Call for Submissions: 2023 Developmental Science Teaching Institute

Institute co-chairs: Jennifer M. Zosh, Penn State University (Brandywine) (Committee Chair), Aya Shigeto, Nova Southeastern University (Committee Chair-elect); Brenna Hassinger-Das, Pace University (Committee Member).

The SRCD Developmental Science Teaching Institute, which takes place the day before SRCD’s Biennial Meeting, is designed for teachers of developmental science courses at all levels who wish to develop strategies for engaging students, explore new ideas, update their knowledge base, and share perspectives with like-minded professionals. Encompassing topics that are relevant to beginning and advanced teachers of developmental science alike, the Institute provides sessions of general interest on cutting-edge teaching practices, a variety of breakout sessions, a poster session, and opportunities for interaction to share ideas among participants. 

The Institute’s diverse presentation formats allow for informal exchange and enable participants to select an agenda that meets their professional development needs. This is an all-day pre-conference experience on March 22, 2023, the day before the SRCD Biennial Meeting, held on March 23-25, 2023. Teaching Institute Travel Awards will be available on a limited basis.

What types of submissions are we looking for?

We encourage submissions that address teaching and learning broadly in the developmental sciences. Please note that submitting an abstract is not a requirement to attend the Teaching Institute.

We are particularly interested in submissions that connect to teaching developmental science in today’s unique contexts, including (but not limited to) topics such as anti-racist teaching practices, teaching about diversity, inclusion, and equity in the developmental sciences, re-engaging students in the classroom after the transition to remote/hybrid classes, supporting student success during difficult times, etc.

We are also interested in submissions that relate to the professional development of teachers of developmental science including work/life balance, establishing boundaries in the classroom, preparing to teach your first class, strategies for writing a teaching statement, getting started with pedagogical research, and mid-career issues.  Submissions that involve evidence-based practice are preferred. Submissions may be geared towards teachers at any level of experience, from novice to experienced instructors, and at any type of institution (e.g., high schools, community colleges, liberal arts colleges, research institutions).

Please read through the submission guidelines carefully before starting your submission.

Submission Formats for the 2023 Teaching Institute:

1. Individual Poster Presentation. Posters are individual, free-standing presentations related to any aspect of the teaching of developmental science. Poster presentations might focus on teaching techniques and strategies, ideas for course content, or empirical evaluations of such approaches. Posters are the appropriate format when material can be explained briefly, is suited for graphic or visual presentation, or the presenter and participant would benefit from high levels of interaction and discussion. Individual posters will be displayed in a 45-60 min session.
2. Roundtable Participant Idea Exchange. This format provides a forum for a constructive discussion about overarching questions and issues pertinent to the teaching of developmental science. The Roundtable is an engaging conversation among one to two hosts/facilitators and participants about teaching techniques, innovations, evaluation, challenges, and instructional philosophy. A central question or theme should serve as a focus for the discussion. Hosts may give brief opening presentations but should primarily pose questions and guide discussion. Each topic is assigned a separate table, and participants choose one or more topics that interest them. The broader purpose of this Roundtable is to encourage networking among individuals or groups who may benefit from shared experiences and interests. A Roundtable does not include PowerPoint slides or research findings, though written materials could be shared. Total time allotted to a session: 45-60 minutes.
3. Workshop. Workshops present activities designed to help participants improve or develop new teaching techniques, skills, or lesson plans. This format provides a forum for the exchange of innovative, evidence-based teaching practices that are best communicated through application and active participation. Presenters are encouraged to provide hand-outs and a clear take-away message to help participants apply the techniques to their own teaching. Total time allotted to a session: 45-60 minutes. 

Review Process and Criteria for All Submissions:

Submissions will be rated according to the following criteria:

• Potential usefulness of the presentation to novice and/or more experienced teachers of developmental science
• Clarity of formulation/conceptualization
• Importance of topic
• Evidence-based or empirically-supported practice
• Sufficiently detailed to enable review

NOTE:  The review process is not blind.

