Call for Proposals

World Conference on Online Learning

27^th ICDE World Conference in Toronto, Canada

October 16-19, 2017

The Call for Proposals for the World Conference on Online Learning: Teaching in a Digital Age – Re-Thinking Teaching & Learning is now open!

We seek forward-thinking, novel and student-oriented submissions for the World Conference relating to one or more of the five tracks flowing from the conference theme of “Teaching in a Digital Age – Re-Thinking Teaching & Learning”:

• Emerging Pedagogies and Designs for Online Learning
• Expanding Access, Openness and Flexibility
• Changing Models of Assessment
• New Delivery Tools and Resources for Learning
• Re-designing Institutional Business Models

All plenaries, practical workshops, interactive panels, hands-on demonstrations, academic paper presentations, and labs focus on one of these five tracks. This theme, and these five tracks, reflect extensive feedback from other conferences on online, open and flexible learning held around the world. We believe they capture the major developments and emerging trends in the field. Click here for a full description of the Conference Theme and Tracks.

All submissions must align to one or more of the five conference tracks.

Our Objective for the World Conference Program

Our objective is to develop a timely, informative and engaging program with a focus on:

• Plenaries as platforms for open discussions;
• Interactivity with built-in question and answer (Q&A) sessions and open dialogue between delegates and presenters;
• Showcasing ground-breaking practices and research in online learning by faculty, instructors, students, practitioners, academic decision-makers, training providers, start-ups, educational industry leaders and policymakers;
• Offering a display, launch pad and marketplace for new educational technologies, the latest online learning platforms and solutions; and
• Profiling the new work taking place in online, open and flexible learning.

All proposals, including an abstract, must be submitted through the Oxford Abstract system configured specifically for the World Conference.

Please submit your proposal in English or French. No other languages are accepted.

Presentations will normally be in English to ensure a maximum audience; however, you may choose to present in French or Spanish. If you prefer to present in French or in Spanish, please indicate in your submission. Please note the World Conference does not translate presentations and we are exploring the option to make simultaneous interpretation available.

To submit your proposal, you must do the following:

1. Create an account in our version of the Oxford Abstract System, available in English only.

2. Download the template available upon login. Follow the instructions in the template and insert the title of your abstract (15-word maximum) and your maximum 600-word abstract, which outlines your content, proposed structure of your topic and how it aligns with one or more of the five conference tracks. Do not include references, bibliography, your identity or any other information. This template is used to create the Abstract Book after the Conference. Once complete, save the template as .doc or .docx file and upload to the Oxford Abstract System.

3. Create a second copy of your maximum 600-word abstract as a separate Word document. (Please do not use the template for this version.) Be sure to include relevant and recent references, a bibliography of these references according to the referencing style you prefer, five keywords related to your proposal, and any other information you wish to share with the reviewers. The limit of 600 words excludes your references, bibliography, keywords and additional information. Once complete, save as a .doc or .docx file and upload to the Oxford Abstract System.

4. Respond to the rest of the questions related to your submission in the Oxford Abstract System.

Upon submission of your proposal, you will receive an e-mail confirming receipt.

The deadline for submissions is April 30, 2017.

Early Approval

In response to requests from a growing number of the more than 1,000 individuals who already signaled their interest in attending the World Conference, we are conducting a review of all submissions received by December 31, 2016 in January 2017. We plan to start allocating some of the limited space to the selected presenters in early 2017.

If you are interested in being considered for this early review and allocation, please submit your proposal by 12:00 midnight EST on December 31, 2016.

Proposal Selection Criteria

Our Review Team assesses all abstracts and you will hear from us within eight (8) weeks of submission on the status of your proposal.

Each proposal is peer reviewed using the following criteria:

• Alignment with the 5 Tracks: Does the topic align to one or more of the five tracks of the Conference?
• Quality of Topic: Is the topic of importance, relevance, value, and/or interest to the target audience for the Conference?
• Proposed Topic Coverage: Does the proposal cover the topic adequately?
• Presenter Knowledge: Does the presenter(s) appear to have sufficient knowledge, expertise, and authority to address this topic?
• Presentation Style: Has the presenter outlined a presentation that is interactive and engages the target audience?

Proposals are selected to ensure the program offers a comprehensive, non-commercial, objective, and diverse treatment of the theme and tracks of the conference.

Before Submitting Your Proposal

Before submitting your proposal, please consider the following:

1. All speakers whose proposals are accepted for presentation at the conference must pay the full delegate registration fee and cover their own travel and accommodation expenses. The World Conference does not provide complimentary registrations for speakers nor subsidize travel and accommodation costs.
2. Accepted speakers may require a Visa or other travel documents to visit Canada to attend the World Conference. Click here for information on requirements for travel to Canada.
3. The organizers of the World Conference reserve the right to accept or reject any proposal in their sole discretion. Prospective speakers may be invited to combine with other speakers in panel or other session formats at the discretion of the organizers.

Help us create a program for the World Conference on Online Learning that appeals to the 2,000 delegates expected to attend and brings the conference theme, Teaching in a Digital Age – Re-Thinking Teaching & Learning, to life!

To submit your abstract, please click here.