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OLC and MERLOT aim to create spaces for our community to work, think critically, and drive positive change together. At our conferences, we intentionally foster these spaces through engagement activities facilitated by our members via the Engagement Call for Proposals (CFP). From networking breaks and evening socials to early morning mindfulness sessions, our engagement sessions offer unique ways to connect, collaborate, and innovate within digital learning, all while having a good time. Our conferences are about more than just sharing knowledge—they are about building lasting connections among participants.

About the Engagement CFP 

Join us in enriching our engagement programming with activities that create a vibrant community atmosphere. We seek dynamic facilitation, creative networking strategies, fun team-building approaches, or expertise in using technology to bring people together through ideation and camaraderie.

What are we looking for?

We welcome proposals that break the mold. Ideal engagement sessions feature activities that foster lasting connections and camaraderie among our diverse community of online learning professionals. We seek proposals showcasing innovative methods for building connections, fostering collaborations, and encouraging interactions beyond traditional sessions. Think unconventional: networking games, icebreakers, meditation sessions – anything beyond a typical educational conference presentation.

Bring your creativity, expertise, and passion for fostering connections to our conference. Submit your proposal to help shape an event that combines learning, networking, and fun, creating an unforgettable experience for all participants.

If you’re considering 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.

We invite you to be a part of shaping an event that combines learning, networking, and fun. Bring your creativity, expertise, and passion for fostering connections to our conference and make it an unforgettable experience for all participants.

Have a question as to whether your session concept is a good fit? Reach out to Amy Johnson or Haley Sampson, to help you craft your session proposal.

Who should submit?

Are you an educator with a knack for creative engagement?  An instructional designer with innovative ideas?  A technology enthusiast who knows how to make learning fun and interactive?  Or someone with a fresh perspective on fostering collaboration and community in online spaces?  If so, we want to hear from you.  We’re calling on members of the OLC and MERLOT community to share their unique approaches to creating meaningful, engaging, and enjoyable experiences at our conference.

If you have successfully implemented engaging activities, developed effective networking strategies, experimented with creative teaching methods, or have insights into building a vibrant online community, you are the right person for the job! Join us in shaping OLC Innovate – submit your proposal and contribute to a conference that reflect the diversity and dynamism of our community.

What is the submission process?

  1. Submit Your Idea: Kickstart your journey at OLC Innovate by submitting your engagement activity to our CFP 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
  2. Committee Review: Once your proposal is submitted, our dedicated Engagement Committee will carefully review it. 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, or lightning talks).
  3. 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 to the OLC Innovate experience.
  4. 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. An Innovate Engagement team member will then contact you for further discussion about support needed for your session.
  5. 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.

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    Important Dates

    • October 23, 2024 (by 11:59pm ET): Extended deadline – Proposals due  
    • December 19, 2024: Notification of acceptance
    • January 09, 2025: Deadline for presenters to accept
    • January 17, 2025: Full program published
    • February 4, 2025: Deadline for presenters to register for the conference and edit abstracts (Early bird registration deadline)
    • March 18, 2025: Deadline for presentations to be uploaded
    • April 1- April 4, 2025:  Innovate 2025 conference (Tues-Fri) in Nashville

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    Questions or requests for assistance?

    Feel free to contact our Engagement Co-Chairs for support.

      Amy Johnson, amy.johnson@uagc.edu 

     Haley Sampson, haley.sampson@uagc.edu