2016 Session Development Guide

Transcription

1 2016 Session Development Guide This guide is designed to help you develop a successful session proposal for the 2016 New Jersey Charters Schools Association Conference. We select winning proposals based on the following criteria: Quality of the content Quality and clarity of the proposal Participant interest in the proposed topic Presenter background and experience Handouts, resumes, or other supplemental materials you submit with your proposal The degree to which the proposal addresses New Jersey-specific issues or interests We have a separate Session Proposal Template (in Microsoft Word) that will guide you through the development of your proposal. We encourage you to use it to develop your session, but also to closely edit your language and get feedback from colleagues. Please note that you cannot submit the template directly, although you can cut and paste from it into the online submission form. We hope that this guide and our Call for Proposals Informational Webinar on January 13, 2016, at 4:00 pm (registration URL: ) will help you to submit your best proposal. We look forward to reading your proposals! About the Conference The 2015 Conference by the Numbers Approximately 740 total registrants. 54 breakout sessions (130 session proposals were submitted). About Conference Attendees Half of all conference registrants work at, or are affiliated with, a charter school. They may be teachers, administrators, instructional leaders, business officials, counselors, or trustees. Most are very knowledgeable about the field. There is also a substantial number of other professionals, including attorneys, insurance agents, financial services representatives, suppliers, and consultants, as well as interested parents. Participant Organizations We also see attendees from many different organizations educational, financial services, vendors, social service, and other nonprofits. About New Jersey s Charter Schools New Jersey s 89 charter schools serve an overwhelmingly urban, economically disadvantaged population. Charter school students are twice as likely to qualify for free or reduced lunch as district 1

2 schools statewide. That being said, there are also suburban and rural charter schools in the state, and overall the schools represent diverse educational approaches and philosophies. Most New Jersey charters are not affiliated with a charter management organization; however, there is a growing number of CMO-based charter schools in the state, and several smaller, homegrown networks have emerged over the past several years. Attendee Interests Although our attendees include many educators, many also come from different walks of life and have varying job roles. While sessions intended for teachers and instructional leaders are the highest priority for most our members, many are interested in operational and regulatory issues. Overall, our attendees want: Sessions with a greater depth of content and real-world examples that audience members could relate to Best practices, how-to information, and tools they can use right away and share with colleagues Educational subject areas other than Math and Language Arts Sessions that will apply toward continuing education requirements for Qualified Purchasing Agents (on topics of: Ethics, Information Technology, Procurement Procedures, General Office/Admin Duties, and Green Purchasing) Blended information and learning with interactive activities Sessions designed to engage the audience with the presenter and each other and educate Differentiated content for veterans Sessions showcasing innovations Plenty of time for Q&A at least 10 minutes of Q&A & audience enhances engagement Attendees do not want: Sales pitches or promotion of products or services (see below) Sessions that consist primarily of schools extolling their own accomplishments or that are otherwise not strongly focused on the attendees, their interests, and their needs Sessions with basic content, unless they are specifically designed for beginner- level attendees Sessions that don t include practitioners as presenters Presentations that do not match the program session description Sessions without engagement Sessions that are rushed, start late, allow audience members to hijack the session (this actually happens!), or cut Q&A time To be lectured. Instead, they want to be engaged and trained. Our attendees are extremely sensitive to sales pitches. Every attendee will be asked on the survey Was a sales pitch included in this presentation? If over 25% respond Yes, you will not be invited back to a future conference. You are welcome to mention specific tools or companies in your session, but please refrain from focusing a session on selling a product, providing a free trial, or directing attendees to a specific product or service that costs money. Session Strands All sessions will be assigned to a single strand that best aligns with the content. 1. Preparing Students for College and Career : Sessions in this strand address instruction, assessment, curriculum development, teacher training, special education, and other 2

3 classroom-specific topics. However, rather than simply creating an Instruction strand or a Student Achievement strand, we are seeking proposals that tie their insights and strategies to specifically preparing students for what lies ahead. We are looking for sessions that are designed to foster high expectations, high levels of critical thinking, and the development of social and organizational skills that will prepare students for the rigors of college work and/or challenging careers. We are especially interested in sessions that address subject areas other than Math and Language Arts; for example, the Arts, World Language, History, Social Studies, Engineering, and Science. 2. Use of Data: Our participants are generally committed to using data effectively throughout their organizations in the classroom, in the office, and in the board room. We are interested in sessions that illuminate sound general principles of data usage and cultivate the effective use of data in the diverse contexts in which it is an issue. We are especially interested in sessions that explore the collection and analysis of qualitative data, or the limitations of data use in educating children. 3. Leadership : The Leadership strand addresses instructional, organizational, and institutional leadership. Topics include teacher evaluation and supervision, building leadership capacity within a school, succession planning, strategic planning, culture, team-building, hiring and working with staff, collaborating and working with parents, and more. 4. Operations/Governance : From facilities to fiscal sustainability, communications and PR to professional development, the Operations/Governance strand provides back-office employees, trustees, and those who support schools in other ways with the necessary tools to ensure long-term organizational health. We are particularly interested in approaches and techniques that maximize accessibility to charter school enrollment, business best practices, policy development, and practices that increase operational efficiency. Our emphasis for this strand will be on the Operations side we are conducting a full day Board Institute alongside the conference for trustees and school leaders who wish to immerse themselves exclusively in governance issues. However, we do plan to offer some governance related sessions within the general conference for those who want a more varied experience. 5. Advocacy/Policy/Law : The political landscape impacts charter schools immensely, and those who align with the Policy strand are the ones who want to be kept abreast of the latest developments in district, state, and federal legislation and activism. Conversations focus on the big-picture vision for the future of the movement, advocacy, and overcoming policy-induced obstacles. Turn Your Idea into a Proposal 1. Start with an idea: What do you have particular expertise in? What do you do particularly well? What new tool or approach are you using that others should use? Why is it important and to whom? 2. Consider the participant: What do your audience members do? What skills do they need? What issues or questions do they regularly face? Why they would want to attend? 3. Plan your major points first: What s the point? How will you get there? What examples will illustrate your point? 4. Share tools before, during and after your session: What will participants get out of your session? What will they share with their colleagues? Will they be able to use this information right away? Do they need background info? Where can they get more information? 3

