Call for Proposals

NRMERA 2008: Responding to Changes in the Educational Landscape: Policy, Pedagogy, and Research
26th Annual Conference
October 9 - 11, 2008
Montbleu Resort, Lake Tahoe, NV

Our theme for the 2008 NRMERA Annual Conference, Responding to Changes in the Educational Landscape: Policy, Pedagogy, and Research, can be broadly interpreted. We wish to promote inter-disciplinary discussion that links policy to educational practice, especially in an era of educational accountability. The goal of the 2008 conference is to explore the mutual relationships between policy and practice, and to address ways that research can inform these relationships. We encourage proposals that address new ways to understand policy and practice from a variety of perspectives and from the vantage point of different interpretive communities. It is our hope that these discussions and policy suggestions will inform regional educational policy decisions and create a stronger working relationship between states and universities. The three strands that contribute to the overall theme are described below:

• Policy: We welcome proposals that provide new ways to integrate teacher preparation, in-service development, and educational accountability. In particular, issues related to preparing culturally responsive teachers and helping to promote teacher assessment literacy are encouraged. The Friday luncheon will feature the current superintendent of education for Nevada, Dr. Keith Rheault, as well as two former superintendents, Dr. Jack McLaughlin (currently the superintendent for Stockton CA) and Dr. Mary Petersen (currently a school improvement consultant for the Southwest Comprehensive Center – West Ed.). This panel will discuss past and current educational policy for Nevada and surrounding states.

• Pedagogy: We encourage proposals that examine the connection between pedagogy and under-served student populations such as exceptional children, gifted and talented students, and English Language learners. We also encourage proposals that outline research agendas for innovative pedagogies, or that explore alternative pedagogical perspectives.

• Research: All forms of quantitative, qualitative, and evaluation research are welcome. The 2008 keynote address will be delivered by Dr. Burke Johnson, associate editor of the Journal of Mixed Methods Research. We especially invite proposals that use mixed methods to explore policy issues, pedagogy, or the inter-connections between them.

As an organization that prides itself on providing a supportive environment for graduate students as well as more experienced members, NRMERA strives to provide a setting where one can present research, receive feedback, and learn from colleagues. We encourage and invite graduate students, teacher educators, state and local administrators, and public and private educators to become involved in the multi-disciplinary conversations that are envisioned around the theme of Responding to Changes as you make preparations to join us at Lake Tahoe this fall.

Introduction

The 2008 NRMERA Annual Conference offers a unique forum to exchange your ideas, research, and concerns with other members of the organization. The submission of a proposal is the first step in taking advantage of such an opportunity. However, submitting a proposal involves a commitment to complete the promised work in a timely manner and to attend the Annual Conference. Please do not submit proposals for papers or other sessions unless you fully expect to attend the Conference if your proposal is accepted. Should you be unable to attend the Conference, it is your responsibility to ensure that someone else can assume your role in a session.

The Program Chairs solicit your ideas and proposals for other types of sessions not explicitly listed in the Call. They also welcome suggestions for invited speakers and symposium topics. Feel free to contact them by e-mail (Lori Olafson- lori.olafson@unlv.edu or Gregg Schraw- gschraw@unlv.nevada.edu).

Participation: To encourage broader participation in the conference, individuals will be permitted no more than two scheduled first-authored presentations at the 2008 NRMERA Conference. There is, however, no restriction on the number of works for which an individual member may be listed as a contributing author. ALL presenters are required to register for the conference.

Types of Presentations

Paper Sessions: These sessions are intended for reporting research results or analyzing issues of policy and practice. Proposal submissions should include the following sections: (a) purpose of the study; (b) review of relevant literature; (c) research design and methods; (d) results and/or conclusions; and (e) a discussion of the educational importance of the study. Presenters are expected to provide extended abstracts (2-3 pages describing the study) or full papers as handouts for the audience. Paper sessions generally have two to three presenters who are each allotted approximately 15-20 minutes to present their study. A session chair/moderator will be assigned to facilitate the session.

Learn at Lunch Roundtable: These sessions are particularly conducive for new presenters and graduate students to allow greater interaction by eliminating the formal presentation. Individual presenters are assigned tables in a large meeting room where interested persons may gather for “Learn at Lunch” discussions with the presenter about his or her paper or project. Proposal submissions should include the following sections: (a) purpose of the study; (b) review of relevant literature; (c) research design and methods; (d) results and/or conclusions; and (e) a discussion of the educational importance of the study. Presenters are expected to provide extended abstracts (2-3 pages describing the study) or full papers as handouts and to remain available for discussion throughout the session. Roundtables will be held in conjunction with lunch on Thursday of the Conference.

