AALHE2024: Trailblazing, Traversing, and Transforming DoubleTree by Hilton Portland Hotel Portland, OR, United States, June 3-6, 2024

Submission link	https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=aalhe2024
Submission deadline	January 16, 2024

 

Call for CONFERENCE Proposals for AALHE 2024 Conference: Trailblazing, Traversing, and Transforming

June 3-6, 2024 | DoubleTree Hilton Portland Hotel, Portland, OR

The Association for the Assessment of Learning in Higher Education (AALHE) invites proposals from the assessment community for a General Conference Sessions for the 2024 Assessment Conference.  

Both AALHE members and non-members may submit proposals for the AALHE 2024 Conference.

Conference Theme

Trailblazing, Traversing, and Transforming: Cultivating Student Learning Through Effective and Innovative Assessment encapsulates the fostering of an environment of belonging through scholarship, advocacy, engagement, and networking. "Trailblazing" signifies breaking new ground in assessment through evidence-based methodologies and exploring uncharted scholarly territories to improve student learning. "Traversing" emphasizes the journey of navigating obstacles and building intentional assessment systems that affirm all learners and ensure that these systems value the wisdom and ways of knowing of individuals and communities. "Transforming" underlines the power of assessment narratives that demonstrate evidence of student learning. This theme invites educators to exchange ideas, share successes, and collectively harness the potential of assessment to enhance student learning.

Timeline

• Abstract Submission - all other formats: December 7, 2023 - January 8, 2024
• Anticipated Notification to Proposal Authors: February 1, 2024 
• Conference registration opens:  February 1, 2024
• Proposal Authors Acceptance Confirmation Due: February 9, 2024
• Presenter Registration Required: March 29, 2024
• Session Materials and Presenter Profiles Due: May 19, 2024
• Conference registration closes:  May 26, 2024

Session Types

The conference will have six (6) session types. Please select the session type that best aligns with your proposal.

• Theory into Practice/Lessons Learned (30 minutes) Theory into Practice/Lessons Learned sessions provide a forum for a presenter to explain how an institution implemented a good practice for assessment and describe how it worked, what obstacles or challenges (if any) they encountered, and respond to attendee questions about strategies for effective implementation. Presenters should plan to leave 5-10 minutes for Q&A.
• Panel (60 minutes) Panels are structured conversations about a specific issue, topic, or model of practice. Panels specify a current or emerging issue to be addressed, establish an initial set of questions, and are moderated. These sessions also include an opportunity for questions from attendees to expand upon panelists' responses. Presenters should plan to leave 15 minutes for Q&A.
• Dialogue (60 minutes) A dialogue session is a highly interactive and engaging session that provides time for colleagues to discuss a topic or an emerging issue relevant to assessment of learning in higher education. A major focus is iterative sharing of expertise and experiences. Presenter(s) will facilitate the group in examining topics and strategies for moving forward given the professional reality and expertise of everyone in the room. Presenters should plan to leave 15 minutes for Q&A.
• Research or Dissemination Paper Session (60 minutes) The authors present scholarly research in the form of a paper. The paper can present emerging theories, research conclusions, and/or research into practice on topics related to the conference theme or assessment of student learning. Co-authored multi-disciplinary or interdisciplinary work is encouraged. An outline of the paper must be submitted. Presenters should plan to leave 15 minutes for Q&A.
• Skill Development Workshop (90 minutes) Skill development workshops provide opportunities for participants to bridge theory with practice. These are working sessions that engage participants in developing skills in addressing specific opportunities and challenges in assessment of learning, and in working together to develop skills in specific models and strategies in assessment practice. Facilitators include activities that engage and elicit expertise among attendees for shared knowledge-building.
• Poster Session The poster session provides opportunities for a more casual and interactive way for participants to showcase ideas still in formation, research, or innovative practices, among others. All posters will be displayed at a specific time during the conference and presenters must be available to discuss their work with attendees.

Session Audience

Proposal authors are invited to select the target audience they believe best represents their content. 

• New Professionals - Sessions for this audience are designed to serve attendees who are entry-level assessment professionals, faculty who may be new to the assessment conversation at their institution, and graduate students.  Sessions will include definitions and context that may not be necessary for those with more experience in the field. 
• Experienced Professionals - Sessions for this audience are designed to serve mid-level and above assessment professionals; faculty assessment liaisons with departmental or institutional assessment experience; researchers interested in assessment subject matter; and graduate students with assessment experience. Session content assumes an active assessment vocabulary and at least some experience with assessment practice. 
• All Audiences - These sessions are designed to serve attendees across a range of experiences and expertise. Session presenters make no assumptions about the audience save for an interest in assessment. These sessions are designed to provide opportunities for collaborative thinking and interaction across levels of experience.

Session Topics

Proposal authors are invited to select one Main Topic and up to two Related Topics they believe best represents their content. This information will be used to promote integration and recognize multifaceted work in assessment.

Main Topic this Presentation Addresses (select only 1); and Related Topics this Presentation Addresses, if applicable (select up to 2 additional topics)

• Assessment Across the Institution
• Assessment for/in Teaching & Learning
• Community Colleges
• Co-Curricular
• Curricular
• Data
• Evidence of Learning Improvement
• Inclusion
• Innovative Practices
• Leadership for Assessment
• Minority Serving Institutions
• Practice/Application
• Professional Development
• Scholarship/Research

A Note About Encouraged Creativity and Collaboration

Creativity and Collaboration Encouraged

In alignment with our theme of Trailblazing, Traversing, and Transforming, we encourage proposal authors to be creative with proposal submission titles and descriptions. We also highly encourage collaboration. So if you have always wanted to present with people from different institutions, then put your networking hat on and reach out! 

Resources Available to Proposal Authors

• Proposal Worksheet: a document where proposal authors can draft responses to fields you must enter on the electronic proposal submission form. Note: All proposals must be submitted through the electronic proposal submission form at AALHE2024 (Trailblazing, Traversing, and Transforming) to be considered for the 2024 Conference.
• Reviewer Rubric: provides the criteria by which reviewers will evaluate submitted proposals.

Responsibilities of Authors of Accepted Proposals

Session presenters with accepted proposals will receive more detailed information about the responsibilities below in their session acceptance notification. Presenters will also receive a slideshow template and tips for accessible presentations and handouts.

• Registration for Conference: 
  • All session presenters with proposals accepted must register for the conference no later than March 29, 2024.  
  • All session presenters are responsible for their own conference registration fees, travel, and lodging expenses.
• Completion of Presenter Profile: All session presenters with accepted proposals must complete a presenter profile on the conference platform including: presenter name, title, institution, bio, and optional headshot photo by May 17, 2024 

• Upload of Presentation Materials: All session presenters with accepted proposals must upload presentation materials to the conference platform by May 17, 2024. 

Submission Instructions

All proposals must be submitted via the EasyChair online proposal submission and review portal. We strongly recommend that you write an electronic draft of your proposal, including all information that you will be asked to provide on the online submission form, prior to beginning the online submission form. You may draft your proposal on this Proposal Worksheet.

You will be able to cut and paste from your electronic document and insert text directly into each field of this online Proposal Submission Form. This assures that you won’t permanently lose any information during the submission process.

Save your Submission ID # and Password to access and track your submission and the results.

Questions

If you have any questions about the AALHE 2024 Conference Call for Proposals or the conference experience, please email info@aalhe.org.