Call for Proposals

AECT 2024 International Convention

Virtual: October 01-03, 2024

Kansas City, MO: October 19–23, 2024

The Association for Educational Communications & Technology (AECT) represents and engages a wide variety of educational professionals, including instructional designers, PK-12 teachers, higher education faculty, education administrators, and industry training leaders, who seek to provide leadership and advise policymakers on enriching and sustaining teaching and learning. The annual AECT International Convention is the premier international forum for the exchange and dissemination of scholarship and practice on the design of instruction and systematic approaches to learning.

Invitation to Present

You are invited to attend and present at the 2024 AECT International Convention: Virtual (October 1–3, 2024) + Kansas City (October 19–23, 2024). The conference supports ongoing efforts of continuous improvement by bringing together a diverse array of expertise from around the world to share practical technology solutions, high-quality research, hands-on workshops, and demonstrations of innovative approaches to instructional design, performance improvement, and educational uses of technology. Click here for submission guidance and links to proposal system.

Key Dates & Deadlines

• February 1, 2024 – Call for proposals is released

• February 15, 2024- Proposal system opens for submissions

• March 31, 2024 – Proposals due by 11:59 P.M. US Pacific Time Deadline extended to April 5!

• April 15, 2024 – Proposals assigned to reviewers

• May 12, 2024 – Proposal reviews due by 11:59 P.M. US Pacific Time

• May 28, 2024 – Notify authors of submission decision

• June 17, 2024 – Corresponding presenters confirm intent to present

• August 05, 2024 – Full convention schedule available

• October 01-03, 2024 – Virtual Convention activities

• October 19-23, 2024 - Kansas City Convention activities

Theme & Presidential Sessions

The 2024 conference marks our next hundred years as an organization. As we continue to address critical issues within our field and in our larger societies, we call upon the field to consider sharing their scholarship, practice, and stories related to the use of technology and the creation of inclusive, equitable, and ethical learning environments, including examples of technoethics or restorative justice in practical contexts.

All submissions exemplifying the theme will be considered for designation as a Presidential Session. Division planners will recommend accepted presentations to the convention co-planners for consideration, and selected presentations will include this designation when notifying submitters of acceptance.

Scope

AECT invites high-quality research and practical presentations from professionals with expertise in learning design across all contexts, including higher education, K-12, corporate, military, government, non-profit, and health settings. Submissions should align with topics relevant to one of AECT’s 11 divisions and special interest groups (SIGs):

1. Culture, Learning and Technology – a community for members interested in issues at the intersection of culture, learning, and technology.

2. Design and Development – a community focusing on the design and development of instructional materials for a variety of learning contexts.

3. Distance Learning – a community that emphasizes the design, development, implementation, evaluation, management, and research specific to distance learning.

4. Emerging Learning Technologies – a community that promotes the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of emerging technology in various learning contexts.

5. Education in Health Professions (SIG) – a community for professional educators, instructional designers, and subject-matter experts promoting the health and well-being of all through the education, training, and professional development of healthcare professionals and their clients.

6. International – a community for members whose work focuses on educational technology research and practice with an emphasis on transcending international boundaries and cultural lines.

7. Learner Engagement – a community invested in the deep understanding of how learning and engagement intersect with the intentional design and development of learning experiences.

8. Organizational Training & Performance – a community that bridges the gap between research and practice, creating a meeting of the minds that drives best practices while validating our research.

9. Research & Theory – a community that supports the development and advancement of theory, utilizing multiple perspectives within studies, and advocates addressing social and cultural issues.

10. Systems Thinking & Change – a community for imagining, planning, transforming, achieving, and continuously improving learning and human performance in diverse organizations through systems thinking and collaboration

11. Teacher Education – a community that promotes theory, research, and practice with learning environments, technology integration, equity, and diverse instruction in teacher education

12. Technology Integrated Learning – a community that links practitioners and researchers with a common interest in the application of educational technology in both formal and informal learning environments.

Presentation Details

New for 2024!

This year, presentation will be entirely virtual (all presenters online) or fully in-person (all presenters in the room). AECT will not support hybrid presentations at the convention. In-person presentations will be broadcast via Zoom, allowing virtual attendees to engage with presenters via the Q&A feature. Authors will select presentation modality as the first step to submit a proposal.

• Virtual  – all presenters and participants are virtual (scheduling: October 1–3, 2024)

• In-Person  – all presenters are in-person, and participants are in-person and virtual (scheduling: October 19–23, 2024)

Formats

Presentations should plan for one of the following session formats:

1. Concurrent

2. Design & Development Showcase

3. Design in Practice

4. Featured Research

5. Fee-Based Workshop

6. Panel Discussion

7. Poster Presentation

8. Work-in-Progress Exchange

Concurrent Session

Concurrent Sessions are 20-minute lecture-style presentations with an additional five minutes for audience questions and discussions, totaling 25 minutes. Concurrent sessions focus on disseminating key information from completed research studies and practical learning design projects. A session facilitator will monitor session time to aid with equitable engagement. 

