Call for Proposals >> Session Categories

The 2006 UCEA Convention Program Committee is interested in a broad range of program formats.
Because the theme of the Convention is centered on unpacking the fissures within the contemporary
educational leadership discourse, two new session formats are envisioned in the 2006 UCEA
Convention. These are the Flashpoint Panel and the Advocacy Forums with Rejoinder. These are
now described along with the usual array of formats and proposal types.

Below are descriptions of the sessions as well as sample proposals that we believe exemplifies each of the categories. These sample proposals were selected by the 2005 convention co-chairs and represent the best examples of proposals submitted. These proposals were chosen primarily because they received high marks from reviewers. To protect their privacy, all author and co-author names have been removed. Please abide by all copyright laws governing publications. Also, please note that some of these sessions may not appear at a convention during a given year.

Paper Sessions. This type of format is the usual modality for presenting research studies and/or
engaging in a thorough review of educational policy issues. Presenters are expected to write a paper that
they present and distribute at the session. Sessions are typically one hour and twenty minutes in length
and include four presenters, providing each presenter 12-15 minutes to share their paper. A discussant
will be assigned to engage the participants in a critical review of the papers presented.

Symposia. This type of session involves a group of presenters who prepare papers on a common topic
and present them in a systematic way. The most effective symposia have four to five presentations and a
discussant. The time allotted for each speaker is determined by the number of presenters.

Flashpoint Panel (New). The purpose of a Flashpoint Panel is to engage one of the fissures of
contemporary educational leadership discourse without the necessity of promoting any particular solution.
The point of a Flashpoint Panel is simply to unpack complex issues and to present innovative, engaging,
or controversial means of parsing out the issues, actors, and agendas at the nexus. Participants are
expected to write thematics papers for the panel, though these are not considered traditional research or
policy papers. The purpose of a Flashpoint Panel is analysis. There should be no more than five
panelists including a chair who should be a member of the panel. Time should be set aside for audience
conversation.

Advocacy Forums with Rejoinder (New). The purpose of this session type is to propose a single
agenda or to advocate for a method, perspective, program, law or policy that will increase democracy,
equity and social justice in schools and the larger society. Advocacy Forums are not expected to be
uniformly “balanced” in their outlook; however, they should include at least one (or more) participants who
will challenge in several ways the perspective(s) being proposed. Thus, an Advocacy Forum for National
Standards would include a structured counterfactual perspective to be included in its scope.

Conversations. Conversations are informal gatherings where participants can engage in
extemporaneous exchanges around a common topic. The proposal summary for this type of session
should describe the purpose of the session, the ways in which participants will be encouraged to engage
in the conversation, and examples of questions or areas that are expected to be addressed.

Paper Discussion Roundtables. These sessions are intended for small group, focused conversations
around common themes such as a review of a recent book or research study. The proposal summary
should describe the overall focus and purpose of the session and the methods to be used to facilitate
engagement and participation of all the attendees.

Innovative Sessions. The format of this session type is determined by the session organizer. The organizer must clearly describe the format in the convention proposal and explain how the innovative format supports the content of the session. If the room requires a special set-up or technology, it is the responsibility of the organizer to discuss these requirements with UCEA headquarters and, if necessary, the hotel staff. In the past, innovative sessions have been used to showcase technology, research methods, and innovative pedagogies.