Coordinated Sessions: These sessions include any of a number of different types of sessions where a proposal for a completely organized session is submitted as a unit, including a moderator and all presenters. Coordinated Sessions provide an opportunity to present specific challenges or topics from a variety of perspectives, to present complex topics that require a number of papers to describe the full scope of the issue, or to present a new method in a workshop. Coordinated Sessions are usually 1½ to 2 hours in length and may include: (a) symposia, (b) related papers, (c) debates, (d) workshops, or other innovative formats that provide extensive information about challenging issues. Brief descriptions of each session type are provided here.

Symposia: A series of papers that present alternative views, solutions, or interpretations for a topic or issue of broad scope and major importance. Symposium proposals should make clear the alternative viewpoints that will be presented in the session.

Related Papers: A session with related papers provides a more extended analysis or discussion of a topic than can be provided in a single paper presentation. Related papers should either build on one another or cover different aspects of a single topic or issue.

Debates: A formal debate on a significant issue currently facing the field of education. The debaters must hold opposing viewpoints on the issue. The submitter will serve as moderator for a controlled, but frank, debate between the two debaters and with the audience. The proposal must describe the issue to be debated and the views of the participants.

Workshops: Workshops are sessions where learning by doing occupies most of the session; didactic presentations are brief. They are intended to familiarize participants with some aspect of research or teaching practice, so that questioning and discussion are predominant. Such sessions will be allotted sparingly.

The organizer of a Coordinated Session should select a topic or issue of broad scope and major importance that merits an extended presentation. The proposal for this type of session should indicate how the interaction between the presenters will be structured. Coordinated Sessions are not to be used for collections of papers that happen to be on the same general topic. There must be a common theme and an organizing structure for the session.

Submitting Proposals: Proposals and papers should be prepared using the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association: Fifth Edition (APA, 2001) and e-mailed to the Program Co-chair listed below. Please use proposal cover sheet. Note that the cover sheet limits the number of words (characters and spaces) to be entered. Please check your entries carefully to ensure that your complete text appears. Microsoft Word is the preferred format (Mac or PC versions are acceptable). Figures must be submitted as GIF or JPG images. Please contact the Program Chairs with any questions.

Each proposal must include the following:

• Cover Sheet: Identifying information for presenters (i.e. names, affiliations) should appear only on the cover sheet. Include a short abstract of approximately 25 words that will be used to describe your paper in the Annual Conference Program.

• Topical Strand/Keywords: To assist the Program Chairs in organizing sessions, please identify one (1) Topical Strand and three (3) Keywords that best characterize your study.

• Topical Strands are descriptors that represent a broader domain of interest (e.g., Teacher Education, Instructional Technology, Research Design and Methodology).

• Keywords are the specific descriptors that characterize your research (e.g., ELL instruction, mentoring, accountability, classroom assessment).

• Proposal: Submissions should be 2-3 pages (single-spaced) and include the following sections: (a) purpose of the study; (b) review of relevant literature; (c) research design and methods; (d) results and/or conclusions; and (e) a discussion of the educational importance of the study. Coordinated Session proposals should include information relevant to their respective type. Author identifying information (i.e. names and affiliations) should not appear on the proposal.

The Cover Sheet, Topical Strand/Keywords, and Proposal should be sent via e-mail to Dr. Lori Olafson (lori.olafson@unlv.edu) by Friday June 5, 2008 for consideration.

Review of Proposals: The 2008 Program staff, NRMERA Executive Board members, and interested members will conduct a blind review of all submitted proposals. Individuals interested in being a reviewer should contact (Lori Olafson-lori.olafson@unlv.edu or Gregg Schraw-gschraw@unlv.nevada.edu) by May 2, 2008. Please include 2-3 three areas of interest/expertise.

Evaluation Criteria: Proposals will be reviewed using the following criteria:

• Relevance and Timeliness
• Purpose and Rationale
• Review of Relevant Literature
• Research Design and Methodology
• Data Analyses
• Results and Conclusions
• Educational Significance