2008 Annual Meeting Call for Proposals
Call for Proposals
2008 NSDL Annual Meeting
NSDL: STEM Research and Education in Action
September 30 - October 2, 2008
Omni Shoreham Hotel
Washington, DC
Important Dates
Proposal Submission Opens: 24 April 2008
Proposal Submission Deadline: 14 May 2008
Presenter Notification: mid-June 2008
The Annual Meeting Planning Committee solicits proposals for presentations to the 2008 NSDL Annual Meeting. Proposals are welcomed from both the NSDL community and from individuals and groups not directly affiliated with an NSDL-funded project. The success of this annual event depends on the participation of the community and the quality and relevancy of the sessions. We encourage all projects to share their experiences and successes, and to raise issues that are of interest across NSDL.
NSDL: STEM Research and Education in Action
In 2007, the NSDL Annual Meeting highlighted a network of projects and people that had collectively reached a milestone. Presenters did not say, "When it's built, we can�." Instead, attendees said, "What we learned was�," and, "What we're doing is�." Building on that ethos, the Planning Committee encourages proposals to the 2008 NSDL Annual Meeting that demonstrate how the vision of a National Science Digital Library continues to be fulfilled within, and how it contributes to, the evolving national STEM research and education infrastructure. Proposals should explore issues and report on activities that:
Reflect cumulative experiences and provide compelling narratives about ongoing, or concluded, research (e.g., technology, education, policy) within the context of the NSDL program;
Highlight inter-disciplinary work undertaken by NSDL projects that encompass continuums, for example, between technology developers and users, across STEM disciplines, and between public and private organizations;
Are directly applicable to the STEM teacher and learner audiences of NSDL projects;
Describe a vision for the role of NSDL within the evolving national STEM research and education infrastructure;
Demonstrate the complementary contributions between STEM research and STEM education.
In keeping with the action-oriented meeting theme, the Committee also encourages presentations that incorporate various media (e.g., video clips, podcasts, blogs), which further document STEM Research & Education in Action.
Notes on Session Lengths and Formats
The Planning Committee solicits proposals on any relevant topic, within the broader meeting theme, in sessions ranging from 30 to 60 minutes as appropriate. The following session types are invited for the 2008 meeting: Panels, Presentations, Computer Lab, and Lightning Talks. When organizing sessions, projects are encouraged to collaborate with one another or with individuals or organizations not directly affiliated with an NSDL project.
Please read the suggestions about session formats below; refer to the Proposal Submission Process FAQ; and as always, contact the Planning Committee with questions.
Panel or Presentation, 30 minutes: This time would support an update on several facets of one project's activities, or several projects could report on related activities.
Panel or Presentation, 60 minutes: This time would support a panel presentation comprising several perspectives on an issue or an in-depth examination of one significant issue. Based on feedback to the 2007 end-of-meeting survey, proposals for workshops will not be accepted in 2008.
Computer Lab: This year, there will be a computer lab with 10 laptop computers available for 60-minute sessions. The sessions do not have to follow a specific format, though we encourage proposals that plan an engaging and interactive session, which could result in tangible outcomes for participants. Possible session formats could include a Crit Lab to gather feedback about site functions or hands-on Demonstrations of site features or activities. Some examples include: train-the-trainer sessions on delivering a specific workshop curriculum, learning to use an NSDL service such as Content Clips or Instructional Architect, or learning how to de-bug a particular piece of software.
Lightning talk: Lightning talks are 5-minute presentations on any topic and are a great way to quickly share detailed information. The style is informal, focused, informative, and can be as prepared or as spontaneous as the presenter chooses. You do not need to organize a whole session of lighting talks. The Planning Committee will organize the talks into 60-minute sessions.
How to Submit a Proposal
From the Annual Meeting homepage, go to Registration. You must register for the meeting before submitting a proposal. For Panels, Presentations and Computer Lab sessions, fill in the blanks as directed for a proposal. For Lightning Talks, skip to the bottom of the form, and fill in the LT-related fields only. We will accept poster submissions in the summer.
Useful Links
Proposal Submission Process FAQ
Submit a Proposal
Volunteer as a Reviewer
Travel Support
For More Information, please contact: Sarah Holsted, NSDL Director of Development and Special Projects