REVITALIZE: Getting Back to Teaching

February 23-24, 2018

DoubleTree Hotel – Columbus-Worthington

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Call for Proposals

Deadline: December 20, 2017 (11:59 p.m. PT)

In the last six years, there have been numerous changes at the state and federal level concerning what teachers should teach and what students should learn. As educators, we have seen the introduction of new learning standards, new assessments, new report cards, Race to the Top, a waiver for No Child Left Behind, a reauthorization of ESSA, and a new evaluation system that includes student growth measures such as valued-added, vendor assessments, and student learning objectives.  Additionally, we have seen a replacement of the PARCC Assessments with assessments developed by the American Institute of Research and a revision of Ohio’s New Learning Standards that were only in place for a couple of years.

Through all these changes, teachers in the state of Ohio have remained resilient. We know the impact that we have on students each and every day. We know what true growth in our classrooms is.  As we debate these changes with our colleagues, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and frustrated by the constant turnover in policy.

“Revitalize” means to make something active, healthy, and energetic again.  In times of rapid change, revitalization becomes increasingly important, not only as policy is translated into practice, but also in order to maintain our local communities and professional networks, to increase our engagement within the content areas we teach, and to promote pride in our students.  “Revitalize” as a conference theme, then, is both a doing – a dynamic, conscious effort to sustain our work – and an invitation to reclaim the interests and practices of our teaching that help us best meet the needs of our students.

We want to know what you have done in the last several years to advance the interests of your students.

• What lessons do you think are the most important?
• What lessons do you think have had the most impact on your students’ lives?
• How have the new standards helped or hindered your ability to teach students?
• How have the new assessments impacted your teaching?
• How do you truly measure student growth in your classroom?

And in the interest of “revitalizing” our conference, we are revamping the breakout sessions to encourage active participation, collaborative work, networking, and community building. To that end, we are open to many presentation styles, including

• Individual or Panel Presentations: 45-minute breakout sessions that engage the audience
• Roundtables: 45-minute discussions led by roundtable facilitators on a special topic or issue.
• Workshops: 90-minute sessions in which participants make something, led by workshop facilitator.
• Posters: 48-inch by 36-inch visual presentations displayed in main areas of the conference.

In planning this conference, OCTELA is committed to advancing the education of students in the state of Ohio and meeting the professional development needs of teachers throughout the state. We are committed to helping teachers meet the challenges set before them.  We are eager to know what you bring to the discussion.  How can you help your fellow educators that are struggling through these challenges? What can you offer them professionally?

We look forward to your amazing proposals!

Ready to submit?  Access our proposal submission form.