Design & Development Showcase

The Design and Development (D&D) Division invites practitioners, faculty, and students to showcase their completed and innovative training and educational programs. These projects should be grounded in theory and research related to the instructional design field. The D&D Showcase provides an opportunity for prospective and practicing instructional designers, training specialists, and others to explore high-quality examples to enhance their ability to design effective learning experiences and develop different types of instructional materials and environments. Proposals must describe key components of the program (e.g., goal/intent, target learners, theoretical and research foundations, design and development process, team members, cost). Design & Development Showcase submissions are only available when submitting to the Design & Development Division.

Design-in-Practice Session

Design-in-Practice (DiP) Sessions last one hour and focus on concentrated, practical applications of effectively implementing evidence-based teaching, training, and learning strategies. Participants in DiP sessions expect to leave ready to implement new evidence-based practices or to use technology to implement evidence-based practices in new ways. DiP sessions might focus on using a specific app (e.g., Kahoot, Desmos), implementing specific evidence-based practices, using specific hardware (e.g., VR goggles, iPads) to implement evidence-based practices, or using other specific mediational means to implement evidence-based practices. DiP proposals must include a focal statement that identifies the session’s focal app, hardware, or other mediated engagement and specific evidence-based practice. Planners will automatically reject proposals without a focal statement. 

Featured Research

As the premier professional organization in instructional design and technology, AECT actively fosters the dissemination of important research findings. Featured Research proposals report on a novel, concluded empirical research study with data analysis completed at the time of submission. Planners will automatically reject proposals representing literature reviews, conceptual manuscripts, and other non-empirical papers. Authors who fail to submit accepted Featured Research papers to their discussant/facilitator by August 18, 2024, will be removed from the program. Featured Research submissions are only available when submitting to the Research & Theory Division. Learn more here.

Fee-based Workshop

Fee-based Workshops run two or four hours and provide intense professional development opportunities that help participants acquire new skills. Workshop proposals should identify specific learning goals or performance outcomes for participants and state any equipment, software, or materials required for session engagement. Planners will automatically reject proposals without learning goals or performance outcomes. In-person presenter note: presenters must provide a laptop and cables for workshop sessions. 

Panel Discussion

Lasting one hour and comprising a minimum of four and a maximum of six discussants, Panel Discussions focus on vibrant topics of contemporary concern and professional interest. Panelists quickly compare and contrast disciplinary expertise with an active, participating audience. Submissions require a designated lead discussant who organizes and facilitates the inclusion of participants. Proposals must state all panelists' names, affiliations, and relevant expertise. Planners will automatically reject proposals without panelist details. 

Poster Presentation

Poster Presentations are in-person only and showcase a project, program, process, activity, or similar experience in a visual and interactive setting. Poster presentations may highlight projects in the concept phase, in progress, or completed. Scheduled during the Welcome Reception to encourage participation, AECT provides poster presenters with a small table and tri-fold display board (48”x36”). The tables allow space for additional resources (e.g., a laptop and handouts). Presenters should set up 15 minutes before the start of the reception and present for one hour. AECT leaders browsing poster presentations also serve as format judges. Planners will announce the award-winning posters during the Member Meeting with other AECT awards.

Work-in-Progress Exchange

Work-in-Progress (WiP) Exchanges (formerly scheduled as Roundtables) allow presenters to discuss preliminary data and analysis, prototype designs, and similar formative experiences. Offered in pairs of two 25-minute presentations, this highly participatory format allows for interactive discussions to gain feedback and explore strategies for completing projects. A session facilitator will monitor session time to aid with equitable engagement. 

Awards

Authors should carefully consider the topic and impact of their submission to ensure alignment with the scope of each Division award. Accepted submissions to the following Divisions are automatically considered for the relevant award.

Culture, Learning and Technology

The McJulien Best Paper Award recognizes the best submission to the Culture, Learning and Technology Division, and the session is presented as the McJulien Lecture during the Convention.

Distance Learning

The Outstanding Proposal Award recognizes the best Division of Distance Learning concurrent session proposal that exemplifies best practices in distance education or leads to improving distance education. 

Emerging Learning Technologies

The Emerging Learning Technology Award (two categories: Professional, Graduate Student) recognizes submissions that clearly indicate how the emerging learning technology tool supports cognition, literacy, accessibility, collaboration, engagement, or motivation for learning.

International

The International Division Best Proposal Award recognizes the highest quality proposal submitted to the International Division describing unpublished educational technology research and practice with an emphasis on transcending international boundaries and cultural lines.

Learner Engagement

The Best Conference Proposal Award recognizes the best Learner Engagement concurrent conference session proposal that promotes innovative ideas and supports diverse learner needs.

