THE ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE HAS PASSED.  WE ARE NO LONGER RECEIVING ABSTRACTS FOR THIS CONFERENCE.

The Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE) invites proposals for presentations at its 31st Annual International Conference – “From Here to the Horizon”.
The main theme of this conference is to explore how the horizons of our understandings of diversity are actually changing as we investigate the future of teaching and learning in higher education. What are we doing to honour our appreciation of multiple perspectives, and what is happening at the intersections of teaching and learning theory and practice? How have teaching and learning become richer through diversity?
On the horizon of teaching and learning in higher education, one sees tremendous opportunity. Depending on the direction you face, that horizon includes experiential learning, teaching with technology, innovative program and course design, creative assessment and teaching practices, the scholarship of teaching and learning, and, of particular interest, creating an inclusive educational environment that embraces diversity.
 
Conference attendees are encouraged to submit proposals that focus on insightful and innovative policies, programs, and practices that recognize, benefit from, value, and honour the diversity of students, faculty, instructors, staff and administrators.
The Conference theme will support the many points of view of stakeholders in higher education including (but not exclusively):

• Diversity and Inclusive Practice in Higher Education (primary theme)
• Creative Practices: Teaching, Assessment, and Evaluation
• Experiential Learning and the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning
• Institutional Leadership of Teaching and Learning
• Program Level Outcomes and Quality
• Innovation with Technology
• Scholarly Teaching and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
• Transformational Curricular Design
• Communities of Practice, Learning Communities

Individuals are invited to provide presentations, debates, workshops, round table discussions, and posters that stimulate discussion about the horizons of teaching and learning in higher education.
 
Who should attend
This conference will be of particular interest to:

• University and College faculty, sessionals, and instructors
• Educational, instructional and curriculum developers
• University administrators
• Members of the STLHE special interest groups – Canadian Writing Centres Association, Teaching Assistant and Graduate Student Advancement (TAGSA), and the College Sector Educators Community (CSEC)
• Undergraduate and graduate students interested in teaching and learning in higher education (particularly student association executives)
• Government officials with a responsibility for higher education
• Business, public service and community group members interested in higher education

 
Types of Presentations
You may submit proposals for pre-conference workshops, concurrent sessions, roundtables, or a poster session.  While collaborative efforts are encouraged, in order to ensure maximum participation, we can only accept a maximum of two proposals with the same lead author.
 
We encourage submissions in both official languages.
 
Individual or group presentations are welcome

Pre-Conference Workshops (June 15) Pre-conference workshops are practice oriented 3-hour or full day sessions. They must include opportunities for active learning and involvement of the participants. Sessions may be designed to demonstrate a set of techniques or address new theory and practice in teaching and learning.  Ideally they relate to the themes of the conference - From Here to the Horizon – as identified above.
 
Roundtable Discussions (June 16) Roundtable discussions focus on a theory or practice in teaching and learning in relation to the theme of the conference. Sessions are informal, held as discussion sessions around lunch-time (see schedule at a glance).
 
Concurrent Sessions (June 16, 17 and 18) These sessions demonstrate particularly significant and innovative practices, organizational changes, or basic and applied research findings related to the theme of the conference. There will be three tracks at the conference – innovative practice, organizational change, and SOTL research. 
 
Sessions within the tracks on innovative practice and organizational change will be 50 minutes in duration, with the expectation that there be significant discussion and interactivity.  The SOTL research track, which is being introduced based on past feedback from STLHE conferences, will provide opportunities for shorter (25 minute) presentations of research methods and findings, with a reduced expectation of discussion and interactivity.
 
Poster Sessions (June 16) Poster sessions are a way to visually share information including research findings and innovative practices and programs.  Posters should be self-explanatory. Presenters, however, must be present during the poster session (see schedule at a glance)
 
Submission Guidelines

Submissions will be peer reviewed by a panel representing STLHE constituencies. Criteria by which your submission will be assessed are given below to guide the development of your proposal. Submissions can be in French or English.   The submitted abstract must be no more than 500 words, which must include an explanation of the intended outcomes of the session, and, where appropriate, details regarding the level of participant engagement and presentation approach.
 
Criteria for Submission Review and Selection

• Clarity and coherence of submission
• Clarity of session objectives/learning outcomes
• Relevance to the conference theme
• Relevance and usefulness to the intended audience
• Presentation approach and level of participant engagement in the session
• Contribution to scholarship and/or innovative practice in education.

 
Deadlines
THE ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE HAS PASSED.  WE ARE NO LONGER RECEIVING ABSTRACTS FOR THIS CONFERENCE.

Presenters must register for the conference by May 1, 2011 or their presentation will be removed from the program.
The deadline for submitting to CELT, a peer-reviewed journal based on conference proceedings, will be September 23, 2011. Information for submitting can be found on the STLHE website at: http://www.stlhe.ca/en/publications/celt.php.