and interactive activities.
  
  These 45-minute facilitated Conversation, Not Presentations sessions should propose an issue, challenge, or idea pertinent to the track description to discuss with participants. This session type should be highly interactive, with discussion, activities, and participant engagement. Presenters organize the conversation around a few key points to facilitate discussion, and the audience explores the topic you present or even helps solve the dilemma or otherwise contribute to meeting the challenge. Your proposal should include the conversation topic and engaging questions for discussion.
  
  Note: These presentations will be “slide-free” or single-slide proposals. Be sure to make a plan for assistive technology or accommodations for folks that rely on slide decks (handouts, interactive activities, conversations, etc.).
  
  
• Session Type #2: Discovery Session (Short conversations with multiple attendees over a 45 minute session)
  Discovery Sessions, presented onsite at OLC Innovate, allow presenters to share their work, ideas, and innovations in a more personal format. Using a laptop, these sessions allow for a greater exchange of ideas and in-depth conversations about important topics to the OLC community. These digital presentations can include works in progress, research ideas, collaboration opportunities, best practices and practical applications, or pilot projects.
  
  Note: Each presenter must bring his or her own laptop. A small table for your laptop and power to the table will be provided. Wireless Internet will also be available to allow for further exploration of related Discovery Session content.
  
  Key Features:
  Typically 5-7 minutes of information sharing by the presenter, followed by discussion. (Presentation is repeated 2-3 times over a 45 minute timeframe).
  1-3 presenters engaging in meaningful conversations with attendees.
  Presentation style is conversational, concise and impactful.
  Interactivity is personalized based on audience members stopping by the presentation display. Allows for deeper connections and more detailed discussions.
  Presenters are expected to bring their own laptops and provide handouts. OLC will provide tables and power strips.
  
  
• Session Type #3: Education Session (45 minute classic presentation, panel or interview)
  Attendees should expect to listen to lecture-like material before having group discussions during Education Sessions.

  Education Sessions provide an opportunity for presenters to share their work, innovations, or new opportunities with the OLC community. The presenters are responsible for driving the conversation and encouraging deep thinking about a topic, sharing practical applications of their work, or providing new and varying perspectives. There are two primary formats for this session type: presentations and panel sessions. Although these are more traditional formats, the presenters/panelists should strive to make the sessions as engaging as possible through polls, audience discussions, and other forms of interaction.

  Key Features:

  • 45 minutes total. Time allotments may vary but each session should include approximately 5 minutes for introductions, 35 minutes for the main presentation, and 5 minutes for questions.
  • 1-4 individuals conducting the session (panel sessions must include a moderator).
  • The presentation style is similar to a lecture, while a panel session is similar to an interview.
  • Interactivity can range from simple to highly engaging. Uses strategies to engage the audience in active learning.
  • Accompanied by a slide presentation (important for accessibility purposes and for virtual audience viewing should your session be selected to be live streamed)