Research & Theory

The Outstanding Accepted Proposal Award (two categories General, Student) recognizes two submissions nominated by the Division Planner and reviewed by the Research & Theory Division Board.

Teacher Education

The Best Proposal Award recognizes the highest quality Teacher Education Division concurrent session proposal.

Submission Style Guidelines

• Presenter's Name - the name is used with no "Ph.D." or other degrees included.

• Presenter's Affiliation - no abbreviations may be used regarding universities and institutions.

• Title - capitalize all words except articles

• Acronyms - spell out the words and enclose the acronym in parentheses the first time the word(s) appear; the acronym can then be used in the rest of the article.

• Proposal Title - This title will appear on the AECT website and within the printed Convention Program. Capitalize all words except the articles, and do not enter HTML tags. After the proposal rating process begins, 'Title' changes may be made only at the discretion of the Convention Chair.

• Short Description - (75 words). This short summary will appear on the AECT website and within the printed Convention Program. Do not enter HTML tags. This summary should clearly indicate the content and scope of the session, giving the reader a good idea of who would benefit from attending. Good descriptions lead to better decision-making for satisfied convention attendees regarding which sessions to attend.

• Presenter Mode - To assist with coordinating and grouping the presentations, select the preferred mode of presentation that corresponds with the session format. Select whether you will present in-person or virtually. (Note: Some presentation types are only in-person or virtual.)

• Suggested Audience(s) - Select the audiences that would benefit from the presentation.

• Administrator/Leader

• Researcher

• Practitioner

• Keywords - Two keyword selections are required. Keywords and phrases are useful for convention planners in scheduling related presentations. The full keyword selection is listed below:
  

• Accessibility

• Action Research

• Assessment

• Corporate, Military & Government

• Design-based Research

• Diversity, Equity & Access

• Emerging technologies

• Engagement

• Ethics

• Evaluation

• Gaming, Gamification & Simulation

• Immersive Learning

• Informal Learning

• Instructional Design

• Instructional Designers in Higher Education

• Instructional Development

• International & Cultural Issues

• Health Professions Education

• Healthcare Education

• Leadership

• Learning Analytics

• Learning Outcomes

• Learning Theories

• Medical Education

• Mixed-methods Research

• Mobile Learning

• MOOCs

• Motivation

• Multimedia

• Open Education      

• Performance Support & Improvement

• Problem Based Learning

• Project Management

• Qualitative Research

• Quantitative Research

• School Media

• Social Media

• Systems Thinking

• Teacher Education

• Technology Integration

• Training

• Transformational Change

• Visual and Media Literacy
  

• Abstract - Include a 750 -1000 word abstract for your proposal that concisely describes the presentation topic with appropriate subheadings and sections to support the type of submission, including audience engagement. Proposals should include in-text citations with reference lists as appropriate. However, a reference list—while welcome—is not required. If references are provided, they are not included in the word count.

Proposal Evaluation

Following AECT policy, all submissions are assessed against submission criteria and evaluated by blinded two peer reviewers.

Convention Proceedings

All accepted proposals, regardless of format, are eligible for publication in the convention proceedings. Corresponding submitters will receive complete details after acceptance, including the option to submit a short or full article.  

Presentation Rooms and Equipment

Presentation rooms will have a projector, laptop, and Meeting Owl for displaying and broadcasting media. The facilitator will use this equipment to assist with timekeeping, troubleshooting issues, and facilitating Q&A with virtual participants. Presenters must provide their own equipment, including a laptop or tablet, cables, and adapters. Presenters will log in to the virtual meeting (with sound and microphone muted) to share their screen with relevant media and control the presentation. Floor cues will direct presenters to the optimal location for standing or sitting during the presentation.

Accessibility

AECT is committed to making all reasonable accommodations that allow conference presenters to participate in convention events. A thorough accessibility evaluation of the convention facilities aids with facilitating necessary accommodations, and captioning is available for all sessions in Zoom. If you or your co-presenters require additional accommodations, please include relevant details in the proposal form. This includes information necessary to help with scheduling or accommodations for delivering the presentation if accepted.

Registration Requirement and Code of Conduct

At least one listed presenter must be registered for the convention by September 02 to reserve the presentation time in the schedule. Any presentations without a registered presenter will be dropped from the schedule at this time. All presenters and convention participants are required to follow the Association’s Code of Conduct.

Corporate Participation

AECT is excited to welcome corporate and educational partners to showcase and demonstrate evidence-based products and services. Expo Showcase booths are available for a nominal registration fee, and promoted 30-minute presentation sessions are available for Premier Sponsors. Interested partners should contact the AECT Director of Operations directly for additional details.

We look forward to receiving your proposal and joining us virtually or in Kansas City for professional development, networking, and collaboration!

–Tonia A. Dousay, Tutaleni I. Asino, & Rebecca M. Reese; AECT24 Co-Planners