New Orleans, LA

WCET’s Annual Meeting is known for bringing together higher education leaders and practitioners to share advances in digital learning practices and to explore emerging policy challenges facing institutions and organizations today. This year, we are thrilled to host the first Annual Summit for Women in eLearning (ASWE) in conjunction with the WCET Annual Meeting. To view an outline of events for the Annual Meeting and ASWE, please visit our website.

Submission Overview

Click the "Submit Proposal" button above to begin. The process should take less than 15 minutes if you have the required information ready. If you need to save and return you can do so. 

What is required in the online proposal process?

• Create an account to submit a proposal.
• Speaker information. Co-speakers may be added later; please notify co-speakers before submitting their information. Communications will be sent to all speakers if the proposal is accepted. Speaker photos and bios are encouraged but may be added later. Bios should be less than 150 words. 
• Brief descriptive title (300 characters, may be edited to fit the final program).
• Session description, no more than 1,200 characters (may be edited to fit the final program).
• Select if the session is for the WCET Annual Meeting, ASWE, or should be considered for both meetings. 
• Preferred session format. If sessions are for both WCET Annual Meeting and ASWE, please select formats in both sections.
• Session WCET topic area(s) or ASWE track(s). If sessions are for both WCET Annual Meeting and ASWE, please select topic area(s) and track(s). 
• Target audience.
• Up to four key takeaways/learning outcomes.
• Audience engagement strategies beyond Q&A.

Multiple proposals can be submitted by the same institution/organization, but due to space constraints we may be unable to accept more than one proposal from the same institution/organization. Proposals that include multiple institutions and perspectives are encouraged.

Often, we receive proposals on the same topic and may combine these into one session to showcase multiple perspectives.

See below for additional details about the meeting, session types, and topic areas. It is recommended that you review this information before getting started.

About the WCET Annual Meeting

Who will attend the Annual Meeting?

The WCET audience represents leaders and practitioners in digital learning in higher education who bring incredible insights and experiences, thus creating opportunities for meaningful dialogue.

Who should submit a proposal?

WCET members and non-members are invited to submit and attend. The program is a blend of formal presentations with actionable strategies and informal discussions to foster idea exchange and networking. Sessions that are collaborative and interactive are preferred. 

Sponsors and Corporations

Edtech companies, WCET corporate members, and WCET sponsors are invited to submit proposals that include client perspectives as regular concurrent sessions. If the session promotes a good or service, the company must be a WCET member or sponsor. 

A limited number of sponsor session slots are provided to Leader level and higher sponsors and do not need to be submitted through the call for proposal system but must be submitted via email by June 1. The preliminary program will be posted in early May; sponsored sessions provided ahead of time will be included with the initial program announcement. If you are interested in sponsoring, please contact us for more information and view the benefits and opportunities.

About ASWE

ASWE is the Annual Summit for Women in eLearning, formerly known as IFWE (International Forum for Women in E-Learning). ASWE Evolve is the theme for the 2023 Summit, celebrating the transition from IFWE to ASWE and the emergence from the COVID-19 pandemic to a brighter future.

The ASWE program includes inspiring presenters, collaborative sessions, opportunities for networking, and the infamous Pajamarama. It is designed to tap into resources that include mentorships, digital learning programs and products, and an opportunity to share ideas and learn from experts in the profession about relevant topics. In addition, attendees gain a better understanding of how to be a successful leader, up-and-coming leader, or support person in digital and online learning.

ASWE is a time for attendees to listen, think, talk, network, reflect, dream, and learn. Whether you are from K-12, higher education, corporate, military, government, or telehealth, ASWE welcomes you!

Registration

Registration will open in May. All speakers must register. Speakers receive a flat registration rate for the meeting at which they are speaking. 

The speaker registration for the WCET Annual Meeting is $750, and ASWE $450. Speakers registering for both WCET and ASWE will receive $250 off the combined registration fee, $950.

Proposal Information

Please review all submission information carefully. Proposals should:

• Indicate if the session proposal is for the WCET Annual Meeting, ASWE, or should be considered for both meetings. 
• Address how the audience will be involved and include interactivity beyond a short Q&A session.
• Include 2-3 key takeaways or expected learning outcomes. 
• Sessions that include student perspectives are encouraged.

As audiovisual prices continue to increase, WCET and ASWE are unable to provide projectors in every session room. Please think about how you might deliver your session without the use of audiovisual tools. A microphone will be provided in each room for accessibility. 

Anticipated Timeline

• Deadline for proposal submissions: April 12, 11:59 PM MDT.
• Notifications sent out via email: May 10.
• Deadline to confirm participation: May 24.  
• Online program launch: June 8.
• Final edits to accepted proposals: September 7. Edits received after this date may not be reflected in the print program. 
• Annual Meeting: October 25-27, New Orleans, Louisiana.
• ASWE: October 26-28, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Annual Meeting Session Formats

Please list your preference in the submission process. The review team will make the final determination of the ideal format for the session material submitted. Reviewers may re-work your proposal to combine it with another proposal on a related topic. WCET attendees find value in sessions that include multiple perspectives addressing a topic. Apart from pre-conference workshops, sessions are 45 minutes. 

