DETAILS | TIMELINE | QUESTIONS
One of our main goals at OLC is to create spaces where community members can work together and think critically about our field’s practices and methods, focusing on creating positive change. Within our conferences, these collaborative spaces often sit outside the program of traditional presentations, taking the form of engagement activities. From networking breaks to evening socials to early morning mindfulness sessions, we offer a unique take on how we connect, collaborate, and innovate our practices within digital learning (and have a good time in the process). Our conferences are not just about sharing knowledge— they’re also about building connections amongst the participants. Through our Engagement Call for Proposals (CFP), we’re looking for facilitated activities that weave together fun, collaboration, and innovation, enhancing our understanding of digital learning in new and exciting ways.
About the Engagement CFP
We’re thrilled to extend an invitation for proposals to lead engaging activities at this year’s Accelerate 2024 conference, where we’re not just focused on sharing knowledge but also on fostering networking opportunities, building new connections, and having a great time while exploring innovative practices that support digital learning.
We’re seeking dynamic facilitators with insights into creative networking strategies, fun approaches to team-building, or expertise in using technology to bring people together through ideation and camaraderie. Join us in contributing to our engagement programming with an activity that not only imparts knowledge but also creates a vibrant community atmosphere. Submit your proposal and be a part of shaping an event that combines learning, networking, and fun, making it an unforgettable experience for all participants.
What are we looking for?
Your proposal should breathe life into the spaces between our scheduled events (i.e. during networking breaks, lunches, evening events). Whether it’s an early morning mindfulness session, an engaging activity during the breaks between concurrent session blocks, or a lively evening social, we’re seeking proposals that break the mold. Think unconventional: networking games and icebreakers, quick design sprints, meditation sessions—all are welcome here. If you’re submitting an activity that feels like it could be a presentation at your standard educational conference, it’s probably a better fit for our regular CFP and not an engagement session.
Ultimately, your session should be a catalyst for conversation, collaboration, and community-building in a format that sits outside of the usual education session format, adding a memorable dimension to the OLC Accelerate experience.
We are particularly interested in proposals that showcase innovative methods for building connections, fostering meaningful collaborations, and encouraging participants to interact beyond attending sessions at the conference. Whether you have successfully implemented unique icebreakers, utilizing cutting-edge technologies to enhance networking, or have a love of playing games, you are what we are looking for! The ideal engagement session should feature an activity that serves as a platform for forging lasting connections and promoting a sense of camaraderie among our diverse community of online learning professionals. We invite you to bring your creativity, expertise, and passion for fostering connections to our conference.
Have a question as to whether your session concept is a good fit? Reach out to Dorothy Loftin or Adam Davi who would be more than happy to help you craft your session proposal.
What is the submission process?
- Submit Your Idea: Kickstart your journey at OLC Accelerate by submitting to our CFP with your engagement activity and selecting the Engagement session type. Don’t worry if you’re still brainstorming – we’ve got you covered with a range of templates to spark your creativity and guide your proposal, including:
- Family Feud Fun
- Business Card Bonanza
- Scattergories
- Mindfulness
- Committee Review: Once your proposal is submitted, our dedicated Engagement Committee will carefully review it. We’re looking for activities that stand out in creativity, interactivity, and their potential to foster meaningful connections. Traditional presentation-style sessions submitted as engagement sessions will be declined, as these are not part of the engagement programming concept and should instead be submitted using one of the academic CFP session types (i.e. education sessions, workshops, lightning talks).
- Notification of Decision: After thorough consideration, we will notify you about the decision on your session. Our aim is to curate an eclectic mix of activities that collectively enrich the OLC Accelerate experience.
- Session Acceptance: If your proposal is selected, you’ll have the opportunity to confirm and accept your role as a presenter (facilitator). This step is crucial for us to finalize the conference schedule.
- Stay Informed: Keep an eye on the full timeline of important dates provided below. This will help you stay on track and ensure you don’t miss any critical deadlines or updates in the lead-up to the conference.
Important Dates
- March 28, 2024: Call For Proposals opens
- May 20, 2024 (by 11:59pm ET): Proposals due
- August 1, 2024: Notification of acceptance
- August 19, 2024: Deadline for presenters to accept
- August 26, 2024: Engagement schedule published
- October 1, 2024: Deadline for presenters to register/edit abstracts
- November 1, 2024: Deadline for presentations/materials (if needed) to be uploaded
Questions or requests for assistance?
Feel free to contact our Engagement Co-Chairs for support.
Adam Davi, adavi@arizona.edu
Dorthy Loftin, dorothy.loftin@oregonstate.edu