4 Session Format Breakout sessions may be formatted as lecture presentations, panel discussions, roundtable discussions, open agenda meetings, or hands-on experiences. We are also open to other formats, as well. The format of the session should be driven by the type of content you wish to include and techniques of engagement you feel will be most effective. We want all sessions to model effective instructional techniques. We have found that the more participatory the session, the better the feedback. Sessions are generally 60 minutes long (this is shortened from last year, based on feedback). We will also be offering a small number of intensive sessions (two hours long). You will need to specify whether you are asking for an intensive session when you submit your proposal. We will do our best to provide the audio/visual support you need to best facilitate your session. All rooms come equipped with LCD projectors, screens, wireless mouses and lecterns; additional requirements for computer speakers, Internet access, flip charts, tables, special connection cords, etc., will be addressed once your session is accepted. Each presenter is required to bring their own laptop/tablet and charging cords. All sessions are evaluated by the participants, either through the mobile app or on paper. We do require all presenters to remind the participants about submitting evaluations at the conclusion of their session. Proposal Guidelines To be considered for review, all proposals must be fully completed and submitted and include: title, description, and contact information for all presenters. All aspects of the proposal should be written in complete sentences. We consider your writing representative of the quality we can expect from your session. Please keep in mind: You don t have to complete your proposal in one sitting. Sometimes proposals benefit from the opportunity to revisit and refine. Use the session proposal template to get started, so you re prepared before you sign into the submission system. The URL for the proposal submission system is Key Proposal Elements Please see the Session Proposal Template for detailed instructions on developing your complete proposal. The following addresses a few key aspects: Presenter Biography: Up to 250 characters about your background or experience that is most pertinent to the proposal. Items that are particularly appealing to our attendees include: Founding of a charter school Leadership of a charter school Teaching in a charter school Service as a trustee or board of education member Experience providing professional development in education or related fields Experience with community-based organizations 4

5 Professional experience implementing the practices, techniques, or tools described in the session Session Title : Five to 15 words that are carefully written to excite and draw an audience. Think of a marketable title that will interest your reviewers. At the conference, you ll be competing with other presenters to draw a crowd. The more direct, the better. Make sure it s clear and provides insight into your presentation. Don t use all capital letters. Session Abstract: Short description (75-word maximum) to be printed in the conference program. Many attendees make their session selections based on the Abstract. Be concise, but use complete sentences and proper punctuation. Session Track: Indicate in which of the five tracks your session is best placed. Some sessions could fit under multiple tracks; however, we require you to select the best fit to help us balance the overall list and to help attendees identify the most salient sessions for their interests. Suggested Audience: Who should be in the room? What kind of an audience are you trying to attract? Be clear and use key words to further clarify your content so audience members can pick the right session. Minimum Experience Level of Audience: There is a need for both basic and advanced topics we try to offer a majority of more advanced topics, but the most important thing is to help attendees recognize whether a session is too basic or over their heads. Session Length: Most sessions are 60 minutes long; this is generally plenty of time to provide a substantial experience for participants. We do consider double sessions (two hours) for exceptionally rich topics with exceptionally strong proposals. Double sessions are intensive for the full two hours and will not include a scheduled break, although you can offer one if needed. Session Outline: Up to 250 words that provide a concise, structured agenda for your session. Please use outline format the submission window does not allow for much formatting, so keep it simple. Peer reviewers will use this information to get a sense of the breadth of your session, but your answer will not be published. Session Outcomes: Up to 150 words that list three or four participant outcomes for the session. It s essential that your outcomes align with your title, abstract, and outline. Indicate three or four learning goals or questions your session will address: This will help us understand your content beyond the title and description, but also ensure you are considering participant learning outcomes. Peer reviewers will use this information to get a sense of your session, but it will not be published. Presenter Experience : We value seasoned presenters. Let us know of your past presentations, including the date and name of the event. You ll be asked if you ve previously presented this topic at the NJCSA conference, at other conferences, or if this is your first time presenting it. We re seeking seasoned presenters with deep roots in public education and strong in-school experience whether at the classroom, administrative, or board levels. 5

6 Peer reviewers will use this information to get a sense of your session, but it will not be published. References: May include up to 200 words detailing the following information: Links to web pages, videos of your former presentations, or other documents Contact information for references Peer reviewers will use this information to get a sense of your session, but it will not be published. When You ll Hear Back We ll let you know of the status of your proposal by March 4, If you are not selected, we still encourage you to attend the conference! You ll get key insight into our audience, content, and the charter school movement in New Jersey and nationwide. Acknowledgement Special thanks to the National Alliance of Charter Schools from whom we borrowed the concept and much content for this guide. 6