• Pre-conference Workshop: The pre-conference workshops are in-depth, 2- to 3-hour workshops that focus on an emerging issue, trend, or topic in digital learning in higher education. The workshops provide attendees with the knowledge and tools they need to return to their institutions prepared to offer solutions or implement a new program. Workshops are required to include interactivity. Up to two pre-conference workshops will be selected. Max three presenters.
• Panel: A panel consists of a moderator and two to three speakers (max) making a single, cohesive presentation on the same topic. Speakers represent different institutions/organizations, expertise, or points of view. Student perspectives are encouraged. Max three presenters and a moderator.
• Solo Presentation: Solo presentations spotlight edtech subject matter experts and innovators on a specific topic. Max one presenter and a moderator. 
• Closer Conversation / Facilitated Group Discussion: One or two individuals act as the discussion leaders. They give a brief introduction (max 15 minutes) of the topic or issue and then facilitate an informal discussion among the audience members. The topic can be controversial and/or have a broad appeal that will elicit dialogue among the audience. Ideal for small group roundtable discussions. Max two discussion leaders.
• Unconference Session: Unconference topics are attendee-driven discussions facilitated by a leader. Tackling a challenge at your institution? Curious what others are doing related to a digital learning topic? Unconference sessions are similar to engaging hallway conversations attendees find so valuable and could include lounge area discussions, walk-and-talk sessions, or others. Max two presenters.
• Challenge Spotlight: The past few years have brought new challenges and interesting solutions, some of which have permanently changed how digital teaching and learning happens. Share your experiences and lessons learned. We tried it, and here is what we learned. Max three presenters.
• Other: Have a suggestion for a format not listed? Your suggestions are encouraged.

Annual Meeting Topic Areas

• Community: institutional success, supporting faculty, innovative partnerships and collaborations, sharing evidence-based approaches, crowd-sourcing solutions.
• Equity: student success, affordability, digital divide, accessibility, effective online services, student data and privacy.
• Policy: federal regulations such as online program management/third-party servicers, professional licensure, and state authorization; policies impacting digital learning; funding models; effective institutional polices, i.e. usage expectations for artificial intelligence.
• Practice: high-quality online program design, scalability, emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, definitions of modalities, alternative assessments, education benefits partnerships, badging and credentialing, considerations for edtech adoption, etc.

ASWE Session Formats

• Panel: A panel consists of a moderator and two to three speakers (max) making a single, cohesive presentation on the same topic. Speakers represent different institutions/organizations, expertise, or points of view. Max three presenters and a moderator.
• Solo Presentation: Solo presentations by subject matter experts on a specific topic. Sessions should include ample time for audience questions. Max one presenter and a moderator.
• Closer Conversation / Facilitated Group Discussion: One or two individuals act as the discussion leaders. They give a brief introduction (max 15 minutes) of the topic or issue and then facilitate an informal discussion among the audience members. The topic can be controversial and/or have a broad appeal that will elicit dialogue among the audience. Ideal for small group roundtable discussions. Max two discussion leaders.
• Poster Sessions: Poster sessions are presented during an ASWE networking activity. Poster presenters will be provided a table where they can set up a standing 3-panel poster (provided by the presenter) that describes their project or program. The presenter can also have handouts and other materials on the table. During the poster session, ASWE participants will have a chance to visit with all presenters. Note that we are unable to provide easels for your posters or guarantee access to an electrical outlet; please plan accordingly.
• Pre- or Post-conference Workshop: These are 2- to 3-hour workshops where presenters lead participants in new directions and allow them to practice new skills. Teams of co-presenters are welcome and encouraged. Unfortunately, we do not have a facility for computer-based hands-on workshops. 

ASWE Tracks

ASWE conference participants represent a wide array of diverse constituencies and digital learning modalities and thus presentation submissions are encouraged across broad perspectives of the e-learning community. Of particular interest are presentations that address topics specifically meaningful to women, such as women’s health, work/life balance, finding your voice at the table, and current events topics that involve issues of equity (economic, social, political).

• Leading: Submissions should respond to effective leadership models and best practices both within an organization and between external stakeholder groups; the role of leadership in developing conditions for social equity; project management; communication strategies for developing and leading cross-cultural teams (remote); and leading disruptive change and designing and developing processes toward the adoption of innovations.
• Learning: Submissions should discuss transformational ideas, processes, and/or measures of innovativeness that have the potential to advance professional practices within the e-learning community. Topics may include the effects of innovative people and programs; case studies on effective strategies and activities; and how to promote a culture of learning within an organization.
• Leaning: Submissions should focus on the various ways we “lean” on each other in both professional and personal ways. Topics for submission may include but are not limited to mentoring; social processes for supporting teams; evidence-based best practices; and strategies and/or activities used in technology-rich environments to encourage support for each other. 
• Living: Submission topics can include work/life balance; holistic health; self-care; and self-regulation techniques that can be applied across multiple contexts to help others feel fulfilled both professionally and personally. This track aims to help others experience personal wellness and thus live your best life. Hands-on and interactive participatory-format sessions are encouraged for this track.

Proposals must be submitted by April 12 at 11:59 PM MDT.

Notifications will be emailed by May 10.

Questions? Contact WCET.