Call for Presentations

Developing Global Leaders through Quality Schools, Classrooms, and Systems Thinking

The Call for Presentations has expired.

November 11–12, 2012
Louisville, KY
Hyatt Regency Louisville

CALL FOR PRESENTATION PROPOSALS

Conference Convenes: 8:00 a.m. Sunday, November 11, 2012
Conference Concludes: 5:00 p.m. Monday, November 12, 2012

The steering committee of the National Quality Education Conference (NQEC) invites the submission of presentations for the 20th NQEC in November 2012 in Louisville, KY.

Purpose

The purpose of NQEC is to provide teachers, administrators, support personnel, and other stakeholders’ opportunities to examine continuous improvement principles that have been successfully used in education. This conference is designed to establish and cultivate a marketplace of ideas in which proven methods of implementation and sustainability can be explored. In addition, previous attendees at the NQEC have found support, tools, and strategies to improve the processes they engage in and the results they achieve. This year’s event will focus on using quality theory and tools in instruction to improve student achievement as well as continuing to focus on broader systems applications. Improvement at the school and district level is essential, of course, but high-quality instruction must occur in classrooms for real changes in achievement to take place. How can quality principles and practices help teachers and instructors at all levels of education increase their instructional effectiveness? How can high levels of instructional effectiveness increase the overall progress and attainment of school systems and help to prepare all students to become high-achieving leaders of the future?

Conference Focus Areas

The areas of focus for this conference all align to its theme and focus on the skills and knowledge that are necessary for developing high-achieving students who will be the leaders and thinkers of a global community. In addition, the focus areas are intended to help develop highly skilled teachers who will be instrumental in closing the achievement gap and in developing our future leaders.

Individual classroom teachers have a profound effect on student achievement. How do highly effective teachers employ quality philosophy and other instructional techniques to advance their students’ achievement and close achievement gaps between students, and how do districts and schools of education train teachers to become highly effective in the classroom? Administrators and other educational leaders advance educational and institutional effectiveness by deploying quality models, involving stakeholders in building educational systems, and modeling the application of continuous improvement principles in their leadership. How do all of these practices lend themselves to developing highly prepared college students, workers, and leaders of the future?

The steering committee of the NQEC invites you to join in its effort to broaden these discussions and explore quality instruction and systems and process management to ensure the highest levels of learning both in pre-K – 12 education and in higher education.

We are looking for sessions that:

  • Demonstrate best practices in instructional techniques that lead to student achievement. We welcome case studies of the applications of quality and innovation in classrooms that significantly improve learner outcomes at all levels of education. Submissions from both pre–K – 12 and higher education are encouraged.
  • Exemplify how strategic planning and the use of specific quality tools and reporting mechanisms allow for improvements in achievement, processes, and financial measures.
  • Show the application of quality principles in promoting growth of underrepresented populations—including minority students, low-income first-generation students, and second-language learners—while promoting the growth of all students.
  • Highlight how the Baldrige process can help pre-K – 12 and higher education systems make significant improvements in systems and in student achievement.

Areas of Focus for the 20th NQEC

For more information about the conference areas of focus, please refer to the Conference Focus page.

Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment, and 21st Century Learning

Sessions in this track should demonstrate proven instructional and assessment techniques that lead to significant increases in student achievement. Presentations may focus on:

  • Best practices in pedagogy and assessment; the application of quality and innovative instructional techniques to improve achievement.
  • The synergy of linking instruction with quality theory and practices.
  • Individualization of instruction for all learners.
  • The implementation of the Common Core Curriculum to improve student achievement.

Strategic Planning and Systems Thinking

Sessions in this track should emphasize the importance of using strategic planning and systems thinking to effect real and lasting change. Sessions may focus on:

  • How strategic plans have lead to measurable improvements in student achievement, process flow, and financial measures.
  • Linking the application of specific quality tools in strategic planning, such as scorecards, process maps, and other tools, to measurable results.
  • The distinction between setting goals and strategic planning.
  • Creating sustainable change through strategic planning and systems thinking.

Using Quality Practices to Close the Achievement Gap, Pre-K – 12 Through College

Sessions in this track will showcase examples of schools, districts, and colleges or universities that have succeeded in closing achievement gaps between groups of students and that have sustained these improvements over time. Specifically, presentations may focus on:

  • Demonstrating how quality practices in conjunction with instruction have led to decreases in achievement gaps.
  • Maintaining these increases through alignment and deployment of strategic planning, staff development, and stakeholder involvement
  • Creating pathways for students to higher education through partnerships between K – 12 and higher education
  • Showing quality practices that have led to retention of students through high school and college to completion of degree programs.

Baldrige in Education for Significant Continuous Improvement

Sessions in this track will focus specifically on how districts and higher education institutions use the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award process to create and sustain significant improvement. Sessions may focus on:

  • Expected and actual results achieved by implementing the Baldrige process. Results can range from achievement data to financial measures or stakeholder satisfaction.
  • Identification of key processes and methods used to track performance.
  • Building a quality of culture through implementation of the Baldrige process.
  • Sustaining positive change over time and across changes in leadership.

Submitting a Proposal

If you desire to submit a proposal for consideration, please complete all of the required areas. Complete proposals cover all criteria listed below. Three judges will review completed proposals. The first–listed proposal author will be notified personally of the selection process results.

Concurrent sessions within the conference will be 75 minutes in length. Pre–conference workshops are four hours in length and will be offered to the public on Saturday, November 10.

Please note that Internet service is not provided in the presentation rooms. Presenters are advised to store video clips on their laptops if they wish to use them during presentations. Presenters have experienced mixed success accessing wireless Internet service through provider “hot spots.”

Benefits of Presenting

  • Networking with professionals in your field.
  • Exposure and positive promotion of your school’s, district’s, college’s, or company’s achievements and ideas.
  • Recognition as a contributor to the premier conference on quality education.
  • One complimentary registration for the primary speaker.
  • Co–presenter rate registration (TBD) for up to two co–presenter.

Submitting Your Complete Proposal

  • Proposals are due via this form no later than Friday, March 2, 2012. To be considered, please follow the linked Proposal Requirements.
  • Submit using the linked Submission Form and complete all information
  • Selected Primary Presenters will receive one complimentary full conference registration. Up to two co–presenters will be offered a discounted registration rate. We regret that NQEC is not able to provide an honorarium or material expense reimbursement or travel reimbursement for selected concurrent and workshop presenters.

We will do our best to notify all submitters whether their papers have been accepted for presentation or not by the end of April 2012 or sooner.

To provide a high level of value to our NQEC attendees, the Conference Planning Committee requires all selected presenters to provide electronic copies of their presentations eight weeks before the conference. These materials will be collected and posted on the NQEC conference web site prior to the conference and for four weeks after the conference. Speakers will also be asked to provide handouts in limited quantity for their sessions.

For More Information
Please contact Laura Kalinosky-Sanchez, Program Developer/Project Manager, at lsanchez@asq.org or 800–248–1946 ext 7854.