The Schools of the Future Conference seeks proposals related to pedagogy and best teaching practices to help educators prepare learners for the future. The Conference will once again be offered virtually with the possibility of a hybrid component, if conditions permit. We ask that you take into account the virtual nature of the conference, as you develop your proposed presentation.

Presentations should include innovative trends, while also helping attendees increase their leadership skills and professional competence by providing for an exchange of ideas and solutions. The planning team strives to ensure that all content is relevant and timely, especially given everything that has transpired over the past year. We encourage you to consider all that has been learned during this extraordinary time and apply those takeaways to your presentation. The goal of SOTF, as always, is to deliver a conference that helps inform best practices in education going forward. To that end, the review committee will pay particular attention to whether proposals are reflective, in some way, of the teaching and learning environment we now find ourselves in. In doing so, the SOTF conference, along with selected presenters, will create a community of learning that will help educators improve the quality of education for all students.

All sessions will be recorded and made available to conference attendees via a secure site for up to 3 months following the event. By submitting a proposal, you are granting permission to record your presentation and make it available to conference attendees. A copy of the recording will be made available to all presenters, following the Conference.

For more information about the Conference, please visit the HAIS SOTF Webpage. Stay tuned for Early Bird Registration, which will open in April.

Submitting a Proposal

A Proposal Planning Template has been created to assist with the submission process. The template should not be used to submit a proposal; rather, it is meant as a tool to help plan and draft your proposal. Please download or make a copy of this document to use for your planning purposes. When you are ready to submit your proposal, please do so via the official SOTF Proposal Submission Form.

The deadline to submit a proposal is April 4, 2021, and notifications will be sent by May 7, 2021. We will NOT be extending the deadline this year.

Conference Tracks:

The Schools of the Future Conference explores a wide-range of topics and ideas. Conference tracks are offered as a means of illuminating content that is of most interest to attendees. Session proposals can be submitted in one of the conference tracks listed below, but can encompass a variety of topics. For sessions that may fall under multiple tracks, please submit the proposal under the best-fitting track.

Each conference track offers general guidelines and keywords that best represent the interests of this year's Conference. These guidelines are offered to assist and are by no means limitations.

• Early Childhood Learning: Presentations should be geared towards Preschool through grade 3 educators and should aim to explore the latest trends and research in the early childhood field.
• Learning Variabilities: This track will encompass topics such as differentiated and personalized learning, Universal Design for Learning, and other brain science as it applies to making learning accessible to all students.
• Equity and Diversity: Sessions in this track should explore how we are addressing equity and diversity in our schools. This could include examples of learning opportunities that value students’ culture and identity while addressing assumptions about inclusion and equity.
• Project and Place-Based Learning: Sessions in this track should aim to advance PBL practices by exploring the knowledge and skills needed to design, assess, and manage high quality, authentic Project/Inquiry/Problem-Based Learning. Participants are also encouraged to submit proposals that explore culturally relevant teaching and learning practices, as well as immersive learning experiences that extend beyond the classroom environment.
• Social and Emotional Learning: This track will explore best practices and strategies for effective SEL implementation, while also exploring evidence and research supporting the impact of SEL.
• Teaching and Learning with Technology: This track will explore resources and strategies for transforming teaching and learning through the use of educational technology, digital media, and computer science.
• NEW! Learning Not Lost: A track dedicated to preserving the best pandemic takeaways. The pandemic forced rapid innovation in education. It also challenged educators to make decisions about what curricular components should be prioritized and how best to facilitate student learning. As the pandemic nears its end, this track will serve as an opportunity to carry forward the best of what was learned during this unprecedented time.

Presentation Formats:

The virtual conference allows for a variety of presentation types. The following presentation options are available for the 2021 Conference:

Live Presentations (45 Minutes)
These presentations are 45-minutes long, and will be scheduled during a 50 minute block (the additional 5 minutes is to allow time for attendees to join the session). These sessions will take place during the live Conference, and all presenters will be expected to be present throughout the duration of their allotted session to answer questions and engage with attendees.
Limited to 4 presenters (1 primary presenter and 3 co-presenters)

Wiki Wiki Live Sessions (20 Minutes)
These presentations are 20-minutes long and will be scheduled during a 25 minute block (the additional 5 minutes is to allow time for attendees to join the session). They will take place during the live Conference and should be delivered in real time by the presenter.
Limited to 1 presenter (no co-presenters)

Pre-Recorded Presentations (15 Minutes)
Pre-Recorded presentations will be 15-minutes long (think TED Talk) and will be accessible to all attendees during and after the Conference. They will also be included in both the Conference app and program. Recordings will be due a month before the Conference.
Limited to 1 presenter (no co-presenters)

Presenter Registration & Discount Information:

1 primary presenter per session - Complimentary registration to attend the Conference.

1 additional co-presenter - 50% discount on the Conference fee in effect at the time of registration.

All additional co-presenters - Must pay 100% of the Conference fee in effect at the time of registration, if they wish to attend the Conference.

Student presenters (K-12 grade) - Registration Fee Waived (maximum of 4 students per session).

Please note that the Conference does not cover any additional expenses related to attending or presenting at the Conference (travel expenses, equipment, supplies, etc.).

Proposal Review Criteria:

If your proposal is accepted, the session title and description, along with the presenter(s) bio(s), will be made viewable on the Conference app and website. Please make sure that all content, including spelling and grammar, is suitable for public reference.

Keep in mind that the proposal reviewers may not know you or your reputation or be familiar with the specific technologies, models, or instructional strategies you are addressing. Be sure to provide sufficient detail including full names (not acronyms) and brief descriptions of all such elements in your proposal summary so reviewers can evaluate the relevance and usefulness of the information to attendees.

Specifically, reviewers will evaluate your proposal for its:

• Relevance of the topic to the track and SOTF audience
• Timeliness and applicability to the current teaching and learning conditions
• Educational relevance, significance, and contribution to the respective track
• Ease of replication and application
• Value to participants
• Presenter knowledge and experience