Call for Proposals: Great Plains Connections Service-Learning Conference

Posted by on January 29, 2007

Proposal Form link: http://www.minotstateu.edu/gpc/pdf/proposal_form.doc

Conference Overview
A regional service learning conference for the northern Midwest United States and South Central Canada will be held March 23-24, 2007 at Minot State University. The goal of the two-day conference is to advance the planning, integration, and support for service learning locally, regionally, and globally. Why service learning? Service learning encourages educational institutions to partner with community organizations to structure a learning process that benefits both students and the community. Strategically designed and organized educational activities meet community needs while insuring that students gain further understanding of course content, a broader appreciation of the relevant discipline, and an enhanced sense of personal values and civic responsibility. Hands-on experience, combined with critical reflection, contributes to the students? deeper understanding of the connections between education and community.

The conference will feature
? A collaboration of regional experts
? paper presentations
? panel presentations
? interactive workshops
? poster exhibits focusing on best practices, course design, or program structure

Speakers highlighting the event include:
? Robert G. Bringle Ph.D., Director of the Center for Service and Learning at Indiana University Purdue University Indiana
? Valerian Three Irons, Director of the Service Learning Program in Brooking South Dakota
? Tracey Wyman, Director of Service Learning and Global Education, Century College, White Bear Lake, Minnesota.
Individuals and/or teams comprised of higher education, high school, and community-based organizations are encouraged to attend. Conference is free to all MSU faculty and staff but registration is required. To register go to http://www.minotstateu.edu/gpc, or contact MSU Center for Extended Learning at 701.858.3983 or 800.777.0750 extension 3983.

Requests for Proposals
Session Formats
The Great Plains Connections Conference welcomes proposals from a variety of fields and disciplines including K-12 and higher education institutions, community organizations, faculty, and students. Proposals are invited dealing with a range of topics including best practices, skill-building exercises, innovative program/course designs, and other topics related to service learning and community engagement. Sessions will be 60 minutes plus 15 minutes for questions and discussion. Shorter presentation times will be considered. Presentations authored by students or co-authored with students are highly encouraged.

Paper Presentations: Papers describing either 1) completed accomplishments in research based on qualitative, quantitative, or other analytical methods, or 2) innovative practices in service learning course or program development.

Panel Presentation: Persons who have worked together on service learning projects are invited to present institutional, faculty, community and student perspectives on best practices, course design, or program structure. Panels unite service-learning practitioners and participants around these common themes. Panel presentations do not require original empirical investigation.

Interactive Workshop: Workshops engage participants in interactive discussion and planning. Workshops do not require original empirical investigation.

Posters/Exhibits: Posters or exhibits describing either 1) descriptions and testimonials of service learning and civic engagement community projects, (these posters/exhibits do not require original empirical investigation), or 2) completed accomplishments in research based on qualitative, quantitative, or other analytical methods, or 3) innovative practices in service learning course or program development. 15-20 minutes maximum.

Selection Criteria
Conference proposals will be evaluated on the following criteria: originality, clarity of focus, significance of topic, relevance to Conference goals, and potential for audience discussion and reflection. Reviewers will also seek to ensure that a wide range of topics, points of view, geographic locations, and kinds of institutions are represented.

Proposal Form
All proposals must be submitted as email attachments. Download the form referenced above and save as a Word document using your firstname, lastname (joe.brown). Complete cover sheet, abstract, and summary and email as attachment to willy.soderholm@minotstateu.edu. Please put GPC PROPOSAL and name of your state in the subject line of your email. Proposal Deadline extended to February 1, 2007.