We are thrilled that you have chosen to submit a proposal to speak at the USDLA 2025 National Conference that will be held in St. Louis, June 23-26, 2025. Our theme will be Hitting Home Runs in the Digital Age of Distance Learning. You will have the option of proposing a session for the onsite event or the virtual component of the conference. Please note that some virtual sessions will be scheduled on dates outside of the June 23-26, 2025 time period. The call will remain open until Sunday, December 15, 2024, 11:59pm ET. If you have any questions about the proposal process, please reach out to Harriet Watkins, hwatkins@usdla.org.

We welcome proposals from all who work in distance or digital education, across constituencies. We have speakers and attendees from corporate, education (higher and K-12), telehealth, government, military, and more. While you may submit any topic you choose, we have received feedback from our community that you may want to consider when preparing proposals. The following tracks will be featured this year:

• Home Run Policies: Governance and Regulation in Distance Education
• Leading Off: Distance and Digital Leadership in Higher Education
• Flexible Fielding: Ensuring Quality, Flexibility, and Access in Online Learning
• Tech at Bat: Innovative Techniques and Technologies Education
• Engagement Grand Slam: Best Practices in Instructional Design 
• IDEA All-Stars: Accessibility in Education

Proposal Options Available

• Workshops. These 75-minute sessions are intended to be hands-on, working sessions. While we understand that you may need to present content, the majority of the time should be spent with participants actively involved. Provide detailed information in your submissions about the types of interactions and engagement you have planned. If your session would require more than the allotted 75 minutes, please note that in your session description.
   
• Concurrent sessions. These 45-minute sessions provide an opportunity for you to give a presentation on a specific topic. Conference attendees expect sessions to provide practical advice and the sharing of experiences. The committee seeks high-quality, thought-provoking and engaging sessions – not lecture format. Co-presenters are highly encouraged. Also, the USDLA Program Committee reserves the right to select your proposal to be featured in a panel along with other presenters.
   
• Panels and discussion groups. These 45-minute sessions will be focused on discussions around a specific topic. You may propose a session in this category in one of two formats: (1) you may propose a traditional panel where you pre-arrange 3-5 speakers and one of you serves as the moderator, or (2) you may propose a topic of discussion, along with at least five questions you will guide the group through.
   
• Poster sessions and demonstrations. These sessions will happen during a 60-90 minute time block and allow participants the opportunity to stop by your station for short (7-15 minute) presentations. The type of tools and visuals you use are up to you. Suggested formats include, but are not limited to, posters (up to 36"x48" with hard backing);  posters that can be spread out on a table; handouts, brochures, or postcards; tablets or other digital devices (note that we cannot guarantee access to power). Show off your amazing work and innovative solutions in this informal presentation opportunity.

The USDLA conference is an excellent opportunity for first-time speakers as it offers flexible session types and a supportive team who will work with you both before and during the conference to ensure you are ready to shine.

Preparing Your Proposal

The committee recommends that proposals be specific about what will make the presentation valuable to attendees. Any proposal that is perceived to be a “sales pitch” will not be considered. Your proposal should be focused on issues and innovative working solutions, and include information about how you intend to engage attendees. All presenters and co-presenters (regardless of session type) will be expected to register for the full conference.

You may submit more than one proposal and/or be a co-presenter on multiple sessions.

The submission form will ask you for the following, so please gather this information prior to the time of submission:

• Contact Information: the names and emails for any presenter and/or co-presenters
• Session Type: workshop, concurrent, or poster
• Delivery Format: in-person or virtual
• Constituencies: who would benefit most from attending your session
• Track: while you may submit on any topic, select the one that best fits your presentation
  • Home Run Policies: Governance and Regulation in Distance Education
  • Leading Off: Distance and Digital Leadership in Higher Education
  • Flexible Fielding: Ensuring Quality, Flexibility, and Access in Online Learning
  • Tech at Bat: Innovative Techniques and Technologies Education
  • Engagement Grand Slam: Best Practices in Instructional Design 
  • IDEA All-Stars: Accessibility in Education
• Title: a succinct, but descriptive title of no more than ten words
• Abstract: 200 words (or less) – Please note: the session abstract will be used to promote your session. Make sure it accurately reflects your session, and how it will benefit attendees. This is what draws people to your presentation.
• Description: a clear summary of learning objectives, session content, and takeaways. You are also encouraged to share the types of audience participation you will use (e.g., hands-on exercise, polls, small group discussion, Q&A, etc.)
• Bio: provide a bio for the lead presenter; you will be contacted for additional information on co-presenters if accepted

Review Criteria

Conference participants will expect well-delivered presentations containing quality information that is of practical value to their day-to-day professional lives. Members of the USDLA Program Committee will look for clear descriptions. Considerable weight will be given to proposals that specify session learning objectives, clearly describe why the content will be valuable to attendees, and how you plan to encourage audience participation.

Status of Proposal and Notification

Submissions will be accepted until Sunday, December 15, 2024, 11:59 pm ET and notifications will be sent on or before Monday, January 20, 2025. 

If you have any questions or concerns about the proposal process, please contact Harriet Watkins at hwatkins@usdla.org.