iNACOL Request for Proposals (RFP) Application 2012 Virtual School Symposium (VSS)
The Virtual School Symposium (VSS) is hosted by the International Association
for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL). The iNACOL VSS Program Committee is
now seeking proposals for presentations at the conference. All proposals must
be submitted online, no later than 11:59pm (Eastern) on Monday, April 23,
2012.
There is a limit of 3 proposals per organization. Each institution or
organization may submit a maximum of three RFPs to speak at VSS. If more are
submitted, only the first three received will be considered.
Conference Goals:
To provide sessions that will show how online and blended learning closes
the gaps in educational opportunities that exist today for diverse groups of
learners - from special needs, to at-risk, to gifted students;
To provide professional development in K-12 online learning;
To share research, case studies and data about what works in online
learning;
To share best practices on plans, policies, standards and evaluation of
online and blended education;
To facilitate interaction, networking, and collaboration between online
school practitioners and experts in the field;
To stretch our thinking about K-12 online and blended school strategies
for improving mainstream education to ensure every student graduates
with a world-class diploma to prepare them for college or beyond.
Presentation Proposal Primary Competitive Priorities
Reviewers will be looking for the following characteristics when evaluating
proposals:
Session Learning Outcomes - Specific goals for the session are
described, and the outcomes/knowledge for what participants areexpected to leave the session with are described and how they will be met
within the timeframe of the session.
Proposed Questions - The session should be groundbreaking and move
the field of online and blended learning forward. Key questions are
identified to help design the session content. Each question should be
discussed or answered throughout the session.
Agenda - Explain how your session will provide networking and
collaborative opportunities with the audience to share ideas and best
practices with each other.
Resources For Participants - Provides a checklist, list of links, or
handouts as a resource for participants.
Format Types - In the past, the majority of the VSS sessions have been
in the Lecture format and while we will continue to have some sessions in
this format, we want to encourage session proposals for one of the other
formats listed in the RFP, in order to provide opportunities for greater
interaction and presentation of multiple experiences and points of view.
Must Have Topics - iNACOL has identified several strands to build the
conference program around. In addition to these strands listed below, we
have provided "must have topics" based on previous VSS attendees
needs. The program committee will be looking to identify proposals that fit
with these topics.
o Administration and Management of Online Programs
o Growing Your Online Program (Take to next level, Nuts &
Bolts, Lessons Learned)
o How to Start an Online Learning Program
o Funding and Grant Writing
o Guidance Counseling
o Marketing and Communications
o Quality Management of Online Programs
o School to Home Connection (Parent Engagement and
Perspectives)
Competency-based Learning Pathways
o Policy issues
o How to get started and implement
o Resources for practitioners
o Models
Curriculum and Online Course Development
o Online and Blended Course/Curriculum Development
o Open Educational Resources
o Assessment
o Augmented Reality & Game-based Learning
Engaging and Motivating Students Online
o Working with At-Risk Students
o Academic Integrity
o Diversity Issues in K-12 Online Learning
o Student-led Sessions and Projects
o Specialized Online/Blended Courses (Advanced
Placement, Dual Credit, IB, STEM, etc.)
Mobile Learning
o Using mobile learning in online and blended learning
classrooms/programs
New Learning Models
o Showcasing Successful Models of Online and Blended
Learning
o Competency-based pathways
o Game-based Learning
Online and Blended Learning: Topics for Teachers
o Best Practices for Teaching Online
o Topic Discussions on various teaching methods and tools
for teaching online
o Virtual Science and Labs
3
o Online Subject Areas (Math, English, Social Studies,
Foreign Languages, PE, Science)
o Learning Analytics
o Online Learning in the Elementary Grades
Policy/Advocacy
o National Update on K-12 Online Learning
o Policy Reform/Legislative Updates
o International Update
o Funding Issues
o Competency-based Pathways
Professional Development for Teaching Online
o Professional Development (New teachers, Ongoing,
Certification Programs)
Quality Assurance
o Standards for online and blended learning
o Accreditation
o Assessment
Research and Evaluation
o New Research
Special Student Populations
o Gifted
o ELL
o Special Education
State Virtual Schools
o Best Practices
o Issues
o Collaboration