Submission Guidelines for the 2023 Teaching Institute:

• We invite submissions that broadly advance the science of teaching and learning in the developmental sciences.
• There is no limit to the number of authors for a presentation.
• There is no limit to the number of presenting roles.
• SRCD normally does not accept submissions that have either been presented or published previously. Even in cases where SRCD members may not have had access to your original presentation, the current submission should not duplicate an earlier presentation.
• Plan ahead and submit early!
  • You may edit your submission at any time prior to the submission deadline (January 9, 2023).
  • View or print your submission, and proof and review it carefully.
• SRCD membership is not required for submission; however, we encourage you to take advantage of the benefits of membership.

Entering Data into the Submission Website:

1. Please enter a complete, formal name (e.g., Samuel T. Jones; H. Harriet Smith-Barton), current email address, and affiliation for each person. Please do not enter the names in all upper-case letters or all lower-case letters. This requirement serves to uniquely identify those included on your submission and ensures that they receive email communications regarding the decision status of the submission.
2. Titles. Use mixed-case letters (upper-case for the first letter of all words with 4 or more letters and lower-case letters for the remainder of the words) and appropriate punctuation. Maximum number of characters for your title—letters, punctuation, and spacing—is 130. 
3. Abstracts. The abstract should address the potential usefulness of the presentation to novice and experienced teachers of developmental science and highlight the importance of the topic. Your abstract must be no more than 500 words, and either typed or copied and pasted into the submission site; no file uploads are allowed. NOTE: Your abstract or description should be in final form. 
   • Do not include the title in the abstract.
   • Do not include the presentation title in the abstract. Use standard reference citations (last name, year), if necessary, but do not include a reference list.
4. File Uploads. Graphics are permitted, but are optional. They do not count toward the maximum word count for your abstract. Any graphics must be incorporated into one single file. The graphics allowed may be: 
   • 2 tables, or
   • 2 figures, or
   • 1 table plus 1 figure
5. Group Authorship (e.g., consortia, projects, programs) may be entered in the specified field during the “Hosts/Facilitators/Authors” step of the submission process.
6. Individual requests regarding scheduling may be made at the time of submission by entering them in the “details” step. Due to the complexities of the Teaching Institute scheduling process, only justified requests will be addressed, so please include the reason for your scheduling request. We will do our best to accommodate your needs in the scheduling process; however, we cannot guarantee that your request will be honored.
7. NO revisions can be made after the submission deadline.

The submission deadline has passed.

If you would like to submit more than one abstract or if you have any other questions, please email Ravenel Davis at scholar@srcd.org.

Teaching Institute Travel Awards

The SRCD Teaching Committee is pleased to announce that a limited number of travel awards are available to support SRCD members who would like to attend the 2023 Teaching Institute. The $500 award will help offset the registration and accommodation expenses involved in attending the SRCD Developmental Science Teaching Institute pre-conference.

We are interested in supporting a diverse group of teachers who would otherwise be unable to attend the Teaching Institute and encourage all SRCD members to apply. Graduate students, early career faculty, those who will be presenting at the Teaching Institute, and those who receive limited support from their home institutions will receive priority consideration.

Applicants must be current members of SRCD and maintain their membership through the end of the SRCD conference in March 2023. Awards will be distributed at the Teaching Institute. The awards should be used for expenses related to attending the Teaching Institute, as determined by the recipient. No receipts will be required.

Candidates who wish to apply will do so through this application link and be asked the following:

• Year became an SRCD member,
• Years of teaching, teaching load, and type of institution,
• Previously attended SRCD Developmental Science Teaching Institutes (if any),
• Statement of financial need that includes the estimated travel costs to attend the Teaching Institute as well as the support available from institutional or other sources, and
• Impact statement that discusses the expected value attending the Teaching Institute will have on teaching and professional development objectives.

Note: Be sure to click the submit button at the end of the application.

The submission deadline has passed.

Please contact scholar@srcd.org with any questions or concerns.