Axe ’Em, Jacks!
The 2024 Conference Committee invites you to register for the annual Lifelong Learning Conference, which will be held June 28 at the Janice A. Pattillo Early Childhood Research Center at 2428 Raguet St., Nacogdoches, Texas.
- 2024 conference theme: Inspire! Create! Collaborate!
In an ever-evolving world, the need for continuous learning is more critical than ever. The conference will be a collaborative platform for local educators and SFA alumni to immerse themselves in an engaging learning community that shares innovative teaching practices and emerging research. This conference seeks to inspire and empower educators and communities to embrace lifelong learning as an integral part of their professional journey and thrive in a rapidly changing world.
We encourage submissions from diverse perspectives, including educators, practitioners and leaders. Our aim is to create a dynamic and engaging community that highlights innovative approaches, best practices and research findings in education. Preference will be given to presentations that highlight effective teaching strategies for diverse learners.
Lifelong Learners Conference Info Packet
Conference strands and topics
Inspire
- Stories: Share inspiring teaching/learning stories.
- Innovative teaching approaches videos: Share creative teaching methods and approaches that inspire a love for teaching and learning.
- Transformational leadership: Share how transformational leaders are inspiring and motivating educational communities to achieve higher performance.
- Cultural competence: Share stories or teaching strategies that inspire and equip educators to better meet the needs of diverse learners.
Create
- Curricula: Discuss effective strategies for designing meaningful learning programs and courses that meet the needs of diverse learners.
- EdTech: Explore the development and implementation of educational technology tools and platforms to enhance teaching and learning.
- Inquiry learning: Showcase hands-on activities that promote creativity.
Collaborate
- Mentoring: Discuss how experienced teachers mentor new teachers and teacher candidates to promote their professional growth.
- Partnership: Discuss how school, home, government and educational institutions can collaborate to promote students’ learning and well-being.
- Professional development community: Share successful models of communities and organizations collaborating to provide professional development opportunities.
- Inclusive classroom: Ensuring equitable access to learning opportunities for all students, regardless of background.
Workshop
Presenters will conduct a 60-minute interactive session on a specific topic that will lead to participants gaining new skills or knowledge by engaging participants in hands-on activities and collaborative discussions.
Roundtable
Presenters should be ready to facilitate a 15-minute presentation with five minutes available for questions. Then, the session facilitator will have participants rotate, so please be ready to present twice during this time. We recommend bringing a handout for participants.
Oral Presentation
Presenter will give a 20-minute formal presentation with 10 minutes for questions at the end of the session.
Panel Discussions
Panelists will participate in an engaging 60-minute conversation with one another and the audience based on moderator questions. Submissions will include panelists and an identified moderator.
Poster/Artwork
Posters will display current research, best practices or innovative teaching approaches on a large poster board. Presenters should have a five-minute presentation prepared as participants rotate.
Seven-Minute Graphic Talks
Presenters should be ready to facilitate a seven-minute presentation with three minutes for questions. We recommend preparing an image only slide deck for this rapid-fire session. Presenters will deliver an automatically timed slide presentation of 21 slides (visual, not bullets), each lasting 20 seconds.
Alternate Formats (submissions that do not fit into the above categories)
When developing proposals, consider the following Texas Education Agency continuing professional education topics:
- Collecting and analyzing information that will improve effectiveness in the classroom
- Recognizing early warning indicators that a student may be at risk of dropping out of school
- Educating diverse student populations, including:
- students who are educationally disadvantaged
- students at risk of dropping out of school
- Understanding appropriate relationships, boundaries and communications between educators and students
- Digital learning, digital teaching and integrating technology into classroom instruction
Conference track
Aiming to cater to the diverse needs and expertise of educators attending the Lifelong Learning Conference, we offer both a novice track and an advanced track. This ensures every participant finds valuable and relevant content, contributing to the enhancement of their professional development.
Proposal submission template
- Title of proposal: Enter a clear and concise title for your proposal
- Author(s): Name, affiliation, contact information for all author(s)
- Abstract: A summary of your proposal (50 words)
- Keywords: List three to five key words
- Key takeaways: Applicable information that attendees can use in their practice
- Session type: Select the most appropriate session type for your presentation
- Track: Novice or advanced
- Audio-visual requirements: List any specific audio-visual equipment or materials you will need for your presentation.
Proposals blind peer reviewing criteria
As we aim to ensure the highest quality of presentations and sessions at the Lifelong Learning Conference, we have established the following criteria for the review of proposals. Each proposal will be evaluated based on the following aspects:
- Relevance to the conference theme
- Originality: The proposal presents innovative ideas, methods, approaches or offers creative solutions to current educational challenges.
- Quality of the content: The content is well-researched, relevant and supported by evidence or examples. Priority will be given to proposals aligned to CPEs.
- Practical application: The proposal provides practical and actionable insights.
- Audience engagement: The proposal encourages active participation and interaction among attendees.
- Diversity and inclusivity: The proposal promotes inclusivity and considers diverse perspectives, backgrounds and experiences.
- Clarity: The proposal is well-structured with a clear introduction, content and conclusion.
Each proposal will be reviewed by a panel of experts based on these criteria, and scores will be assigned for each aspect. Submissions that received higher scores in these categories will be given preference for inclusion in the conference program, ensuring that attendees benefit from the most valuable and insightful sessions.
Join us in the quest to unlock the potential of lifelong learning, shaping a brighter and more inclusive future for all. We look forward to your valuable contributions to this important discourse. Together, we can make a difference and prepare ourselves for the challenges and opportunities that the future holds.
